Skin-Inspired Coating Can Heal Itself

Researchers often have to compromise between strength and the ability to self-repair when developing coating materials. Now one team has developed a smart coating that is as hard as tooth enamel on the outside but can heal itself like skin can. The smart coating market is a booming industry and is only expected to grow in upcoming years. In previous research, the team had produced a stiffer, more healable coating, but its performance still needed to be optimized. The new coating is a soft, yet hard, self-healing material.