Self-Repairing Membranes for Inflatable Structures Inspired by a Rapid Wound Sealing Process of Climbing Plants

作     者：Markus Rampf Olga Speck Thomas Speck Rolf H. Luchsinger 

作者机构：Empa Swiss Federal Laboratories.for Material Science and Technology Oberlandstrasse 129 8600 Diibendorf Switzerland Plant Biomechanics Group Faculty of Biology Botanic Garden University of Freiburg Schainzlestrafle 179104 Freiburg Germany 

出 版 物：《Journal of Bionic Engineering》 (仿生工程学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2011年第8卷第3期

页      面：242-250页

核心收录：

学科分类：0821[工学-纺织科学与工程] 08[工学] 0805[工学-材料科学与工程（可授工学、理学学位）] 080502[工学-材料学] 082101[工学-纺织工程] 

基　　金：德国教育科技部(BMBF)资助 The supply with the PU raw materials by Rampf Giessharze the financial support of Festo AG & Co 

主　　题：self-repair self-healing biomimetics inflatable structures puncture resistance PU foam coating 

摘      要：A new self-repairing membrane for inflatable light weight structures such as rubber boats or Tensairity constructions is presented. Inspired by rapid self-sealing processes in plants, a thin soft cellular polyurethane foam coating is applied on the inside of a fabric substrate, which closes the fissure if the membrane is punctured with a spike. Experimental tests are carried out with a purpose built setup by measuring the air mass flow through a leak in a damaged membrane sample. It is shown that the weight per unit area of the self-repairing foam as well as the curing of the two component PU-foam under an overpressure influence the repair efficiency. Curing the foam under overpressure affects the relative density as well as the microstructure of the foam coatings. Maximal median repair efficiencies of 0.999 have been obtained with 0.16 *** 2 foam cured at 1 bar overpressure. These results suggest that the bio-inspired technique has the potential to extend the functional integrity of injured inflatable structures dramatically.