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