How do self-healing materials repair themselves without human intervention?

The answer

Self-healing materials contain mechanisms that automatically repair damage, mimicking biological wound healing. Approaches include microcapsules filled with healing agents that rupture when cracked (developed by Scott White at the University of Illinois), vascular networks that pump repair fluid to damage sites, and intrinsic healing through reversible chemical bonds like Diels-Alder reactions. By 2024, self-healing polymers from companies like Autonomic Materials are used in protective coatings for electronics and automotive paint. Researchers at ETH Zurich created self-healing concrete using bacteria that produce limestone when water enters cracks. The University of Tokyo developed a glass that heals at room temperature when pieces are pressed together, using hydrogen bonding in polyether-thioureas. Market projections estimate the self-healing materials industry will reach $125 billion by 2030.