using of thermoplastic polyurethane granule (tpu) as a reinforcing phase and self-healing agent in a polymer composite resin epoxy to exhibit mechanical properties recovery

In this study, for the first time, thermoplastic polyurethane granule (tpu) is used as a reinforcing phase and self-healing agent in a polymer composite epoxy resin (er) to exhibit mechanical properties recovery. when the polymer composite is damaged or cracked, tpu granules are released at the site of damage and cause auto-repair of surfaces. therefore, tpu granules with different composition percentages were mixed in silicon molds containing epoxy resin polymer composite. 4 samples with different tpu granules percentages were selected (a= 0 wt.% tpu, b=10 wt.% tpu, c=20 wt.% tpu, and d=30wt.% tpu). at first, making a deep cut in 4 polymer composite samples, the self-healing process and mechanical properties improvement are investigated by mechanical tests. in the self-repairing behavior of self-healing samples, it is observed that polymer composite samples with self-repairing agents of er+20 wt.% tpu granules had the highest self-healing efficiency (60.2%) compared to other specimens. a mechanical test shows that sample c has a higher young’s modulus (4.837 mpa) and higher tensile strength (9.46 mpa). also, the impact test illustrated sample c has a higher impact energy of 7.1 (j/m). therefore, sample c has the highest mechanical properties among self-healing samples.