A team of scientists has developed a new kind of self-healing circuit board that stays functional even after severe mechanical damage and can be reshaped or recycled entirely using heat. Infused with liquid metal and built using a polymer known as vitrimer, the new circuit boards could dramatically cut electronic waste and transform the durability of consumer electronics. Vitrimer retains the strength of traditional thermoset materials while allowing flexibility and repair, making it possible to reconfigure damaged boards without compromising electrical performance.<\/p>\n
As per a study published<\/a> in Advanced Materials on June 1, the boards were created by blending vitrimer with just 5% by volume of liquid metal droplets. This combination nearly doubled the material’s strain-at-break, or stretchability, compared to vitrimer alone. The embedded droplets are flexible as well, serving as flexible conductors in place of metal wiring used in traditional boards. Using a rheometer, tests showed the material was able to return to its original shape after heat-induced deformation ranging from 170\u00b0C to 200\u00b0C, which conventional epoxy-based thermosets cannot achieve.<\/p>\n Engineers also demonstrated that the material remains highly conductive and can recover its electrical function after being damaged. \u201cModern circuit boards simply cannot do this,\u201d said Josh Worch, co-lead author of the study<\/a>. His team designed the dynamic composite with the aim of building a circular economy around electronics<\/a>. The design addresses a major environmental concern: most circuit boards today use thermosets that cannot be recycled<\/a> and end up in landfills.<\/p>\n Electronic waste has more than doubled in 12 years, from 34 to 62 billion kilograms, as noted in a 2024 UN report. Despite containing valuable metals like gold, current boards are difficult to break down and reclaim due to the permanent nature of thermosetting plastics. The new vitrimer-based design, by contrast, allows for easy separation and reuse of materials. \u201cEven if the board is damaged,\u201d said Michael Bartlett, another co-lead author, \u201celectrical performance will not suffer.\u201d<\/p>\n More work needs to be done to improve the recovery of some elements, but the advance is a big step toward greener electronics, the researchers say. The technology could one day be in many different types of devices, from phones and laptops to wearables and TVs, changing the way devices are made, operated, and recycled.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n For the latest tech news<\/a> and reviews<\/a>, follow Gadgets 360 on X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, Threads<\/a> and Google News<\/a>. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel<\/a>. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360<\/a> on Instagram<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>. <\/p>\n
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