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New Take on Self-Healing Polymer Could Mean Scratch-Free Screens

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the new-screen-just-add-sunlight dept.

techprophet writes to mention that a new take on self-healing plastic could provide a long-term solution to scratched screens. The new polymer, developed by scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi, uses UV light to reform bonds between molecules rather than embedded healing agents of similar systems. "At the core of their design is polyurethane, which is an elastic polymer that already has decent scratch resistance. To enhance its ability to withstand mechanical damage, Ghosh and Urban added two more components, OXE and CHI. OXE has an unstable chemical structure (a four-membered ring containing three carbons and one oxygen) that makes it prone to being split open. CHI is UV sensitive. The idea is that, if the polyurethane gets damaged by a scratch, the unstable ring structure of OXE will open to create two reactive ends. Then, UV light can trigger CHI to form new links with the reactive ends of OXE and thereby fix the break in the polymer."

18 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. "can trigger" by notgm · · Score: 5, Funny

    it could trigger a healing process, or it could release noxious fumes, killing the user.

    it's like a 70-30 chance, don't worry about it.

    1. Re:"can trigger" by davester666 · · Score: 2, Funny

      > That'll teach those terrorists to travel with their terrorist self-healing tote-bags!

      Fixed it for yah.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    2. Re:"can trigger" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Get your new iPod touch 50g with latest screen healing!!!

      *General surgeon warning: scratching the surface might result in death. Other less serious side effects may include "lung quake, facial corkboarding, eye-arrea, bearded thalamus, transsexual kidneys, rectal dyslexia, Flu-nami, Spontaneous Mertail, and Honey Nut Areolas".

    3. Re:"can trigger" by haystor · · Score: 3, Informative

      The people that touch monitor screens with their fingers are obviously in league with the terrorists.

      --
      t
    4. Re:"can trigger" by EdIII · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've had rectal dyslexia and it was a bitch. However, the Honey Nut Areolas were quite enjoyable.

  2. How many times? by VeNoM0619 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So can it only repair the bond once, since it splits open?

    --
    Disclaimer: I am not god.
    We may not be created equal
    But we can be treated equal.
    1. Re:How many times? by interiot · · Score: 3, Insightful
      From TFA:

      this polymer system still needs some work before it can be released commercially. For example, the authors must figure out what happens if a second scratch occurs directly where a previous scratch was mended

      It's a bit hard to believe they've never tried this though, just to see what happens. So, this comes down to "more funding plz"?

    2. Re:How many times? by Mr.+DOS · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seeing as the scratches the technology currently fixes are only a few micrometres in size, it's probably more an issue of it being extremely difficult to place another scratch at exactly the same place as a previously healed one.

            --- Mr. DOS

    3. Re:How many times? by sjames · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Perhaps. Each molecule can only participate in a repair once, but perhaps not all of them are consumed for a particular repair (leaving enough for another repair or 2).

      Even if it is only once, depending on the cost it might still be worthwhile since a single scratch can render a screen painful to use (and this would solve that problem) and it's unlikely that every scratch will happen in exactly the same place. Even if the scratches intersect, having a bad spot on the screen would beat two long scratches.

      It could potentially make the display last in good condition until after the device is obsolete or fails for an unrelated reason. Or at least make it look new for longer.

  3. How big of a scratch? by wjh31 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    im sure most people imagine large gashes closing themselves perfectly a-la movie style regeneration, but a little common sense says that is probably a bit beyond this techs capabilities. What size scratch can it really 'heal', and in what time frame?

    1. Re:How big of a scratch? by gurps_npc · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sorry, slashdot did not display the proper character. that is 9.5 micrometers (I tried to use Ansi character 181 in front of the m, the scientific notation for micrometers.) For further clarification, a human red blood cell is about 7 mirometers.

      --
      excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    2. Re:How big of a scratch? by wjh31 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      9.5 micrometer, but how far does it go, is that as big as it can manage? How many of the noticeable scratches on the display of your favourite phone/mp3 player/laptop etc could be healed by this, i.e what is the typical size of a scratch in the real world

  4. Good publicity for my alma mater -- by Cutting_Crew · · Score: 4, Informative

    i also submitted this story this morning so since this made it i guess mine will be scrapped. because of this i can also give you a few links. This is great technology no doubt.

    USM Main Website

    Scientific American had a hit on this.

    School of Polymers and High Performance Materials Link

    Marek W. Urban is the principle chemist and researcher for the project and was the co-author of the findings and its current research publication in the journal Science.

    Video of an actual test after scratching a surface.

    Sorry if i am a little excited but its nice to be personally linked to a university that is about 15 minutes from where you live.

    1. Re:Good publicity for my alma mater -- by sunking2 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Huh? This is Slashdot. Why do you assume it will be scrapped? Give it a few more hours.

  5. What about Glasses? by VortexCortex · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Does anyone else think this technology could also serve well as self healing lenses for glasses?

    What good is a scratch free screen if I can't see it through my scuffed eye-wear?

  6. Re:skynet's just around the corner.. by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    They still won't know love. If movies have taught us anything. That is the only weakness they need.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  7. A url ending in scratches.ars... On slashdot... by jmrust · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Am I the only one that finds a url ending in scratches.ars friggen hilarious while perusing slashdot minutes before my Friday escape from the office?! :D

  8. Another use for this: Solar panels? by Atheraal · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Isn't one of the biggest weaknesses of current solar panels that they get scratched up over time, thus losing efficiency? Seems like a good match to me..