IBM accidentally invents new class of polymers

[kent]

This could have some major impact in the world.

In part (including a video) from:

www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/16/ibm_accidentally_invents_new_class_of_polymers/

IBM says its research arm accidentally invented the first new class of polymers the world has known for decades.

Detailed here in a paper titled Recyclable, Strong Thermosets and Organogels via Paraformaldehyde Condensation with Diamines, the newly-discovered polymers were the result of an accident that saw IBM researcher Jeannette M. Garcia forget to add one ingredient during some lab work. That happy error led the compound she was working on to become hard.

Further investigation showed the resulting compound was a “strong thermosetting polymer”, a substance that forms during heating. As explained in the video below, the chemicals formed in this way possess the useful quality of being self-healing: if you split a piece of the polymer and bring it back into contact with its sibling, the bonds will restore to their original strength.

[mmhmm]

This sounds super cool.  Seems like there would be all sorts of applications for something like this.

[busymom]

Well, I did hear that their post-it notes invention was an accident, too. Must be nice to be able to make money from your mistakes.

[Jaguar]

Absolutely awesome.

[chiver78]

totally going to have to check this out when I have time/am sober enough to understand (am sitting at a bar waiting on my friend's band to take the stage)

sent from my electronic distraction

[Deleted]

So does this counteract Forbes recent 'why you don't want to own IBM' ?

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Oped,this is exactly why you want to own share in IBM. Big company, lots of cash, lots of r&d, and they have been around forever.