Autonomous Materials Systems University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Summary

Microencapsulation Approaches

Fracture plane of a self-healing material

Autonomic healing is accomplished by incorporating a microencapsulated healing agent and a catalytic chemical trigger within an epoxy matrix. An approaching crack ruptures embedded microcapsules, releasing healing agent into the crack plane through capillary action. ( more )

μVac

Optical image of self-healing structure after cracks are formed in the coating, revealing the presence of excess healing fluid on the coating surface

A new generation of bioinspired materials that are able to repeatedly and autonomically heal crack damage through the incorporation of embedded microvascular networks. ( more )

Mechanochemistry

An overlay of images at successive stages of force-induced chemical change.

Mechanics Meets Chemistry - New Way to Manipulate Matter. Biasing reaction pathways with mechanical force. ( more )

Autonomous Materials Systems - Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign