Living organisms possess the ability of self-healing for nonfatal harm

like regeneration of the cut skin and broken bone

guided by instinct.As a result

their injury tolerance is substantially enhanced

which ensures healthy growth and breeding from generation to generation.Inspired by the functionality of naturally occurring species

self-healing polymers have been prepared as a member of intelligent materials family.They are coupled with built-in capability of rehabilitating tiny damages produced during manufacturing and/or usage.In recent years

the authors lab systematically studied strength recovery of self-healing polymeric materials for structural application.By using knowledge of polymer chemistry

polymer physics

materials mechanics

etc.

a series of extrinsic and intrinsic self-healing polymers and polymer composites were developed and characterized.The proposed strategies turn out to be feasible for typical thermosetting and thermoplastics polymers.Accordingly

topics including synthesis techniques

formulation optimization

processing

structure and properties relationship

healing mechanisms

stability and durability were carefully investigated.The present article briefly reviews the works carried out by the authors team.Innovative routes that correlate materials chemistry to full capacity restoration are discussed for further development from bioinspired toward biomimetic repair.