Title: SELF-HEALING POLYMER MATERIALS FOR WIRE INSULATION, POLYIMIDES, FLAT SURFACES, AND INFLATABLE STRUCTURES

 Number/Link: WO2012174325

Applicant/Assignee: NASA

Publication date: 20-12-2012

“Gist”: A low molecular weight polyurethane or polyurea material, prepared by reacting IPDI and a polysiloxane diol or diamine in such a way that it flows at about 23°C, shows self-healing properties. Other ’embodiments’ of the invention are concerned with self-healing polyimides containing microcapsules comprising polyimide oligomers (“polyamic acid”).

Why it is interesting: Films of the self-healing PU with a thickness up to 5mm will flow together again after being cut. The material can be laminated between 2 structural layers and used for cable and wire encapsulation e.g.
This is an interesting but very confusing and hard-to-read patent application describing at least 2 different inventions (“non-unity”) and one would expect it to be split-up.

Self-Healing Polymer Film