Incredible discovery of self

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Faisal Khan

Technicity

The potential applications of self-healing metals are diverse and promising. As the technology develops further, it could find use in various industries like aerospace, automotive & electronics — offering numerous benefits. We can also anticipate applications in consumer goods, defense, and even space exploration, where self-healing metals would enhance the performance and longevity of various equipment and machinery.

Self-healing metals work by employing innovative mechanisms, such as shape memory alloys, smart coatings, or microcapsules containing healing agents, that can be activated when the metal is damaged. These mechanisms enable the material to repair itself, restoring its structural integrity and preventing further degradation. But self-healing from the tiny fractures known as fatigue damage in metals has remained elusive.

A recent discovery by scientists, on the other hand, could prove to be revolutionary in the field of materials science. Researchers were stunned when a decade-old hypothesis about self-healing metals came to life in front of their eyes. This research is yet another example of science fiction becoming science fact. Earlier in the year, I had written about Scientists developing groundbreaking shape-shifting liquid metal robots. Science fiction concepts becoming science fact is evidently on display.

medium.com

For the first time, a research team from Sandia National Laboratories and Texas A&M University has observed pieces of metal crack and then autonomously fuse back together, defying fundamental scientific theories. If this newfound phenomenon can be harnessed, it holds the potential to trigger an engineering…

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