24 Jan Next time you crack windshield or camera lens, the glass may self-repair!
How great it would be if we had a self-repairing glass on our cars or smartphones?
While researching new kinds of adhesives, researchers at the University of Tokyo stumbled upon a type of glass that could repair its own cracks. Two broken shards can fuse back together in just a few seconds with firm pressure, and the glass regains its original strength in a couple of hours.
Up until now, self-restoring materials were soft like rubber or putty or could only recover from superficial scratches, so team of researchers was understandably sceptical when they found a glass-like substance that could reattach itself in room temperature with relatively little pressure even after a complete break. But after repeated testing, it appeared to be the real deal. The research is in its early stages, but it’s still a step in a hopeful direction.
Self-repairing glass is surely an appealing prospect for a wide range of industries. For the smartphone industry, it could mean self-healing displays and glass backs.
Nevertheless, self-healing glass has been discovered, and it could become a reality in the near future.
Sources: https://japantoday.com/category/tech/Glass-that-can-completely-repair-itself-after-breaking-developed-by-University-of-Tokyo, http://www.businessinsider.com/self-repairing-glass-would-be-perfect-for-smartphones-2017-12