Development of Model Self-healing Material Using Microcapsules Containing Cold-setting Twin-pack Adhesive by Mimicking Ion-channel Function

Abstract

We have been trying to develop a repeatable self-healing material system by applying the mechanosensing mechanism generated by the bone cells and their network to artificial materials. As the first step, we applied the stress-activated channels by mimicking the function of the cellular ion channel to microcapsules. The purpose of this study was to confirm the self-healing behavior of the model specimens containing the microcapsules with the cold-setting resin. The microcapsules containing epoxy resin and curing agent were prepared by using the coacervation method, and the glass beads treated with mold release agent was used to form the stress-activated channels on their membrane. In order to confirm the function of the stress-activated channels, the tensile loading and unloading cycles were applied to the model specimens. As a result, the model specimens showed the recovery in the mechanical properties repeatability. Thus, the effectiveness of the self-healing material system proposed in this study was verified.