Braun Group People
Aaron Jackson
Graduate Student in Materials Science and Engineering
B.S. at Cornell University (2006), Materials Science and Engineering
Self-Healing Materials: : improving the self-healing process through self-assembly and other novel methods.
Self healing materials are inspired by the biological processes of healing. While these processes are complicated and require many steps, several simple methods, including vascular systems and encapsulation techniques, are being employed in order to increase the lifetime of polymer composites.
This research improves upon an encapsulation approach to self-healing. The goal of the encapsulation approach is to create a polymer composite with two types of capsules or phases: a monomer-filled capsule and a catalyst-based phase. When a crack propagates, releasing the healing agents into the crack. Subsequently, the monomer is polymerized, fixing the crack (See Figure 1).
Figure 1:
Depiction the encapsulation approach to a self-healing composite material. With crack propagation (a), capsules are punctured releasing healing agent (b). After the healing agent comes in contact with the catalyst, it polymerizes (c).
White et al. Nature. 409, 794-797(2001)
Through a grant from the Air Force, the goal of my research will be to improve the efficiency of self-healing through nanostructuring. First, smaller capsule fabrication techniques will be developed in order to heal smaller cracks. At the same time, work will be done to systematically agglomerate catalyst and healing agent containing nanoparticles. This approach should increase the chances of the healing agent meeting the catalyst and would decrease the time needed for healing, an important factor for stopping smaller cracks.
Professor Paul Braun • Phone: +1.217.244.7293 • Fax: +1.217.333.2736 • Email: pbraun@illinois.edu
Department of Materials Science and Engineering • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign