Core Insights - Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new self-healing composite material that can undergo thousands of self-repairs, potentially extending the lifespan of aircraft wings, wind turbine blades, and spacecraft structural components to hundreds of years, far exceeding the typical design life of existing materials [1] Group 1: Material Innovations - The new self-healing material incorporates two key innovations over traditional fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites: the embedding of thermoplastic healing agents via 3D printing between fiber layers, enhancing delamination resistance by 2 to 4 times [1] - It also integrates a super-thin carbon-based heating layer that rapidly heats up when electrified, allowing the healing agent to melt and flow into cracks, automatically repairing damage and restoring original performance [1] Group 2: Performance Testing - To validate the long-term stability of the new material, an automated testing system was constructed, which conducted 1,000 cycles of "damage-repair" over 40 days, with each cycle involving the creation of a 50mm long delamination crack followed by activation of the healing mechanism [2] - Results indicated that after 1,000 cycles, the material maintained excellent performance, with fracture resistance significantly superior to traditional composites and a very slow rate of toughness degradation, setting a new record for self-healing occurrences [2] Group 3: Practical Applications - In practical applications, the self-healing mechanism is expected to activate only during unexpected damage events, such as hail or bird strikes, or during routine maintenance [2] - Theoretically, components made from this material could sustain use for up to 125 years, requiring only 4 repairs within a 500-year period to maintain functional stability, which could significantly reduce maintenance costs and energy consumption in industrial equipment while minimizing environmental pollution from discarded parts [2]

为验证新材料的长期稳定性，团队构建了自动化测试系统，在40天内对材料连续实施1000次"破坏—修 复"循环。每次实验均人为制造50毫米长的分层裂纹，随后触发加热自愈机制，并检测修复后的承载能 力。结果显示，该材料在经历千次循环后仍保持优异性能，抗断裂能力显著优于传统复合材料，且韧性 衰减极为缓慢，创下自愈次数的新纪录。 团队表示，在实际应用中，材料仅在遭遇冰雹、鸟撞等突发损伤或定期维护时才启动修复程序。据此推 算，此类部件理论上可持续使用达125年以上，甚至在500年内仅需修复4次即可维持功能稳定。 这项技术将大幅降低工业设备的维修成本与能源消耗，减少废弃部件带来的环境污染，对难以返修的航 天器具有革命性意义。 （文章来源：科技日报） 美国北卡罗来纳州立大学科学家研发出一种新型自愈复合材料，可实现上千次自我修复，预计能使飞机 机翼、风力涡轮叶片和航天器结构部件的寿命延长至数百年，远超现有材料几十年的设计周期。相关成 果发表于新一期《美国国家科学院院刊》。 目前广泛使用的纤维增强聚合物（FRP）复合材料，因其轻质高强特性，被广泛应用于飞机、汽车、风 力发电机和航天器中。但这类材料长期面临"层间分层"难题，即内部 ...