Improving particle characteristic and encapsulated indicators of urea–formaldehyde/epoxy self-healing microcapsule by incorporating resorcinol

Abstract

ABSTRACTMicromorphology, surface property, chemical structure and size distribution of self-healing microcapsules were characterized by ESEM, surface plasmon resonance analyzer, FTIR and standard sieve shaker. The yield and core content of self-healing microcapsules were determinated. The results showed that chemical reaction between resorcinol and UF resin shell materials could promote the polymerization of UF resin shell particles and enhance the degree of cross-linking of the UF resin shell materials. Particle size and microcapsule surface roughness increase with increasing degrees of cross-linking in the UF resin. The yield and core content of the microcapsules initially rose and then decreased with continued increases in the ratio of resorcinol to urea. When the ratio of resorcinol to urea was 12%, the microcapsules achieved the maximum particle size and had favorable micromorphology. Moreover, the yield and core content of the microcapsules were at their highest, at 75.49% and 69.8%.