Self-healing toolbox for polymer structures' and -goods' lifetime extension
Themes: Materials
Early prototype
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
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Why?
Over the last years we have developed a wide range of self-healing strategies and characterisation methods. This forms a unique in-house `toolbox´ to implement service-life extending strategies in areas such as (protective) coatings, adhesives and composites.
How?
Some examples of these tools are intrinsic self-healing polymers and coatings, processable thermosets, smart release systems, responsive composites, and functional fibres. We work on material development and characterisation and are able to produce demonstrators.
When?
We now have a broad spectrum of self-healing materials and sufficient scientific understanding of their potential. It is the moment to actively explore and develop lab-scale strategies for specific real industrial problems or new business opportunities in close collaboration with companies.
Dr. Santiago Garcia