SELF-HEALING OF A FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIAL USING METAL TRIFLATES AS CATALYTIC CURING AGENTS

摘要

Metal triflates are employed as catalytic curing agents for ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of epoxy resin to facilitate self-healing in a high performance, fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite material. Laminates manufactured using existing industrial methods contain an embedded bio-inspired series of microvascular channels for the delivery of self-healing agent to exposed fractured crack planes. Thermal cure analysis and mechanical testing is employed to characterise the self-healed polymer by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a tapered double cantilever beam (TDCB) test specimen geometry. After initial Mode I crack opening displacement unloaded samples are injected with Lewis acid catalysed epoxy self-healing agent (SHA) and left to cure. Strong adhesive compatibility with the host matrix confers full recovery of mechanical properties (>99% healing).