Scientists create 'healing factor' material for canvas

Having a scratched or shattered screen is certainly among the worst nightmares of anyone who has one. smartphone, but have you ever thought about not having to worry every time your device falls on the floor?

Although this reality is still some way off, chemists from University of California brought it closer to the present day: led by Chao-Wang, the team of scientists developed a material capable of regenerating its structure, eliminating the effects of breaks and scratches.

“We performed several tests with the material, including evaluating its ability to recover deep cuts and scratches. After we split the piece in half, both sides automatically joined together 24 hours later.”

Also according to Wang, the material is capable of extending its original size by up to 50 times, being obtained from the union of flexible polymers and ionic compounds. Although this all seems like magic, the chemist explains that the bond ion-dipole – present in the composition of the invention – causes the separated molecules to attract each other and eliminate any courteous ou scratches.

Screens that heal themselves

As much as this is the primeiro material of a type capable of conducting electricity – thus being able to be used in screens touch screen – the technique developed by the scientists is not new in the world of smartphones: presented in 2013, the L already had a similar finish on its back cover, but it could not be used in the construction of displays.

In an interview given to Business Insider, Wang also explained that touchscreens work with multiple electrodes in their layers, and as a finger interacts with them, the smartphone identifies where the touches went and then responds to the user. Precisely for this reason, it was of paramount importance that the material did not impede the electron flow.

“My childhood idol was Wolverine from the X-Men. He could save the world, but only because he could heal himself”

Despite being a success in the tests, it is expected that the product will only reach the market around 2020, and may also be present in batteries for Gadgets. Quite excited about the results, the scientists still believe that the polymer can make up artificial muscles, precisely because it responds to electrical impulses.