Uncanny "Adaptive Durability" Makes This Strange New Material Stronger Every Time You Hit It

The Debrief ^ | MARCH 21, 2024 | CHRISTOPHER PLAIN

[MV=PY]

"“When I stir cornstarch and water slowly, the spoon moves easily,” explains Yue (Jessica) Wang, a materials scientist and the project’s principal investigator. “But if I lift the spoon out and then stab the mixture, the spoon doesn’t go back in. It’s like stabbing a hard surface.” Scientists call this variable state adaptive durability, meaning the strength of the material shifts from a generally malleable state to a more durable one after a type of force is applied."

I thought that was called thixotropy.

[Red Badger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thixotropy

[Organic Panic]

Am I the only one concerned that many of these new discoveries are made by people in US research institutes with Chinese names?

[Red Badger]

We’ve noticed that from a about a decade ago...............

[MV=PY]

Right.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Trumpium!

[Paul R.]

This reminds me of a bit different property called thixotropy, in which a thick liquid will gel if undisturbed, but flow freely once set in motion. It is very useful for many adhesives: The adhesive flows easily from an applicator, but once dispensed the adhesive is less prone to run or drip on you.

Thixotropy is also a property of quicksand and many silty muds. That’s what makes sandbars often treacherous. You can walk out on the sand and all seems well, but if you apply your weight just a little too forcefully, the sand liquifies and suddenly you are calf deep and going down. Best bet is to take several seconds to go flat and try to sort of inchworm out. Flopping about, OTOH...

[JimRed]

Don't forget the garlic!

And scrape those browned bits from the roasting pan, too!

[9YearLurker]

Some humans are that way as well.

[AFreeBird]

No!