>>>>

<<<< (Shows it working too)

Researchers who have developed a coating material which can 'heal itself' say the invention could be applied to car paints.

The team at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland says that the polymer-based plastic material can fix itself if exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light for less than one minute - something which allows it to change its properties.

Exposure to UV light causes the material - which, despite being glued into a polymer-style chain, nevertheless uses smaller molecules - to temporarily 'unglue'. This allows it to flow like a liquid into imperfections such as scratches or cracks, before solidifying again - in a similar way to dentistry material for filling teeth which works in conjunction with UV lights.

While a similar effect could be achieved by heating the material, the use of light enables a more accurate targeting of affected areas.

According to the team, which also featured researchers from Switzerland, tests proved that repeated scratches in the same location could be healed without leaving a trace.

Professor Stuart Rowan said: "These polymers have a Napoleon Complex: in reality they're pretty small, but are designed to behave like they're big by taking advantage of specific weak molecular interactions."

While admitting that the material is not yet ready for commercial use, the team says that its research proves that the concept is workable, and could be a fix which drivers could perform themselves in the near future.

Speaking in a video interview, Professor Rowan said: "What you can imagine is essentially is a new paint coating on your car that you can heal whenever someone's rubbed a key down the side of it."

Source: http://www.admiral.com/newsArticles/4811/Self-healing-material-could-cure-car-scratches

Interesting.

Wonder if it can heal stone chips and swirl marks? No need to mop the car then.

Nissan played with this around 8 years ago on the X-Trail. IIRC it was the same showcase vehicle that had co2 aircon as well at the 2002 Tokyo AutoSalon.

That stuff looks great! I hope that they put it into production, although it probably won't be cheap!

Dr Stuart Rowan was later found, accidentally drowned at 3M's manafacturing facility, in a vat of 3M Basecoat paint.

I'm sure BMW were doing this too