Self-strengthening polymer composites
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsMartin Thuo, Boyce S. Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite material is provided including a polymer matrix and undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles disposed in the matrix, wherein the particles each have an outer shell and a liquid metallic material as a core contained within the outer shell. The outer shell is frangible such that the liquid metallic material is released from at least some of the particles in response to a mechanical load applied to the composite and solidifies in-situ in the polymer matrix. As a result, the composite material can be self-strengthening and self-healing and can be reconfigurable in shape at ambient temperature.
Claims25
A composite material, comprising a polymer matrix and undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles disposed in the matrix, said particles each having an outer shell and a liquid metallic material as a core contained within the outer shell, which is frangible such that the liquid metallic material is released from at least some of the particles in response to a stimulus applied to the composite and phase-changes in-situ in the polymer matrix.
A self-strengthening composite material, comprising a polymer matrix and undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles disposed in the matrix, said particles each having an outer shell and a liquid metallic material as a core contained within the outer shell, which is frangible such that the liquid metallic material is released from at least some of the particles in response to a stimulus applied to the composite and solidifies within the polymer matrix to increase the strength of the composite.
A reconfigurable composite material, comprising an elastomeric polymer matrix and undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles disposed in the matrix, said particles each having an outer shell and a liquid metallic material as a core contained within the outer shell, which is frangible such that the liquid metallic material is released from at least some of the particles in response to a stimulus to the composite to change its shape and solidifies within the polymer matrix to retain the changed shape of the composite.
A method of making a polymer composite, comprising mixing undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles and a polymer and curing the polymer to form the polymer composite.
A method of treating a polymer composite having a polymer matrix and undercooled liquid metallic core-shell particles disposed in the matrix by applying a stimulus that breaks the outer shell of the undercooled particles in a manner to release liquid metallic material from at least some of the particles and induce phase transformation of the released liquid metallic material in-situ in the polymer matrix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.