A new plastic developed at the University of Colorado resists the shrinking and cracking that can loosen dental fillings and damage computer motherboards, researchers reported Friday in the journal Science.
Engineer Christopher Bowman and his colleagues took soft plastics that harden with a burst of ultraviolet light, such as those used to fill cavities, and added a new chemical ingredient. These plastics usually shrink as they harden, which creates internal stress that can lead to a crack. The plastic with Bowman’s additive instead dissipates the stresses, avoiding cracks and wear.
Over time, if one of these new plastics begins to show wear, it can be “rejuvenated” with a burst of ultraviolet light, Bowman said.
Bowman and his colleagues have applied for a patent on the new plastics, also called polymers, and are talking with dental, coating and adhesive companies about industrial uses.
