The 2015 International Conference on Self-Healing Materials (ICSHM2015), which will be co-hosted by Duke University, NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill, will take place in Durham, NC on June 22-24, 2015. Self-healing materials are a class of smart materials (cementitious, thermoplastic, supramolecular polymers, fiber-reinforced composites, coatings/paints, micro-vascular systems, and bio-inspired materials) that have the structurally incorporated ability to repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. The inspiration comes from biological systems, which have the ability to heal after being wounded. Initiation of cracks and other types of damage on a microscopic level has been shown to change thermal, electrical, and acoustical properties, and eventually lead to whole scale failure of the material. The ICSHM2015 will engage the local academic community to international collaborators in the newly emerging field of self-healing biomaterials and biomedical implants.
