In this research, nanofibers were used as container of healing agent. Therefore, PAN solution with concentration of 10, 11, 12 and 13 wt% were prepared. In order to prepare polymer blend solution of PAN-epoxy to produce core-shell nanofibers by a single nozzle, the epoxy resin was directly added to each PAN solution in a way that the weight ratio of the epoxy resin and PAN were 0.2, 1 and 1.5. Similar to the PAN-epoxy-solution, mercaptan was added to prepare PAN solutions. Core-shell nanofibers containing epoxy and mercaptan as healing agent and its hardener were electrospun using single nozzle electrospinning. Extraction results showed that maximum loading was obtained for epoxy or mercaptan to PAN weight ratio of 1. FESEM images illustrated that electrospun nanofibers were uniform without beads. TEM images confirmed the formation of electrospun core-shell nanofibers. The absence of any chemical reactopn between epoxy resin or mercaptan with PAN was showed by FTIR analysis. TGA is conducted in order to strudy the thermal stability of core-shell nanofibers. Also, due to increasing temperature during TGA analysis, the weight change of core-shell nanofibers could be used to calculate the amount of epoxy resin and mercaptan stored in electrospun nanofibers. Dynamic and isothermal DSC analysis were performed with the aim of monitoring the self-healing process of the system. Also, self-healing interaction was studied by mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibers. Three-point bending tests were performed in order to study the self-healing performance of hybrid mat. The composites containing hybrid nanofibers was decreased only about 6% of normalized modulus after 4 bending cycles which could demonstrate the effect of hybrid mat to heal the damaged composite. Dynamic DSC analysis were conducted immediately after each three-point bending cycle of composite containing hybrid core-shell nanofibers mat. The exothermic peak centered about 64 °C showed self-healing reaction of healing agent. Extraction method, FTIR analysis and three-point bending test were performed in order to study the stability of core materials. The results of loading content for epoxy and mercaptan were 19 wt% and 25.7 wt%, respectively. After 8 months, about 0.9 wt% for epoxy resin and 1.3 wt% for mercaptan were reduced. According to FTIR results, 8 months later, the intensity ratio of –C-O-C to -C?N has reduced about 5%. In the same time, 23% of the peak intensity ratio of –SH to -C?N has decreased. Three-point bending tests were performed for similar specimens as produced, 4 months and 8 months later. The results showed that nanofibers are considered as a suitable container to encapsulate healing agent for a long time.
