Impact behaviour of glass-fiber/epoxy laminates with healing agent

This study investigated the influence of adding poly (ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA), a thermally activated self-healing agent, on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of glass/epoxy laminates subjected to low-velocity impacts by weight drop. Samples with and without EMAA were compared after being subjected to ten impacts of 16 J each. Following these impacts, a mapping of the interlaminar shear strength of the laminates was performed, comparing their results with each other and with the non-impacted material. The results showed that laminates without EMAA exhibited a 37% reduction in interlaminar strength at the impact point and a total delaminated area of 1242 mm² after ten impacts. In contrast, the samples containing EMAA showed only a 21% reduction in interlaminar strength and a delaminated area of 309 mm². Moreover, the residual interlaminar shear strength mapping revealed that the EMAA-containing laminates experienced smaller losses than those without EMAA, highlighting the self-healing agent’s ability to limit damage and partially restore mechanical properties. These findings suggest the potential of EMAA as a self-healing material capable of extending the service life of glass/epoxy laminates subjected to impact loading.