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Smart Rubber Promises Self-Mending Products

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the we've-heard-it-all-before dept.

An anonymous reader writes "French scientists have developed a new rubber that can heal itself after being cut or broken. If two broken ends of the material are pushed together, and left for an hour, they join to become just as stretchy as before. There is even a video of the supposed creation in action. 'Regular rubber gets its strength from the fact that long chains of polymer molecules are coupled, or "crosslinked," in three different ways: through covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonding between molecules. Of these three bond types, only the hydrogen bonds can be remade once a material is fractured, although normally there are not enough hydrogen bonds for the rubber to re-couple in this way. The solution devised by Leibler and colleagues is to simply get rid of the ionic and covalent bonds. They developed a transparent, yellowy-brown rubber in which crosslinking is performed only by hydrogen bonds.'"

7 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. It's The Shit by nick_davison · · Score: 5, Funny

    The material is synthesised from fatty acids and urea. And if this isn't an argument why adding fiber to your diet is important, nothing'll convince you.
  2. This is /. by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 5, Funny

    You've been misinformed. You don't need a condom for masturbation.

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    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:This is /. by milsoRgen · · Score: 5, Funny

      You've been misinformed. You don't need a condom for masturbation. Don't underestimate the energy savings from not having to constantly wash your tube socks.
      --
      I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask where they're goin' and hook up with 'em later.
  3. This is madness. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This time so-called "scientific progress" has gone too far. This shameless disregard for ionic and covalent bonds is unnatural and degrading to us all. Ionic and covalent bonds play a crucial role in vital processes of nature. They are found everywhere, from humble table salt, to the very carbon rings that are the basis of all life.

    And now arrogant man sees fit to sacrifice these noble bonds for what, I ask? For a "self-healing rubber" of all things? This is a travesty. I hope all people who love and cherish our universe and the laws of nature will boycott this abominable substance.

  4. Re:Odd by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is so stupid.

    Even if you did have a rubber that repaired itself, it still wouldn't really be sanitary to use it.

    --
    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  5. Oy by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 5, Funny

    So many condom jokes, so little actual sex...

  6. Re:Roads by youthoftoday · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's some way to incorporate this material into roadways that don't develop potholes. You're tired of paying for them--in wear and tear on your car and in taxes.

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    -1 not first post