Multifunctional autonomically healing composite material

• US 6,518,330 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Sottos, Nancy R., Sriram, Suresh R., Brown, Eric N., Geubelle, Philippe H., Moore, Jeffrey S., White, Scott R., Kessler, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidleck, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asinovsky, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/782,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 523/200, 523/205, 428/402.21
• US Class Current: 523/200
• 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: B29D 2030/0689 by incorporating the sealant into a plurality of chambers, e.g. bags, cells, tubes or closed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0685 Incorporating auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents on or into tyres auto-repairing or self-sealing arrangements or agents B29C73/16; puncture preventing arrangements B60C19/12
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 291/00 Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to macromolecular compounds according to more than one of the groups C08F251/00 - C08F289/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 11/00 Use of ingredients of unknown constitution, e.g. undefined reaction products
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/01 Hydrocarbons C08K5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/101 of monocarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 9/10 Encapsulated ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2207/53 Core-shell polymer
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/003 grafted on to macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds C08L51/04, C08L51/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 51/08 grafted on to macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/65 macromolecular C09D7/41-C09D7/48 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/67 Particle size smaller than 100 nm
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/68 Particle size between 100-1000 nm
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/69 Particle size larger than 1000 nm
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 7/70 characterised by shape, e.g. fibres, flakes or microspheres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2985 Solid-walled microcapsule from synthetic polymer

Abstract

A composite material, contains a polymer, a polymerizer, a corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer, and a plurality of capsules. The polymerizer is in the capsules. The composite material is self-healing.

Claims

1. A composite material, comprising:

(i) a polymer,

(ii) a polymerizer,

(iii) a corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer, and

(iv) a plurality of capsules,

wherein the polymerizer is in the capsules; and

wherein the polymerizer comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefins, lactones, lactams, acrylates, acrylic acids, alkyl acrylates, alkyl acrylic acids, styrenes, isoprene and butadiene.

2. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the polymerizer comprises cyclic olefins.

3. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, polyimides, phenol-formaldehyde resins, amine-formaldehyde resins, polysulfones, poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), polyurethanes, polyolefins, and polysilanes.

4. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyesters and polyethers.

5. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ROMP catalysts and cyclic ester polymerization catalysts.

6. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer comprises a ROMP catalyst.

7. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the capsules have an aspect ratio of 1:

1 to 1;

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

8. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the capsules comprise a polymer of urea and formaldehyde, gelatin, polyurea, and polyamide.

9. The composite material of claim 1, wherein

the polymerizer comprises DCPD,

the polymer comprises epoxy,

the corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer comprises a Grubbs catalyst,

the capsules have an aspect ratio of 1: 1 to 1;

1.5, and an average diameter of 30-300 μ

m, and

the capsules comprise a polymer of urea and formaldehyde.

10. The composite material of claim 1, wherein

the polymerizer comprises DCPD,

the polymer comprises poly(DCPD),

the corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer comprises a Grubbs catalyst, and

the capsules have an aspect ratio of 1:

1 to 1;

1.5, and an average diameter of 30-300 μ

m.

11. The composite material of claim 1, wherein

the polymerizer comprises caprolactone,

the polymer comprises poly(caprolactone),

the corresponding catalyst for the polymerizer comprises a scandium triflate, and

the capsules have an aspect ratio of 1:

1 to 1;

1.5, and an average diameter of 30-300 μ

m.

12. A method for making the composite of claim 1, comprising:

dispersing the capsules and the corresponding catalyst into the polymer.