US Patent 8198349 - Self-healing and scratch resistance using graphene

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8198349.html

Nanoparticles have often been suggested to enable "self-healing" properties of materials to repair wear and damage and increase lifespan. This patent from GL Global teaches a new variation using graphene in a shape memory polymer. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for improving the scratch resistance and self healing powers of a polymeric material including a shape memory polymer material, the method comprising:

introducing a graphene material to the shape memory polymer material in an amount that improves the scratch resistance and self healing powers of the shape memory polymer material,

wherein said graphene material comprises between about 0.005 and 0.025 weight percent of the shape memory polymer material.