A self-healing carbon fibre reinforced polymer for aerospace applications

Self-healing is receiving increasing interest worldwide as a technology to autonomously address the effects of damage in composite materials. This paper describes the results of four point bend flexural testing (ASTM-D6272-02) of T300/914 carbon fibre reinforced epoxy with resin filled embedded hollow glass fibres (HGF) which provided a self-healing functionality. The study investigated the effect of the embedded HGF on the host CFRP mechanical properties and also the healing efficiency of the laminates after they were subjected to quasi-static impact. Specimens were tested in the undamaged, damaged and healed conditions using a commercial two-part epoxy healing agent (Cytec Cycom 823). Microscopic characterisation of the embedded HGF was also undertaken to characterise the effect on the host laminate fibre architecture.