University of Illinois

Benjamin J Blaiszik

Scott R White

Nancy R Sottos

Jeffrey S Moore

Mary M Caruso

Khalil Amine

Paul Vannest Braun

Jason Michael Kamphaus

Gerald O Wilson

Susan A Odom

Brett A Beiermann

Christian L Mangun

Aaron D Finke

Aaron C Jackson

Marta B Baginska

Joshua A Ritchey

James W Henderson

Christopher Britt

David A Delafuente

Jericho L Moll

A composite material includes a solid polymer matrix, a plurality of capsules and a liquid, in the capsules. The liquid includes from 50 to 100 wt % of a solvent, and from 0 to 50 wt % of a polymerizer. There is no polymerizer outside of the capsules. The solid polymer matrix may include a native activating moiety for the polymerizer. The solvent may have a swelling ratio with the solid polymer matrix of at least 1.1 and/or may have a polarity ET of from 0.10 to 0.50.

Solvent-promoted self-healing materials

A method of making capsules includes forming a mixture including a core liquid, a polyurethane precursor system, a first component of a two-component poly(urea-formaldehyde) precursor system, and a solvent. The method further includes emulsifying the mixture, adding a second component of the two-component poly(urea-formaldehyde) precursor system to the emulsified mixture, and maintaining the emulsified mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a plurality of capsules that encapsulate at least a portion of the core liquid. The capsules made by the method may include a polymerizer in the capsules, where the capsules have an inner capsule wall including a polyurethane, and an outer capsule wall including a poly(urea-formaldehyde). The capsules may include in the solid polymer matrix of a composite material.

Thermally robust capsule system, and composites including the capsules

A reinforced composite material includes a solid polymer matrix, a reinforcing material in the solid polymer matrix, and a first plurality of capsules. The reinforcing material includes a surface. The capsules are on the surface of the reinforcing material, and include a liquid healing agent. The amount of the healing agent of the capsules is at least 0.01 milligrams per square centimeter of the surface area of the reinforcing material.

Interfacial functionalization for self-healing composites

An autonomic conductivity restoration system includes a solid conductor and a plurality of particles. The particles include a conductive fluid, a plurality of conductive microparticles, and/or a conductive material forming agent. The solid conductor has a first end, a second end, and a first conductivity between the first and second ends. When a crack forms between the first and second ends of the conductor, the contents of at least a portion of the particles are released into the crack. The cracked conductor and the released contents of the particles form a restored conductor having a second conductivity, which may be at least 90% of the first conductivity.

Materials and methods for autonomous restoration of electrical conductivity

A composite material precursor composition includes a matrix precursor, a first plurality of capsules including a liquid polymerizer, an activator, and an accelerant. The liquid polymerizer polymerizes when in contact with the activator, and the accelerant is an accelerant for the polymerization of the liquid polymerizer. The composite material precursor may be used to form a composite material that includes a solid polymer matrix, the first plurality of capsules in the solid polymer matrix, the activator in the solid polymer matrix, and the accelerant in the solid polymer matrix.

Systems for self-healing composite materials

Growing community of inventors

Urbana, IL, United States of America

Benjamin J Blaiszik