Summary
Grubbs’ catalysts drive the ring-opening metathesis polymerisation that heals cracks in self-healing composites, but they are readily deactivated by the amine hardeners used to cure epoxy resins, so they must be protected. This study encapsulates both the first- and second-generation Grubbs’ catalyst inside electrospun polystyrene (PS) fibres and compares how well the fibres shield each catalyst. Because the two catalyst generations differ in reactivity and stability, the authors assess how effectively the PS fibres preserve each one’s ability to trigger polymerisation of the healing agent, and compare the resulting healing efficiencies. Their results indicate that the polystyrene fibres provide better protection and dispersion for the first-generation catalyst, offering practical guidance on which catalyst-and-carrier combination works best for electrospun self-healing systems.