Interlayer self-healing and toughening of carbon fibre/epoxy composites using copolymer films

Abstract This paper presents an investigation of the combined self-healing and toughening performance of two copolymers: thermoplastic poly(ethylene- co -methyl acrylate) (EMA) and poly(ethylene- co -methacrylic acid) (EMAA). Carbon fibre composites were manufactured from unidirectional prepregs with rectangular-shaped patches being placed between composite plies. Results from double-cantilever-beam and short-beam-shear testing show that the incorporation of mendable polymers improves interlaminar fracture toughness but causes a reduction in interlaminar shear strength. The healing efficiency in terms of restoration of the interlaminate fracture energy scales linearly with the areal percentage of self-healing material. Microstructure study revealed distinct difference in the fracture surfaces of composites with EMA and EMAA, with EMA displaying extensive nano-scale porous structures in contrast to the more homogenous single phase structure from EMAA.

[1]  Nancy R. Sottos,et al.  Microencapsulation of isocyanates for self-healing polymers , 2008 .

[2]  J. Velasco,et al.  Influence of EMAA compatibilizer on the structure and properties of HDPE/hydrotalcite nanocomposites prepared by melt mixing , 2009 .

[3]  C. Wang.  On the fracture of constrained layers , 1998 .

[4]  Russell J. Varley,et al.  Ionomers as Self Healing Polymers , 2007 .

[5]  I. Bond,et al.  Bioinspired self-healing of advanced composite structures using hollow glass fibres , 2007, Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

[6]  P. Mather,et al.  A thermoplastic/thermoset blend exhibiting thermal mending and reversible adhesion. , 2009, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[7]  R. Fall.  Puncture Reversal of Polyethylene Ionomers - Mechanistic Studies , 2001 .

[8]  Scott A. Furman,et al.  Polyethylene-co-methacrylic acid healing agents for mendable epoxy resins , 2009 .

[9]  R. Wool.  Self-healing materials: a review. , 2008, Soft matter.

[10]  D. Wu,et al.  Self-healing polymeric materials: A review of recent developments , 2008 .

[11]  C. R. Becer,et al.  Self-healing and self-mendable polymers , 2010 .

[12]  Adrian P. Mouritz,et al.  Computational Analysis of the Structural Integrity of Self-Healing Composites , 2010 .

[13]  S. Furman,et al.  Poly[ethylene-co-(methacrylic acid)] Healing Agents for Mendable Carbon Fiber Laminates , 2010 .

[14]  B. E. Read,et al.  Properties of ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers and their sodium salts. Infrared studies , 1968 .

[15]  S. van der Zwaag,et al.  Routes and mechanisms towards self healing behaviour in engineering materials , 2010 .

[16]  T. W. Haas,et al.  The influence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on the flow behavior of polymer melts , 1969 .

[17]  Nancy R. Sottos,et al.  Polydimethylsiloxane‐Based Self‐Healing Materials , 2006 .

[18]  Thomas C Ward,et al.  Thermal characteristics of the self-healing response in poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) copolymers , 2007, Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

[19]  S. Zhang,et al.  Inhomogeneous toughening of carbon fiber/epoxy composite using electrospun polysulfone nanofibrous membranes by in situ phase separation , 2008 .

[20]  Thomas C. Ward,et al.  Self-Healing of Poly(Ethylene-co-Methacrylic Acid) Copolymers Following Projectile Puncture , 2007 .

[21]  Russell J. Varley,et al.  Towards an understanding of thermally activated self-healing of an ionomer system during ballistic penetration , 2008 .

[22]  Ming Qiu Zhang,et al.  Self-Healing of Thermoplastics via Living Polymerization , 2010 .

[23]  Simon A. Hayes,et al.  A self-healing thermosetting composite material , 2007 .

[24]  I. Bond,et al.  A hollow fibre reinforced polymer composite encompassing self-healing and enhanced damage visibility , 2005 .

[25]  I. Bond,et al.  Biomimetic self-healing of advanced composite structures using hollow glass fibres , 2006 .

[26]  S. Ghosh,et al.  Self‐Healing Materials: Fundamentals, Design Strategies, and Applications , 2009 .

[27]  S. Varghese,et al.  Role of Hydrophobicity on Structure of Polymer−Metal Complexes , 2001 .

[28]  Chun H. Wang.  Analysis of cracks in constrained layers , 1997 .

[29]  Sung-Youl Cho,et al.  Crack Healing in Polymeric Materials via Photochemical [2+2] Cycloaddition , 2004 .

[30]  N. Sottos,et al.  Autonomic healing of polymer composites , 2001, Nature.

[31]  S. Varghese,et al.  Metal-ion-mediated healing of gels , 2006 .