Self-healing materials: Technology turns phone scratches and car scratches into 'small things'

Could scratches and cracks on screens or car bodies disappear on their own? Self-healing materials are making it possible, ushering in a new era of more durable devices and vehicles.

Materials with the ability to self-heal cracks will bring many benefits to both businesses and consumers.

In the context of electronic devices and vehicles being attached to life, scratches on phones, car collisions or cracks in appliances often cause a lot of trouble and cost. To overcome this, scientists are developing self-healing materials - a technology that promises not only to bring convenience but also to open up a new approach to product durability and longevity.

Time to spend money on screen repair and car repainting?

Self-healing materials, also known as self-healing materials, are understood as a group of materials that have the ability to automatically repair small damages such as cracks, scratches or surface cracks without human intervention.

The most common mechanism is that when the surface is damaged, the molecules or microcapsules in the material will be activated, releasing liquid or re-forming chemical bonds, thereby filling the damage and restoring the original state. This process is reminiscent of the way human skin heals itself after being scratched.

In the field of phones, much research is going into screens that can heal small cracks . Scientists at the University of Colorado have developed a conductive polymer that can repair itself in a few hours at room temperature, promising to make phones more durable and reduce repair costs. LG has previously attracted attention with the G Flex line, which has a material that can blur light scratches on the back of the phone, showing that commercialization is completely feasible.

With vehicles, companies like Toyota and Nissan have experimented. The coating contains microcapsules that can self-heal scratches when exposed to sunlight for about 30 minutes. This not only keeps the car's exterior looking new, but also significantly reduces the need for repainting, which has a significant impact on the environment.

In everyday life, researchers are also developing bioplastics that can mend themselves, are both durable and environmentally friendly. When applied to suitcases, backpacks, tables, chairs or even shoes, this type of plastic helps to repair small cracks, prolonging the life of the items and reducing plastic waste.

The future of self-healing materials technology

The advent of self-healing materials is not only a technical step forward, but also an important contribution to the trend of sustainable product development .

With smartphones, self-healing screens will limit the need for component replacement, thereby reducing the amount of electronic waste - the fastest growing type of waste globally.

In the automotive industry, the application of self-healing paints and resins can reduce maintenance costs while limiting emissions and toxic chemicals from traditional refinishing processes.

The social impact of this technology is also notable. Users worry less about maintaining their devices, and businesses have the opportunity to assert their brands as being associated with durability and innovation.

However, the challenge remains in terms of cost and mass production. These advanced materials still need more time to become cheaper and more popular, instead of appearing only in high-end product lines.

In the future, self-healing technology is expected to expand into many fields beyond electronics and automobiles. Scientists are testing concrete that can seal cracks to extend the life of structures, or medical implants that can self-heal in the human body.

In the aviation industry, the idea of ​​self-healing aircraft skins in flight has also been put on the research table. If successful, these applications could completely change the way we understand durability, safety and convenience in technological life.

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Tuan Vi

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vat-lieu-tu-hoi-phuc-cong-nghe-bien-vet-xuoc-dien-thoai-tray-xe-thanh-chuyen-nho-20250926110852213.htm