- By:
- Rohewal, Sargun Singh ; Naskar, Amit K; Bowland, Christopher C; Gupta, Sumit
- Page Number:
- 1
- Volume:
- 12950
- Book Title:
- Nondestructive Characterization and Monitoring of Advanced Materials, Aerospace, Civil Infrastructure, and Transportation XVIII
- Publication Date:
- March 12, 2026
- Publisher Location:
- SPIE, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America
- Conference Name:
- SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation
- Conference Location:
- Long Beach, California, United States of America
- Conference Sponsor:
- Various
- View DOI Listing:
- https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3009914
Abstract
Polymer-based composites frequently encounter damage, often lurking beneath the surface and proving challenges to their early detection and repair. While material-based sensors show promise for encoding self-sensing properties within these composites, their in situ healing and reprocessability remain significant challenges. Therefore, the overarching goal of this study is the creation of a reprocessable polymeric composite encoded with self-healing attributes and the ability to autonomously sense damage. At the core of this innovation are vitrimers, a polymeric material characterized by a covalently adaptive dynamic network responsive to external factors such as heat. They combine thermoset-like resilience with thermoplastic-like flowability on demand under external stimuli. We nanoengineer a polyester-based vitrimeric polymer by incorporating piezoresistive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcing elements that not only enhance its mechanical strength but also create a percolation network within the composite, thereby enabling piezoresistive self-sensing properties, all the while preserving the intrinsic self-healing capabilities offered by the vitrimeric matrix. The fabrication process of the composite involves a solvent-free in situ polymerization method that combines epoxy and anhydride-containing monomers with ~ 0.1 wt.% of CNTs. Once it was established that the introduction of CNTs into the polymeric matrix did not compromise the mechanical properties of the composite, their strain-sensing properties were characterized by applying cyclic loading while measuring their electrical resistance. Strikingly, CNT-enhanced vitrimer composite consistently retains its mechanical and sensing properties through repeated cycles of reshaping and reprocessing, underscoring its potential as a robust distributed strain sensor. This polyester-based vitrimeric composite is also easily recyclable without harsh chemical treatments. Preliminary findings from this study conclusively demonstrate that the bulk composite boasts both self-sensing capabilities and in situ detect healing properties, charting a promising course towards the development of a mechanically resilient multifunctional composite that seamlessly integrates selfsensing and healing capabilities.
