UOB Main Technical Achievements M30

Evaluation and characterisation of Microcapsules (UOB)

The mechanical properties of self-sensing microcapsules fabricated by ITA have been evaluated by a micromanipulation technique and the ruptured capsules have been analysed at UOB in the last 6 months. Single microcapsule with a diameter up to f200 µm is placed between two parallel surfaces made of a force transducer probe and sample stage of a microscope to a given deformation or rupture at a pre-set speed, and the force imposed on the microcapsules can be measured simultaneously. The diameter of each particle is determined from its image under the microscope. Multiple capsules are randomly selected for the compression test and the statics result are used to analyse the relationship of rupture force, displacement and stress with the size of the capsules. The capsules are freezing cut and dried with ethanol, and thus the ruptured capsules can be observed and characterised under SEM/TEM. This will help to correlate the mechanical strength of the capsules and their microstructure for the improvement of the design and fabrication of the microcapsules.

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