Transparent polyimide is frequently used for smartphone screen protection since it is transparent like glass and is strong. However, it is also vulnerable to scratches and cracks. (image: Pixabay)
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean research team has developed a smartphone screen material that can heal itself.
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on Thursday that in collaboration with researchers from Yonsei University, it had developed a self-healing transparent electronic material that can repair cracks or damaged functions by itself.
Transparent polyimide is frequently used for smartphone screen protection since it is transparent like glass and is strong. However, it is also vulnerable to scratches and cracks.
The joint research team developed a self-healing transparent polyimide using linseed oil extracted from linseed.
Linseed oil has the property of hardening at room temperature (25 degrees Celsius) and is popular as a coating material for the preservation of paintings.
The research team developed microcapsules containing linseed oil and created a protection film by mixing the microcapsules with silicon and coating transparent polyimide with the mixture.
Once the screen is damaged, the micro capsules containing linseed oil burst, flowing to the damaged area and repairing the damage.
The self-healing protection film can repair damage at a faster speed if the temperature is raised to 70 degrees Celsius or the degree of humidity is raised to 70 percent.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
