Self-healable interfaces based on thermo-reversible Diels–Alder reactions in carbon fiber reinforced composites

[Display omitted] •Self-healable interphase based on Diels–Alder reaction was designed in carbon/epoxy composites.•The healing efficiency was evaluated by micro-droplet debonding test.•Carbon fiber previously oxidized in HNO3 for 60min leads to the highest healing efficiency (82%).•This healable interphase can be healed several times with a relatively high healing efficiency. Thermo-reversible Diels–Alder (DA) bonds formed between maleimide and furan groups have been used to generate an interphase between carbon fiber surface and an epoxy matrix leading to the ability of interfacial self-healing in carbon:epoxy composite materials. The maleimide groups were grafted on an untreated T700 carbon fiber from a three step surface treatment: (i) nitric acid oxidization, (ii) tetraethylenepentamine amination, and (iii) bismaleimide grafting. The furan groups were introduced in the reactive epoxy system from furfuryl glycidyl ether. The interface between untreated carbon fiber and epoxy matrix was considered as a reference. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) was evaluated by single fiber micro-debonding test. The debonding force was shown to have a linear dependence with embedded length. The highest healing efficiency calculated from the debonding force was found to be about 82% more compared to the value for the reference interface. All the interphases designed with reversible DA bonds have a repeatable self-healing ability. As after the fourth healing, they can recover a relatively high healing efficiency (58% for the interphase formed by T700-BMI which is oxidized for 60min during the first treatment step).