The book covers self-healing concepts for all important material classes and their applications: polymers, ceramics, non-metallic and metallic coatings, alloys, nanocomposites, concretes and cements, as well as ionomers. Beginning with the inspiration from biological self-healing, its mimickry and conceptual transfer into approaches for the self-repair of artificially created materials, this book explains the strategies and mechanisms for the readers' basic understanding, then covers the different material classes and suitable self-healing concepts, giving examples for their application in practical situations. As the first book in this swiftly growing research field, it is of great interest to readers from many scientific and engineering disciplines, such as physics and chemistry, civil, architectural, mechanical, electronics and aerospace engineering.

Self-healing is a well-known phenomenon in nature: a broken bone merges after some time and if skin is damaged, the wound will stop bleeding and heals again. This concept can be mimicked in order to create polymeric materials with the ability to regenerate after they have suffered degradation or wear. Already realized applications are used in aerospace engineering, and current research in this fascinating field shows how different self-healing mechanisms proven successful by nature can be adapted to produce even more versatile materials. The book combines the knowledge of an international panel of experts in the field and provides the reader with chemical and physical concepts for self-healing polymers, including aspects of biomimetic processes of healing in nature. It shows how to design self-healing polymers and explains the dynamics in these systems. Different self-healing concepts such as encapsulated systems and supramolecular systems are detailed. Chapters on analysis and friction detection in self-healing polymers and on applications round off the book.

The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science. The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics. Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned. Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students

Self-Healing Materials: Principles and Technology is a practical book aimed at giving engineers and researchers in both industry and academia the information they need to deploy self-healing technology in a wide range of potential applications—from adhesives to the automotive industry, and from electronics to biomedical implants. Developments are increasingly seeing real-world application, and this book enables practitioners to use this technology in their own work. The book first discusses the principal mechanisms of self-healing and how these are applied to the development of materials which have the ability to repair themselves—either with minimal human intervention or without human intervention at all. The book provides a theoretical background and a review of the major research undertaken to date, to give a thorough grounding in this concept and related technology. The book specifically covers fault detection mechanisms in materials, and experimental methods to enable engineers to assess the efficiency of the self-healing process. It then discusses typical aids and additives in self-healing materials, including plasticizers, catalysts, shape-memory components, and more. Finally, the book contains real world examples of self-healing materials and how these have been applied to around 40 groups of products and industries, including materials used in the automotive industry, construction, composite materials for aerospace, biomaterials and materials used in medical devices, and adhesives and sealants. - Helps materials scientists and engineers to reduce risk of degradation and materials failure by using self-healing materials in a range of applications - Provides real world application examples, so practitioners can assess the applicability and usefulness of self-healing materials in their work - Includes guidance on the efficiency and efficacy of self-healing mechanisms, with coverage of the different parameters to be considered, and methodologies to use - Discusses typical aids and additives in self-healing materials, including plasticizers, catalysts, shape-memory components, and more

Self-healing materials are man-made materials which have the built-in capability to repair damage. Failure in materials is often caused by the occurrence of small microcracks throughout the material. In self-healing materials phenomena are triggered to counteract these microcracks. These processes are ideally triggered by the occurrence of damage itself. Thus far, the self-healing capacity of cement-based materials has been considered as something "extra". This could be called passive self-healing, since it was not a designed feature of the material, but an inherent property of it. Centuries-old buildings have been said to have survived these centuries because of the inherent self-healing capacity of the binders used for cementing building blocks together. In this State-of-the-Art Report a closer look is taken at self-healing phenomena in cement-based materials. It is shown what options are available to design for this effect rather than have it occur as a "coincidental extra".

Whole Person Self Healing brings an interdisciplinary healing approach to relieve pain and suffering. The book covers different topics that introduce readers to alternative therapies that can help the healing processes in the body. These topics include an introduction to pulsed electromagnetic fields and their use in healing medicine, stable Bose-Einstein statistics, meditation techniques, scientific measurement of Qi energy and Qigong practice methods. The book also presents cases of family-based therapy and individuals recovering from painful injury. Whole Person Self Healing presents information based on physics research and subjective accounts of individuals. The book offers general readers, researchers and therapists a scientific perspective on the benefits of electromagnetic field therapy and meditation for healing the body.

This comprehensive book describes the design, synthesis, mechanisms, characterization, fundamental properties, functions and development of self-healing smart materials and their composites with their allied applications. It covers cementitious concrete composites, bleeding composites, elastomers, tires, membranes, and composites in energy storage, coatings, shape-memory, aerospace and robotic applications. The 21 chapters are written by researchers from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.