Prospects and Future Directions of Self-Healing Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials.

Min Wook Lee

doi:10.3390/polym12020379

Abstract

In this paper, the anticipated challenges and future applications of self-healing composite materials are outlined. The progress made, from the classical literature to the most recent approaches, is summarized as follows: general history of current self-healing engineering materials, self-healing of structural composite materials, and self-healing under extreme conditions. Finally, the next stage of research on self-healing composites is discussed.

Highlights

In nature, self-healing is an autonomous and a fascinating phenomenon that can be observed in most living organisms
Nature-inspired self-healing features have been explored in biomimetic designs and healing strategies
Fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) have received increasing attention owing to the demand for lightweight construction and high strength in construction and structural materials [10]

Summary

Introduction

Self-healing is an autonomous and a fascinating phenomenon that can be observed in most living organisms. As observed in mammals or plants, the vascular network enables rapid and continuous transportation of healing substances to the damaged area. This effective microvascular system is composed of a network structure and perfectly covers the entire body/surface. Capsule-based self-healing methods exhibit several disadvantages, such as low uniformity of the dispersed capsules and complicated fabrication processes [8]. To overcome these drawbacks, several fiber-based self-healing approaches have been introduced in recent years, one of which, solution blowing, has already been scaled up. The development of innovative technologies, such as the proliferation of soft robots and actuators, as well as products based thereon, requires innovative flexible self-healing composites that can withstand multiple operation cycles without fatigue crack growth

Self-Healing of Structural Composite Materials

Self-Healing Under Extreme Conditions

Heat Generation

New Materials and Approaches

Field Repair

Concluding Remarks