Self-repairing, reinforced matrix materials

• US 5,989,334 A
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carolyn M. Dry
• Original Assignee: Carolyn M. Dry
• Inventors: Dry, Carolyn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCHESCHI, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/918,630
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 106/677, 106/711, 106/724, 106/802, 106/819, 106/823, 106/805, 106/676, 106/729, 428/320.2, 428/321.1, 428/321.5, 428/364, 523/218, 523/219, 501/95
• US Class Current: 106/677
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/48 with macromolecular fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 17/00 Details of, or accessories for, apparatus for shaping the material; Auxiliary measures taken in connection with such shaping moulds B28B7/00; after-treatment B28B11/00; feeding or discharging B28B13/00; arrangements for embedding elements in the material B28B23/00
• 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: C04B 20/0048 Fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/0056 Hollow or porous fibres
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/006 released by a chemical reaction, e.g. polymer condensation
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 38/0003 containing continuous channels, e.g. of the "dead-end" type or obtained by pushing bars in the green ceramic product B28B takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0007 Electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0028 Aspects relating to the mixing step of the mortar preparation
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0071 making use of a rise in pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0092 Temporary binders, mortars or concrete, i.e. materials intended to be destroyed or removed after hardening, e.g. by acid dissolution
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/024 Steam hardening, e.g. in an autoclave
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0263 Hardening promoted by a rise in temperature C04B40/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/06 Inhibiting the setting, e.g. mortars of the deferred action type containing water in breakable containers ; Inhibiting the action of active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0633 Chemical separation of ingredients, e.g. slowly soluble activator
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/0675 Mortars activated by rain, percolating or sucked-up water; Self-healing mortars or concrete
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/241 Preventing premature crosslinking by physical separation of components, e.g. encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/00 Use of ingredients characterised by shape
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/02 Fibres or whiskers
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 7/22 : Expanded, porous or hollow particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 588/901 : Compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249994 : Composite having a component wherein a constituent is liquid or is contained within preformed walls [e.g., impregnant-filled, previously void containing component, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249995 : Constituent is in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249997 : Encapsulated liquid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 : Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 : Coated or with bond, impregnation or core

Abstract

Self-repairing, fiber reinforced matrix materials include a matrix material including inorganic as well as organic matrices. Disposed within the matrix are hollow fibers having a selectively releasable modifying agent contained therein. The hollow fibers may be inorganic or organic and of any desired length, wall thickness or cross-sectional configuration. The modifying agent is selected from materials capable of beneficially modifying the matrix fiber composite after curing. The modifying agents are selectively released into the surrounding matrix in use in response to a predetermined stimulus be it internal or externally applied. The hollow fibers may be closed off or even coated to provide a way to keep the modifying agent in the fibers until the appropriate time for selective release occurs. Self-repair, smart fiber matrix composite materials capable of repairing microcracks, releasing corrosion inhibitors or permeability modifiers are described as preferred embodiments in concrete and polymer based shaped articles.

Claims

1. A shaped article comprising:

a shaped article comprising a continuous phase of a shaped matrix material and a second phase comprising a modifying agent, said modifying agent being effective to change a response of the shaped article to an external stimulus, such that upon being exposed to the external stimulus, the continuous phase is less structurally damaged by being exposed to the external stimulus as compared to a similiar shaped article not containing said modifying agent second phase.

2. A shaped article as defined in claim 1, wherein said second phase comprises at least one hollow fiber having the modifying agent contained therein.

4. A shaped article as defined in claim 1, wherein said modifying agent comprises a phase change material selected from viscoelastic polymers, rheological fluids and electrorheological fluids.

3. A shaped article comprising:

a shaped article comprising a continuous phase of a shapeable matrix material including at least one hollow fiber disposed therein, said hollow fiber having a modifying agent contained therein, said modifying agent being effective to alter a response of the shaped article to vibrational excitation so that the shaped article can withstand vibrational excitation without becoming brittle.