Look out, super glue and paint thinner.
Thanks to new dynamic materials developed at the University of Illinois, removable paint and self-healing plastics soon could be household products.
U. of I. materials science and engineering professor Jianjun Cheng, graduate student Hanze Ying and postdoctoral researcher Yanfeng Zhang published their work in the journal Nature Communications.
“The key advantage of using this material is that it’s catalyst-free and low-temperature, and can be healed multiple times,” Cheng said. “These are very nice materials for internal cracks. This can heal the crack before it causes major problems by propagating.”
Other self-healing material systems have focused on solid, strong materials. However, the new study uses softer elastic materials made of polyurea, one of the most widely used classes of polymers in consumer goods such as paints, coatings, elastics and plastics.
After the polymer is cut or torn, the researchers press the two pieces back together and let the sample sit for about a day to heal – no extra chemicals or catalysts required. The materials can heal at room temperature, but the process can be sped up by curing at slightly higher temperatures (37 degrees Celsius, or about body temperature). The polymer bonds back together on the molecular level nearly as strongly as before it was cut. In fact, tests found that some healed samples, stretched to their limits, tore in a new place rather than the healed spot, evidence that the samples had healed completely.
See a video demonstrating the preparation and self-healing properties.
The researchers use commercially available ingredients to create their polymer. By slightly tweaking the structure of the molecules that join up to make the polymer, they can make the bonds between the molecules longer so that they can more easily pull apart and stick back together – the key for healing. This molecular-level re-bonding is called dynamic chemistry.
Dynamic chemistry has been explored in some other polymers, but those materials tend to be for specialized applications or laboratory settings, rather than the conventional polymers used commercially. By focusing on consumer materials and using readily available ingredients, the researchers hope that manufacturers could easily integrate dynamic materials.
“We just buy commercial materials and mix them together, no fancy controls or special apparatus,” said Cheng. “It’s a very simple, low-cost, inexpensive process. Anybody can do this on any scale.”
Now that they’ve established the chemistry required, the researchers are exploring how dynamic polyurea could bolster different applications. For example, they could fine-tune the mixture so that a polyurethane coating or paint could be removable.
“In some areas, when it’s not necessary for the coating to be permanent and you want it to be removable, this chemistry may be applied to existing coating materials to make it reversible,” Cheng said. “In general, polyurea and polyurethane are widely used. This chemistry could modify existing materials to make them more dynamic, healable.”
The Latest on: Self-healing material
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Self-healing material” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Self-healing material
- What are self-healing roads that India may introduce to tackle the big pothole problem?on April 29, 2024 at 4:56 am
India has a serious problem of potholes. In 2022, there were 4,446 accidents due to these craters, which led to the deaths of 1,856 people. Now, to tackle this menace, the National Highways Authority ...
- Unveiling the Potential of Fluorinated Phenolic Polyurethane Elastomerson April 28, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Researchers from the Donghua University in China designed a fluorinated phenolic polyurethane (FPPU) elastomer, overcoming the traditional trade-off between mechanical strength and self-healing ...
- Skin Care Newson April 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm
19, 2024 — Toxic chemicals used to flame-proof plastic materials can be absorbed into ... Dollar Global Cost of Poorly Managed Wound Healing Mar. 27, 2024 — Scientists have uncovered a key ...
- Self-Healing Materials Market Estimated to Reach US$ 15.57 billion by 2032, Fueled by Infrastructure Surge in Developing Economieson April 26, 2024 at 8:03 am
The self-healing materials industry size estimated at US$ 1.61 billion in 2022 is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 25.5% from 2022 to 2032. Materials that are capable of self-healing are stimulated by ...
- Alfred University professor co-authors paper on self-healing glasson April 24, 2024 at 10:33 am
Myungkoo Kang, assistant professor of ceramic engineering in Alfred University’s Inamori School of Engineering, has co-authored a paper on ...
- Amplifier emerges from stealth to orchestrate AI-driven ‘self-healing’ security for enterpriseson April 24, 2024 at 6:34 am
self-healing. Essentially, the company is using AI and automation to create an ecosystem where users could self-heal common security issues on their end – without breaking their workflows.
- Scientists develop self-healing material that could transform the plastic industry: 'We could solve many of the world's problems with a single material'on April 21, 2024 at 3:15 am
One expert believes this technology is versatile enough to become a part of a wide range of industries as well, like fashion, robotics, medicine, and vehicle manufacturing. Scientists develop ...
- Researchers Develop Revolutionary Cathode Material for Lithium-Sulfur Batterieson April 19, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Researchers at the University of California - San Diego have developed a self-healing cathode material that overcomes the challenges of traditional sulfur cathodes and could revolutionize solid-state ...
- Crystal Healing 101: A Beginner’s Guide To The Spiritual Practiceon April 19, 2024 at 10:31 am
Using a mala, or a prayer necklace with 108 beads, is a powerful way to use crystals in your meditation, say Panzarella and Randazzo. You can repeat an intention or mantra as you touch each bead or ...
- Polydimethylsiloxane Market: Unveiling Lucrative Opportunities in Medical, Cosmetics, and Self-Healing Compositeson April 18, 2024 at 2:20 am
The global polydimethylsiloxane market is anticipated to create lucrative growth opportunities over the assessment period from 2022 to 2032. The global market held a valuation of US$ 1,533.7 Million ...
via Bing News