Aerospace engineering and materials science researchers at Texas A&M University have uncovered new properties of an ultra-durable, recyclable, smart plastic—paving the way for transformative applications in the defense, aerospace and automotive industries.
The research, published in Macromolecules and the Journal of Composite Materials, was led by Dr. Mohammad Naraghi, director of the Nanostructured Materials Lab and professor of aerospace engineering at Texas A&M, in close collaboration with Dr. Andreas Polycarpou at The University of Tulsa.
Their work explored the mechanical integrity, shape-recovery and self-healing properties of an advanced carbon-fiber plastic composite called Aromatic Thermosetting Copolyester (ATSP).
Healing damage on demand
ATSP opens new frontiers in industries where performance and reliability are critical, and failure isn’t an option.
“In aerospace applications, materials face extreme stress and high temperatures,” Naraghi said. “If any of these elements damage any part of an airplane and disrupt one of their main applications, then you could perform on-demand self-healing.”
As ATSP matures and scales, it holds the potential to transform commercial and consumer industries, particularly the automotive sector.
“Because of the bond exchanges that take place in the material, you can restore a car’s deformations after a collision, and most importantly, significantly improve vehicle safety by protecting the passenger,” Naraghi said.
ATSP is also a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. Its recyclability makes the material an ideal candidate for industries aiming to reduce environmental waste without compromising durability or strength.
“These vitrimers, when reinforced with discontinuous fibers, can undergo level cycling—you can easily crush and mold it into a new shape, and this can happen across many, many cycles, and the chemistry of the material basically doesn’t degrade,” he said.
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