Self-healing materials with microfluidic networks

A method of making a composite material provides a composite material that includes a polymeric layer and a substrate, in contact with the polymeric layer, where the substrate includes a substrate matrix, a first microfluidic network in the substrate matrix and in fluid communication with the polymeric layer, and a polymerizer in the first microfluidic network. The method includes forming the first microfluidic network in the substrate matrix, where the first microfluidic network is in fluid communication with a surface of the substrate matrix. The method further includes contacting the surface of the substrate matrix with the polymeric layer, and placing the polymerizer in the first microfluidic network.