A new self-healing ceramic alloy

Scientists from the Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science at the Siberian department of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed an innovative ceramic composite that can self-heal their defects or damage.

This ceramic is scheduled to be used for the thermal protection of high-energy systems and high-speed aircraft (i.e., drones.)

At certain temperatures, a glass coating develops on the ceramic surface, which prevents oxygen molecules from penetrating inside, ensuring that cracks that may occur during the use of the ceramics “self-heal.” As a result, the self-healing process takes only about ten minutes.

The strength of the ceramic is similar to that of the diamond. However, it also has a higher resistance to hot temperatures and can withstand even 2700 degrees Celsius. So, it can be used in a wide range of areas, including space engines, aircraft turbines, and other objects exposed to high temperatures.