"Terminator" polymer can spontaneously self-heal in just two hours (video)

Credit: CIDETEC Centre for Electrochemical Technologies/ ExtremeTech

Cut, push together, two hours later, it's whole again!

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/166656-terminator-polymer-can-spontaneously-self-heal-in-just-two-hours#disqus_thread / self heal healing self-healing power skin powerful other contexts surrounded sensitive computer components sack sac soft material air water tight air-tight water-tight repairs could end technician suturing shut scalpel hole researcher Ibon Odriozola CIDETEC Centre for Electrochemical Technologies created polymer potential lead future material poly urea-urethane urea urethane elastomeric matrix network complex molecular interactions spontaneously cross link cross-link heal almost most any break this context word spontaneous material needs no outside intervention begin healing process catalyst extra reactant experiment experiments sample cut in half razor blade room temperature healed the cut 97% efficiency efficient just two hours reaction metathesis reaction to dub the material his terminator polymer reference Terminator 2′s 2 T-1000 apt comparison homogenous material resembles thick liquid T-1000′s interior self-healing materials requires catalyst no layering no word on how well it can heal itself over multiple separations potential technology extent life spans lift-spans some plastic parts repetitive strain often slowly acquire minute growing fractures group group’s main goal harder version formed into such parts itself polymer squishy somewhat soft research researcher researchers stretch a single piece to breaking by hand cut, not rigid enough to make parts from just yet self healing self-healing material big challenge artificial skin quickly stop up small wounds on its own potentially grants grant ability grow over time new units of the matrix could be incorporated as the material stretches and tears microscopic level graft artificial skin growing child might grow allow allows easy surgical work self-healing skin body stay shut up tight against germs germ healing mechanism proves robust enough material injected like an adhesive or a sealant impressive combination elasticity strength self healing self-healing advantage leaky window frames painful joints need of some padding stop bones from rubbing together protective coatings inventors search self healing self-healing protective coating top sheet top-sheet soak up small nicks return prior state thick piece cut video healed barely perceptible scar hope transparent coating that heals invisibly screen protectors research paper catalyst-free catalyst free room temperature room-temperature self-healing self healing elastomers based on aromatic disulfide metathesis /