Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Researchers develop self-repairing paint powered by the sun]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/13/researchers-develop-self-repairing-paint-powered-by-the-sun/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/13/researchers-develop-self-repairing-paint-powered-by-the-sun/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/13/researchers-develop-self-repairing-paint-powered-by-the-sun/#commentsFiled under:

In another case of Nature to the Rescue, scientists have come up with a polyurethane coating that repairs itself in the sun. The secret ingredient: chitosan, which comes from the shells of crustaceans and is also used for water filtration, blood clotting and as a diet aid. The common principle appears to be that it as a binding agent, i.e. it wants to hold certain things together.

If your car is scratched and it has the chitosan-injected coating, when put in the sun the chitosan "bonds with other materials in the substance, eventually smoothing the scratch" in less than an hour. No muss, no fuss, no messy clean up. However, the magic only works once -- the coating can't repair itself in the same place twice. Researchers also haven't yet studied how wide a scratch can be before it cannot heal itself.

Nevertheless, self-repairing paint powered by the sun is still a terrific development, especially for those folks with shiny black cars on which even tiny scratches seem to scream for attention. No word on when or if it will ever be available, but the team behind it has a patent pending and is thinking about the business opportunity. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: Reuters]

Researchers develop self-repairing paint powered by the sun originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chitosancoatingcoatingspaintpolyurethanetechtechnologyFri, 13 Mar 2009 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Lithuanian builds car from polyurethane foam]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/lithuanian-builds-car-from-polyurethane-foam/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/lithuanian-builds-car-from-polyurethane-foam/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/lithuanian-builds-car-from-polyurethane-foam/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for an extensive photo gallery of the work in progress...

Polyurethane, the wonder-polymer used in everything from appliances and textiles to electronics and footwear, is apparently the car building material-of-choice for this "sculptor" in Lithuania. You'd recognize his particular mixture of the foam as the same type of messy stuff we use to fill cracks and gaps around windows. Tossing all OSHA and DOT regulations out the window (no problem in Lithuania), this crafty coach-builder mixes up batches of PU foam in 2-liter soda bottles before "applying" them to the framework of his creation. Held in place by scrap cardboard until it sets hard, the foam can then be sculpted, sanded, primed, and eventually painted.

Our best guess is that the rolling "donor" chassis was once part of the Mercedes-Benz family. Do yourself a favor and check out the huge photo gallery, and take particular note of the 30-inch rear wheels (not nearly as gaudy as the jacket this guy is wearing) and the upholstery treatment on the inside A-pillar. Regardless of what the designer was thinking, with that much self-expanding foam inside the cabin, airbags are most likely unnecessary. And, wind leaks are probably non-existent. Flammability, however, might be a problem. Thanks for the tip Kevin!

Gallery: Lithuanian Foam Car


[Source: English Russia]

Lithuanian builds car from polyurethane foam originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 May 2008 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingFoam CarFoamCarLithuaniaPolyurethaneSculptorFri, 30 May 2008 15:26:00 EST