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 The
plastic might one day be used for making artificial organs
A self-repairing
plastic "skin" has been developed and tested by
US scientists.
The smart type of plastic, which automatically knits together
when cracked or broken, could one day be used to make artificial
organs.
The
material contains microcapsules filled with a special healing
agent.
Like
human skin, it bleeds and heals itself, offering a potential
breakthrough in vital materials used in surgical implants.
It could also prove useful for making rocket and spacecraft
components, which cannot be repaired once they are in use.
Wear
and tear
Plastics
are normally susceptible to cracking caused by vibration,
bending, and heat. Often the damage is deep within a structure,
where it is difficult to detect and repair.
But
in fracture tests, the new self-healing plastic regained
75% of its original strength.
The technology could revolutionise the space industry
Scott
White, a member of the University of Illinois team that
developed the "skin", said: "When the material
cracks, the microcapsules rupture and release the healing
agent into the damaged region through capillary action."
The
scientists are now trying to modify the plastic so that
it is suitable for commercial use.
They
believe the technology could revolutionise the plastics
industry, with satellites, rocket motors and prosthetic
organs prime candidates for treatment.
The
research is reported in the journal Nature.
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