Self-healing materials have been a breakthrough in this millennium. “Self-healing materials are a class of smart materials that have the structurally incorporated ability to repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. The inspiration comes from biological systems, which have the ability to heal after being wounded. Initiation of cracks and other types of damage on a microscopic level has been shown to change thermal, electrical, and acoustical properties, and eventually lead to whole scale failure of the material. Usually, cracks are mended by hand, which is unsatisfactory because cracks are often hard to detect. A material that can intrinsically correct damage caused by normal usage could lower costs of a number of different industrial processes through longer part lifetime, reduction of inefficiency over time caused by degradation, as well as prevent costs incurred by material failure. For a material to be strictly defined as self-healing, it is necessary that the healing process occurs without human intervention.” — Wikipedia
The BBC reports on a new self-healing plastic: “The polymer automatically patches holes 3cm wide, 100 times bigger than before.
Inspired by the human blood clotting system, it contains a network of capillaries that deliver healing chemicals to damaged areas.
The new material, created by engineers at the University of Illinois, is described in Science journal.
For decades scientists have dreamed of plastics that heal themselves like human skin.
Cracks in water pipes and car bonnets would seal up. Satellites could repair their own damage. Broken electronic chips in laptops and mobile phones would spontaneously sort out their own problems.”
