by In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have observed a tiny piece of platinum mending itself back together after being fractured, suggesting that metals may have the ability to heal themselves. The property of self-healing has been extensively studied and applied in materials such as ceramics, car coatings, concrete, and even bioplastics inspired by squid teeth. However, the phenomenon has remained elusive in metals, particularly in relation to fatigue damage caused by tiny fractures over time. Until now, cracks in metals were believed to only grow larger, not smaller.
The unexpected finding was made by scientists from Texas A&M University and Sandia National Laboratories while investigating the formation of cracks in platinum using an electron microscope technique. During the experiment, the material was subjected to rapid pulling, resulting in breaks in the platinum. Approximately 40 minutes into the experiment, the researchers were astonished to observe a small section of the damaged metal knitting itself back together spontaneously, similar to the healing process of human skin.
Lead author Brad Boyce described the experience as “absolutely stunning to watch first-hand.” The team’s discovery confirms that metals possess an intrinsic ability to self-heal, at least at the nanoscale when subjected to fatigue damage. If the mechanism behind this spontaneous repair can be understood and harnessed, it could revolutionize how engineers approach stress fractures caused by wear and tear in metal-based structures.
However, the researchers caution that the process by which the platinum self-healed remains unknown, and the discovery was made on a nanoscale under vacuum conditions. Thus, further research is required to determine whether these findings are applicable to larger-scale structures in real-world scenarios. The researchers anticipate extensive studies on the generalizability of the self-healing capabilities of metals.
Michael Demkowicz, a Texas A&M professor who proposed the potential self-healing abilities of metals in 2013, expressed hope that the recent findings would inspire materials researchers to explore the unexpected possibilities of materials under the right circumstances. Upon being informed of the discovery by Boyce, Demkowicz conducted computer simulations that confirmed his theories from 20 years ago.
In conclusion, the spontaneous self-healing of metals, akin to human skin, has been witnessed for the first time in platinum by researchers from Texas A&M University and Sandia National Laboratories. This groundbreaking discovery could pave the way for new approaches in engineering and design, enabling the development of metal-based structures that can repair themselves in response to stress fractures caused by wear and tear. However, further research is needed to fully understand and harness this phenomenon, and its applicability to real-world scenarios requires investigation.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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