A practical methodology for modeling and verification of self-healing microcapsules-based composites elasticity

This study introduces a practical methodology for modeling of self-healing microcapsules-based composites elasticity with experimental verification. The elastic modulus of the matrix material was determined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). In addition, single-microcapsule micromanipulation compression was performed accompanied by 2D finite element modeling (FEM) to extract the elastic modulus of single-microcapsule. Detailed 3D FEMs were constructed to predict the effective elastic properties of the microcapsules-based composites. To define the material properties of these FEMs, both of the elastic moduli of the matrix and the microcapsules were used. Microstructures having packing arrangement of simple cubic (SC), body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), and random-monodispersed (RM) microcapsules were investigated. The microcapsules size and shell wall thickness reflect the microstructural geometry at definite volume fractions. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed to determine the elastic modulus of prepared composites containing 5, 10, and 20 vol% microcapsules. Finally, experimental verification was obtained by comparing the experimental work to the FEM results. Good agreement was achieved. It was found that the volume fraction and the packing arrangement of the microcapsules in the composite were the only parameters that affect the composite effective elastic modulus, while the size and shell thickness of the microcapsules are not effective.