Mechanical behavior of aeronautical composites containing self-healing microcapsules

Abstract

Purpose

Over the last decades, self-healing materials based on polymers are attracting increasing interest due to their potential for detecting and “autonomically” healing damage. The use of embedded self-healing microcapsules represents one of the most popular self-healing concepts. Yet, extensive investigations are still needed to convince on the efficiency of the above concept. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present work, the effect of embedded self-healing microcapsules on the ILSS behavior of carbon fiber reinforced composite materials has been studied. Moreover, the self-healing efficiency has been assessed. The results of the mechanical tests were discussed supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as by Attenuated Total Reflection–Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) analyses.

Findings

The results indicate a general trend of a degraded mechanical behavior of the enhanced materials, as the microcapsules exhibit a non-uniform dispersion and form agglomerations which act as internal defects. A remarkable value of the self-healing efficiency has been found for materials with limited damage, e.g. matrix micro-cracks. However, for significant damage, in terms of large matrix cracks and delaminations as well as fiber breakages, the self-healing efficiency is limited.

Originality/value

The results obtained by SEM analysis as well as by ATR–FTIR spectroscopy constitute a strong indication that the self-healing mechanism has been activated. However, further investigation should be conducted in order to provide definite evidence.

Citation

Polydoropoulou, P., Katsiropoulos, C.V., Loukopoulos, A. and Pantelakis, S. (2018), "Mechanical behavior of aeronautical composites containing self-healing microcapsules", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 9 No. 6, pp. 753-767. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-12-2017-0075