Embedded shape-memory alloy wires for improved performance of self-healing polymers

Eva L. Kirkby, Joseph D. Rule, Véronique J. Michaud, Nancy R. Sottos, Scott R. White, Jan Anders E. Månson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We report the first measurements of self-healing polymers with embedded shape-memory alloy (SMA) wires. The addition of SMA wires shows improvements of healed peak fracture loads by up to a factor of 1.6, approaching the performance of the virgin material. Moreover, the repairs can be achieved with reduced amounts of healing agent. The improvements in performance are due to two main effects: (i) crack closure, which reduces the total crack volume and increases the crack fill factor for a given amount of healing agent and (ii) heating of the healing agent during polymerization, which increases the degree of cure of the polymerized healing agent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2253-2260
Number of pages8
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume18
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 11 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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