Some of the recent publications on self-healing materials, the work by PhD student Masum Bellah:
Bellah, M., Srivastava, V., Nosonovsky, M., Church, B., Rohatgi, P. (2025). Shape Memory Alloy Reinforced Self-Healing Aluminum Composites for Energy Conservation. In: Al-Majali, Y., Wisner, B., Mastorakos, I.N., Hunyadi Murph, S.E., Paramsothy, M. (eds) Advances in Sustainable Composites. TMS 2025. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81057-2_16 pp. 191-202
Abstract
Engineering components are frequently discarded after they develop cracks, requiring replacement with new high embodied energy components. In this paper, self-healingaluminum matrix composites with the capability of self-healing are discussed. These composites can self-heal cracks, thereby extending component life and conserving energy by reducing the need for replacements. Research on aluminum alloy composites reinforced by shape memory alloys is presented, including the narrowing and closing of cracks, the recovery of strength, and shape restoration in these alloys. The microstructures of these self-healing alloy composites and the mechanics and kinetics of self-healing, including the rate of crack narrowing and closing and the rate of shape restoration, are also reported.
M Bellah, M Nosonovsky, B Church, P Rohatgi, 2024, “Bioinspired self-healing nickel coating” RSC Advances 14 (46), 34239-34252, DOI: 10.1039/D4RA07469F
Abstract
We present a study of self-healing mechanisms including their kinetics and thermodynamics in nickel coatings. The bioinspired self-healing coating is designed to enhance the durability of structural metal components exposed to harsh conditions. Microcapsules, reminiscent of natural healing reservoirs, were synthesized via in situ polymerization in an oil-in-water emulsion to encapsulate linseed oil, a healing agent, within poly(urea-formaldehyde) (PUF) shells. Nickel coatings incorporating PUF shell microcapsules were electrodeposited on mild steel substrates to assess their effectiveness in self-healing, mimicking nature’s ability to provide on-demand healing. Comprehensive characterization of the microcapsules and coating was performed using techniques including Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The self-healing performance of the coating was evaluated using SEM and EDS after scratches simulating damage were made on the surfaces of the samples. Corrosion resistance and self-healing ability were evaluated through an immersion test, and additional corrosion resistance tests such as Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and Linear Polarization (LP) were conducted. The results indicate that the nickel coating containing PUF shell microcapsules confers corrosion resistance to the substrate and, upon damage to that coating, induces a self-healing response analogous to natural systems, highlighting the potential of bioinspired designs in advanced material solutions.
M Bellah, M Nosonovsky, P Rohatgi, 2023, “Shape memory alloy reinforced self-healing metal matrix composites” Applied Sciences 13 (12), 6884, https://doi.org/10.3390/app13126884
Abstract
This paper reviews the synthesis, characterization, healing assessment, and mechanics of NiTi and other shape memory alloy (SMA)-reinforced self-healing metal matrix composites (SHMMCs). Challenges to synthesizing and characterizing the SMA-reinforced SHMMCs and the strategies followed to overcome those challenges are discussed. To design the SMA-reinforced SHMMCs, it is necessary to understand their microstructural evolution during melting and solidification. This requires the knowledge of the thermodynamics of phase diagrams and nonequilibrium solidification, which are presented in this paper for a model self-healing composite system. Healing assessment provides information about the autonomous and multicycle healing capability of synthesized SHMMCs, which ultimately determines their success. Different techniques to assess the degree of healing of SHMMCs are discussed in this paper. Strategies are explored to find the optimum volume fraction of SMA wires needed to yield the matrix and prevent damage to the SMA wires for the most effective healing. Finally, major challenges, knowledge gaps, and future research directions, including the need for autonomous and multicycle healing capability in SMA-reinforced SHMMCs, are outlined.