Abstract
Nowadays, the self-healing approach in materials science mainly relies on functionalized polymers used as matrices in nanocomposites. Through different physicochemical pathways and stimuli, these materials can undergo self-repairing mechanisms that represent a great advantage to prolonging materials service-life, thus avoiding early disposal. Particularly, the use of the Joule effect as an external stimulus for self-healing in conductive nanocomposites is under-reported in the literature. However, it is of particular importance because it incorporates nanofillers with tunable features thus producing multifunctional materials. The aim of this review is the comprehensive analysis of conductive polymer nanocomposites presenting reversible dynamic bonds and their energetical activation to perform self-healing through the Joule effect.
Highlights
Self-healing is the natural ability of living organisms to repair tissue damage and to endure harsh environments through dynamic mechanisms [1,2]
To trigger the healing properties by the Joule effect, a nanocomposite must be both thermally and electrically conductive and must exhibit thermally self-healing properties. To achieve this combination of properties, polymer matrices are combined with conductive fillers, providing synergistic effects of both components such as percolative pathways that help to carry electrical and thermal energy for self-healing processes generated from the Joule effect
Self-healing materials activated by the heat produced by the Joule effect are a family of materials that have the characteristics of both electrical/thermal conduction and selfrecovery by different chemical mechanisms
Summary
Self-healing is the natural ability of living organisms to repair tissue damage and to endure harsh environments through dynamic mechanisms [1,2]. Polymeric components can go through the self-healing process aided by grafted functional chemical groups on the backbone of the polymer [3,4,5] Such functionalized polymers bearing chemical groups that display reversible bonds represent a great advantage in terms of physical and chemical responses to different stimuli for self-healing. The tunable melting point and melt flow in functional polymers are useful parameters to design materials able to undergo crack healing processes. The latter has been demonstrated to be a key factor for repairing structural damage [3], shape recovery [6], and dimension stability of materials [7,8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
