A science magazine published an article about a kind of rubber that can heal itself. The molecules in ordinary rubber are held together by strong covalent bonds that break and cannot be restored. Instead, the researchers developed a molecular rope that combines hard-to-get hydrogen and covalent bonds and allows them to mix evenly at the molecular scale to create a transparent, tough rubber that self-heals. When pulled, the new rubber develops a network of grooves that look like cracks but do not break completely and form fibrous junctions. When the tension disappears, the rubber returns to its original shape. The technology could be used to make tyres for military equipment that do not need to be replaced immediately after damage, improving their battlefield survivability.
Functional defects do not mention self-healing rubber.