improvement of fatigue resistance of epoxy composite with microencapsulated epoxy-sbf5 self-healing system

Rapid retardation and arresting of fatigue crack are successfully realized in the epoxy composite containing microencapsulated epoxy and ethanol solution of antimony pentafluoride-ethanol complex (SbF5·HOC2H5/HOC2H5). The effects of (i) microcapsules induced-toughening, (ii) hydrodynamic pressure crack tip shielding offered by the released healing agent, and (iii) polymeric wedge and adhesive bonding of cured healing agent account for extension of fatigue life of the material. The two components of the healing agent can quickly react with each other soon after rupture of the microcapsules, and reconnect the crack only 20 seconds as of the test. The applied stress intensity range not only affects the healing efficiency, but also can be used to evaluate the healing speed. The present work offers a very fast healing system, and sets up a framework for characterizing speed of self-healing.