Plastics Review

Development of self-repairing polymers

One possible embodiment of self-repairing polymers is the dispersion of liquid monomer-filled microcapsules in the matrix material. These microcapsules will rupture as a crack propagates through the material and the repair material will fill the crack. Polymerisation starts when the monomer comes into contact with the cross-linking or catalyst material, which is also dispersed in the matrix.