A group of researchers have developed Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research in Dresden, Germany have developed a self healing tire which can repair cut and tear on its own.
Amit Das and his colleagues at the German research institute have published their research in the ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces American Chemical Society.
The researchers have created a tire-grade rubber, which heals itself and could potentially withstand the long-term pressures of driving.
Generally, automobile tires are manufactured using vulcanization method, which involves adding sulfur or other curative materials to make rubber more durable while maintaining its elasticity.
The process was Invented by Charles Goodyear is the only method used by tire makers which leads to creation of highly elastic properties, which reduces the viscous properties of these materials.
However, a material as small as a piece of glass or other sharp object can damage the tire, which cannot be patched for long-term use.
The researchers have introduced a new process, which eliminates vulcanization process.
They have created a chemically modified commercial rubber into a durable, elastic material that is capable of self-healing.
The researchers have already tested the material. According to the tests, a cut in the material healed at room temperature.
Just after 8 days, the rubber could also withstand a stress of 754 pounds per square inch.
Heating the tire upto 212 degree fahrenheit temperature for the first 10 minutes can speed up the repair process.
According to the researchers, the product can be further enhanced with the addition of reinforcing agents such as silica or carbon black.
This new way of preparing a commercial rubber with self-healing properties is expected to open up opportunities in the field of highly engineered materials, like tires, for which safety, performance, and longer fatigue life are crucial factors.
