Self-healing epoxy composites: preparation, characterization and healing performance

Low velocity impact damage is common in fiber reinforced composites, which leads to micro-crack and interfacial debonding, where damage is microscopic and invisible. The concept of self-healing composites can be a way of overcoming this limitation and extending the life expectancy while expanding their usage in structural applications. In the current study, extrinsic self-healing concept was adopted using urea-formaldehyde microcapsules containing room temperature curing epoxy resin system (SC-15) as the healing agent prepared by in situ polymerization. Microcapsules were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for structural analysis. Size and shape of microcapsules were studied using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Size of the microcapsules was between 30 and 100 μm. Thermal characterization was carried out using thermogravimetric analysis. Microcapsules were thermally stable till 210 °C without any significant decomposition. Fiber reinforced composite fabrication was carried out in three different steps. In the first step, epoxy resin was encapsulated in urea-formaldehyde shell material, which was confirmed by FTIR analysis. In the next step, encapsulation of amine hardener was achieved by vacuum infiltration method. These two different microcapsules were added with epoxy at 10:3 ratio and composite fabrication was done with hand layup method. Finally, healing performance was measured in terms of low velocity impact test and thermoscopy analysis. Low velocity impact test with 30 J and 45 J impact loads confirmed the delamination and micro-crack in composite materials and subsequent healing recovery observed in terms of damaged area reduction and restoration of mechanical properties.