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  Self-healing and adaptive materials and systemsUSPTO Application #: 20070246353Title: Self-healing and adaptive materials and systems Abstract: Solid electrolyte and at least one of piezoelectric and thermoelectric materials are incorporated into material systems to provide them with self-healing and adaptive qualities. The piezoelectric and thermoelectric constituents convert the mechanical and thermal energy, respectively, concentrated in critical areas into electrical energy which, in turn, guides and drives electrolytic transport of mass within solid electrolyte towards and its electrodeposition at critical areas to render self-healing and adaptive effects. Material systems incorporating the solid electrolyte but not the piezoelectric and thermoelectric constituents are also amenable to healing and adaptive effects through external application of electric potential for electrolytic transport of mass towards and its electrodeposition at critical areas. (end of abstract)
Agent: Parviz Soroushian - Okemos, MI, US Inventors: Parviz Soroushian, Anagi Balachandra USPTO Applicaton #: 20070246353 - Class: 204279000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic, Elements The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070246353. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention is generally related to self-healing and adaptive materials. Particularly, the invention is directed to materials which can alter their internal mass distribution in response to stress and temperature gradients in order to optimally utilize the available structural substance in critical areas subjected to stress and temperature rise. [0004] 2. Description of the Relevant Art [0005] Altering service environments as well as damaging effects change the stress and/or temperature distribution within structures. Biological systems such as bone are capable of adapting to changes in stress distribution through transport of substance towards and its deposition at highly stressed areas. This adaptive/self-healing capability enables biological structural systems make optimal use of available materials as new circumstances evolve. Various efforts have been made to develop synthetic materials which mimic the self-healing/adaptive qualities of biological systems. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,330 discloses a self-healing material with the polymeric healing agent stored in microspheres which are dispersed within the material systems. Damage (cracking) of the material would cause breakage of the microspheres and release of the healing agent, which fills the crack and rebonds the crack faces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,304 discloses self-healing coatings incorporating sacrificial constituents which react with oxygen at defects (e.g., cracks and voids) to produce compounds which condense on such defects and thereby restore the integrity of coating. U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,266 discloses a self-healing high-temperature materials incorporating constituents capable of reacting with oxygen to produce compounds to plug cracks and mitigate access of oxygen to the core of the material. U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,256 discloses a high-temperature material incorporating multiple constituents which, when exposed to the elevated service temperature at cracks, react with each other to produce compounds which seal the cracks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,664 discloses a material incorporating a viscous flowable constituent which can flow into defects to restore the integrity of the material. [0007] The above inventions rely on damaging effects (e.g., cracks) to either release the healing agent or to promote chemical reactions (e.g., upon exposure to oxygen or elevated temperatures) which render self-healing and adaptive effects. Unlike the invention described herein, they do not rely on electrolytic mass transport to strengthen highly stressed areas, and they do not convert the destructive mechanical energy concentrated in critical areas to electrical potential and energy which guide and drive the self-healing/adaptive effects. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] It is an object of this invention to provide solid material systems within which substance can be transported for an optimum mass distribution to be realized. [0009] It is another object of this invention to convert the destructive mechanical and/or thermal energy concentrated within critical areas of the material into the electrical energy needed to drive the mass transport phenomenon. [0010] It is another object of this invention to convert the stress and/or temperature gradients within the material into the electric potential which guides transport of mass towards critical areas. [0011] It is another object of this invention to integrate the energy conversion and mass transport capabilities into a material system which is inherently capable of transporting substance towards critical areas to render self-healing and adaptive effects. [0012] Applicant has discovered that electrolytic transport and electrodeposition of mass within solid electrolytes can strengthen and densify areas within which electrodeposition has taken place. Applicant has also discovered that the piezoelectric effect can generate sufficient electric potential and energy, by conversion of mechanical energy, to drive and guide electrolytic mass transport within solid electrolyte. [0013] According to the invention, there is provided composite materials incorporating solid electrolyte and at least one of piezoelectric and thermoelectric constituents, which can strengthen and densify highly stressed areas through electrolytic mass transport and electrodeposition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 shows a fiber reinforced composite under stress, where rupture of one fiber has caused local stress rise in an adjacent fiber. [0015] FIG. 2 shows a carbon fiber which has received a hybrid coating comprising a piezoelectric layer and a solid electrolyte layer with dissolved metal salt. [0016] FIG. 3 shows the cross-section of the carbon fiber which has received a hybrid coating comprising a piezoelectric layer and a solid electrolyte layer (with dissolved metal salt). [0017] FIG. 4 shows a carbon fiber with piezoelectric and solid electrolyte coating layers where local stress rise within fiber has prompted piezo-induced electric potential difference along the fiber surface which, in turn, drives electrolytic phenomena within the solid electrolyte layer which transport mass towards and electrodeposit it at the highly stressed area. [0018] FIG. 5 shows a layered composite incorporating piezoelectric, solid electrolyte, conductive and structural layers, experiencing a local stress rise under concentrated force, with piezo-driven electrolytic mass transport and deposition strengthening the highly stressed area where the concentrated force is applied. [0019] FIG. 6 shows a layered composite incorporating piezoelectric, solid electrolyte, conductive and structural layers, experiencing a local stress rise due to the presence of a manufacturing defect, with piezo-driven electrolytic mass transport and deposition strengthening the highly stressed area around the manufacturing defect. [0020] FIG. 7 shows a cylindrical structural element, made of a layered composite incorporating piezoelectric, solid electrolyte conductive and structural layers, subjected to a gradient stress system, with piezo-driven electrolytic mass transport and deposition strengthening regions within the structural element which are subjected to higher stress levels. [0021] FIG. 8 shows a layered composite incorporating solid electrolyte layer, conductive and structural layers, subjected to a structural damage, where electrolytic mass transport and deposition via external power supply is used to strengthen the damaged area. [0022] FIG. 9 shows a thermal protection coating on a substrate, with thermoelectric and solid electrolyte layers introduced as coating constituents, where a damage to thermal protection coating causes local temperature rise, with electrolytic mass transport and deposition driven by thermoelectric effect bracing the damaged area. Continue reading... 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