University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Microcapsule induced toughening in a self-healing polymer composite

Brown, Eric N.; White, Scott R.; Sottos, Nancy R.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/283

Description

Title
Microcapsule induced toughening in a self-healing polymer composite
Author(s)
  • Brown, Eric N.
  • White, Scott R.
  • Sottos, Nancy R.
Issue Date
2003-02
Abstract
Microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) healing agent and Grubbs' Ru catalyst are incorporated into an epoxy matrix to produce a polymer composite capable of selfhealing. The fracture toughness and healing efficiency of this composite are measured using a tapered double-cantilever beam (TDCB) specimen. Both the virgin and healed fracture toughness depend strongly on the size and concentration of microcapsules added to the epoxy. Fracture of the neat epoxy is brittle, exhibiting a mirror fracture surface. Addition of DCPD-filled urea-formaldehyde (UF) microcapsules yields up to 127% increase in fracture toughness and induces a change in the fracture plane morphology to hackle markings. The fracture toughness of epoxy with embedded microcapsules is much greater than epoxy samples with similar concentrations of silica microspheres or solid UF polymer particles. The increased toughening associated with fluid-filled microcapsules is attributed to increased hackle markings as well as subsurface microcracking not observed for solid particle fillers.
Publisher
Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (UIUC)
Series/Report Name or Number
TAM Reports 1015
ISSN
0073-5264
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/283

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM) PRIMARY
TAM technical reports include manuscripts intended for publication, theses judged to have general interest, notes prepared for short courses, symposia compiled from outstanding undergraduate projects, and reports prepared for research-sponsoring agencies.