Colour-changing coating can diagnose damage to climbing ropes or safety equipment
Heat and friction changes appearance of metal-based coating
A coating for high-performance fibres that changes colour when exposed to damagingly high temperatures – such as from fire or friction – has been developed by researchers from Switzerland. The coated fibres could be used to make self-diagnosing safety ropes for use by firefighters and rock climbers, or suspension ropes for raising heavy loads on construction sites.