Multiple healing in multi-functional polymer composites

In this work, we investigate the formation of self-healing systems that are able to recover more than once more than one (mechanical or other physical) functionality. To this aim composites were created consisting of a polysulfide thermoset rubber matrix having intrinsic self-healing properties filled with thermally/electrically conductive...

Monitoring the restoration of interfacial contact for self healing thermal interface materials for LED and microelectronic applications

While conventional self healing materials focus on the restoration of mechanical properties, newer generations of self healing materials focus on the restoration of other functional (i.e. non-mechanical) properties. Thermal conductivity is an example of an important functional property of a Thermal Interface Material (TIM) for LED’s and...

Towards self-healing creep resistant steels

We report the main findings of our work on the behaviour of binary Fe-Cu and Fe-Au model alloys designed to explore routes to create new creep resistant steels having an in-built ability to autonomously fill creep induced porosity at grain boundaries. The alloying elements were selected on the basis of their ability to be brought in...

Model based tuning of the release of self healing agents from organic coatings: From Fickian to controlled release kinetics (abstract)

Evaluating solvents as healing-agents in thermoplastic matrics via dynamic synchrotron x-ray microtomography (abstract)

A mechanical model for the self healing response of coatings based on expansive phases (abstract)

Compartemented fibres: The concept of multiple self-healing in advanced fibre composites

Polymers reinforced with high performance fibres are successfully replacing metal alloys in lightweight aircraft structures. A critical factor in structural design is the resistance of a structure to progressive damage which develops during its service time. The brittle nature of matrix cracking is the main source of composite failure initiating...

On the healing mechanism of sol-gel derived hybrid materials containing dynamic di-sulfide bonds

Sol-gel technology is increasingly being used in coatings for corrosion protection and adhesion improvement. So far, the self-healing concept in sol-gel coatings has only been approached from extrinsic healing perspective (i.e. use of nano and micro carriers of corrosion inhibitors) [1]. Despite the benefits of this approach, the damaged area...

Novel routes to liquid-based self-healing polymer systems

Inspired by the current state-of-the-art and the progressing advancements in the field of self-healing materials, this thesis addresses several novel routes to advance the concept of liquid-based self-healing polymer systems. This thesis presents the concept and characterisation of a one-component solvent-based healing mechanism for...

Self-Healing Corrosion Protective Sol-Gel Coatings

Inspired by the state of the art and the recent advances in the field of self-healing corrosion protective coatings, the thesis entitled “Self-healing corrosion protective sol-gel coatings” addresses novel routes to self-healing corrosion protective sol-gel coatings via extrinsic and intrinsic healing approaches. The employed approaches aim at...

Effect of polymer architecture on the intrinsic self-healing character of polymers

Intrinsic and extrinsic self-healing strategies can be employed to mitigate the effects of local damage in order to (partially) restore a lost property or functionality and to avoid premature catastrophic failure of the whole system. It is well known that polymer architecture has a crucial influence on mechanical, physical and thermal properties...

Mechanical testing and quantification of crack healing in self-healing yttria-stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coating

Thermal barrier coatings (TBC) are often applied to hot components of modern turbojet engines. These coatings increase the performance of the engine and enhance the lifetime of its structural components. Thus, improving the TBC lifetime is related with a reduction of maintenance costs and increased reliability. As an alternative to conventional...