IIT Kharagpur collaborating with companies for commercial use of smart acrylic polymer

NEW DELHI: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur have invented a smart polymeric material that can fix car scratches and dents by simply heating the damaged area if it is coated with this material.

The institute is collaborating with companies such as Asian Paints and Pidilite to make this solution commercially available.

“We are also collaborating with international universities to take this solution to the next level. This material is useful for both glass and metal surfaces, and is especially significant for automobiles as they are prone to scratches,” said Professor Nikhil Singha.

The acrylic polymer named PHEMA-indole-TAD has been developed by a research team led by Singha at the institute’s Centre for Rubber Technology. If the car is coated with this material when it is manufactured, then a scratch on your car may not need a fresh paint anymore but only heating, Singha said.