A team of scientists at the University of Melbourne has created a 3D printing technique that uses a self-repairing gel that can fix various objects
Easy question: what is most people’s nightmare when they buy a smartphone? If you’re thinking about dropping it and breaking the screen, you’re on the right track. Thanks to a group of scientists at the University of Melbourne, however, this may no longer be a big problem.
Researchers at the Australian university have created a special 3D printing method that allows you to repair even the most damaged screens from falls or hits. This is done thanks to a new type of ink that goes between the cracks in the glass of the smartphone display. The engineer in charge of the project, Luke Connal, explained the functions of the ink: “We used self-repairing materials to generate this printing technique. These materials are capable of restoring functionality, much like the natural ability of living creatures to repair tissue. This unique property offers the possibility of prolonging the life of the phones.”
The gel that repairs the screen
To tell the truth, it is not really an ink as in a normal printer but it is more appropriate to define it as a gel. However, we are talking about a very innovative material that can be modified even after a long time and that, above all, reacts if exposed to certain substances or solvents. The aspect that currently blocks its marketing is the compatibility with touch screens.
Not only smartphones
In addition to repairing the screen of the smartphone, this particular method of 3D printing will also be useful in the military, as Connal explains: “We aim to make a 3D ink that can be printed by soldiers in the most remote places so that they can change the color of their camouflage and hide better in hostile environments. Basically, soldiers could travel lighter and only print particular camouflages once they reach the location of the conflict or mission. In addition, the same gel will be tested by the Navy, which will use it in ships to produce spare parts and simple repairs.”