Applying SEM‐Based X‐ray Microtomography to Observe Self‐Healing in Solvent Encapsulated Thermoplastic Materials

Abstract

In this work X‐ray microtomography was used to observe fracture and healing processes in a liquid‐based self‐healing thermoplastic material. The method was able to produce data of sufficient resolution (<10 μm) to observe ∼60 μm microcapsules containing solvent within a polymeric material and in particular their behavior around a crack zone after fracture and healing. The reconstructed data showed the distribution of filled and several empty microcapsules within the matrix material. Additional color segmentation and 3D rendering of the data unambiguously demonstrated a large concentration of ruptured microcapsules near the fracture surfaces, covering ∼75 μm span on both sides of the crack. A close investigation of the crack area confirmed the presence of healed and non‐healed regions. Further analysis of the segmented data allowed a quantitative determination of the release of the encapsulated solvent.

Solid-state healing of resins and composites

“…17 shows that the above observations could be reproduced using the compact tension test methodology. In this case, the healing conditions used an intermediate time of 3 h at 130°C.…”

Micromechanical Properties of a New Polymeric Microcapsule for Self-Healing Cementitious Materials

“…X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is a versatile inspection technique which has been widely applied in numerous fields of research [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Recently, the application of this technique has also been extended to the field of civil engineering [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ].…”

A novel capsule-based self-recovery system with a chloride ion trigger

“…X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) is a promising non-destructive technique to demonstrate the inner morphology within non-optically transparent materials. Moreover this versatile characterization approach can offer reconstructing modeling of spatial characteristics and volume fraction in 3D 37 . X-ray CT was employed to detect concrete specimen embedded with chloride ions responsive Ag-alg capsules ( Fig.…”