Japanese scientists develop self-healing glass

Japanese researchers say they have developed a type of glass that can be repaired without heating.
 
The University of Tokyo group is led by Professor Takuzo Aida.
 
The researchers had been working on new adhesives. A graduate school student, Yu Yanagisawa, accidentally discovered that a low molecular weight polymer, polyether thiourea, has a self-healing function.
 
Glass made from the material can be repaired by pressing the broken parts together for dozens of seconds.
 
The researchers say they confirmed that the glass regained its original strength after several hours.
 
Self-healing rubber has already been developed, but this is said to be the first hard substance that can be repaired at room temperature.
 
Yanagisawa says he was uncertain about his discovery at first, and repeatedly conducted experiments after receiving many comments about his work. He says he will be happy if the glass can be used as an eco-friendly material.

---