LONDON: Researchers were recently able to create aircraft wings with self-healing technology that can help them fix themselves after being damaged.
A team of British scientists describe it as “verging on science fiction,” and suggested that the self-healing technology will soon become commonplace providing solutions for producing self-healing nail polish and a cure for cracked mobile phone screens, the Independent reported.
Carbon fibre product works by seeping into the cracks left by the damage before coming into contact with a catalyst, triggering a rapid chemical reaction which causes it to harden.
The technology could also make airline safety checks far cheaper as a dye could be added to the healing agent causing any damage to an aircraft to stand out like a bruise. This would allow engineers to identify damaged areas quickly, and ensure that they do not miss anything as they examine the plane.