Abstract
A technique for self-healing of interfacial debonding in FRPs (fiber-reinforced polymers) is studied. Healing is accomplished by incorporating a microcapsulated healing agent and catalytic chemical trigger within a coating layer on the surface of the fibers. Self-healing is demonstrated on flat tensile specimens of neat epoxy and unidirectional FRPs. The ratio of tensile strengths of the virgin and healed materials (healing efficiency) is used to quantitatively measure crack healing. The effects of healing conditions and microcapsule diameter on healing efficiency are investigated. Finite element method was used to investigate the state of stress around microcapsules due to uniaxial tensile loadings. Microstructures of the fracture surfaces of specimens was also examined by SEM (scanning electron microscope).
