Self-Healing Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite (MMC)

materials and coatings
Self-Healing Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) (KSC-TOPS-80)
Repairs Large Cracks and Reverses Fatigue Damage in Structural Metal
Overview
Fatigue endurance is critical for the airworthiness of civilian and military aging aircraft and for long-duration flight and deep space missions. Estimates are that 90% of structure failures are due to fatigue. NASA has developed a new metal matrix composite (MMC) that can repair itself from large fatigue cracks that occur during the service life of a structure. This novel liquid-assisted MMC recovers the strength of the structure after a healing cycle. The MMC contains both shape memory alloy (SMA) reinforcements and some low-melting phase components which, when heated, essentially clamp the crack edges back together and flow material into the crack's gap for a high strength repair. While current crack repair methods exist, such as doublers or welding overlays, these methods require complex surface prep and bonding, which can be difficult and may result in a region of decreased strength. The new material allows for the repair of fatigue cracks without additional materials or human interaction.

The Technology
This materials system is comprised of an Al metal matrix with high-performance SMA reinforcements. The combination of the unique matrix composition and SMA elements allow for this material system to self-repair via a two-step crack repair method. When a crack is present in the matrix material, the MMC is heated above the SMA's austenite start (As) temperature. This initiates shape recovery of the SMA, pulling the crack together as the SMA reinforcements return to their initial length. Concurrently, the increased temperature causes softening and liquefaction of the eutectic micro-constituent in the matrix, which enables the recovery of plastic strain in the matrix as well as crack filling. Combined with the crack closure force provided by the SMA reinforcements completely reverting to their original length, the MMC welds itself together and, upon cooling, results in a solidified composite able to realize its pre-cracked, original strength. The research team has demonstrated and tested the new materials. The team induced cracks in prototype materials based on Al-Si matrix with SMA (NiTi) reinforcements and demonstrated the recovery of tensile strength after healing. Data from tensile and fatigue tests of the samples before and after the fatigue crack healing shows a 91.6% healing efficiency on average under tensile conditions.
front

Copyright by RPXTech. Permission to use freely granted by RPX Tech via email from Steve Sennet on 11/17/2020, attached. Fig.  The healing cycle for liquid-assisted self-healing metal-matrix composites. The system consists of a metallic matrix with a eutectic micro-constituent shown in black and reinforcing SMA wires shown in green (I). After catastrophic failure, the SMA wires deform to bridge the crack (II). To heal the sample, a high temperature  healing treatment is initiated, during which the eutectic component melts and SMA wires close the crack (III). During cooling, the eutectic component freezes, welding the crack surfaces and eliminating the crack (IV).
Benefits
  • Enables Safety: can potentially heal fatigue cracking, helping avoid catastrophic failure of a structure
  • Improves Fatigue Endurance: enables crack repair during flight or service to extend the life of structures
  • Solves Hard-to-Access Repairs: works where a crack location is difficult to reach or common repair techniques are not applicable
  • Reduces Labor and Materials Requirement: works with applied heat; no additional materials or human interaction/labor are needed.

Applications
  • Aeronautics: aircraft structural components such as fuselage skin, stingers, frames, ribs, longerons, stiffeners, doors, tanks, wheel wells, fuel lines, shock struts, and floor beams.
  • Commercial Space: spacecraft structural components for longer missions where current repair technologies like welding and bonding are not an option
  • Oil & Gas: for repairing cracks in oil-well casings
Technology Details

materials and coatings
KSC-TOPS-80
KSC-13806
10,597,761
Charles R. Fisher, M. Clara Wright, et. al. 2018. Repairing Large Cracks and Reversing Fatigue Damage in Structural Metals; Applied Materials Today 13 (2018).
Open access article; online version available here,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmt.2018.07.003
Stay up to date, follow NASA's Technology Transfer Program on:
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Linkedin Logo Youtube Logo