Self-Healing Materials

Book excerpt: Self-Healing Materials: Principles and Technology, Second Edition provides engineers and researchers in both industry and academia the information they need to deploy self-healing technology in a range of potential applications, from adhesives to the automotive industry, and from electronics to biomedical implants. Sections discuss the principal mechanisms of self-healing and how these are applied to the development of materials that have the ability to repair themselves, either with minimal or no human intervention. In addition, the book provides a theoretical background and a review of the major research undertaken to date, providing a thorough grounding in this concept and related technology. Other sections compare the parameters of different self-healing technological processes, such as fault detection mechanisms, methods of triggering and turning off the healing processes, the activation energy of self-healing processes, the means and methods of delivery of the healing substances to the defect locations, self-healing timescale (rate of self-healing), and the extent of self-healing (healing efficiency, recovery of properties, etc.). In addition, mathematical modeling of the processes of self-healing (molecular dynamics simulation), the morphology of healed areas, and other important topics are thoroughly discussed. - Helps materials scientists and engineers reduce risk of degradation and materials failure by using self-healing materials in a range of applications - Provides real-world application examples so practitioners can assess the applicability and usefulness of self-healing materials in their work - Includes guidance on the efficiency and efficacy of self-healing mechanisms, with coverage of different parameters considered and methodologies used - Discusses typical aids and additives in self-healing materials, including plasticizers, catalysts, shape-memory components, and more