Microfluidic Fabrication of Self-Healing Microfibers for Composite Construction Materials

本项目的研究目标是制备自愈合超细纤维，并研究其形状和尺寸对其自愈性能的影响。这些超细纤维将被嵌入到建筑材料中(例如，拟议项目中的沥青)，以形成自修复复合材料。当这种复合材料出现裂纹时，微纤维将被破裂，释放出能够自动恢复复合材料完整性和韧性的治愈剂。新型微流控装置将被开发用来形成和固化包裹有愈合剂的微纤维。即使在较低的浓度下使用，拟议的自愈合微纤维也有望超过现有的球形微胶囊。该研究项目将提供一个具有独特可控性和灵活性的制造平台。因此，这将使研究人员能够利用所提出的微观力学建模和实验技术来研究微纤维的形状和尺寸如何影响其自愈性能。该项目的顺利完成将为国家实现S使用更耐用的建筑材料，从而提供更安全、更可持续的交通基础设施系统的目标做出贡献。这项拟议的研究有望惠及从微电子设备到航天器、桥梁和其他大型基础设施的各种工程结构。它可以通过提高性能和降低成本，潜在地促进自我修复材料的商业化和广泛应用。研究结果将通过出版物广泛传播，以激励进一步的研究，并刺激未来在自我修复材料方面的跨学科合作。还为包括少数族裔学生和女学生在内的不同学生群体规划了教育和外联活动，如本科生创业和暑期青年方案。

The research objective of this project is to fabricate self-healing microfibers and investigate the impact of their shape and size on their self-healing performance. These microfibers will be embedded into construction material (e.g., asphalt in the proposed project) to form a self-healing composite. When this composite develops a crack, the microfibers will be ruptured to release healing agents that can automatically restore the integrity and toughness of the composite. Novel microfluidic devices will be developed to form and solidify microfibers with healing agents encapsulated in them. The proposed self-healing microfibers are expected to outperform existing spherical microcapsules even when used in lower concentrations. The research project will provide a fabrication platform with unique controllability and flexibility. Therefore, it will enable the researchers to investigate how the shape and size of the microfibers affect their self-healing performance by employing the proposed micromechanical modeling and experimental techniques. As a result, a guideline will be provided for the design and implementation of future self-healing systems.Successful completion of this project will contribute to the nation?s goal of employing more durable construction material so as to provide safer and more sustainable transportation infrastructure systems. The proposed research holds the promise to benefit engineering structures ranging from microelectronic devices to spacecraft, bridges, and other large infrastructures. It can potentially contribute to the commercialization and broad applications of self-healing materials by improving performance and reducing costs. Research results will be widely disseminated through publications to inspire further investigation and stimulate future interdisciplinary collaboration on self-healing materials. Education and outreach activities, such as undergraduate enterprise and summer youth programs, are also planned for a diverse group of students, including minority and female students.