Self-Healing Materials: An Outlook on Global Demand
Self-healing materials are artificial or synthetically derived smart materials that repair micro- and nano-level cracks or damage autonomously/spontaneously caused due to external stimuli such as heat, light, and solvents. Self-healing materials are of different types such as polymers, embedded healing agents, microvascular materials, and shape-memory materials. Product durability and satisfactory material property of self-healing materials have escalated the popularity of these materials among several researchers over the last decade. Polymers embedded with internal adhesives were the first self-healing materials discovered in 2001 by Scott White, Nancy Sottos, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With technological advancement, there are several other self-healing materials that have been developed over the last few decades. Self-healing materials that have built-in microcapsules and are filled with glue-like chemical are the best-known type of self-healing material worldwide.
Hydrogels, sulfur-selenium alloy, self-healing concrete, self-healing carbon fiber composite, self-healing ceramics, and automobile coatings are other types of self-healing materials available in the global market. Self-healing polymer hydrogels tend to heal using water that in turn supports the reversible bonding and aids healing of the material. The major applications of self-healing hydrogels include biomedical applications and robotics. Sulfur-Selenium alloy based self-healing materials developed by the scientists of Rice University ?is used across electronic applications such as bendable cellphones. Surge in demand for self-healing materials has pushed forward different product development such as self-healing glass, self-healing gold particles, self-healing rubber, self-healing silicon nanoparticles for battery application, and self-healing water repellant sprays.
Recent trend in self-healing materials:
Self-healing materials have gained importance across applications such as biomaterials, and protective coatings. Over past two decades, material scientists have evolved the notion of self-healing materials R&D to production of self-healing materials. Moreover, key-players in the global market have developed self-healing materials that have repeated healing mechanisms. In addition, self-healing polymer (functional polymer) is a type of self-healing material that is capable of healing and repairing scratches, cracks, and other mechanical damages. Eigen self-healing polymer has become the primary focus for R&D owing to its healing property and repeated healing capabilities. Major three trends in self-healing materials are rise in demand for use of biomaterials & biomimetics during production of self-healing materials, improved performance of commercialized self-healing materials, and development of self-healing concrete. Reversible polymers have gained importance and are anticipated to have maximum share for self-healing materials in the upcoming period. For instance, team of scientists from Harvard University have patented advanced self-healing rubbers that tend to resist crack formation upon applying force. This rubber returns to its original form or shape upon releasing the applied stress.
Another trend in self-healing material is increase in performance of self-healing material. For instance, the automotive end-user already utilizes aftermarket self-healing coatings, however, several R&D activities are put forward to escalate the performance of self-healing coatings that tend to comply with the current market coating trend. In addition, surge in demand and use of fragile composites in automotive end-user is considered as the strong driver for the self-healing composite materials. For instance, FeynLab Heal Plus is the thickest and most advanced self-healing coating available in the market.
The rise of self-healing concrete:
Self-healing concrete is expected to be the most advanced product in the global market. Self-healing concrete is easy to manufacture and is a cost-effective solution as compared to repairing concrete. In addition, use of self-healing concrete tends to minimize the manual inspection for cracks across large infrastructure such as bridges, roads, dams, and skyscrapers. Moreover, there are several key-players in the global market that offer self-healing concrete such as Basilisk, Sika AG, and BASF SE.
领英推荐
New technology addresses the challenges for self-healing materials:
Engineering researchers and scientists developed a new production technology that allows self-healing of repairs and cracks in the structures without the need for removal of the material. . This advanced production technology addresses challenges faced by self-healing materials and significantly enhances the lifespan of structural components in wind-turbine blades and aircraft wings. Conventional self-healing materials or composites used in turbine blades and aircraft wings required removal of parts to heal the damage or cracks. For instance, heating of self-healing composites in oven to improvise the healing property. However, this process is not applied to large structural components and self-healing materials tend to heal for fewer times, after which the self-healing properties diminishes significantly. Several R&D initiatives have been carried out to address these two challenges without altering the strength and performance of the self-healing properties of structural fiber composites.
According to report published by Allied Market Research, the global fiber reinforced composites market (https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/fiber-reinforced-composites-market-A10307) size was valued at $84.5 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $131.6 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2020 to 2027.
LinkedIn Profile Introduction: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/chidanand-bilagi-527669191/
?
?
?
?