Posted on 12/11/2023 7:03:15 AM PST by Red Badger
In an event never seen before, scientists witnessed metal healing itself.
A team from Sandia National Laboratories and Texas A&M University observed the metallic self-repair as they were testing the resilience of the metal. They used a transmission electron microscope to pull the ends of the metal 200 times every second.
Like an annoying sibling continuously pushing your buttons on a cross-country roadtrip, eventually, the metal wears thin and snaps.
However, scientists were amazed that instead of eventually punching its annoying sister in frustration, the metal continuously healed up the fatigue damage it was receiving.
"This was absolutely stunning to watch first-hand," said Sandia materials scientist Brad Boyce.
"What we have confirmed is that metals have their own intrinsic, natural ability to heal themselves, at least in the case of fatigue damage at the nanoscale," Boyce said.
Of course, there were certain conditions in the experiment that one doesn't find out in nature. For example, the experiment was completed in a vacuum. Usually, there are air particles getting between the atoms of the metal as it's fractured, but without the air, the metal could just stick back together
But the scientists hope that now that they have witnessed the phenomenon, they can reproduce it in other environments with other metals, which may change engineering as we know it.
"The extent to which these findings are generalizable will likely become a subject of extensive research," Boyce said.
And if we mix self-healing metals with all the advanced robots and AI we're making, I think we all know what we get.
I just have to say there are a lot of great movie futures we could aim for.
Star Trek
Tomorrowland
Even Bill and Ted's stoner utopia looks pretty good.
Why are we pursuing the machine apocalypse of The Terminator franchise?
It just seems like a bad idea.
On the other hand, never having to get anything metal repaired could be nice.
Terminator 2000 Ping!..............
Just like U Penn President Liz Magill who recently resigned but will remain at U Penn, many University administrators are also tenured faculty, and are almost impossible to fire.
Oops, wrong thread!
The Left ‘healing itself’................
Apparently, they'd all have to be placed in a complete vacuum for that to occur, and I'm all for it!
Bullshit...
Unfortunately, nature is not exactly “efficient” by human standards. But it gives us ideas.
Lemme guess — it takes years and decades and centuries for it to heal itself.
One thing about science is that we humans learn how things work and improve upon them.
Never saw the movie. Read the book. Movie was totally unlike the book. As per usual for Hollywood................
Way cool.
the experiment was completed in a vacuum. Usually, there are air particles getting between the atoms of the metal as it’s fractured, but without the air, the metal could just stick back together
Atoms attract each other. Think of what would happen if they didn’t.
“The fissure Boyce and his team saw disappear was one of these tiny but consequential fractures — measured in nanometers.”
Tiny, tiny, quantum effect world of upside down?
Van der Waals Forces?
But what about the impurities? Best used in the vacuum of outer space to prevent the noted crack progression/forming in solar cell materials?
Outer Space adds some other environmental oddities as well.
Temps near absolute zero, radiation of many types and weightlessness (microgravity)....................
Not sure how practical this would be for thicker complex shaped parts.
Can see some ways that this effect could be enhanced and accelerated. for practical applications
Not unknown if the testing is done in the absence of oxygen. Oxygen immediately forms an oxide on any pure metal surface. Like in milliseconds.
Keep it away and push the metal ends together and the crystalline structure will reform — possibly. Kinda also depends on the energy available.
Atoms trade electrons, so in an ‘inert’ environment they can rejoin.
Instead of a ‘vacuum’ they could try an inert gas like argon...................
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?
Good catch...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.