Synthetic Design of Self-Healing Epoxy Systems

Abstract

Epoxy resins are widely used in our life due to their excellent thermal and mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and processability, but they are inevitably impacted by chemical/physical events, which leads to micro-cracks during use. Self-healable epoxy resins can repair the micro-cracks, greatly extending the life and safety of the resin. This chapter reviews the methods of achieving self-healable epoxy resins, including embedding hollow fibers (or microcapsules) filled with healing agents, thermoplastic additives, or dynamic bonds in the epoxy networks. The self-healing mechanisms, advantages, and disadvantages of each method are summarized. Finally, the conclusion and prospect of self-healing epoxy resins are highlighted.