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Judi Lynn

(160,219 posts)
Tue Feb 8, 2022, 03:22 AM Feb 2022

MIT researchers create new material as strong as steel and light as plastic


Michelle Shen, USA TODAY - Yesterday 12:07 PM

It can be easily manufactured in large quantities, and the use cases range from lightweight coatings for cars and phones to building blocks for massive structures such as bridges, according to Michael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT and the senior author of a new study.

. . .

The material is several times stronger than bulletproof glass, and the amount of force needed to break it is twice that of steel, despite the fact that the material has only about one-sixth the density of steel, according to MIT.

The researchers were able to do this by developing a new process to form polymers. Plastics are an example of polymers, along with rubber and glass.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/mit-researchers-create-new-material-as-strong-as-steel-and-light-as-plastic/ar-AATxpuj?ocid=hponeservicefeed
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MIT researchers create new material as strong as steel and light as plastic (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2022 OP
This is a fascinating development nvme Feb 2022 #1
It must form tight crystals to be that strong. So also resistant to chemicals otherwise BootinUp Feb 2022 #4
stand beside him and guide him Slammer Feb 2022 #2
It comes from fossil fuel. Not good for the long term. ancianita Feb 2022 #3

nvme

(860 posts)
1. This is a fascinating development
Tue Feb 8, 2022, 06:17 AM
Feb 2022

I wonder, if it is similar to plastics, they become weaker over time. This will be something to look at.

BootinUp

(46,928 posts)
4. It must form tight crystals to be that strong. So also resistant to chemicals otherwise
Tue Feb 8, 2022, 11:39 PM
Feb 2022

it wouldn't make good sense in some of the applications mentioned. But every molecular has a few weaknesses.

Slammer

(714 posts)
2. stand beside him and guide him
Tue Feb 8, 2022, 06:19 AM
Feb 2022

MIT researchers create new material as strong as steel and light as plastic.

If it also defies the laws of physics, soon each one of us can own a copy of Captain America's shield.

ancianita

(35,816 posts)
3. It comes from fossil fuel. Not good for the long term.
Tue Feb 8, 2022, 06:21 AM
Feb 2022

While it's a cool building material, building infrastructure with it seems to be a forever pollutant that the Earth's environment doesn't need any more of, imo.

I'd rather rebuild bridges with recycled materials, using even hemp brick for buildings, than keep any forever polymer that still hasn't gone through extreme weather trials that simulate what it and we might have to face with cascading climate disasters. Just sayin'.

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