Self-Healing Laminate System

• US 20090191402A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Keller, Michael W., White, Scott R., Sottos, Nancy R., Beiermann, Brett A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,415,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/163 Sealing compositions or agents, e.g. combined with propellant agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/22 the article containing elements including a sealing composition, e.g. powder being liberated when the article is damaged
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/1253 curable adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/24 All layers being polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0261 Polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/51 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7242 Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7246 Water vapor barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7265 Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/762 Self-repairing, self-healing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/027 Ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/08 Dimensions, e.g. volume
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/105 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/283 comprising polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 : characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/02 : characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer layer formed of metallic wires B32B15/02; layer formed of natural mineral fibres B32B19/02; layer formed of wood fibres B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 : Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249921 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A laminate material may include a first flexible layer, and a self-healing composite layer in contact with the first flexible layer. The composite layer includes an elastomer matrix, a plurality of first capsules including a polymerizer, and a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The laminate material may self-heal when subjected to a puncture or a tear.

Claims

1. A laminate material, comprising:

a first flexible layer, and

a self-healing composite layer in contact with the first flexible layer;

where the composite layer comprises

an elastomer matrix,

a plurality of first capsules comprising a polymerizer, and

a corresponding activator for the polymerizer.

2. The laminate material of claim 1, where the first flexible layer comprises a barrier material.

3. The laminate material of claim 1, where the first flexible layer comprises a fabric.

4. The laminate material of claim 1, where the first flexible layer comprises at least two layers, and at least one of the two layers is a barrier material.

5. The laminate material of claim 1, where the elastomer matrix comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of elastomer polymers, copolymer elastomers, block copolymer elastomers and polymer blend elastomers.

6. The laminate material of claim 1, where the elastomer matrix comprises a polysiloxane.

7. The laminate material of claim 1, where the polymerizer comprises a polymerizer for an elastomer.

8. The laminate material of claim 1, where the polymerizer comprises a polymerizer for a polysiloxane.

9. The laminate material of claim 1, where the plurality of first capsules has an aspect ratio of 1:

1 to 1;

2, and an average diameter of 10 nm to 1 mm.

10. The laminate material of claim 1, where the corresponding activator is a catalyst.

11. The laminate material of claim 1, where the corresponding activator and the elastomer matrix are a homogeneous mixture.

12. The laminate material of claim 1, where the corresponding activator is present as a phase separated solid in the elastomer matrix.

13. The laminate material of claim 1, where the composite layer further comprises a plurality of second capsules, and the corresponding activator is in the second capsules.

14. The laminate material of claim 13, where the plurality of second capsules has an aspect ratio of 1:

1 to 1;

2, and an average diameter of 10 nm to 1 mm.

18. The laminate material of claim 1, where the laminate material is self-sealing as measured by the self-sealing test.

15-17. -17. (canceled)

19. A laminate material, comprising:

a first flexible layer,

a second flexible layer, and

a self-healing composite layer between the first and second flexible layers;

where the composite layer comprises

an elastomer matrix,

a plurality of first capsules comprising a polymerizer, and

a plurality of second capsules comprising a corresponding activator for the polymerizer; and

at least one of the first and second flexible layers independently comprises a fabric and a barrier material.

20-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method of making a laminate material, comprising:

contacting a first flexible layer with a self-healing composite layer,

the composite layer comprising an elastomer matrix,

a plurality of first capsules comprising a polymerizer, and

a corresponding activator for the polymerizer; and

attaching the first flexible layer and the composite layer.

35. The method of claim 29, where the contacting comprises applying a mixture to the first flexible layer,

the mixture comprising

the plurality of first capsules comprising the polymerizer,

the corresponding activator for the polymerizer, and

a matrix precursor;

and

solidifying the matrix precursor to form the elastomer matrix.

44. The method of claim 29, where the laminate material is self-sealing as measured by the self-sealing test.

30-34. -34. (canceled)

36-43. -43. (canceled)

45. A method of increasing the lifetime of a flexible material, comprising:

contacting the flexible material with a composite layer,

the composite layer comprising an elastomer matrix,

a plurality of first capsules comprising a polymerizer, and

a corresponding activator for the polymerizer; and

attaching the flexible material and the composite layer to form a laminate material;

where the flexible material is non-self-sealing as measured by the self-sealing test, and the laminate material is self-sealing as measured by the self-sealing test.

46-49. -49. (canceled)