Addition of poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA) as healing agent in glass fiber / epoxy composites
Composites; Self-healing, Impact, EMAA
Materials with self-healing mechanism offer great potential for new scientific and technological developments. This is a research area with great possibilities of advances in the field of materials science and engineering. In this sense, the present work deals with the manufacture and characterization of a composite material with addition of a thermoplastic agent capable of repairing damage and localized delamination. This repair is activated via heat supply, through an external source, to the thermoplastic agent called Poly (ethylene-co-acid-methacrylic) (EMAA). Thus, this repair occurs by the pressure delivery effect, where the agent fills in damaged areas and repair the affected zones. The damage was imposed on the specimens in a controlled manner, via drop weight impact machine, being thus characterized as low-speed impact. The Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) technique will be used to observe the effects of addition the healing agent on composite and viscoelasticity. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) will evaluate the chemical interactions between the epoxy matrix and healing agent, post manufacturing and post healing cycle. Visual inspection via images obtained through the scanning electron microscope (SEM) will serve to appreciate the capacity of fill cracks and delamination. Finally, the mechanical post-impact compression test (CAI – Compression After Impact) will be performed to corroborate the desired repair premise. An overview between the benefits and the properties modification, of this thermoplastic agent when incorporated into the glass-epoxy composite.