Technology for scratch-proof car body
Few things can put you in a sour mood faster than a new scratch on a formerly-pristine car. But an international team of scientists are working on a “self-healing” material that could protect your ride from keys, branches, and jilted lovers.
How does it work? The polymer-based material is composed of small molecules with sticky ends that serve as a “molecular glue.” When exposed to intense UV light, the polymer assemblies become unglued and turn into a liquid that can fill any cuts or cracks. And when the light is removed, the structures re-assemble and—presto!—goodbye scratches, explains Professor Stuart Rowan PhD, a researcher at Case Western University who helped develop the material.
“What I think makes most sense for this material is to use it as a coating, like paint or varnish,” Rowan says.
From cars to eye glasses, cell phones, floors, and watches, the researchers envision a slew of commercial uses for their scratch-proof coating.
The drawback: It might be years before you can buy it in stores. “Perhaps it is appropriate to compare our work with the cool concept cars that you see at auto shows: they show feasibility of attractive new features. Sometimes these make it into commercial products, sometimes not,” explains researcher Professor Dr. Christoph Weder of the University of Fribourg.
