Low velocity impact response and post impact assessment of carbon fiber/epoxy composites modified with Diels-Alder based healing agent. A novel approach

Abstract

Bis-maleimides (BMIs) exhibit healing functionalities on polymer level due to their thermally reversible nature. In the current investigation, BMI self-healing (SH) resin based on Diels-Alder (DA) reaction mechanism was integrated into high performance carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) by solution electrospinning process (SEP). More precisely, reference and modified CFRPs having [45/0/−45/90]2S stacking sequence, with similar fiber volume fractions have been manufactured and tested under low velocity impact (LVI) and their post impact behaviour was assessed by compression tests. According to experimental results, it was shown that all CFRPs exhibited comparable damage resistance taking into consideration C-scan inspections after impact, while compression prior LVI revealed no degradation effects due to self-healing agent (SHA) incorporation. Compression after impact (CAI) tests show the expected degradation of compressive strength for all CFRPs. Finally, after healing activation the SHA was able to fully restore the damage area while the residual compression characteristics were significantly improved.