An elegant way to restore the materials structural integrity proceeds by the selective heating of damaged areas to support polymeric chain movement, diffusion and particularly the new or re-formation of non-covalent chemical bonds. Especially reversible ionic interactions in ionomers along with clustering and the formation of multiplets are favoured. The incorporation of dipolar particles like metal/magnetic nanoparticles or charged species (“nano-hotspots”) into the polymeric matrix leads in combination with a selective treatment in an oscillating electromagnetic field (OEMF) to a transformation of electromagnetic energy to heat. Goal of the present proposal will be the development and testing of elastomeric polymers modified with “nano-hotspots” that can selectively be heated by OEMF treatment. Additionally, the development of a reproducible method to quantify the OEMF-induced self-healing effectiveness of microsized damages will be a major objective of the planned work.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
