###### Abstract
The healing mechanism was found to be ineffective for translaminar and intra-laminar damage due to the predominant localization of healing particles within the interlaminar regions. Nevertheless, the healing efficiency achieved an average of 62% in terms of shear strength recovery and 106% for toughness, primarily through the closure of shear cracks. This corresponded to a reduction of up to 57% in the damaged area relative to the initial crack dimensions. Recent studies have focused on enhancing both the mechanical properties and functional performance of fiber-reinforced polymer composites through the incorporation of various thermoplastic fillers and nanostructures. Ethylene-based thermoplastics such as polyethylene (PE), poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) have been employed to improve toughness and energy dissipation [9, 15, 16, 17, 18]. In addition, other thermoplastics such as polyvinyl butyl (PVB) [16], poly(bisphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin) (PBAE) [19, 20], and polycaprolactone (PCL) [21] have also been explored. Furthermore, several studies have investigated the incorporation of nanostructured materials in various morphologies to further improve performance characteristics [22, 23]. Upon localized thermal activation, the thermoplastic phase can soften and flow into crack regions, thereby enabling autonomous or externally triggered healing of microcracks. This mechanism has been shown to enhance damage tolerance and extend the fatigue life of fiber-reinforced composites [23]. Several studies have reported that the incorporation of a moderate amount of thermoplastic healing agent, typically around 15 wt%, can yield significant improvements in healing efficiency [14, 17, 24, 25]. Furthermore, post-impactthermal treatment, such as heating at 150 \({}^{\circ}\)C for 30 min, has been demonstrated to facilitate thermoplastic flow into interlaminar cracks following low-velocity impacts, thereby improving delamination resistance [15; 16; 26; 27; 28; 29]. Certain thermoplastic particles contribute to the healing process through a pressure-driven delivery mechanism [30], in which trapped moisture within the composite transforms into vapor during heat treatment. This vapor pressure facilitates the flow of molten thermoplastic into microcracks, thereby activating the self-healing mechanism. Once molten, the thermoplastic disperses and fills the damaged regions, assisting in the restoration of structural integrity [31]. Upon cooling and solidification, the vapor dissipates, and small voids may remain within the re-solidified thermoplastic phase. These residual cavities are typically minor and do not compromise mechanical performance significantly. On the contrary, the re-bonding of fracture surfaces enhances stress distribution under subsequent loading, thereby improving damage tolerance and prolonging the service life of the composite. For non-reactive thermoplastics such as EVA, the healing mechanism primarily relies on their intrinsic viscosity and surface adhesion capabilities, which enable the molten material to adhere to fracture surfaces and facilitate crack closure without relying on chemical reaction [15]. Although the incorporation of thermoplastics into polymer matrices offers several advantages, it is not without limitations. The inclusion of thermoplastic particles can lead to a reduction in tensile strength [32] and may also increase initial production costs as well as processing time. However, in scenarios where composite components are susceptible to damage and rapid repair is critical, the development of self-healing materials that can restore functionality without requiring replacement presents a highly advantageous solution [4; 18]. The industrial implementation of such self-healing strategies is gaining significant interest, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and other fields where durability, renewability, and extended service life are of paramount importance [5].