Short Communication: Test MethodAcoustic emission study of the TDCB test of microcapsules filled self-healing polymer

The failure process of self-healing microcapsule filled epoxy composites was investigated with Acoustic Emission (AE) measurement during tapered double cantilever beam (TDCB) tests. Unfilled, epoxy microcapsule filled and self-healing microcapsule (dual-microcapsules consisting of epoxy capsules and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) capsules) filled epoxy matrix specimens were compared. It was found that, with acoustic emission measurements, reliable data can be retrieved about the nature and progress of crack propagation and failure. Comparing the unfilled and the microcapsule filled specimens, considerably more AE hits were detected in the latter case due to the cracking of capsules and capsule-matrix debonding, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy investigations. Also, key differences were observed in the shape of the sum of AE hits curves and amplitude ranges of detected AE hits. Uniform distribution of the healing agent was demonstrated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.