Abstract
The aim of the present study is to apply an embedded resistance wire technique for curing of thermosetting resins as well as for the self-healing of thermoplastic polymers. The work consists of two parts. In the first part, Kanthal resistance wires embedded in a resin plate acted as heating elements when direct electrical current was flowing through them (Joule heating). During heating, the temperature was continuously monitored using a thermal camera, and accurate temperature times for fixed position diagrams as well as temperature positions for fixed time diagrams were calculated. The effects of curing with this method were evaluated by studying the three-point bending mechanical behavior of the cured resin, comparing it with the corresponding behavior of the same resin when cured using a conventional oven curing method at the same temperature. In the second part of the present work, the possibility of using the same technique for healing existing notches and flaws in a PET thermoplastic is explored. We examined whether providing energy through the resistance wires created the right amount of heat to heal the thermoplastic, or, more specifically, whether it closed the notches and eliminated the abrasions that were artificially created on the specimens. The technique using embedded resistance wires worked equally well, with interesting and promising preliminary results regarding the curing of thermoset resins and the healing of thermoplastics.
Highlights
IntroductionThe most important advantages of epoxy resins are their very good chemical resistance, easy processing, good adhesion, high mechanical strength, excellent viscosity, and low shrinkage
An embedded resistance wire technique was successfully applied for both epoxy resin curing and PET edge notch and abrasion healing
The strength values of epoxy resins cured with the embedded resistance wire technique were lower than the respective strength values corresponding to the pure resin cured in an oven at 50 °C with a maximum deviation on the order of 20% observed in the case of 6 wires embedded into the resin and cured at 50 °C;
Summary
The most important advantages of epoxy resins are their very good chemical resistance, easy processing, good adhesion, high mechanical strength, excellent viscosity, and low shrinkage. Their basic properties can be modified according to the requirements of a specific application (mixing with an additive of choice, use of modifiers, etc.), which results in a variety of applications for them. The significant advantages of epoxy resins have resulted in their rapid growth rate and widespread use One of their most common applications is their use as matrices for the manufacture of composite materials [4], while another important application is their use as adhesives [5].
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