Transparent Plasteel
By mimicking a brick-and-mortar molecular structure found in seashells, University of Michigan researchers created a composite plastic that’s as strong as steel but lighter and transparent.
It’s made of layers of clay nanosheets and a water-soluble polymer that shares chemistry with white glue.
Engineering professor Nicholas Kotov almost dubbed it “plastic steel,” but the new material isn’t quite stretchy enough to earn that name. Nevertheless, he says its further development could lead to lighter, stronger armor for soldiers or police and their vehicles. It could also be used in microelectromechanical devices, microfluidics, biomedical sensors and valves and unmanned aircraft.
I remember some sci-fi book I read as a teen where they described some future substance as plasteel. It was exactly like this. Back then the idea that they would one day make plastic as strong as steel, but lighter and transparent, was science fiction. Sci Fi is almost becoming redundant these days.
“You realize that by giving him the formula [to transparent aluminum] you’re altering history.”
“Why? How do we know he dinna INVENT the thing?”
Posted by Dave Marron on 10/05 at 03:45 PM“Computer.”
...
“Computer.”
...
Picks up mouse. Talks into it.
“Computer.”
Posted by on 10/05 at 04:09 PM“A keyboard...how quaint.”
Posted by Dave Marron on 10/07 at 06:31 PM
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