Self-healing polymers are a smart material, capable of autonomic restoration of properties following damage. This WPI project team was tasked with researching the feasibility of creating a self-healing material and applying it to vehicles windshield. A healing agent, dicylcopentadiene and the Grubbs’ catalyst were encapsulated in poly(urea formaldehyde) and paraffin wax, respectively. Sample mock windshields were prepared using two pieces of borosilicate glass and a poly(vinyl butyral) interlayer containing the microcapsules and wax protected Grubbs’ catalyst. These samples were tested for optical properties and then cracked. Following a healing period of seven days, the samples were tested again for optical properties as well as mechanical properties

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Harless, Thomas Henry
• Portera, Andrew Alexander
• Hastings, Paul Francis

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042915-200849

Advisor

• Gericke, Arne
• Peterson, Amy M.

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

License

• All rights reserved