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This is interesting, I'm curious what applications this would be useful for. They hint at some potential uses toward the end, but don't elaborate much. Presuma

This is interesting, I'm curious what applications this would be useful for. They hint at some potential uses toward the end, but don't elaborate much. Presumably it'd be useful in applications where the parts would normally fail regularly.

empath75 7y ago
You can dip your giant robots into an electrolysis bath after taking on invaders from another dimension a la neon genesis evangelion.
shakna 7y ago
I'd also assume it'd be useful for repair of critical components that undergo trauma. Such as bridges, and buildings that might be struck by vehicles, or repairing prosthetics and other things that can be damaged at the same time as the human they're attached to.
- AstralStorm 7y ago
  This is mostly useful to repair expensive and customized things like prosthetics. The other examples would just get the parts replaced as they're not customized.
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  You'd need to make your bridges out of this fancy metal foam instead of boring old (read: "cheap") hot rolled I beams. That would be a massive technical challenge. It's theoretically possible but would require new construction techniques. At the very least we'd need to figure out a new way to protect it from the elements that doesn't negate the self healing properties (this foam doesn't look closed cell, hello corrosion) Probably expensive beyond all practicality. Furthermore, vehicles basically just bounce off the structural elements of bridges and other structures like that. It's not really a problem. If anything we'll see this kind of stuff used in expensive niche applications. Low volume bespoke electronics in high vibration environments would benefit from being able to "heal" like this. I can also see it being useful when applied as a coating that protects the material underneath, basically a self touching up paint job (like galvanizing, but possibly with a wider array of materials than just zinc). This could be very useful for items in corrosive environments.

empath75 7y ago

You can dip your giant robots into an electrolysis bath after taking on invaders from another dimension a la neon genesis evangelion.

shakna 7y ago

I'd also assume it'd be useful for repair of critical components that undergo trauma. Such as bridges, and buildings that might be struck by vehicles, or repairing prosthetics and other things that can be damaged at the same time as the human they're attached to.

AstralStorm 7y ago
This is mostly useful to repair expensive and customized things like prosthetics. The other examples would just get the parts replaced as they're not customized.
dsfyu404ed 7y ago
You'd need to make your bridges out of this fancy metal foam instead of boring old (read: "cheap") hot rolled I beams. That would be a massive technical challenge. It's theoretically possible but would require new construction techniques. At the very least we'd need to figure out a new way to protect it from the elements that doesn't negate the self healing properties (this foam doesn't look closed cell, hello corrosion) Probably expensive beyond all practicality. Furthermore, vehicles basically just bounce off the structural elements of bridges and other structures like that. It's not really a problem. If anything we'll see this kind of stuff used in expensive niche applications. Low volume bespoke electronics in high vibration environments would benefit from being able to "heal" like this. I can also see it being useful when applied as a coating that protects the material underneath, basically a self touching up paint job (like galvanizing, but possibly with a wider array of materials than just zinc). This could be very useful for items in corrosive environments.