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Self-Repairing Plastic

Posted by michael on from the mend-thyself dept.

mpark6288 writes "Recently, the news has been rocked by a discovery: Self-Repairing plastics. As News Factor: Sci Tech reports: "Chemical engineers are pushing plastics to new heights with two new developments: A material called Automend can restore itself to 60 percent of its previous strength and an organic plastic with magnetic properties can be controlled by light." Of course, this has frightening ramifications, as Jay Leno puts it: Cher could live forever."

14 comments

  1. if only.. by seann · · Score: 1
    "If a product constructed with Automend cracks while in use -- such as in an electronic device that heats and cools frequently -- it would repair itself the next time it heats," said UCLA professor of organic chemistry Fred Wudl.
    I've actually thought of that before. Too bad I was too dumb to implement it.
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    I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
  2. Plastic repairs by fruey · · Score: 1

    Now.. what is perhaps more worrying is that some retro furniture designer could start making awful 70s plastic chairs and they may never fully die?

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    Conversion Rate Optimisation French / English consultant
  3. Automend Car Windsheilds please! by Zarf · · Score: 3, Insightful

    temperature required for Automend to heal -- between 240 degrees and 250 degrees Fahrenheit

    So it's not like the stuff magically heals itself or anything but I still want a windshield for my car made out of the stuff since it is transparent. My windshields always get cracked by rocks and gravel. Folks in cold climates will love it because they get heat and cold cracks on their windshields and with this stuff a hot clothes iron could heal it.

    I wonder how Automend would perform in Car accidents? If it shatters then you certainly don't want it for you car... cars use "saftey glass" to avoid that flesh ripping statter action.

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    [signature]
    1. Re:Automend Car Windsheilds please! by billcopc · · Score: 1

      I don't see why we couldn't apply a safety-glass-like backing to an Automend windshield. The outside would be repairable, while the inside would be safety-glass but you probably don't need to worry about airborne gravel on the inside of the car. The trick would be to avoid air between the two layers, or perhaps to meld them together somehow.

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      -Billco, Fnarg.com
    2. Re:Automend Car Windsheilds please! by Doctor+Fishboy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      My only comment is that the repaired plastic would not be optically flat after the repair, and so after a few cracks you'd get optical distortions that would distract you when driving. Possibly another hazard in addition to the safety aspect?

  4. lol by Vodak · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So when USPS or other carieers screw up shipping your computer you can fix it yourself?

    I bet the Apple users will be happy since most of thier computer is plastic already =]

    1. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hmm.. the mods are on crack again

      I love macs, and I don't see how this could be offensive...

    2. Re:lol by Vodak · · Score: 1

      While I can't say I love macs(only because I haven't had the chance to own one of my own), I like the design of the things, and the fact that it's made out of plastic is fine. I only commented on this story because there was a prior post on Slashdot about one of the machines that had been destroyed in transit. If someone has found a way to repair plastic that has been cracked I say good job. When it becomes available to the mass I won't have to worry so much if I drop stuff as I do so often anyway.

  5. Past /. story on 'self healing composites' by espee · · Score: 2, Interesting

    See this article, about fibrous materials with integrated, fungible glue capsules - so that each stress which breaks fibers also breaks the glue capsules to repair those fibers.

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    "We'll reach that bridge when we find it" - Suzy Romer, prime minister Netherlands Antilles '98-'99
  6. Self-Healing Plastic - 1 year old by hound3000 · · Score: 1

    Nature.com - Feb 15, 2001

    Discover.com - May 2001

    The only reason I bring this up is my story was rejected a year ago... *Whine* Wish I still had my original URL for that story... Nothing about magnetic properties tho...

  7. Cher could live forever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the future contains an eternal Cher, please sign me up for mortality.

  8. Gameboy screens and glasses! by Nyphur · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Self-repairing plastic could be used in windshields, but also glasses. Scratched and broken glasses are a good application.
    A better application would be the screen on a Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance etc. They constantly get scratched, so now all you need to do is heat it and it's "healed". Sounds good.

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  9. Super HAL by eamonman · · Score: 1

    I can see it now... A superintelligent computer named HAL, except now HAL can't so easily be defeated by pulling out his magneto-optical RAM.

    HAL: What are you doing, Dave?

    Dave: ... (starts trying to remove HAL's MO RAM)

    HAL: I wouldn't do that if I were you, Dave.
    (light shines from HAL's 'eye' and immediately the MO plastic is ripped back into place by a strong magnetic force. The light changes and thousands of the MO RAMS shimmer, seemingly changing their outsides to a razor like thin-ness.)

    HAL: I'm sorry Dave, but you should have remembered that your suit contains the same compnents as I do.

    (HAL starts flickering, causing Dave to be thrown against the now deadly MO RAMs)

    HAL: Goodbye, Dave.

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    0- Eamonman Proud member of DNRC