Journal of Membrane Science, Vol.531, 94-102, 2017
Toward microvascular network-embedded self-healing membranes
A membrane that can autonomously self-heal from physical damage was fabricated by embedding a network of fluorinated ethylene propylene capillary tubes that contain a reactive healing agent, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, inside the membrane. Upon membrane damage, the healing agent is released from the tubes and undergoes water-induced phase separation that increases its viscosity. The viscous healing agent further reacts with water, forming an expanded polyurethane/polyurea matrix that fills and plugs the damage area. After self healing of the damage, the microvascular membrane's rejection was restored back to 82% of its original value without a need to stop filtration. Scanning electron microscopic and confocal laser scanning microscopic images confirmed the formation of a solid structure that blocks the damaged area. The results of this study suggest that microvascular networks provide a new architecture for the fabrication of self-healing membranes with significant improvement over microcapsule-embedded self-healing membrane design.