Healing of a glass fibre reinforced composite with a disulphide containing organic-inorganic epoxy matrix

We report the development of an intrinsic healing glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite based on a disulphide-containing organic-inorganic thermoset matrix. Thermomechanical experiments showed that the newly developed matrix has a combination of a Young's modulus value in the range of (800-1200 MPa), the ability to multiple thermally induced healing delamination (70-85 °C), and processability by conventional vacuum infusion process that is not yet reported in literature. The composite mechanical properties and the extent of healing were determined by flexural, fracture and low-velocity impact testing. Small sized (cm2) damage, by increasing the healing pressure provided the location of the primary damage is concentrated within the matrix phase. The polymer matrix composite introduced here represents a significant step forward from the often mechanically inferior intrinsically self-healing composites towards structural self-healing composites.