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Self-Healing holes?

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Curiousity

Curiousity

Materials
Jul 21, 2002
1
Can an extremely fast setting silicone be made for self-healing holes?

Let's say an aircraft at altitude (extremely low outside temp and high pressure differential) developed a hole. A layer of silicone under high pressure is inserted between an inner and outer skin. Could a silicone be made to seal the hole and set fast enough to keep the aircraft from decompressing?
 
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I'd rather doubt it based on the differenchial pressures of inside and outside today's aircraft at high cruising altitudes.

However, self sealing "bullet proof" fuel cells were used extremely successful in WWII, and the later theater's of warfare, where the central layer of the flexible membrane fuel cell is a NR (Natural Polyisoprene) or IR (synthetic polyisoprene).
The bullet passes through the entire membrane and the chemical reaction of the av-fuel immediately activates the swelling nature of these materials - thereby closing off any "leaking fuel".

This was learned by us - from captured German fighters by an odd encounter. From the bottom, and sides when fired upon, they never "blew-up". It was noted however that when they were fired upon from above, they did blow up.

Turned out to be another Titanic story somewhat. The Germans protected the bottom and sides only.
 
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