SELF-HEALING PRODUCT

• US 20110003159A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syracuse University
• Original Assignee: Syracuse University
• Inventors: Luo, Xiaofan, Mather, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,533,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/425.6
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/02 Synthetic macromolecular fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0269 Aromatic polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/106 Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/10 Inorganic particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/302 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/702 Amorphous
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/704 Crystalline
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7163 Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/20 using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 9/04 comprising such particular substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a glass layer B32B17/06; layered products with at least two ceramic layers composed mainly of ceramic B32B18/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31601 Quartz or glass

Abstract

Embodiments of a self-healing product comprise a shape memory component and a healing component interpenetrating the shape memory component to form a fibrous microstructure. This microstructure can facilitate healing and mending mechanisms, wherein in one embodiment the healing component is selected so as to diffuse into a defect when the area of the product with the defect is subject to a treatment. This treatment can vary the temperature of the self-healing product, with the temperatures in one example being at or above a melting temperature (T_m) and/or a glass transition temperature (T_g) for one or both of the shape memory component and the healing component. The self-healing product can also comprise a substrate so that deposition of one or more of the shape memory component and the healing component onto the substrate can form a coating or material layer the likes of which can protect the subjacent substrate while also providing the healing properties responsive to the treatment.

Claims

1. A self-healing product, comprising:

a first material for storing strain energy; and

a second material dispersed in the first material, the second material forming a plurality of fibers randomly oriented within the first material,

wherein the second material is responsive to a treatment that causes the second material to diffuse within the first material.

2. A self-healing product according to claim 1, wherein the treatment heats the first material and the second material to a temperature that is at or above a transition temperature, and wherein the transition temperature comprises one or more of a glass transition temperature and a melting temperature.

3. A self-healing product according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a shape memory polymer.

4. A self-healing product according to claim 1, wherein the second material is amenable to deposition using electro-spinning.

5. A self-healing product according to claim 2, wherein the second material comprises a polymer, wherein the melting temperature of the polymer is different from the glass transition temperature of the first material, and wherein the temperature that is at or above the melting temperature.

6. A self-healing product according to claim 1, wherein the first material comprises a liquid resin.

7. A self-healing product according to claim 1, wherein each of the fibers have diameters that do not exceed the order of a micro-meter scale.

8. A self-healing product according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate having a surface for receiving one or more of the first material and the second material thereon.

9. A self-healing product according to claim 8, wherein the substrate comprises glass.

10. A self-healing product according to claim 1, wherein the first material solidifies in response to ultra-violet curing.

11. A self-healing product for use as a coating, said self-healing product comprising:

a thermally-mendable article comprising a shape memory component and a healing component mixed with the shape memory component,

wherein the shape memory component comprises a shape memory polymer for storing strain energy that is generated by deformation of the thermally-mendable composition,

wherein the healing component forms a microstructure comprising a plurality of fibers interpenetrating the shape memory polymer, and

wherein each of the fibers comprises a material that is responsive to a treatment that causes the healing component to diffuse within the shape memory component.

12. A self-healing product according to claim 11, wherein the thermally-mendable composition has a first set of properties before the deformation and a second set of properties after the deformation that is different from the first set of properties, and wherein the microstructure recrystallizes to change the second set of properties to the first set of properties.

13. A self-healing product according to claim 11, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a liquid resin that solidifies in response to ultra-violet curing.

14. A self-healing product according to claim 13, wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a photocurable polyurethane.

15. A self-healing product according to claim 11, wherein the fibers have a melting temperature that is different from a glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer.

16. A method for restoring at least a portion of a self-healing product subjected to a deformation, the self-healing product comprising a thermally-mendable composition, said method comprising:

releasing strain energy from a shape memory component of the thermally-mendable composition; and

flowing through the self-healing product a healing component of the thermally-mendable composition,

wherein the healing component is interpenetrated as a plurality of fibers with the shape memory component to form a microstructure in the thermally-mendable composition, and

wherein each of the fibers comprises a material that is responsive to a treatment that causes the healing component to diffuse within the shape memory component.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of fibers have a melting temperature that is different from a glass transition temperature of the shape memory component.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the self-healing product has a first set of properties before the deformation and a second set of properties after the deformation that is different from the first set of properties, and wherein the microstructure recrystallizes to change the second set of properties to the first set of properties.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the deformation causes a gap in the self-healing product, wherein the shape memory component comprises a shape memory polymer that closes the gap in response to a variation in temperature of the self-healing product, and wherein the material of the fibers flows into the gap when the variation in the temperature exceeds a melting temperature for the material.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the melting temperature is different from a glass transition temperature for the shape memory polymer.