Recent Advances in Healable Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composite Laminate: Preparation and Properties

The attractive properties of carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin composite laminate material (CF/EP), such as design flexibility and high specific strength, are mainly utilized in the aerospace industry for applications including aeroplanes, wings, satellite construction, and offshore wind turbines. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of motivational reports concerning the advancement of self-healing technology. However, there is a noticeable dearth of comprehensive reviews that consolidate these cutting-edge developments. As such, this review endeavors to bridge this gap by examining recent preparation methods for CF/EP rooted in the principles of the self-healing theory. Several methods are proposed in the present review for enhancing the healing performance of CF/EP: (1) incorporating reversible bonds and core–shell materials into existing structures to construct a healing resin matrix; (2) developing a healable interface between the carbon fiber and the matrix to prevent inevitable damage caused by the diffusion of microcracks at the interface; (3) creating a healable CF/EP to ensure the healing of microcracks at the CF/EP interlayers by adding healing agents (HAs) such as microcapsules, thermoplastics, hollow fiber, and microvascular; (4) synergistically accomplishing the construction of a hybrid healing system via using two approaches mentioned above. Furthermore, this review also discusses the various properties of healable CF/EP in mechanics and healing efficiency.