SELF-HEALING PLASTICS

TERNA COLEGE OF ENGINEERING, OSMANABAD.

Presented by:
HASHMI MD ABDUL RASHEED.
rush4hashmi@gmail.com

DIMARI KAMLESH B.
kamnon_kamal@yahoo.co.in
Cell no.9969569367

Abstract:
Plastic over time naturally gets weaker, no matter how well made it is, because
over time microscopic cracks form in the plastic that become weak points in the structure
that will only degrade into ever larger cracks. It becomes important to heal these
microscopic cracks before they can grow larger and become an actual problem.

A new kind of plastic is being developed that contains very small balloons
filled with liquid. The liquid contains monomer molecules, the building material of
plastic. A new solid plastic that contains a special chemical has been already developed.
This chemical is used as catalyst.

The new plastic still cracks like common plastic. But, when it does, the
monomer liquid is released and flows into the crack. The catalyst in the solid plastic
then reacts with the liquid monomer. The chemical reaction between the liquid monomer
and the catalyst creates polymer molecules that repair the break. The repaired plastic has
seventy-five percent of the strength of undamaged plastic.

Overall the embedded small balloons provide two independent effects: the
increase in virgin fracture toughness from general toughening and the ability to self-heal
the virgin fracture event.

Introduction:
Microencapsulated dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) healing agent and Grubbs’Ru
catalyst are incorporated into an epoxy matrix to produce a polymer composite capable of
SELF-HEALING.
Healing is achieved by incorporating a microencapsulated healing agent and a
catalytic chemical trigger within a polymer matrix. A propagating crack ruptures the
microcapsules and exposes catalyst particles. Crack opening draws the healing agent into
the crack plane, where contact with the catalyst phase initiates polymerization. The
polymerized healing agent reestablishes structural integrity across the crack plane.

1
Chemicals in use:
DICYCLOPENTADIENE:

Dicyclopentadiene, abbreviated DCPD, is the chemical compound with the

formula C10H12. At room temperature, it is a white crystalline solid with a camphor-like
odor. Dicyclopentadiene is coproduced in large quantities in the steam cracking of
naphtha and gas oils to ethylene. The major use is resins, particularly unsaturated
polyester resins.

When heated above 100 °C, dicyclopentadiene undergoes a reaction to yield

cyclopentadiene, a compound important in both organic and inorganic chemistry. The
reaction is reversible and at room temperature cyclopentadiene slowly dimerizes to
reform dicyclopentadiene.Dicyclopentadiene is a monomer in polymerization reactions.

PRICE:-
High, $0.30 per pound & low, $0.28

IUPAC name 3a,4,7,7a-Tetrahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indene

Other names 1,3-Dicyclopentadiene

Molecular formula C10H12

Molar mass 132.20 g/mol

Density 0.98 g/cm3

Melting point 32.5 °C

Boiling point 170 °C

1
 The product should find use as an intermediate for UPR (unsaturated polyester
resins ) and petroleum resins, but higher end uses are targeted. In marine use, DCPD has
been increasingly substituted for unsaturated polyesters. The C10 structure has an
alcohol group and a double bond which may be used in innovative ways.

EPOXY MATRIX:

In chemistry, epoxy or polyepoxide is a thermosetting epoxide polymer that

cures (polymerizes and crosslinks) when mixed with a catalyzing agent or "hardener".
Most common epoxy resins are produced from a reaction between epichlorohydrin and
bisphenol-A. The chemistry of epoxies and the range of commercially available
variations allow cure polymers to be produced with a very broad range of properties. In
general, epoxies are known for their excellent adhesion, chemical and heat resistance,
good-to-excellent mechanical properties.

Fig. Structure of unmodified epoxy prepolymer. n denotes the number of polymerized

subunits and is in the range from 0 to about 25

When epoxies are mixed with the appropriate catalyst, the resulting reaction is
exothermic, and the oxygen on the epoxy monomers is "flipped." This occurs throughout
the epoxy, and a matrix with a high stress tolerance is formed, and "glues" the materials
together.

GRUBB’S CATALYST:

Ruthenium carbene complex was invented by chemistry professor Robert H.

Grubbs. The Grubbs' catalyst is ideal because it remains active even on exposure to air,
moisture, or most organic functional groups.

1
 Fig: Structure of Grubb’s Catalyst, ruthenium carbium.

Molecular formula C43H72Cl2P2Ru

Molar mass 822.96 g/mol
Appearance Purple Solid
CAS number [172222-30-9]
Melting point 153 °C (426 K)

Grubbs' Catalyst is a transition metal carbene complex named after the chemist by
whom it was first synthesized, Robert H. Grubbs. In contrast to other olefin metathesis
catalysts, Grubbs' Catalysts tolerate other functional groups in the alkene and are
compatible with a wide range of solvents. For these reasons, Grubbs' Catalysts are
extraordinarily versatile.

Process:
The microcapsules could be produced by high-speed stirring of an aqueous
mixture of urea and formaldehyde, dicyclopentadiene, resorcinol acid catalyst, and
ethylene-maleic anhydride resin emulsifying agent. The product is microcapsules of urea-
formaldehyde resin containing dicyclopentadiene liquid.
To make their composite system, stir 10% by weight of resin
microcapsules 100 microm in diameter into the epoxy formulation. They cure the molded
epoxy for 24 hours at room temperature followed by a 24-hour bake at 40 ºC. The
polymerization catalyst dispersed throughout is a ruthenium carbene complex invented by
chemistry professor Robert H. Grubbs of California Institute of Technology. The Grubbs
catalyst remains active even on exposure to air, moisture, or most organic functional
groups.

1
Self-healing of cracks:

HEAL THYSELF

Video images show a crack rupturing a microcapsule, which releases dicyclopentadiene.

The capsule’s contents were dyed red to aid visualization of the flow.

Conclusion:

1) The addition of microcapsules produced a transition of the fracture plane

morphology to hackle markings.

2) Addition of DCPD-filled urea-formaldehyde (UF) microcapsules yields up to

12.7% increase in fracture toughness and induces a change in the fracture plane
morphology to hackle markings.

3) Overall the embedded microcapsules provide the independent effect to self-heal

the virgin fracture event.

Future scope:

On large scale production, it has several uses.

1) One could be for things that are impractical to fix on a regular basis, like parts
deep inside air plane wings or space ships.
2) It can be used in manufacturing automobile parts like bonnet, hood etc.. which
won’t get scratched or crack.
3) And it could be used in people, to replace bone joints that have become broken or
damaged. These include knees or hips.