Just heat and heal

A polymer system  based on weak, reversible bonds that can heal itself when heated has been created by UK and US chemists. The new polymers could be further developed and used in the aerospace and other industries, say the researchers.

The team designed a polymeric structure which holds together using aromatic electronic interactions and can easily repair damage to itself when heated to a modest temperature. Previous self-healing polymers have relied on stronger interactions and often require additives to facilitate the healing process.  More...