Conventional materials will maintain this state after tearing and breaking, but some magic materials have "self-healing" properties. A research team at Carnegie Mellon University also recently announced a new solution based on conductive polymers. Not only can it recover after being cut, but it is also very different from the competing product plan. Normally, self-healing materials rely on fluid substances that are released when they are cut, but their new conductive polymer can always maintain a complete shape.
The new material is made of a self-repairing polymer process called polyborosiloxane, which features the ability to repair broken connections without external stimuli (such as light and heat).
The research team combined it with multi-walled carbon nanotubes to add electrical conductivity and self-healing properties to the new material. When cutting it in half, the connecting key between the seams will gradually disconnect.
Self-Healing Devices Gain or Regain Function After Being Cut (via)
The researchers expect the new materials to be widely used in the future, such as sensors and electrical equipment that can be reassembled or placed as needed.
To demonstrate its capabilities, the team used "smart polymers" to create a touch-responsive keyboard. Then cut it apart to keep the four soft controllers independent of each other. But when they are together, they can work together again.
In another demonstration, the research team showed a pneumatic actuator made of smart polymers that can be used to drive robots.
The actuator can be cut in the middle, rotated in two halves, and reconnected in different directions, so that it has a completely different shape while maintaining normal function.
Another idea is to use it for a reusable broken arm model, seal itself around the limbs, and even adjust itself over time to accelerate healing.