Functional Robustness of Self-Healing Passive UHF RFID Tag to Mechanical Damage

Abstract

This paper evaluates the functional reliability of self-healing passive UHF RFID tags under mechanical damage. We fabricated 39 dipole-type tags in five conductor-thickness groups (100−300μm), using a self-healing elastomer blend. The primary performance metric, read range, was characterized within the 860−960MHz band for pristine tags and after controlled damage, including cuts and natural cracking. Read range recovery was quantified at intervals over 24 hours. Our results demonstrate a strong dependence on conductor thickness: tags with thicker conductors (≥200μm) retained measurable functionality, whereas thinner conductors were nearly non-functional after damage. While natural cracks proved most detrimental, reducing read range by over 70%, the self-healing mechanism successfully restored acceptable performance. These findings, supported by electromagnetic simulations, validate a robust and self-repairing antenna approach, despite the low polymer conductivity (∼150S/m) relative to metals. Future work will focus on improving conductivity, IC-radiator bonding, and developing waterresistant layouts to enhance durability.