Self-healing composites

Summary form only given. Thermosetting polymers, used in a wide variety of applications ranging from microelectronics to composite airplane wings, are susceptible to damage in the form of cracking. Often these cracks form deep within the structure where detection is difficult and repair is virtually impossible. Inspired by biological systems in which damage triggers a healing response, a new structural polymeric material was recently developed with the ability to autonomically heal cracks. Whenever damage occurs in a self-healing polymer, the repair process is triggered and after sufficient healing time, the inherent strength and toughness of the material is recovered.