Self-healing

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) picture of melamine urea formaldehyde microcapsules filled with healing agent. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) picture of melamine urea formaldehyde microcapsules filled with healing agent. Enlarge image

A biological organism can repair damage up to a certain degree by self healing. A transfer of this self healing strategy onto man-made materials would result in a prolonged lifetime and considerably reduced costs. For example, the worldwide yearly costs caused by corrosion are estimated to a total of 300 billion us dollars.

Over the past two decades the development of self healing for ceramics, concrete, composites and fibers was fast-paced. With a delay of five to ten years self healing strategies for polymers have emerged that build on the following principles (among others):

  • Micro- and nanoencapsultion of monomers as healing agents
  • Diels-Alder- and Retro-Diels-Alder-Reactions
  • Ring opening methathesis polymerisation (ROMP)
  • Polydimethylsiloxane based healing
  • Biomimetic microvaskulary networks
  • Ionomers as self healing polymers

This project is focused on a self healing mechanism through microencapsulated healing agents in coating materials.