Patent ID: 8518531

Claim:
A self-healing composite material comprising; a. a matrix material selected from the group consisting of metal and ceramic; b. a hollow form self-healing reinforcement in said matrix selected from nanotubes, hollow particles balloons, and hollow fibers; c. said hollow form Self-healing reinforcement material selected from Al 2 O 3 , SiC, glass, carbon, and BN; d. said hollow form self-healing reinforcement encapsulating a lower melting point alloy than matrix material selected from tin alloy, Babbit alloy, gallium alloy, and eutectic or peritectic alloys; e. where, when a crack develops in said matrix, said hollow reinforcements fracture in front of the crack and upon heating or application of external fields release a low melting alloy in liquid form which flows into the crack, and solidifies with or without reaction with the matrix to provide sealing and healing the crack.