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R&D Focus

BPA-Free Self-Healing Material

ITRI’s self-healing material can recover itself up to 90% from shallow fine scratches after heating.

ITRI’s self-healing material can recover itself up to 90% from shallow fine scratches after heating.

ITRI has developed a self-healing eco-friendly resin which can be applied to the baked finish of automobiles. Sprayed onto the top layer of the baked finish, it can recover itself up to 90% from shallow fine scratches (30-40 μm deep, about one third of the diameter of human hair) after being subjected to 90 °C for 20 minutes or exposed to the sunlight for one week.

Fang-Hei Tsau, Deputy Executive Director of ITRI's Southern Region Campus, indicates that some of the polyurethane paints (PU) applied to furniture, automobiles and cell phones are not eco-friendly because of the presence of the isocyanate in formulating ingredient. However, ITRI has initiated a novel non-isocyanate polyurethane resin made from carbon dioxide and innocuous BPA-free (without bisphenol A) epoxy resin through a special molecular design.

This material can restore its elasticity under high temperature. Like a rubber band, it can “bounce” back to the top layer from minor scratches, providing the effect of self-healing. It is safer and more durable than conventional polyurethane paints, with its price only 10% higher than conventional ones. This material can maintain its smooth and brilliant appearance after several incidents of minor scratching. In addition to automobiles and 3C products, it can also be applied to resins for 3D printing, insulation foam for car interiors and fire resistant/retardant materials.