Flat tires could become a thing of the past.Scientists have found a way to turn commercial rubber into a "self-healing" material. Modern tires are created using a chemical cross-linking of rubbers by sulfur vulcanization, invented by Charles Goodyear. The cross-linked structures have highly elastic properties that reduce the viscous properties of the materials.

Researchers in Germany and Finland have come up with an approach to converting bromobutyl rubber into a highly elastic material with self-healing properties, a departure from the cross-linking agents. The conversion results in the formation of reversible ionic associates that have physical cross-linking ability. Reversibility of the association facilitates the healing process, enabling a fully cut sample to retain its original properties after applying the self-healing process.

This discovery offers opportunities in the field of highly engineered materials such as tires, where safety and performance are critical.

News articles:

Steam Accumulation: An Energy Efficient Technology

Engineering Compensation Survey Results

Membrane Could Help Reduce Aircraft Cabin Noise

Related Links:

For more information visit: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.5b05041