Self Healing Electronic Circuit System - University Of Illinois

When the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, Global Environment will be endangered. However it also faces the danger through e-waste which on many occasions goes unnoticed until we find its 'heap'. Such a place then only becomes a place of hot debate and no action is taken on e-waste in most of the cases. Over the years environmentalists and scientists have been active on issues to dispose the electronic garbage. It is the first time that a group of scientists has come up with a solution on preventing it.

Illinois researchers have taken cue from the self healing technology for steels and concrete structures - a topic of interest for many. There have been attempts of making #-Link-Snipped-#. This time US scientists have developed a technology to make the electronic circuits self healing. It was necessary because electronic circuitry mostly contains smaller components like IC circuits, batteries etc which can get damaged easily. Furthermore, the exact location where the component encountered damage is almost impossible to find. Well, we can replace the smaller components but what about massive systems like aircrafts and spacecrafts which have large arrays of wiring connections? Even repairing it would cause much pain.

#-Link-Snipped-# from Illinois researchers is an extension to the self healing polymers developed earlier by the group. The specialty of the technique is that unlike other self healing techniques that impart strength to the steel and concrete structures, the one utilized here is typically developed for restoring electrical conductivity. So that, whenever a cause of strain or stress disrupts a circuit, the self healing technology makes amends instantaneously.

Researchers have tried to use micro-capsules to perform this minute task. These micro-capsules have the diameter of the order of 10 microns. These tiny micro-capsules contain a highly conductive material called Eutectic Gallium-Indium that which also features low melting temperatures. Illinois scientists have tested their theoretical work on a circuit consisting of Gold and Glass and it was observed that once the electrical connection was severed, the conductivity was quickly restored to about 99% of the original. Moreover as the micro-capsules work only where there is fracture; freeing us from worrying about all the restoring metal rushing on to a single spot. The capsules are hence quite autonomous.

The experiment itself features the kind of service facilities where it can be employed. The research being very important from point of view of electronic industry is presented in the #-Link-Snipped-#. This 'self-healing conductivity' development promises a bright future for long lasting electronic components. The only question that remains - Is it economically feasible?