Rice University researchers say discovery may point toward
self-healing materials
Squeeze a piece of silicone and it quickly returns to its
original shape, as squishy as ever. But scientists at Rice University have
discovered that the liquid crystal phase of silicone becomes 90 percent stiffer
when silicone is gently and repeatedly compressed. Their research could lead to
new strategies for self-healing materials or biocompatible materials that mimic
human tissues.
A paper on the research appeared this month in Nature’s
online journal Nature Communications.
Silicone in its liquid crystal phase is somewhere between a
solid and liquid state, which makes it very handy for many things. So Rice
polymer scientist Rafael Verduzco was intrigued to see a material he thought he
knew well perform in a way he didn’t expect. “I was really surprised to find
out, when my student did these measurements, that it became stiffer,” he said.
“In fact, I didn’t believe him at first.”