Intrinsic self-healing

Zhong, N., Post, W., 2015. Seh-repah of stmctural and functional composites with intrinsically self-healing polymer matrices a review. Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 69,226-239. 

Self-Healing by a Combination of Shape Memory and Intrinsic Self-Healing Polymers... 

The above-mentioned properties of metallopolymers are the basic requirements for the generation of self-healing behavior. As a consequence, it is possible to generate a reversible system and to introduce self-healing mechanisms, which is the principle of intrinsic self-healing systems [78-81]. 

Kotterizsch J, Stumpf S, Hoeppener S, Vitz J, Hager MD, Schubert US (2013) One-component intrinsic self-healing coatings based on reversible crosslinking by Diels-Alder cycloadditions. Macromol Chem Phys 214 1636-1649... 

Spider silks deserve additional commentary. Again, this example shows as that Nature never gives up to complexity, as if complexity were an intrinsic part of natural materials, and this is so even in these apparently simple materials that Nature has designed just to reach a given mechanical performance. Spider silks show a highly efficient self-healing behavior that is now under intense scrutiny due to its evident technological potential [25]. 

Self-healing or restoration of lost functionalities without external help is a dream come true with self-healing polymers (Ai ssa et a/., 2012). Healing mechanisms can be extrinsic (the healing compound is isolated from the polymer matrix in capsules, fibers or nanocarriers) or intrinsic (the polymer chains temporarily increase mobility and flow to the damaged area) (Billiet et al, 2013) and are responsible for restoration of properties such as structural integrity (White et fll, 2001), surface aesthetics (Yao et a/., 2011), electrical conductivity (Tee et fl/., 2012), hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity (Ionov and Synytska, 2012), mechanical properties (Jones et al, 2013), etc. 

Key words self-healing, intrinsic healing, extrinsic healing, functionality,... 

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