Biomimicry comes to aviation: Self-repairing aircrafts on the anvil soon

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Researchers at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in Britain are hard at work trying to create a composite material that can effectively bring biomimicry to aviation which might help future aircrafts to ‘heal’ themselves mid-flight and improve aircraft safety. Led by aerospace professor Dr. Ian Bond, the technology effectively imitates the circulatory systems found in animals and plants and holds in itself the potential for developing self-healing polymers that can fix small scabs mid-flight. When a hole or crack appears, the epoxy resin leaks out and seals the break restoring it upto 80 to 90 percent of its original strength. The seal is colored making it easier to be spotted by mechanics that can then make permanent repairs upon landing. Of course this means that aircrafts will have to be constructed out of polymers instead of aluminum which would also translate in lighter and less polluting aircrafts. Dr. Bond maintains that the technology will be ready for commercial use as soon as four years.

Source: Wired

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