OBJECTIVES
Although the phenomenon of Self Healing has been recognized in materials throughout history, especially with regards to biological systems, it was only recently that the property of Self Healing was seriously considered as a desirable function for man-made materials. Beginning with the first successful incorporation of self healing functionality in a (manmade) epoxy-system via micro encapsulation at the University of Illinois, research groups throughout the world have started to explore concepts and materials systems that impart self- healing properties for a variety of applications. Now that the field is gaining momentum, and the first glimpses of a newly emerging scientific community becomes visible, it is time to gather and benefit from the insights gathered thus far in this intriguing new field.
The broad and interdisciplinary environment towards which this field is developing gives an outstanding opportunity for truly multidisciplinary inspiration and collaboration. This expansive scope is well reflected by the topics that are selected as the focal points of this international effort on research in Self Healing Materials:
The Delft Centre for Materials, at Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, has allocated a major part of its budget for developing this new common, and essentially multidisciplinary, research line on Self Healing Materials at the TU Delft, and The Netherlands at large. To this aim, the Delft Centre for Materials has taken the initiative for a National Research Programme (IOP) in the field of Self Healing Materials. In September 2005 this effort was granted by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.
On this site you can find more information about the ongoing research projects on the topic, upcoming events related to this work, and links to related documents and industry interested in the topic.