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SPP 1568:  Design and Generic Principles of Self-Healing Materials

Subject Area Materials Science and Engineering
Construction Engineering and Architecture
Chemistry
Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Medicine
Physics
Term from 2011 to 2020
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 172542336
 
Biological materials are evolutionarily optimised functional systems. One of their most outstanding properties is the ability of self-healing and regeneration of function upon the infliction of damage by external mechanical loads. In nature, self-healing can take place either at the level of single molecules or at the macroscopic level: merging of broken bones, closure and healing of injuries of blood vessels and tissue. Man-made materials generally do not have this healing ability, as all current engineering materials were and are developed on the basis of the 'damage prevention' paradigm rather than a 'damage management' concept.
However, self-healing materials certainly offer enormous possibilities, in particular for applications where long-term reliability in poorly accessible areas, such as tunnels, underground infrastructures, high-rise buildings or space applications, is important. In addition, self-healing would be ideal for applications, which are prone to damage, such as surface coatings. However, up to now only few strategies exist for the development of self-healing materials, and those, which exist are focussed on only one material class and one type of application only.
A dedicated fundamental approach to the self-healing concept addressing repair mechanisms and strategies relevant for implementation to all material classes are still absent. For this reason, the objective of the Priority Programme is the conceptual design of synthetic self-healing materials and the elucidation of generic, fundamental material-independent principles (e.g. following a sequence of crack generation and propagation, mobility and transport of material, interface bonding and immobilisation of the transported material). Respecting the intrinsic character of each class of materials generic approaches to self-healing will be formulated, tested and ultimately implemented in new materials design.
The vision of the Priority Programme is that novel materials with self-healing capability will enable access to new fields of application including biomedical implants, ultra lightweight engineering metals and ceramics as well as high performance polymers and composites.
DFG Programme Priority Programmes
International Connection Austria, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom

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