Self-Healing Polymers From Principles to Applications

Self-healing is a well-known phenomenon in nature: a broken bone merges after some time and if skin is damaged, the wound will stop bleeding and heals again. This concept can be mimicked in order to create polymeric materials with the ability to regenerate after they have suffered degradation or wear. Already realized applications are used in aerospace engineering, and current research in this fascinating field shows how different self-healing mechanisms proven successful by nature can be adapted to produce even more versatile materials.

The book combines the knowledge of an international panel of experts in the field and provides the reader with chemical and physical concepts for self-healing polymers, including aspects of biomimetic processes of healing in nature.

It shows how to design self-healing polymers and explains the dynamics in these systems. Different self-healing concepts such as encapsulated systems and supramolecular systems are detailed. Chapters on analysis and friction detection in self-healing polymers and on applications round off the book.

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE: Design of Self-Healing Materials

PRINCIPLES OF SELF-HEALING POLYMERS
Introductory Remarks
General Concept for the Design and Classification of Self-Healing Materials
Physical Principles of Self-Healing
Chemical Principles of Self-Healing
Multiple versus One-Time Self-Healing
Resume and Outlook

SELF-HEALING IN PLANTS AS BIO-INSPIRATION FOR SELF-REPAIRING POLYMERS
Self-Sealing and Self-Healing in Plants: A Short Overview
Selected Self-Sealing and Self-Healing Processes in Plants as Role Models for Bio-Inspired Materials with Self-Repairing Properties
Bio-Inspired Approaches for the Development of Self-Repairing Materials and Structures
Bio-Inspired Self-Healing Materials: Outlook

MODELING SELF-HEALING PROCESSES IN POLYMERS: FROM NANOGELS TO NANOPARTICLE-FILLED MICROCAPSULES
Introduction
Designing Self-Healing Dual Cross-Linked Nanogel Networks
Designing 'Artificial Leukocytes' That Help Heal Damaged Surfaces via the Targeted Delivery of Nanoparticles to Cracks
Conclusions

PART TWO: Polymer Dynamics

STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF POLYMER CHAINS
Foreword
Techniques
Structure
Dynamics
Application to Self-Healing
Conclusions and Outlook

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF CROSS-LINKING PROCESSES IN SELF-HEALING MATERIALS
Introduction
Thermodynamics of Gelation
Viscoelastic Properties of the Sol-Gel Transition
Phase Separation and Gelation
Conclusions

THERMALLY REMENDABLE POLYMERS
Principles of Thermal Healing
Inorganic-Organic Systems
Efficiency, Assessment of Healing Performance
Conclusions

PHOTOCHEMICALLY REMENDABLE POLYMERS
Background
Molecular Design
Reversible Photo-Crosslinking Behaviors
Evaluation of Photo-Remendability
Concluding Remarks

MECHANOPHORES FOR SELF-HEALING APPLICATIONS
Introduction
Mechanochemical Damage
Activation of Mechanophores
Mechanochemical Self-Healing Strategies
Conclusions and Outlook

CHEMISTRY OF CROSSLINKING PROCESSES FOR SELF-HEALING POLYMERS
Introduction
Extrinsic Self-Healing Materials
Intrinsic Self-Healing Materials
Concluding Remarks and Future Outlook

PREPARATION OF NANOCAPSULES AND CORE-SHELL NANOFI BERS FOR EXTRINSIC SELF-HEALING MATERIALS
Selected Preparation Methods for the Encapsulation of Self-Healing Agents
Mechanically Induced Self-Healing
Stimuli-Responsive Self-Healing Materials
Novel Approaches and Perspectives

PART THREE: Supramolecular Systems

SELF-HEALING POLYMERS VIA SUPRAMOLECULAR, HYDROGEN-BONDED NETWORKS
Introduction
Dynamics of Hydrogen Bonds in Solution
Supramolecular Gels
Self-Healing Bulk Materials
Conclusions

METAL-COMPLEX-BASED SELF-HEALING POLYMERS
Stimuli-Responsive Metallopolymers
Self-Healing Metallopolymers
Summary and Outlook

SELF-HEALING IONOMERS
Introduction
Basic Principles of Ionomers
Ionomers in Self-Healing Systems
Actual Developments and Future Trends in Ionomeric and Related Self-Healing Systems

PART FOUR: Analysis and Friction Detection in Self-Healing Polymers: Macroscopic, Microscopic and Nanoscopic Techniques

METHODS TO MONITOR AND QUANTIFY (SELF-) HEALING IN POLYMERS AND POLYMER SYSTEMS
Introduction
Visualization Techniques
Healing of Mechanical Properties
Healing of Functional Integrity
Summary

SELF-HEALING EPOXIES AND THEIR COMPOSITES
Introduction
Capsule-Based Healing System
Vascular-Based Healing Systems
Intrinsic Healing Systems
Conclusions

SELF-HEALING COATINGS
Introduction into Self-Healing Coatings
Concept of Micro- and Nanocontainer-Based Self-Healing Coatings
Types of Nanocontainers
Characterization of Nanocontainer-Based Self-Healing Coatings
Conclusions and Current Trends

APPLICATION OF SELF-HEALING MATERIALS IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
General Considerations
Conclusions

INDEX

Wolfgang H. Binder is currently Full Professor for Macromolecular Chemistry at the Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (see www.macrochem.uni-halle.de). He received his PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1995 at the University of Vienna. In his post doc research at Emory University, USA, he specialized on colloidal chemistry/macro-molecular chemistry. In 1997 he became an Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Vienna and in 2004 Associate Professor. His research is focused on synthesis and self-assembly of tailored polymers and analytical polymer science, with applications in material science, nanotechnology and medicine; Wolfgang H. Binder has published more than 120 scientific articles.