Posted on 02/03/2022 6:30:32 PM PST by BenLurkin
The new material is a two-dimensional polymer that self-assembles into sheets, unlike all other polymers, which form one-dimensional, spaghetti-like chains.
Such a material could be used as a lightweight, durable coating for car parts or cell phones, or as a building material for bridges or other structures...
Strano and his colleagues came up with a new polymerization process that allows them to generate a two-dimensional sheet called a polyaramide. For the monomer building blocks, they use a compound called melamine, which contains a ring of carbon and nitrogen atoms. Under the right conditions, these monomers can grow in two dimensions, forming disks. These disks stack on top of each other, held together by hydrogen bonds between the layers, which make the structure very stable and strong.
Because the material self-assembles in solution, it can be made in large quantities by simply increasing the quantity of the starting materials. The researchers showed that they could coat surfaces with films of the material, which they call 2DPA-1.
The researchers found that the new material’s elastic modulus — a measure of how much force it takes to deform a material — is between four and six times greater than that of bulletproof glass. They also found that its yield strength, or how much force it takes to break the material, is twice that of steel, even though the material has only about one-sixth the density of steel.
Another key feature of 2DPA-1 is that it is impermeable to gases. While other polymers are made from coiled chains with gaps that allow gases to seep through, the new material is made from monomers that lock together like LEGOs, and molecules cannot get between them.
(Excerpt) Read more at scitechdaily.com ...
:^)
MIT engineers tested out the materials ability to prevent gases from escaping by making a pair of custom underwear for President Biden.
One of my fave movies and now a classic. I met Alan Rickman back in 2009 and the nicest limey you could meet. That’s why Tim Allen and him hit it off. Tim Allen stated he wont do the movie without Alan Rickman.
If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend the "making of Galaxy Quest" documentary, Never Give Up, Never Surrender.
The lower weight and depth armor would leave more room to include defense against HEAT rounds.
Scotty gave them the formula, transparent aluminum!
Dang it, just wrote the same thing. Should have read further.
But it’s it stronger than Cram laid out in the sun for a fortnight?
If you haven’t played this mod already, you might like it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcK68QvS4mU
It’s no longer a secret.
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