Abstract
Self-healing polyurethanes (PUs) were synthesized as a matrix of nanocomposites containing two fibrous carbon components, i.e., functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNF-OH) and short carbon fibers (CF). Two types of PUs differing in the content of flexible chain segments (40% and 50%) were used. Changes in mechanical strength were analyzed to assess the ability to self-healing of PU-based matrix nanocomposites with experimentally introduced damage in the form of an incision. The healing process was activated by heating the damaged samples at 60°C, for 30 minutes. The addition of CNT-OH and CF caused a slight reduction in the self-healing ability of the nanocomposites as compared to the neat PUs. After heating to 60°C, the nanocomposites self-healed up to 72% of the initial strength of the undamaged samples. The introduction of fibrous components to the polymer matrix improved the thermal conductivity of nanocomposites and facilitated heat transfer from the environment to the interior of the samples, necessary to initiate self-healing. Low content of carbon components in the PU matrix, i.e., 3 wt% of CF and 2 wt% of CNF-OH increased the total work up to fracture of samples after healing by about 53%.
Highlights
In recent years, more and more works have been devoted to the study of thermoplastic polymers as matrices for fibre reinforced composites [1,2,3]
Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes labelled as CNT-OH were used as the nanomodifier, and carbon fibres labelled as (CF) were used as the second modifier of PU samples
The lower healing ability of nanocomposites can be attributed to the reduction in mobility and diffusion of PU chains caused by the presence of carbon components
Summary
More and more works have been devoted to the study of thermoplastic polymers as matrices for fibre reinforced composites [1,2,3]. Other advantages of using thermoplastic matrices are the possibility of joining the composite elements by heating or adding a melted thermoplastics to elements of the mould For these reasons, thermoplastic matrices including PUs are more and more frequently used in many industries such as automotive, construction, and sport [4,5,6]. Thermoplastic matrices including PUs are more and more frequently used in many industries such as automotive, construction, and sport [4,5,6] They are used in the form of two-component mixtures, and the properties of the obtained materials depend on the ratio of isocyanate and polyol [7]. Self-healing polymers are a new direction in the development of composites technology with such matrices
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