Re:Engineers develop bone-like metal foam that can be 'heale...
by dsfyu404ed on Friday August 30, 2019 @06:57AM
(#20837422)
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.
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.