at Texas A&M University Sandia National Laboratories Continuing their research, scientists made an unexpected observation while investigating the durability of metals. Researchers who examined platinum with a specialized electron microscope found that the nanoscale cracks in the platinum disappeared on their own over time. Something like this has never been observed before.

There may be a solution for metal fatigue

Researchers investigated in a vacuum environment 40 nanometers He noticed that the cracks in the extremely small layers of platinum disappeared over time and that the metal repaired itself. The pressure on metals and their movements can cause such cracks. These cracks are called fatigue damage or metal fatigue. This phenomenon, which can cause metal structures to collapse at some point, has been waiting for a solution for a long time.

What researchers do In 40 minutes of observation It was observed that after a while the platinum began to coalesce and the cracks coalesced into a perfect weld. The researchers did not expect this result either.

From Sandia National Laboratory Materials researcher Brad Boyce“It was absolutely breathtaking to see something like that firsthand‘ he says. Boyce says: ‘Certainly we were not looking for this. What we have confirmed is that metals have an inherent, natural effect on fatigue damage, at least at the nanoscale. their ability to regenerate themselves It happened.” said.

A new era in technology may be dawning

Currently metals to be able to repair itself We do not have precise information about the conditions necessary for repair, how the repair process takes place or how to use this ability of metals. Yet serious repair costs are incurred for the metals we use everywhere, from gigantic structures like bridges and skyscrapers to smartphones. Eliminating these costs and extending the lifespan of buildings has the potential to make a great contribution to humanity.

On the other hand, the self-healing ability of newly observed metals is not so unexpected. in the past too Michael Demkowicz A mentioned researcher developed a model in which he argued that these properties arise when metal structures change structure in response to stress. Demkowicz’s model and this study support each other.

Metals can repair themselves, cold welding It can also be explained by the method called . In this method, when metal surfaces are brought close enough at room temperature or low temperatures, atoms form bonds, making welding possible. Under normal conditions, two metals placed next to each other do not combine because particles or pollutants in the air prevent the atoms from getting close enough. In a vacuum environment, no such obstacle exists.

The research has been published in Nature.