The article describes the development of new scientists in the field of artificial leather. Human skin is unique in its properties. It should be flexible so as not to change the structure while reducing or compression. It should be sensitive to various stimuli, to conduct electrical current. And one of the most important of its properties, the ability to recover from injury.

A team of scientists has developed a synthetic, flexible, self-healing, and an electrically conductive polymer. We were used to create the elements of "epidermal electronics" thin and sufficiently flexible circuit to be attached to the skin or to provide touch sensitivity skin like to prostheses. We had to overcome one of the problems is the problem of low strength silicon, the basic element of electronic industry. To do this, various research groups have developed several options for flexible electronic sensors.

A group of scientists - chemists developed, self-healing polymer. It sounds like science fiction, but several research groups have achieved results and created a technology to produce plastics that can restore their structure after it is damaged. If you connect two parts of a divided plastic plates, heat them and to influence a beam of light, the plate is almost completely restored to its original structure.

In 2008, a group of scientists from ESPCI ParisTech, demonstrated a specially designed rubber mixture with the properties to restore their structure after repeated destruction. Researchers from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, using both technology: sensitive sensors and self-healing plastic polymer to create new properties. 

The Development Of New Substitutes For Human Skin
The Development Of New Substitutes For Human Skin


But first it was necessary to overcome the low bulk conductivity of the new material. For this purpose, the polymer was added nickel, allowing the electrons to jump between the metal atoms. The polymer has become sensitive to applied forces such as pressure and torsion because these forces are able to change the distance between the nickel atoms, thereby contributing to a change in electrical resistance.

In an experiment demonstrating the mechanical and electrical properties of the material and the ability to instantly restore to the original state, the material was damaged with a scalpel. After connecting the edges of the damaged material together for 15 seconds, the researchers found that the sample recovered 98% of its original conductivity. And most importantly, that the polymer could be damaged and restored again several times.

Currently, researchers are working to develop polymer-like properties of the human skin, with the prospect of using this material in medicine.

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