Preparation and Characterization of Shape Memory Assisted Self Healing Coatings

Shape memory assisted self-healing (SMASH) coatings have the ability heal nearly completely after damage with the application of heat, making them useful for corrosion resistance in steel structures. This project sought to expand upon existing research to develop an efficiently healing and transparent SMASH coating that could be used in technological applications, such as on cell phone or computer screens. The materials tested were comprised of electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fiber mats coated in epoxy with glass transition temperatures (T_g) of 50°C and above. The healing efficiency of the samples was tested by damaging each coating with a mechanized scratch tester (Qualtech Mar Tester Model QPI-AST880) and healing them over varying times and temperatures in an oven. The transparency of each sample was observed visually before and after heating, a technique that was later refined by electrospinning onto glass plates. Once the most ideal combination of material, time, and temperature is found, further experimentation will be conducted to determine whether the ideal epoxy/PCL, or epoxy/PMMA, combination is also one that can withstand multiple damage-healing cycles to the same spot without becoming opaque.