Bournemouth University scientists develop ‘self-healing’ plastics to help reduce plastic waste

A sealing agent starts to bind the two pieces of plastic together after being split. Credit: University of Bournemouth

Scientists are developing a new form of plastic that can mend itself in the same way that skin repairs itself after a cut.

The team led by Bournemouth University has added specially developed nanomaterials to the plastic which means that it can self-heal and they say it retains most of its original strength.

The researchers, who have published their findings in the journal Applied Nano Materials, said the new process could lead to a wider range of sustainable products and a reduction in plastic waste.

Dr Amor Abdelkader, associate professor in advanced materials at Bournemouth University, explained: “We are following the same process as mother nature – when you cut your finger, the blood will initially solidify to cover the crack until the skin tissue seals it, and that is what we are doing with our plastics.

“Most of the things in our everyday lives have plastic in them and this has potential to extend the life of a whole range of products and reduce waste, from re-useable drink bottles to mobile phones to plastic pipes and so much more."

The process involves using nanosheets of a material called Mxine which looks like a powder and is used as a reinforcement agent to strengthen plastics.

A piece of plastic healing itself after being broken. Credit: University of Bournemouth

But Dr Abdelkader explained that before this was added, they attached chemicals to the MXene to create a healing agent with glue-like properties.He said this agent was designed to sit dormant like a gel until the plastic around it was broken and the exposure to humidity in the atmosphere triggered it to be activated and bond the sections back together.

Dr Chirag Ratwani, who was the chief scientist in the project whilst studying for his PhD at Bournemouth University, said: “Using MXene with our healing agent means that we get the benefits of stronger plastic, which is harder to break, but if it does break, it will fix itself.

“The process takes just a few minutes, and we managed to restore the plastic to 96% of its original strength.”

The team are carrying out research to find ways of redesigning devices which could use the new process to extend their lifespan.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...