Self-healing polymer “starfish” prolong lifetime of automotive oils

University of Warwick ^ | Jan 28, 2010 | Unknown

[decimon]

Researchers have created self-healing polymers that could extend the lifetime of automotive oils. These polymers are suitable to add to lubricants and could maintain the physical properties of engine oils for longer, they claim helping engine efficiency. Biological materials, such as skin, self heal following damage giving inspiration for these new materials.

Polymers are often added to automotive oils to control important physical properties such as viscosity but mechanical and thermal stress can break the polymers decreasing the efficiency and how they affect the oils properties. The research team, led by Professor David Haddleton, of the University of Warwick have now designed a self-healing, star-shaped polymer for use as a viscosity modifier.

The methacrylate polymer has vulnerable long arms which be broken off if stressed reducing performance. The research team found they could add a particular chemical combination to the polymer’s backbone which, almost like a starfish, which allow broken arms to reform via a “Diels Alder cycloaddition reaction” in a self healing reaction.

The research team now plan to 'optimise the chemistry before passing it on to our industrial collaborators, Lubrizol, for development in automotive lubricant applications,' says Professor Haddleton.

The research paper “Self-healing polymers prepared via living radical polymerisation” by

Jay A. Syrett, Giuseppe Mantovani, William R. S. Barton, David Price and David M. Haddleton, has just been published in Polymer Chemistry. DOI: 10.1039/b9py00316a Journal at: http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/Journals/PY/index.asp

The RSC story with graphic at http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemScience/Volume/2010/02/Self-healing_polymer.asp

For further information please contact:

Professor Dave Haddleton Department of Chemistry University of Warwick D.M.Haddleton@warwick.ac.uk 024 76523256

Peter Dunn, Head of Communications, University of Warwick, 024 76 523708 or 07767 655860 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

Pr5 28th January 2010 PJD

[decimon]

Sorry, Charlie.

[American Constitutionalist]

Does this mean we won’t have to change the oil in our cars after 10,000 miles ? 20,000 miles ? or just change the filter ?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Cleaner fuel=longer drain intervals.

[decimon]

Does this mean we won’t have to change the oil in our cars after 10,000 miles ? 20,000 miles ? or just change the filter ?

Good question but I don't see an answer in the cited articles. I guess we'll know if Lubrizol markets a "starfish" product.

[JoeProBono]

[Skenderbej]

I actually think this would be great, but I don’t change my engine oil right now because it’s breaking down. I change it because it gets full of particulates, i.e. dirty.