A Breakthrough from Japan: Self-Healing Glass Material

For years, scientists have tried to create a material that can easily self-heal, but without success. The materials were either too soft, or required high heat to mend the pieces together.

Now, a solution might be at hand. Last week, a study was published in the journal Science by researchers from Japan, led by Professor Takuzo Aida from the University of Tokyo. They developed a semi-transparent polymer called polyether-thioureas (polyether-thioureas or TUEG3). After breaking it into pieces, its fragments could be reattached without any heating, just by applying slight pressure for a short time.

What gives the material its self-healing ability? The answer lies in the hydrogen bonds within it, which act as the "glue" that mends the polymer's atoms. These bonds are structured in such a way that when the material breaks, it does not crystallize, allowing the molecular connections to rejoin when force is applied.

Yu Yanagisawa, a master's student, stumbled upon the properties of TUEG3 by chance. He created the material intending to use it as an adhesive. He later found something surprising: when the material was cut, he pressed it with his hands for 30 seconds at a temperature of 68°F (20°C), and the parts bonded together.

Later, the researchers discovered that once the parts reattached, the material regained its original strength after a few hours.

In a conversation with Japan's Broadcasting Corporation, Yanagisawa expressed disbelief in these findings, prompting him to repeat the experiment multiple times to verify their accuracy: "I hope self-healing glass becomes an eco-friendly material that doesn't need to be discarded if broken," he said.

It's worth noting that this isn't the first time researchers have proposed a polymer-based solution that can be easily repaired. According to the British Guardian, researchers at the University of California have suggested using another polymer that can stretch up to 50 times its length and heal itself within a day.