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Much has been written recently, particularly in the scientific press, about research taking place into developing self repair metals and other materials. In one particularly interesting case French researchers have produced an artificial rubber type substance that has been shown to rejoin itself after being cut into separate parts. Another materials research team, this time at the University of Illinois have documented how, after the application of heat, deformed particles of aluminium crystals have reverted back to their original shape. The implication from this research being that it might be possible one day to produce a chemically engineered form of aluminium that self repairs cracks. dents etc. On a regular basis media headlines are catching our attention with various claims of exciting scientific 'firsts'. Many of these 'break-throughs' turn out to be no more than very early stage research that has barely passed out from the Petrie dish. Although a substantial proportion of these discoveries will never see the commercial light of day there will be a number that are eventually developed and scaled-up into economically viable processes or products. It can be reasonably assumed that many of these self-repairing experiments are initiated by researchers observing seemingly miraculous, but completely natural, biological processes e.g. the wound healing and replacement of damaged plant cells and skin tissue. Another extraordinary example of a naturally self-repairing process is the way in which the protective oxide film on aluminium automatically regenerates itself after sustaining surface damage. This protective oxide coating is impervious to oxygen and water and is the reason why aluminium resists corrosion so effectively. If you want to find out more about aluminium or aluminium properties visit http://www.goodingalum.com/p22/Support-Centre
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