Self‐healing Materials

Abstract

In contrast to classical man‐made materials, self‐healing materials are capable of restoring their original functionality after being damaged. Scratches in the surface can be closed; the mechanical properties can be restored. This behavior is familiar for natural materials; consequently, several design strategies for self‐healing materials have been inspired by natural processes. For instance bleeding off a small cut was mimicked by the encapsulation of healing agents. In the past few years many different general healing mechanisms, which can provide a self‐healing ability, have been investigated. All these mechanisms have one general theme in common: mobility is generated within the material in order to achieve the healing process. Depending on the different material classes, different strategies have been utilized. The main approaches to obtain self‐healing metals, self‐healing ceramics, self‐healing concrete, self‐healing asphalt, and self‐healing polymers will be presented. Due to the intrinsic properties and limitations of each material class, not all approaches can be applied for each material. Both metals and ceramics require often high temperatures for the healing processes. Concrete can be healed at room temperature due to its intrinsic properties and a kind of a natural ability for self‐healing. Moreover, asphalt as well as polymers can also be healed at room temperature or at slightly elevated temperatures. At present, different self‐healing materials have already reached the status of commercialization. This fact demonstrates the capability of this novel approach for material design.

Monitoring Network and Interfacial Healing Processes by Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy: A Case Study on Natural Rubber

“…1 Since the emergence of the field of self-healing polymers several concepts using different reversible groups such as H-bonding, disulfides, Diels-Alder chemistry, and metalorganic ligands have attracted significant growing attention. [2][3][4][5][6] While self-healing repair is not intrinsically restricted to that of mechanical performance, 7 most of the published studies using intrinsic healing focus on the restoration of localized macroscale damages involving the creation of new interfaces (e.g. cracks or scratches) and the subsequent loss of stiffness and strength.…”

A novel biodegradable self-healing hydrogel to induce blood capillary formation

“…3,4 Self-healing hydrogels are a specialized type of hydrogel that can autonomously repair cracks or focal damage and their integrity as well as their mechanical properties can recover after being destroyed. 5,6 Recently, self-healing hydrogels have been developed from structurally dynamic polymers with dynamic covalent chemistry. [7][8][9] The dynamic selfhealing hydrogel with reversible crosslinkages have been shown to mimic the rheological properties of physiological fluids, such as the synovial fluid.…”

Review of research and developments in self healing composite materials

“…If self-recovering of damage caused by amassing or in the midst of utilization can fundamentally increase the lifetime and resolute nature of future novel materials, costs could be unquestionably slashed down, moreover by diminishing checking and controlling measures. Self-mending materials would fundamentally improve materials steadfast quality and, thusly, change section advancement and blueprint [41].…”