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Autonomous Indication of Mechanical Damage in Polymeric Coatings
Wenle Li1, Christopher C Matthews2, Ke Yang1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
Abstract:
High-resolution in situ autonomous visual indication of mechanical damage is achieved through a microcapsule-based polymeric material system. Upon mechanical damage, ruptured microcapsules release a liquid indicator molecule. A sharp color change from light yellow to bright red is triggered when the liberated indicator 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein reacts with the polymeric coating matrix.
