Self-healing panels cry for help when damaged

Scientists at the University of Alabama have just developed a "self-healing material," that releases a "syrupy epoxy" stored inside an outer polymer paneling when the exterior is breached. The epoxy flows into cracks or damaged areas and sets when exposed to UV light, reports NewScientist. In addition, embedded circuitry alerts technicians armed with a special wand to damaged areas. As the website reports further: "This is because the wand induces a current in the embedded circuit when it is intact. When the circuit is damaged this cannot happen and the wand sounds an alarm." We hope that these eggheads plan on collaborating with the University of Michigan's self-healing chip project so that both universities can create the ultimate in self-sustaining electronics.

[Photo: University of Alabama]

[Todd Ross @ Sep 29th 2006 7:58AM]

I remember reading about bridges (as in the big things that span land or water) that could self-heal using a similar technique. It's interesting to see this being applied on a smaller scale.

[blackf0rk @ Sep 29th 2006 8:49AM]

Why would they need to cry for help, if they're self-healing? That's like my falling on my face, putting a band-aid on it, then crying about it to mom.

Maybe it's because it needs someone with a UV light (and let's admit, you doesn't have one these days) to come along and harden the stuff?

Also, this doesn't impress me too much; I've made this before - it's called superglue in a straw. When the straw breakes, the liquid comes out - woopdie-doo! Except my way works better 'cause you don't need the UV light patrol to come by and harden anything.

[Chris @ Sep 29th 2006 8:51AM]

Scientists in Alabama? I had no idea.

[wvanduser @ Sep 29th 2006 8:58AM]

Wait, if this is going to be used in space, where self-healing panels like this would be really useful, a) there wouldn't be a guy that just comes along and shines a UV flashlight at the expoxy, but more importantly, b) There's so much UV in space the epoxy would harden before it got anywhere near the hole it was trying to patch!

[fastolfe @ Sep 29th 2006 8:58AM]

You mean they're developing a way for our machine overlords to be harder to kill?

[shirizaki @ Sep 29th 2006 9:37AM]

I, for one, welcome our self healing and emo overlords. They cut themselves, heal themselves, and cry.

[delerious @ Sep 29th 2006 9:39AM]

#3, I would like to state that you are a blithering idiot.
Not only does Alabama have George Washington Carver, yes, he's deceaced, but we also have William Bartram, our first Scientist from the mid 1700s.

[teodoro @ Sep 29th 2006 9:44AM]

"deceaced"

ROTFLMAO

200 year old dead scientists, but no spelling bee champions.

[Mithun Paul @ Sep 29th 2006 10:44AM]

This is amazing from the point of view of sustainable elctronics. With todays need of ever increase demand for GADGETS, All these kind of support material which goes inside the GADGETS shall become self healing, increasing the life span of GADGETS AS WELL AS THIER CORE materials, which again from the point of view of sustainability would reduce production and help reduce the onslaght on the environment.

cheerios to sustainable electronics.

[Bill @ Sep 29th 2006 10:49AM]

Huntsville, Alabama supposedly has the highest conecentration of engineers in the US and is 2nd or 3rd in concentration of PhDs.

But don't tell anyone. We like hiding amongst the country bumpkins.

[Nick @ Sep 29th 2006 10:52AM]

Come on scifi geeks.....who doesn't remember that the fictitious DSV SeaQuest also had a self-healing outer hull?

^takes a dorky bow, and exits clumsily^

[SpudGunner @ Sep 29th 2006 11:15AM]

ROLL TIDE!!!!
The Bear invented this in his bathtub one night, sealed it in an envelope and instructed the University to open it in 2006. The Bear = God

[Bonn @ Sep 29th 2006 1:03PM]

Wish they would've had this material before my condom broke. Now i'm stuck with one annoying ass kid.


Self Healing Condoms.....Genius!!

[Paco @ Sep 30th 2006 2:44PM]

So not only will our robotic overloard be bulletproof, but if we manage to damage them they will be able to "heal". I love this idea.