Evaluation of Self Healing Polymer and Rubber Composites: A Brief Review of Recent Achievements

Abstract

Polymers contain extraordinary qualities, such as self-healing. Research and development of this form of polymer, which regenerates after injury, is an essential asset for artificial material lifetime and environmental sustainability. These polymers produced through polar interactions, hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, Diels Alders reactions and other types of interactions can totally recover their original qualities (high self healing effectiveness) at the molecular scale with repeatability without the need of chemicals. Self-healing capabilities may be introduced into a wide range of different materials, including concrete, ceramics, and metals, in addition to polymers and their composites. Despite extensive research in this field, mastering the self healing mechanism (intrinsic and extrinsic), characterization (spectroscopy and microscopy such as SEM, TEM to provide evidence of healing), and finding new sources of crosslinked fillers for polymers composites with high intrinsic self healing capabilities remain a significant difficulty. Microscope in the realm of creative product development, self-healing polymers and rubber composites have produced outstanding outcomes. Because of their exceptional excellent properties, such as strength/weight ratio, these materials have achieved great outcomes as well as corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, specific heat resistance, specific modulus, high self healing capability. This article briefly reviews some important point of the mechanism, characterization, application and recent accomplishments of great self healing ability of rubber composites.