Effects of Emulsifiers on Properties of Microcapsules as Self-healing Composite Materials

By : Xiulan Cai, Yuan Yang, Ailan Qu

Page No: 445-455

Abstract
Urea-formaldehyde (UF) microcapsules, used as self-healing materials, were prepared by in[1]situ polymerization. In this paper, UF resin was used as shell material and modified aliphatic amine (1618) as core material. The results indicated the emulsifier affected the particle size and distribution of microcapsules significantly. The encapsulation rates of microcapsules were 56.7% with SDBS and 48.3% with DBS as emulsifiers individually. SEM demonstrates uniform spherical microcapsules with bigger particle size (100-150 μm) with SDBS as the emulsifier and smaller particle size (1-1.5 μm) with DBS and GA as emulsifiers. FTIR spectra of microcapsules indicated the formation of UF polymer with successful encapsulation of the core materials in UF shell. TGA curves indicated that microcapsules prepared with SDBS as emulsifier are suitable for long-term storage. The results of mechanical properties indicated that the addition of microcapsules could improve mechanical properties of epoxy matrix. When the content of microcapsules was 5.0%, epoxy matrix showed the highest tensile property and elastic property. SEM images of specimens’ fractured surfaces illustrated that microcapsules had effective and remarkable self-healing properties.

Authors :
Xiulan Cai and Yuan Yang : Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006
Ailan Qu : Jinan University, Guangzhou-510632