Saturday 14 May 2011

Plastic repair itself

U.S. researchers have constructed a new type of plastic material, which can repair itself by exposing the ordinary light. This amazing material can extend the life and durability of dozens of products based on polymers - from ordinary household products - plastic bags and cans, rubber tires, to expensive medical equipment. Rubbery plastic, can be found in thousands of products, but is highly sensitive to the effects of scratching, cutting or drilling. In order to improve these products, so far it was necessary to warm the damaged part and putting patches. The team from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, managed by Christopher Veder, has developed a self-repairing rubber-like material containing metal. The metal absorbs ultraviolet rays turns them into localized heat, which damaged part of the repair. The so-called smart materials, with built-in ability to damage caused self-repairing normal wear, might prove to be useful in transport, construction, packaging industry and other sectors. The synthetic polymers include synthetic rubber, neoprene, nylon, PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene and silicone.

1 comment:

  1. The medical tape actually has pin pricks in it that are large enough to let water through but the nature of water is that there is some resistance to passing through due to surface tension, it's water resistant not water proof.
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