Lapi - Development of novel composite material for safety helmets, boat hulls and lifeboat containers that has self-repairing and visual damage inspection features

The novel fibre-reinforced plastic composite material being under development contains various microencapsulated polymer spheres filled with various coloured resins. These spheres will provide direct visual damage inspection as after impact the surface of the composite by changing the colour intensity depending on the severity of the impact. This composite material possesses also self-repairing feature due to impact of these shells containing different resins will broke and disengaged substance will swell the matrix and rapidly repair damages in the material. The new material will be used for manufacturing industrial safety helmets and boat hulls.

Lapi consortium comprises 9 partners from 5 different countries.
Total budget of the project is 1.5 million €.


Measurement of healing efficiency of epoxy TDCB specimen and FRP composite.

Different types of microcapsules that are used in matrix and in damage indicating gelcoat.

Project duration: 2008-2010
Link to the project website: Lapi
Contact person: Andre Gregor, andre.gregor@pera.com