Anisah KabliECE 507

Fall 2012

Self-Healing Plastic

• Defining “Self-Healing”? • Structure of Plastic• Self-Healing Process• First uses of Self-Healing Plastics• Self-Healing Plastics Today• Benefits of Self-Healing Plastics• The Future of Plastic

Agenda

What makes something self-healing?

• Ability to repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. • Healing process occurs without human intervention

• Rubber Tree• Releases a type of latex

• Rubber tapping

•  Liana Plant• Base tissue cells expand

• Mussels• Heals bonding material

In Nature

• Typically polymers derived from petrochemicals

• Polymers are chains of  repeating atoms.

• Two parts:• The Backbone: main "path" linking repeat units together. • Side Chains: hang off backbone

• Allow the customization of plastics.

• The creation of polymers is called polymerization

Chemical Structure of Plastic

• 3 step process:1. Triggering after damage2. Transport of materials 3. Chemical repair process

• Requires an external stimulus to initiate healing• Energy is introduced into the system to allow repolymerization

to take place.

The Self-healing Process

• 2005 – Nissan• Nissan “Scratch Guard” 

• Polymer capsules & chitosan 

• Only repairs once

• 2008 – Automatic Materials of Champaign, IL• Protective coatings against rust

• Polymer capsules and catalyst

• January 2012 – Nissan• Self-Healing iPhone Case- Scratch Shield paint

First Uses of Self-Healing Plastics

• March 2012 - University of Southern Mississippi• Bleeding Plastic

• Release warning red dye• Heals with sunlight, artificial light, pH or temperature changes• Able to repeatedly heal itself• Environmentally Friendly - water-based polymers

Self-healing Plastics Today

• November 2012 - Stanford University• Plastic “Skin”

• Polymer mixed with nickel. • Polymer: Weak bonds. Nickel: Conductivity• Nickel creates an electric current

• Resistance determines shape of skin and pressure

Self-Healing Plastic Today

Benefits• Save Money

• lower production costs • longer part lifetime, • reduction of inefficiency and material failure.

• Reusability• minimize upkeep and repair• saving consumers money and reducing waste

• Ex: Sheathe electronics , nail polish, cars

• Improve Safety• Bleeding material act as warning system

• flag damage on aircraft structures• Cracks in bridges, • Failings in battlefield weapon systems

• Medical Uses• Restore sense of touch to prosthetics

Benefits

• Self-healing plastics withstand high temperatures• Make the self-healing skin elastic• Flexible but not stretchable

• Terminator?

Future

Thanks!

Questions?

References

• http://www.technologyreview.com/news/411364/first-self-healing-coatings/?a=f

• http://bgr.com/2012/01/17/nissan-announces-the-worlds-first-self-healing-iphone-case/

• http://www.gizmag.com/self-healing-car-paint/11254/• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110923102217.htm• http://inhabitat.com/scientists-create-artificial-plastic-skin-that-bleeds-

and-heals-itself/• http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57405944-1/new-breed-of-plast

ic-bleeds-heals-itself/• http://www.gizmag.com/bleeding-plastic/21958/• http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-03/new-plastics-bleed-

red-when-scratched-then-heal-themselves-skin• http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-11/stanford-researchers-cr

eate-self-healing-synthetic-skin-sensitive-touch• http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/11/self-healing-plastic-

skin-points.html