The effect of vascular self-healing pattern on mechanical behaviour and healing performance of epoxy/glass composite

In this research, the effect of vascular self-healing configuration on the healing behaviour of epoxy/glass (50/50) composite has been experimentally studied. Hollow glass fibres (HGFs) of 450 +/- 10 mu m diameter and 30-35% hollowness were produced by using an extruder. The hollow glass fibres were filled with healing components and subsequently employed as vascular healing system in the composite laminate. The orientations of embedded HGFs were selected at three levels of 0, 45 and 90 degrees, and the distances of HGFs were chosen at three levels of 200, 500 and 800 mu m in composites. A damage at tensile strain of 1.2% initiated, and following, the self-healing process took place. The virgin and healed specimens were characterised in terms of tensile behaviour, and subsequently, the healing performance was obtained. In addition, the formation of micro-cracks, fracture of filled HGFs and morphology of healed zones in self-healing composites were analysed by employing SEM.