Rubber material made from component found in urine self-heals
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.
Link (Thanks, Sigsy!)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.
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So does this mean that if I pee on all my stuff it won't break?
Mark, this is not made from urine. Rather, urea, a toxic compound found in urine. These chemists are not urinating in test tubes.
Van der Waals forces?
@RampantIdiocy:
Now now, don't make unsupported statements like that. The chemists, being an odd bunch, may well be urinating in test tubes ... just not necessarily for use in this process.
So you start with urine, take the urea out, then make something from the urea?
I guess it's a little odd to say it's "made from urine" but not exactly inaccurate. Kind of like saying a regular house is "made from trees." You start with a tree, mill it down to lumber, the use the lumber to build the house.
Points to Beryllium!
I've known far to many chemists than to put anything past them.
Almost forgot.. the potential for o-rings and such made of this is amazing. But who knows if the bonds would still work if, say, oil penetrated the o-ring while it was cut.
"This rubber smells funny!"
The French researchers are already making kilogramme quantities in their Paris laboratories and say the process is almost completely green
or yellow. Sorry, I just had to.
Self-healing condoms! No more clammoring for that morning-after pill!
Stretch Armstrong is the new T-1000.
@dculberson -
Urea was the first organic compound synthesized. Before it was made, it was widely believed that chemicals from living things were different from chemicals made in the lab.
So they're very unlikely to be starting with urine.
@5 Urea does not come only from urine. I am sure they only mentioned urine for the shock value.
Urea is actually used in a variety of things, like de-icing fluid, foam insulation and fertilizer, and is produced synthetically, in large volumes.
@10: Great idea--but is this plastic non-pourous? Otherwise, it's pointless. Also, how fast would the seal close back up? Wouldn't bet my reproductive system on this tech yet. Fascinating idea, though.
I was thinking O rings and protective skins for machinery and maybe break pads or something. Of course, I have to wonder--is this biodegradable? That would really make it's self-repairing debatable if it degrades quickly.
Just fascinating.
@13
I once worked in marketing & branding for some luxury lines.
A certain all-natural face cream from Japan was made using Urea, Shark Fin, Placenta, and some other 'odd' stuff. It sold for $200/oz.
At the same gig, we got an invoice once for luxury makeup brushes... the kind that sell for $15-30 each at sephora. Again, without naming brands, I was AMAZED to find out that they were made primarily with squirrel and badger hair (even the retailers don't know it.. but they have to declare to customs on the pallate). We joked that the next shipment would have racoon. It arrived, It did.
@15
The retailers know and so do many customers - it is a selling point. The type of animal and the type of hair from the animal used are a big deal to some people. If you move from makeup brushes to ones for lathering up for a shave you will find fierce loyalties and hundreds of dollars being spent on just the right brush.
Personally though, I dry shave.
I saw some moisturizing cream that was emphatic in its labeling about using "CHEMICALLY-SYNTHESIZED urea". Guess these guys might need to do the same.
I made this same comppund in my toilet this morning. I was working with different materials though.
So?
Some French guys piss on some Silly Putty and it makes news?
I was doing the same thing (that was in the video) about 40 years ago with Silly Putty.
Of course, mine didn't smell. Maybe thats what the French are getting all excited about.
Being a female who lives surrounded by dogs, cats and small children, I have to say, toys are nice, but... self-healing tights. Now that's perfect.
urea doesn't necessarily have to be synthesized from urine.
urea doesn't necessarily have to be synthesized from urine. according to wikipedia, it was the first organic compound synthesized from inorganic ones.
Pee-lastic! (TM)
May I point out urea is present in your sweat as well. Don't change your sheets for ~2 weeks and it will smell like you peed your bed!
is that what that is!!
@10: I don't care what you say. I will put neurotoxins on my penis to draw out the experience (extended pleasure condoms), I will put petroleum lubricant on my penis, I will put a latex barrier over my penis. But I will never put something made out of piss on my penis. It just isn't natural.
@13
Solarcel, thanks for the comment. I saw a trailer with the word "UREA" spray painted on the side in three-foot tall letters at O'Hare several years ago. Thanks for clearing up one of the little mysteries that's been haunting the back of my mind.
@ #26
Do you pee out your penis Tim? :)
Urea compounds are some of the oldest synthetic plastics (urea-formaldehyde "compositions" date *way* back)
http://www.plastiquarian.com/uf.htm
and self-healing (or, more properly, self-fusing) plastics have been used for quite some time in cutting and drafting board surfaces among other applications. The holy grail is a structural/engineering polymer that will repair itself, particularly when microcracking occurs.
"... immediate applications include self-reparing seals ..."
I foresee some very pissed off polar bears.
What about dust? Sure, I want shoelaces that last forever, or a way to tie up girls so they wont get way, like last time.
I like to use water as an analogy. Cut water in two. Whoah, dude, it's back together again!!! We should tie our shoes with this stuff.
Or Terminator Two. Whoah, dude, we shot holes in him and he just magnetically comes together again. We should tie our shoes with that stuff. Metal laces!
Is this stuff by any measure, uh, STICKY? Try using a Post-It note on a concrete wall, even once, not to mention five or fifty times.
Now... if only they could use that in creating some sort of lip balm for children....