Metal Miracles: US Scientists Witness Self-Healing in Cracked Pieces

Scientists from Texas A&M University and Sandia National Laboratories have discovered that metal can self-repair microscopic cracks through a process called cold welding, without the need for heat or electricity. This breakthrough could have significant implications for engineering, as fatigue in metal components is responsible for 90% of mechanical failures. By understanding how metal microstructure affects healing, researchers hope to develop materials that are more resistant to fatigue damage. While self-healing materials have been explored in plastics and concrete, this is the first observation of self-healing in metals at room temperature under vacuum conditions. Practical applications are expected to take at least a decade to develop.