Nanotech produces plastic as strong as steel

[Desolus]

Nanotech produces plastic as strong as steel
Researchers mimic structures found in seashells, using clay and glue
Image: Nanofilm

A photomicrograph shows a cross-section of the layered plastic material, built up from a gluelike polymer solution and a dispersion of clay nanosheets. The arrows indicate the thickness of the material: about 1.5 microns, or less than a tenth the width of a a human hair.

By Andrea Thompson
Updated: 3:32 p.m. ET Oct 12, 2007

By mimicking structures found in seashells, scientists have created a transparent plastic that is as strong as steel.

For years scientists have tried to build sturdy materials for larger products from ultrastrong nano-size building blocks, such as nanotubes, nanosheets and nanorods, only to have the larger structures turn out comparatively weak.

"When you tried to build something you can hold in your arms, scientists had difficulties transferring the strength of individual nanosheets or nanotubes to the entire material," said study leader Nicholas Kotov of the University of Michigan.
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To solve this problem, Kotov and his colleagues have devised a process that builds materials one nanoscale layer at a time, similar to the way that mother-of-pearl, the iridescent lining of mussel, oyster and other mollusk shells, is built.

They built a machine that dips a piece of glass about the size of a stick of gum alternately into a gluelike polymer solution and a dispersion of clay nanosheets. These materials form cooperative hydrogen bonds with each other across the layers, which give rise to a "Velcro effect," Kotov explained.

This effect, coupled with the arrangement of the nanosheets in a brick-and-mortar structure, make the final product (as thick as a piece of plastic wrap) very strong. The developers say that the product could be widely available in a relatively short period of time.

"The technology of preparation of these materials is pretty simple," Kotov told LiveScience. "So, if someone decides to make it happen, it could be available on the market in a year or less."

The process is detailed in the Oct. 5 issue of the journal Science

[Ddrak]

Sounds interesting, but expensive. Reminds me of the whole "transparent aluminum" thing from Star Trek IV.

Dd

[Garrdor]

Yeah, my friend JC Denton was talking about thsi new plastic UNATCO was making their batons out of

[Finglefinn]

Sounds interesting, but expensive. Reminds me of the whole "transparent aluminum" thing from Star Trek IV.

Dd

Bones: "How do we know he didn't invent the stuff?"

[Arathena]

This just screams out for 3-D printers.


Also, I have, personally, made transparent alumina. It is a Pain. In. The. Ass.

[Ddrak]

I wonder what they mean by "strong"? Tensile strength? Compressive strength? General hardness? Brittleness? Malleability? There's a bunch of factors there that make the whole "as strong as steel" pretty lame as a description. After all, glass is much stronger than steel when measured in some ways...

Dd

[Arathena]

I wonder what they mean by "strong"? Tensile strength? Compressive strength? General hardness? Brittleness? Malleability? There's a bunch of factors there that make the whole "as strong as steel" pretty lame as a description. After all, glass is much stronger than steel when measured in some ways...

Dd

Typically, materials hailed as 'strong' in the media are expected to be good structural materials in some fashion. Looks like he's a little short on elasticity, but good on the rest.

His process is kinda slick, but sloooooow. I almost wish he'd gotten started on this in time to try using our talc as a building block... But then I reealize that might have helped the old company succeed, and that would have been bad. C'est la vie.

[Alarik Zekaiden]

Yeah, my friend JC Denton was talking about thsi new plastic UNATCO was making their batons out of

Hehe, I miss playing Deus Ex. I should dig it out of my desk and take another crack at it.

This reminds me of that glue that I saw on the history channel the other night. It apparently forms a bond that is so strong that steel bars will bend and tear before the joint itself breaks. In the example they glued together two rather thick metallic sheets. It was neat.

[Garrdor]

Transparent Allumninum...

"Try the mouse"

*holds it up to face*

"Computer? Computer?"

[Finglefinn]

"Just... use... the... keyboard."

[Garrdor]

1. Take the GEP gun Ammo
2. Take the Sniper Rifle with 30.06 Ammunition
3. Take the Mini-crossbow with Tranqulizer darts.

(3)

Paul Denton: Hmmm. Good choice, a silent takedown.