Self-healing material

Abstract

A glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite includes a polymer matrix, a plurality of glass fibers embedded within the polymer matrix, a first hollow glass fiber containing a resin embedded within the polymer matrix, a second hollow glass fiber containing a catalyst suitable for curing the resin embedded within the polymer matrix. When damage occurs to such a composite, the glass fibers containing the resin and the catalyst are ruptured, resulting in their mixing together so that the resin is cured for repairing the ruptured location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite comprising:
 a polymer matrix;   a plurality of glass fibers embedded within the polymer matrix;   a first hollow glass fiber embedded within the polymer matrix, the first hollow glass fiber containing a resin; and   a second hollow glass fiber embedded within the polymer matrix, the second hollow glass fiber containing a catalyst suitable for curing the resin.   
     
     
         2 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resin comprises a vinyl ester. 
     
     
         3 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resin comprises polyester. 
     
     
         4 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. 
     
     
         5 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the vinyl ester has a viscosity lower than 2,000 centipoises at room temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the polyester has a viscosity lower than 2,000 centipoises at room temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the methyl ethyl ketone peroxide has a viscosity lower than 2,000 centipoises at mom temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises a thermosetting resin. 
     
     
         9 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of polyester, vinyl ester, and epoxy. 
     
     
         10 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix is a thermosetting resin reinforced with a filler. 
     
     
         11 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the filler comprises carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         12 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the filler comprises ceramic particles. 
     
     
         13 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the filler comprises graphite particles. 
     
     
         14 . The glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the filler comprises graphene particles.