By By Tim Sandle May 10, 2014 in Science Chicago - A new high tech plastic has been developed which "heals itself," meaning that a cracked phone screen could be self-mended. The The plastic was developed by the University of Illinois and it has been The development of the new plastic was inspired by the human blood clotting system. The plastic contains a network of capillaries that deliver healing chemicals to damaged areas. The chemicals arrive via two separate streams. They combine to seal the gap in a two-stage reaction. Initially, they form a gel scaffold across the hole. The gel then slowly hardens into a robust, solid structure.The polymer works in a way where it can automatically patch holes 3 centimeters wide. This is sufficient to deal with most small cracks to screens on smartphones and tablets. Beyond, the possibility is that the self-repair properties could be extended. The BBC speculates that cracks in water pipes and car bonnets would one day seal up. Satellites could repair their own damage. Broken electronic chips in laptops and mobile phones would spontaneously sort out their own problems.The plastic was developed by the University of Illinois and it has been described in the journal Science, in a paper titled "Restoration of Large Damage Volumes in Polymers." More about Plastic, Blood, blood clotting More news from Plastic Blood blood clotting