Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Self-Locking Screw

Self-Locking Screw

A square-threaded screw jack is a mechanical device widely used for lifting heavy loads or applying considerable force. One of the key features that can make a screw jack more effective and reliable is its self-locking capability.
A square-threaded screw jack carrying a load is considered self-locking if the screw retains its position even after the moment applied to it is removed.

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...

Key Techniques in Microbiology

Key Techniques in Microbiology

Aseptic techniques prevent contamination, ensure experimental accuracy, and protect researchers and microbial cultures. These techniques are essential in clinical, industrial, and research settings where sterility is required.Maintaining Sterility in Laboratory PracticesScientists maintain sterility by sterilizing tools with heat or chemicals, disinfecting work surfaces, and handling cultures in controlled environments. Working near an open flame or within a laminar flow hood reduces the risk...

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...

Enzymes

Enzymes

Inside living organisms, enzymes act as catalysts for many biochemical reactions involved in cellular metabolism. The role of enzymes is to reduce the activation energies of biochemical reactions by forming complexes with its substrates. The lowering of activation energies favor an increase in the rates of biochemical reactions.
Enzyme deficiencies can often translate into life-threatening diseases. For example, a genetic abnormality resulting in the deficiency of the enzyme G6PD...

Inflammation

Inflammation

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Structural trends of tryptophan dimer: hydrogen bonding <i>versus</i> π-stacking from an energy decomposition analysis perspective.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2026

Same author

Poly(ionic liquid)-Based Covalently Adaptable Networks (PIL-CANs): Polar and Dipolar Interactions.

ACS macro letters·2026

Same author

Ion-Lock Storage With Multi-Logic Circuitry Gated by Polar-Dipolar Interactions in Poly(Ionic Liquids).

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

Development and application of NanoLuc-based LIPS assay for antibody detection of orthohantavirus infections and vaccine responses.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2026

Same author

Modulating Ionic Conductivity in Star and Linear Poly(ionic liquids) by Dipolar Interactions.

ACS macro letters·2026

Same author

Leveraging biomarkers and primary care embedding for scalable precision cancer prevention in China: Insights from the FuSion study.

Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.))·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 4, 2026

An Intramedullary Locking Nail for Standardized Fixation of Femur Osteotomies to Analyze Normal and Defective Bone Healing in Mice

An Intramedullary Locking Nail for Standardized Fixation of Femur Osteotomies to Analyze Normal and Defective Bone Healing in Mice

Published on: November 13, 2016

Key-and-lock commodity self-healing copolymers.

Marek W Urban^1,2,3, Dmitriy Davydovich^4,3, Ying Yang^4,3

¹Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. mareku@clemson.edu.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|October 13, 2018

Summary

Commodity copolymers can self-heal after damage using van der Waals forces, enabling multiple recoveries without external intervention. This breakthrough in self-healing materials offers a new pathway for durable, repairable polymers.

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Published on: May 1, 2016

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Published on: October 10, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 4, 2026

An Intramedullary Locking Nail for Standardized Fixation of Femur Osteotomies to Analyze Normal and Defective Bone Healing in Mice

An Intramedullary Locking Nail for Standardized Fixation of Femur Osteotomies to Analyze Normal and Defective Bone Healing in Mice

Published on: November 13, 2016

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Synthesis of Ligand-free CdS Nanoparticles within a Sulfur Copolymer Matrix

Published on: May 1, 2016

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions

Published on: October 10, 2016

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry

Background:

Self-healing materials can recover from physical or chemical damage.
Existing self-healing approaches often rely on supramolecular or covalent rebonding, or encapsulated reactants.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the self-healing capabilities of commodity copolymers, specifically poly(methyl methacrylate)/n-butyl acrylate [p(MMA/nBA)].
To attribute the self-healing mechanism to interchain van der Waals forces.

Main Methods:

Mechanical damage was inflicted on p(MMA/nBA) copolymers.
The compositional range and copolymer topology favoring self-healing were identified.
The role of interchain van der Waals forces in facilitating healing was analyzed.

Main Results:

Commodity copolymers, particularly p(MMA/nBA) in a specific alternating/random topology, exhibit self-healing properties.
Self-healing is attributed to key-and-lock interchain junctions formed by van der Waals forces.
The materials demonstrated multiple recovery cycles upon mechanical damage without external intervention.

Conclusions:

Van der Waals forces provide an effective mechanism for self-healing in specific copolymer structures.
This approach avoids chemical alterations and external stimuli, offering a simpler and more robust self-healing solution.
The findings present a novel route for developing advanced self-healing materials under ambient conditions.