Self-healing starch-based ‘green’ thermoset resin

Publication date: 19 May 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 117
Author(s): Joo Ran Kim, Anil N. Netravali
In the present research, self-healing green thermoset resin has been developed using waxy maize starch. Self-healing was achieved using waxy maize starch-loaded poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) microcapsules (WMS-PLGA-MCs). Hydroxyl groups of WMS released from WMS-PLGA-MCs can bridge the microcrack surfaces by forming ester linkages between the carboxylic acid groups of Meso-1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) used in the resin as the crosslinker. Self-healing WMS resin containing 20% WMS-PLGA-MCs by weight showed self-healing efficiency in fracture stress of up to 51% and recovered about 66% of the original fracture toughness after 24 h of healing at room temperature. Self-healing starch-based resin developed in this study is not only green and sustainable but the fabrication processes including microencapsulation are water-based and can be easily scaled up. The nontoxic starch based green resin can be useful for fabricating green composites in many indoor applications such as automotive, aerospace and packaging, to replace currently used petroleum-derived composites.

Graphical abstract

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