BRAND-NEW
Researchers Develop Coating Material with Self-healing Properties A team of researchers at Mercer University discovered a polymeric material that can withstand extreme weathering conditions and is capable of self-healing.
M
echanical engineering professor Dr. Alireza Sarvestani and
Potential application fields
a team of students at Mercer University discovered a novel
Dr. Sarvestani said the material is ideal for coating purposes, especially
polymeric material that can withstand extreme weathering
for aerospace vehicles and watercraft. For instance, pieces of an
conditions and has self-healing properties.
airplane could potentially be coated in the material to protect it from
Experimental studies for this new material started two years ago with
damage from debris in the air and UV exposure. The material could be
a grant from a laboratory that specializes in the study of thermoplastic
used on ships to prevent water corrosion. And if damage or abrasion did
polyurethane, which is a rubber-like polymer with high resilience and
occur, the material could be repaired by increasing the temperature.
long durability. During the past year, Dr. Sarvestani and his team did extensive testing
What’s next
and data analysis on thermoplastic polymers, which melt at increased
Dr. Sarvestani plans to submit the research findings for publication in
temperatures and solidify upon cooling. They reinforced the polymers
high-impact journals this summer and then apply for research grants.
with various fillers, with the goal of creating unique properties that
Next up, his team will conduct further testing and begin to look at ways
would improve the material.
to improve other properties of the material. He hopes to eventually
They prepared numerous samples and then put them to test by
partner with researchers from other fields, such as chemistry, to take
stretching, cutting and heating them. They also put some of the samples
the research further and make the project more sustainable long term.
through an accelerated weathering machine prior to running those
The next phase of the project will include testing the material on a
tests. They found success when one particular sample demonstrated
larger scale and trying to make the polymer conductive by mixing it with
self-healing and weather-resistant capabilities.
materials like silver or gold.
“We prepared a film of the material, and broke it into two parts. We increased the temperature, and at 60 or 70 Celsius, it actually
For further information: www.mercer.edu
started healing,” Dr. Sarvestani said. “Now we have a material whose property is almost exactly the same as before melting. By increasing the temperature locally, you can heal all the damage done. The other interesting property is it’s a very resistant material against UV radiation.” The material weakened only slightly after healing and still proved to be quite strong after undergoing the same force tests. © Sarvestani and Krashin
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N. 76 - JULY/AUGUST 2022 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
From left to right: At left, the material is shown after being cut in two. At right, the material is shown fused back together upon being heated. The sample is shown being heated by a heat gun. The material (in machine at left) undergoes a stretch test.
