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.