Composite can heal itself 1,000 times over (IMAGE)
Caption
Researchers have created a self-healing composite that is tougher than materials currently used in aircraft wings, turbine blades and other applications – and can repair itself more than 1,000 times. The researchers estimate their self-healing strategy can extend the lifetime of conventional fiber-reinforced composite materials by centuries compared to the current decades-long design-life. This image shows: (left) 3D printed thermoplastic healing agent (blue overlay) on glass-fiber reinforcement; (middle) infrared thermograph during in situ self-healing of a fractured fiber-composite; (right) 3D printed healing agent (blue) on carbon-fiber reinforcement.
Credit
Jason Patrick, NC State University
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