Scientists create rapidly expanding polymer for self-destructing devices

Scientists at a Saudi Arabian university have developed a polymer that grows rapidly at a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius. This makes it applicable in self-destructing devices, such as telephones or laptops.

According to one of the researchers, the material is therefore suitable for products for intelligence services, banks and similar organizations, IEEE Spectrum writes. The polymer is able to grow by a factor of seven within a short time at a temperature above 80 degrees Celsius. The electrodes required for this can, for example, be powered by a smartphone or laptop battery.

In order for the material to expand to its maximum size in a time between 10 and 15 seconds, between 500 and 600mW is needed. With 300mW this process can be slowed down to about a minute. By placing the polymer next to a chip, it is able to destroy a specimen with a thickness of 90 micrometers, or 0.09 mm. The expansion is due to the polymer containing small microspheres filled with liquid hydrocarbon. Due to the high temperature, the hydrocarbon is released and changes from liquid to gas.

It is also possible to increase the required temperature to 250 degrees Celsius by using a different polymer, the scientists said. They tested different scenarios as triggers for destroying devices, such as being moved outside a certain zone. They determined this on the basis of GPS. The polymer could be built into existing computers for about $15, the scientists estimate. In the future, they want to investigate whether it is also possible to use it in hard disks or PCBs.

The polymer in action