On the Mechanical Response of Microvascular-based Self-healing E-glass Fiber/epoxy Composites under tensile testing condition

In this study, a microvascular-based self-healing system has been introduced and employed in fibrous polymer-based composites. Microvascular channels were created using removable solid pre-forms which were placed in the structure of composite during specimen fabrication. Some of the channels were filled with epoxy resin+anhydride hardner as a healing agent and some others were filled by liquid catalyst. When the structure is subjected to the loading and micro-cracks created in the specimen, they will break the microchannels and then the healing agent flows in the damage area, leading to the elimination of the defects over a time span. This study aimed at investigating the role of healing time and healant volume fraction on the healing efficacy of structure after initial damage created through bending method. To do so, tensile strength of the specimens were assessed after passing the different time span from the initial damage creation. The observations indicated that the highest tensile strength recovery was 64.9%after 7 days.