System For Visual Indication Of Mechanical Damage
First Claim
1. A self-indicating material system, comprising:
- a solid polymer matrix having a first color;
a first plurality of capsules in the matrix, the first plurality of capsules comprising a first reactant; and
a plurality of particles in the matrix, the plurality of particles comprising a second reactant;
where, when a crack forms in the polymer matrix, at least a portion of the first plurality of capsules is ruptured, the first and second reactants form a product in the matrix, and the portion of the polymer matrix containing the product has a second color different from the first color.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-indicating material system may include a solid polymer matrix having a first color, a first plurality of capsules in the matrix, and a plurality of particles in the matrix. The first plurality of capsules includes a first reactant, and the plurality of particles includes a second reactant, which forms a product when in contact with the first reactant. When a crack forms in the polymer matrix, at least a portion of the first plurality of capsules is ruptured, the first and second reactants form the product in the matrix, and the portion of the polymer matrix containing the product has a second color different from the first color. A self-indicating material system may include a solid polymer matrix, a plurality of capsules in the matrix, and an activator in the matrix, where the polymer matrix includes a first polymer and has a first color, the plurality of capsules includes a polymerizer, and the activator is an activator for the polymerizer. When a crack forms in the polymer matrix, at least a portion of the plurality of capsules is ruptured, the polymerizer and the activator form a second polymer in the crack, and the second polymer has a second color different from the first color.
45 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A self-indicating material system, comprising:
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a solid polymer matrix having a first color; a first plurality of capsules in the matrix, the first plurality of capsules comprising a first reactant; and a plurality of particles in the matrix, the plurality of particles comprising a second reactant; where, when a crack forms in the polymer matrix, at least a portion of the first plurality of capsules is ruptured, the first and second reactants form a product in the matrix, and the portion of the polymer matrix containing the product has a second color different from the first color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A self-indicating material system, comprising:
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a solid polymer matrix comprising a first polymer and having a first color; a plurality of capsules in the matrix, the plurality of capsules comprising a polymerizer; and an activator for the polymerizer in the matrix; where, when a crack forms in the polymer matrix, at least a portion of the plurality of capsules is ruptured, the polymerizer and the activator form a second polymer in the crack, and the second polymer has a second color different from the first color. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of indicating mechanical damage in a solid polymer matrix, comprising:
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providing in the solid polymer matrix a first plurality of capsules and a plurality of particles; where the solid polymer matrix has a first color, the first plurality of capsules comprises a first reactant, and the plurality of particles comprises a second reactant; where, when at least a portion of the first plurality of capsules is ruptured, the first reactant contacts the second reactant in the matrix, and a product is formed from the first and second reactants; and the portion of the polymer matrix containing the product has a second color different from the first color.
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23. A method of indicating mechanical damage in a solid polymer matrix, comprising:
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providing in the solid polymer matrix a plurality of capsules and an activator; where the solid polymer matrix comprises a first polymer and has a first color, the plurality of capsules comprises a polymerizer, and the activator is an activator for the polymerizer; where, when at least a portion of the capsules is ruptured, the polymerizer contacts the activator in the matrix, and a second polymer is formed from the polymerizer and the activator; and the second polymer has a second color different from the first color.
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Specification