Self-healing of GFR/epoxy composite with binary vascular system

Self-healing of GFR/epoxy composite with binary vascular system

Vidinejevs, S.
Aniskevich, A.

2013-06-16

Creation of an ideal self-healing polymer composite material with durable performance could become an alternative to traditional improvement of lightweight constructions. A vascular strategy of the self-healing of the epoxy materials is based on healing agent (HA) delivery to the damage via system of channels formed in the material. The aim of research was to apply the strategy to glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites using binary healing agent and to evaluate its efficiency. We used a vacuum infusion to make unidirectional laminate specimens laid up from two layers of glass yarns with embedded channels codirectional to reinforcement. The specimens had average size 250×23×1.2 mm. Polytetrafluorethylene tubing (diameter 0.9 mm) was used as preform for channels. Each specimen had 5 channels filled with healing agent — epoxy resin alternated with hardener, and then sealed. These specimens demonstrated the flexural modulus 25.2±2.0 GPa similar within the error to material without channels. Multiple “local” three-point bending of a specimen was used to cause damage to the matrix and channels across fiber direction. It was performed on the span 20 mm through about each linear 12 mm along specimen. The bending had been terminated when the load decreased by 30 % after reaching a maximum. Released HA components infiltrated into cracks and mixed partially. The triggered self-healing continued 24 h at 50 °C. Flexural modulus of a specimen was measured in three-point bending on the span 100 mm at a small deflection and was selected as a characteristic of mechanical integrity. Flexural modulus of virgin, damaged, and self-healed specimens was designated as Ev, Ed, Eh, correspondingly. The healing efficiency was evaluated as ?=(Eh-Ed)/(Ev-Ed) and experimentally ascertained as ??30 %. The research results demonstrate the capacity self-healing approach for composite materials.

composite
epoxy matrix
self-healing
vascular approach

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Conference proceedings

conference paper

(c) 2013 Vidinejevs, S.; Aniskevich, A.