Self Healing Materials

Paurush Kumar

Nothing lasts forever, though we try our best to preserve our beloved gadgets. When physics decides to interfere, calculations are misjudged, screens crack and paint is scratched.  It's frustrating, annoyingly wasteful and horribly expensive.

There are instances where the consequence of even the tiniest rupture is far more serious. In the case of structural materials, the long-time degradation process leads to microcracks that cause voids and eventually weaken the structure. Even a small cut could grow to cause serious damage. Leakage in fuel tanks could lead to serious damage to the complete vehicle. A skyscraper window cracks and eventually shatters, raining down debris, and hurting everyone nearby.

The regenerating and self-healing property of skin is what inspired the scientists, in the early 2000s as they began developing self-healing materials that could repair internal damage all by themselves.

This bio-inspired term brings to mind something alive, self-healing is a symbol of living things, from DNA and cell wall repair in single-celled organisms all the way to wound and bone repair in our own bodies.

Many common terms such as self-healing, self-repairing, autonomic-healing, and autonomic-repairing are used to define such a property in materials.

How does it work?

TRIGGERING ACTION

This part is classified in two types: -

·         Autonomic (without any intervention)

·         Non-Autonomic (external triggering)

TRANSPORTATION

 Microcapsules loaded with liquid monomers are distributed in an epoxy matrix. A catalyst that incites

polymerisation of the monomer is implanted in the epoxy. When a crack runs through the cured material, it breaks open the micro- capsules.

RENOVATION

 Capillary action draws the monomer into the crack where it is exposed to the catalyst and thus polymerises. The polymerised material binds the two faces of the crack together. The material thus heals itself in response to the damage.

Present development and uses

1.      The first self-healing materials we’re most likely to see in mass production would be paints and coatings that can better withstand the weather harshness and other kinds wear-and-tear.

2.      Self-healing polymer that conducts electricity. This material may one day be used in circuit boards that can repair themselves.

Chao Wang (Ph.D)  inspired by the X-Men’s self-healing superhero  Wolverine, has developed a self-healing polymeric material for use in circuit boards, soft robotics and electronic devices.

He presented his team’s research at the 253rd National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society.

3.     Another upcoming development in medical sector is a super stretchy, self-healing material leading to artificial muscle.

One day, we might even develop replacement parts for the human body that can heal themselves or can be used in humanoid robots.

4.      University of Michigan has been designing self-healing super-hydrophobic surfaces with exceptional mechanical durability.

Potential future development can be longer lasting cell-phones, cars and laptops. We can increase the lifespan of raw materials and thus affecting from mega structures to mega machines.

What if we can use the advanced AI and self-healing materials to find and repair all the imperfection and cuts within to make long-lasting and more efficient products?

We can create smart material/coating which can change according to weather and also heal itself by taking customized feeds from the smart AI or the user itself.

INDUSTRIAL INSIGHT

Electronic MNCs have proposed the usage of self-healing material in electronic devices as well as desktops, mobile and laptops. Self-healing material manufacturers have engaged in frequent R&D. Europe is the leading region of the global self-healing material market owing to increasing purchasing power and increasing consumer spending, particularly in Italy and France.  Automotive companies are adopting self-healing clear coat for car surfaces for protecting the vehicle body from any mechanical scratches. Increasing global population & infrastructure facilities provide room for growth of industry in this direction.

The innovation happening in this sector needs to step out of the laboratory and revolutionize the lifespan of everything around.

It sounds painstaking, and it probably is, but trust science and reinvent nature!

Let us know what you think about a self-healing future in the comments section!