SIM

Self-Healing Materials: the new material hype

Self-Healing Materials are smart materials, such as polymers, ceramics, metals, and composites with the built-in capability to repair damage that would otherwise lead to material failure.

For a material to be defined as self-healing, it is necessary that the healing process occurs autonomously or with minor external stimulus. Nature is a major source of inspiration for this type of research: living organisms already possess the capacity for autonomous damage repair. Just think of healing wounds or repaired broken limbs...

It was only recently that a self-healing property was seriously considered as a desirable function for man-made materials.

Imagine the possibilities it offers! Will it be feasible in the near future to remove scratches from your car while driving through the carwash, or have the E19 road surface repair itself without causing traffic jams?

The race towards developing these materials has begun and a broad spectrum of industries are impacted including aerospace, automotive, transportation, microelectronics, architecture and manufacturing.

Flanders and the Netherlands are taking the lead through large research programs in collaboration with industry. Several research teams (SURF, FYSC, MeMC) at the VUB are actively involved in developing self-healing cement, polymers and coatings as part of the SHE program of the SIM strategic research center.

SHE Network
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Brussels
Belgium

SURF – Electrochemical and
Surface Engineering
Scientific contact: Herman Terryn
[T] +32 (0)2 629 35 37 - (sec. 32 55)
mobile +32 (0)478 881705
[E] hterryn@vub.ac.be
[W] www.vub.ac.be/SURF

FYSC – Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science
Scientific contact: Bruno Van Mele
[T] +32 (0)2 629 32 76
[E] bvmele@vub.ac.be
[W] wwwtw.vub.ac.be/fysc

MeMC – Mechanics of Materials and Constructions
Scientific contact: Danny Van Hemelrijck
[T] 32-2-6292922
[E] danny.van.hemelrijck@ vub.ac.be
[W] wwwtw.vub.ac.be/ond/memc/