New generation of Self- Healing Polymers

The next generation of self-healing polymers mimics human skin by healing itself time after time. The new materials rely upon embedded, three-dimensional micro vascular networks that emulate biological circulatory systems.

In the same manner that a cut in the skin triggers blood flow to promote healing, a crack in these new materials will trigger the flow of healing agent to repair the damage.

The vascular nature of this new supply system means minor damage to the same location can be healed repeatedly.

In the researchers' original approach, self-healing materials consisted of a microencapsulated healing agent and a catalyst distributed throughout a composite matrix. When the material cracked, microcapsules would rupture and release healing agent. The healing agent then reacted with the embedded catalyst to repair the damage.

(The work was funded by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Beckman Institute)

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