This Plastic Can Heal Itself in 30 Minutes

Researchers at Stanford University have created a synthetic material that's capable of healing itself after it's been punctured.

The material is a polymer plastic mixed with pieces of nickel. It's comprised of long chains of molecules connected by hydrogen bonds; the connection is relatively weak, so it allows the molecules to easily break apart (say, when the material is sliced with a scalpel). The conductivity from the metal then helps the bonds rearrange themselves and, because of their flexibility, restore the original structure within 30 minutes.

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