Extrinsic self-healing polymer composite, Bamboo/glass fiber reinforcement, Flexural testing, Physicaltesting, Calcium alginate xerogels, Self-healing
," /> Extrinsic self-healing polymer composite, Bamboo/glass fiber reinforcement, Flexural testing, Physicaltesting, Calcium alginate xerogels, Self-healing
,"/> Extrinsic self-healing polymer composite, Bamboo/glass fiber reinforcement, Flexural testing, Physicaltesting, Calcium alginate xerogels, Self-healing,"/> Enhanced Durability, Self-healing and Crack Arrest in Hybrid Polymer Composite Via Calcium Alginate Xerogels

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Journal of Bionic Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (6): 3118-3139.doi: 10.1007/s42235-025-00788-4

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Enhanced Durability, Self-healing and Crack Arrest in Hybrid Polymer Composite Via Calcium Alginate Xerogels

Deepa Ahirwar1, Rajesh Purohit1, Savita Dixit2   

  1. 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maulana AzadNational Institute of Technology Bhopal, Bhopal, MadhyaPradesh, India
    2 Department of Chemistry, Maulana Azad National Instituteof Technology Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Online:2025-12-15 Published:2026-01-08
  • Contact: Deepa Ahirwar1 E-mail:deepa.ahirwar25@gmail.com
  • About author:Deepa Ahirwar1, Rajesh Purohit1, Savita Dixit2

Abstract: Self-healing (SH) polymer composites are a transformative achievement in polymer material technology that offers significant potential to extend the lifespan and reliability of materials. This work presents a novel approach to developing a hybrid natural-synthetic reinforced polymer composite with SH behavior using urea-free, non-toxic, environment-friendly material encapsulating resin, and hardener within a multicavity microcapsule (MC). This MC offers multiple healing because of its multicavity structure. These Xerogel MCs are integrated into hybrid bamboo/recycled glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite (25 wt% and 40 wt%) and were evaluated for their flexural strength, healing efficiency, moisture absorption, and thermal behavior. The results demonstrated that the composite containing 40 wt% exhibited the highest initial flexural strength and modulus retention after multiple healing cycles, approaching 80.67% and 61.34% respectively at 1st and 2nd cycles of healing efficiency. The behavior of self-healing hybrid composites (SHHC) in different environmental conditions was also investigated. Thermal Analysis TGA and DTA done on hybrid and other SH composites. Scanning electron microscopy shows the surface morphology of Xerogel MCs before and after damage, composite fractured surface, and how Healing Agent (HA) gets released and acquires surface after fracture. To ensure functional groups and chemical reactions between each component of the composite, FTIR analysis confirmed the successful encapsulation of HA inside MC.

Key words: Extrinsic self-healing polymer composite, Bamboo/glass fiber reinforcement, Flexural testing, Physicaltesting, Calcium alginate xerogels, Self-healing')">Extrinsic self-healing polymer composite, Bamboo/glass fiber reinforcement, Flexural testing, Physicaltesting, Calcium alginate xerogels, Self-healing