The development of self-healing metals is a novel idea that has not been explored in great detail yet. The concept of self-healing described in this paper consists of incorporating a low temperature melting alloy imbedded within a higher temperature alloy to create a self healing composite (SHC). When the SHC is damaged or cracked, heat may be applied to the affected area whereupon the low melting alloy will melt and flow into the crack healing the damage and sealing the crack. This study consists of theoretical analysis and design of self-healing in aluminum alloy matrix. The experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics of a self-healing were designed by the authors, the design consists in an aluminum alloy matrix reinforced with microtubes of alumina (Al2O3) that are filled with a low melting point solder alloy. The objective of the study reported here was to find the influence and efficiency of a low melting solder alloy in healing an aluminum matrix. To check this effect a crack was created in the metal surface, piercing the microtube(s) filled with solder, and then the SHC was heated above the melting point of the solder alloy to melt and examine the flow of molten solder alloy into the crack.

Volume Subject Area:
Heat Transfer, Fluid Flows, and Thermal Systems
Topics:
Aluminum alloys, Alloys, Solders, Fracture (Materials), Melting, Design, Flow (Dynamics), Melting point, Aluminum, Composite materials, Computational fluid dynamics, Damage, Heat, Low temperature, Metal surfaces, Metals, Sealing (Process), Temperature, Theoretical analysis
Copyright © 2008
 by ASME
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