A shape memory polymer based self-healing smart syntactic foam

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Abstract

Thermoset polymer based syntactic foams have been widely used in high performance foam cored sandwich structures such as auto, ship, aircraft, train, tank, pressure vessel, etc. due to their high specific strength and stiffness, corrosion resistance, and tailor-ability. It is well known that foreign object impact is not uncommon for composite sandwich structures. Subjected to an impact load, the thermoset syntactic foam core would be significantly damaged in the form of macro-cracking, microballoon crushing, microcracking, etc., leading to a considerable reduction in residual load carrying capacity. This cannot be avoided because of the brittleness of the thermoset polymer and the lack of ability to self-heal internal damage. In order to maintain the structural capacity under impact, it is desired to develop a new syntactic foam which is able to absorb more impact energy and to repair internal damage autonomously, repeatedly, efficiently, and at molecular length-scale. In this chapter, we propose to develop a novel shape memory polymer based syntactic foam as the composite sandwich core. Our goal is to utilize the shape recovery functionality of the shape memory polymer for the purpose of self-repairing impact damage. In this chapter, the state-of-the-art of syntactic foams and shape memory polymers will be reviewed. The underlying principle for self-healing will be analyzed. Raw materials selection, fabrication, characterization, and testing of the smart foam and foam cored sandwich will be presented. It is found that this novel syntactic foam is able to repair impact damage up to 7 impact-healing cycles with almost 100% capacity to maintain its original load carrying capacity.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Encyclopedia of Polymer Composites: Properties,Performance and Applications

First Page

511

Last Page

540

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