A material that automatically disappears after completion of the mission like a spy movie is developed
A new material has been developed that decomposes and disappears when exposed to sunlight. It is reported that this material can adjust the time to start decomposition and is suitable for usage such as making military equipment unavailable to enemies.
Disappearing act: Device vanishes on command after military missions (video)-American Chemical Society
The mechanism by which the developed material decomposes uses a “ ceiling temperature ” in which the polymer returns to the monomer when the temperature is exceeded. Common polymer materials such as polystyrene have thousands of chemical bonds, so that the ceiling temperature is not only high and stable, but it also takes time to decompose even when heated above the ceiling temperature. The On the other hand, the polymer that is the basis of the newly developed material has the property that if one bond is broken, the other bonds are also broken, and the ceiling temperature is set low.
The research team added a photosensitive additive that absorbs light and acts as a catalyst for the decomposition action to the newly developed “polymer with bonds that are chain-decomposed and has a low ceiling temperature”. Has been developed. Furthermore, by changing the wavelength of the light to which the additive reacts, it has characteristics depending on the application such as “anything is decomposed if it is light” or “it is not decomposed by the light of lighting but is decomposed by sunlight”. It is possible to make it. In addition, it seems that the time to start decomposition can be set as fine as 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours. Although the detailed mechanism has not been disclosed, the research team states that 'the button can be broken down by pressing the button to start the reaction'.
A movie in which this material is actually disassembled under sunlight is also released.
Self-destructing Polymers Disintegrate in Daylight | Headline Science-YouTube
The developed material is processed into a plate with a bump like a chocolate.
You can see that the material that has just been placed in the sunlight does not lose its hardness even if you pick it up or lift it.
However, as you continue to shine, holes will open in the thinned parts and fall apart.
Below is the shape of a parachute for dropping supplies.
It seems that the decomposition reaction starts and melts even at 7:00 in the morning when the sunlight is weak.
The material shaped like a bag is ...
When completely melted, it looks like this.
Something like melted sliced cheese remains, but the original shape is lost.
It is said that military equipment incorporating this material has already been developed, but the research team is not only military equipment but also environmentally friendly sensors and delivery vehicles deployed in areas where recovery is difficult It seems that they are looking at using This research was also supported and funded by the US Department of Defense.
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in Science, Posted by darkhorse_log