Researchers have developed a fiber-reinforced polymer composite using a 3D-printed EMAA interlayer and resistive heating to repair delamination. This technology could potentially extend the service life of wind turbine blades and aircraft structures, reducing the millions of tons of composite waste projected by 2050. While lab results show the material can undergo over 1,000 repair cycles, practical application remains a challenge. The healing mechanism is more effective with glass fibers than with chemically inert carbon fibers, which are common in high-end aerospace manufacturing.
