Puncture-healing Engineered Polymer Blends

Puncture healing melt blends were developed by melt blending self-healing polymers with non self-healing polymeric materials. The self-healing polymeric materials consisted of Surlyn&#174 8940, Affinity&#8482 EG 8200 G, and poly(butadiene)-graft-poly(methyl acrylate-co-acrylonitrile) or Barex&#174 210 IN. The non-self-healing polymeric materials consisted of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK), LaRC phenyl ethynyl terminated imide 330 (LaRC PETI 330), and Raptor Resins Bismaleimide-1 (BMI-1). Puncture healing blends were also prepared with chopped glass and chopped carbon fibers. The overall goal was to develop a product with superior properties relative to either of the starting materials. The melt blends were prepared in varying compositions to optimize desired properties of the resulting matrix. Ballistic testing was conducted to determine the self-healing characteristics of several developmental polymers subjected to micrometeoroid type damage.