A winner of the Accélération@CNRS Ingénierie 2026 call for projects, the exploratory Thermovitricomp project—led by Laurent Farge—addresses a major challenge for composite materials: how can they be made easier to repair in order to extend their service life?
Carbon-fiber-based composites are valued for their light weight and mechanical performance. But when they are damaged—particularly by microcracks or delamination—repairing them can be complex. The goal of Thermovitricomp is to develop composites capable of “healing” when exposed to heat, without having to remelt the entire part.
Repairing Through Reversible Chemical Bonds