A timelapse of a broken area self-healing (left to right)
Posted on 05/11/2014 12:02:01 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A new plastic that "heals itself" has been designed, meaning your cracked phone screen or broken tennis racquet could mend its own wounds.
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
... But even the best self-healing plastics and polymers can only repair small-scale damage, the Science magazine authors note.
"Although self-healing of microscopic defects has been demonstrated, the re-growth of material lost through catastrophic damage requires a regenerative-like approach," said Prof White.
To fix larger breakages, he and his team have designed a new, vascular system - inspired by the arteries and veins of the human body.
A network of channels delivers a healing agent to the site of damage.
The chemicals arrive via two separate streams. They combine to seal the gap in a two-stage reaction. Initially, they form a gel scaffold across the hole. The gel then slowly hardens into a robust, solid structure.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Interesting development in self glueing plastics.
Now wait for a dimwitted democrat propose that it be used for soldiers rainsuits.
LOL, sweat central....
They have already used it on two self-healing Presidents.
The Teflon kid, ABS Barry.
I noticed the same phenomenon when I tried to use the crazy glue (all three bottles I found) a second time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.