Scientists have developed a groundbreaking road surface that can heal itself, preventing potholes and saving motorists money. The innovative self-healing bitumen uses plant spores and recycled oils to mend cracks as they appear, extending the lifespan of roads and reducing the need for costly repairs.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking road surface that can heal itself when cracks appear, potentially revolutionizing road maintenance and saving motorists from the costly consequences of potholes. This innovative self-healing bitumen mends cracks as they form by fusing the asphalt back together, effectively preventing potholes from developing. In laboratory tests, the material successfully repaired small fractures within an hour of their initial appearance.
This self-healing technology holds immense promise for extending the lifespan of roads, potentially by as much as 30%, according to Dr. Jose Norambuena-Contreras, a researcher involved in the project at Swansea University. The economic benefits are significant as well. According to the AA, a record £579 million was spent in the UK last year repairing vehicles damaged by potholes, highlighting the substantial financial burden these road defects impose on drivers. Potholes typically originate from small surface cracks that form under the weight of traffic. These cracks allow water to seep into the road surface, where it causes further damage through cycles of freezing and thawing. To combat this, the researchers created a self-healing bitumen by incorporating tiny porous plant spores soaked in recycled oils. When the road surface is compressed by passing vehicles, it squeezes the spores, releasing their oil into any nearby cracks. This oil softens the bitumen, allowing it to flow and seal the cracks, effectively preventing future damage. The researchers collaborated with scientists at King's College London and Google Cloud, leveraging machine learning to model the movement of organic molecules in bitumen and simulate the behavior of the self-healing material. This sophisticated approach enabled them to understand how the material responds to newly formed cracks, optimizing its performance. The material could be ready for widespread use on British roads within a couple of years, offering a long-term solution to the persistent problem of potholes
Self-Healing Roads Potholes Bitumen Road Maintenance Innovation
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