Rubber material made from component found in urine self-heals

Mark Frauenfelder 9:44 am Thu Feb 21, 2008

The BBC reports that French researchers have invented a rubber made from urea (a component found in urine) and vegetable oil that rebinds when cut. They say immediate applications include self-reparing seals and kids toys.

The substance, described in the journal Nature, produces surfaces when cut that retain a strong chemical attraction to each other.

Pieces of the material join together again as if never parted without the need for glue or a special treatment.

The French researchers are already making kilogramme quantities in their Paris laboratories and say the process is almost completely green, and could be completely so with a few adjustments.

Link (Thanks, Sigsy!)

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