U.S. researchers develop world's most lightweight materials. This new material has a density of 0.9 milligrams per cubic centimeter or 100 times lighter than Styrofoam.
Unique structure called a micro-lattice to be the secret behind such a light weight. This architecture can accommodate the composition of air 99.99 percent and 0.01 percent solids of the nanoscale (one billionth of a meter), so that becomes the whole.
The trick is to make the lattice is connected with a hollow tube with a wall thickness of 1.000 times thinner than human hair," said the head of a team of researchers from HRL Laboratories Tobias Schaedler owned by the University of California, Irvine.
Micro-lattice architecture also provides a breakthrough in material properties of materials not found in the metal in the world. Micro-lattice can be able to withstand the pressure up to 50 percent of the beginning and can absorb large amounts of energy.
This ultra-lightweight materials developed by the University of California and California Institute of Technology at the initiative of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Later, this material will be used as electrode materials in batteries, absorbing vibration, acoustic absorbers, to energy storage.
Materials group manager at HRL Laboratories, William Carter, explains, this new material mimics the concept of building a stately but light built in modern times, such as the Eiffel Tower and Golden Gate Bridge.
Both buildings are standing strong with relatively light overall weight. "We brought the concept of this building to the nanoscale," Carter said. *** [PHYSORG | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3714]
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| World’s lightest metal – which is 99.9 percent air – is so light that it can sit atop dandelion fluff without damaging it. (Picture from: http://www.whatsthelatest.net/) |
The trick is to make the lattice is connected with a hollow tube with a wall thickness of 1.000 times thinner than human hair," said the head of a team of researchers from HRL Laboratories Tobias Schaedler owned by the University of California, Irvine.
Micro-lattice architecture also provides a breakthrough in material properties of materials not found in the metal in the world. Micro-lattice can be able to withstand the pressure up to 50 percent of the beginning and can absorb large amounts of energy.
This ultra-lightweight materials developed by the University of California and California Institute of Technology at the initiative of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Later, this material will be used as electrode materials in batteries, absorbing vibration, acoustic absorbers, to energy storage.
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| Design, processing, and cellular architecture of ultralight microlattices. (Picture from: http://www.kurzweilai.net/) |
According to UCI mechanical and aerospace engineer Lorenzo Valdevit "Materials actually get stronger as the dimensions are reduced to the nanoscale," UCI’s principal investigator on the project. "Combine this with the possibility of tailoring the architecture of the micro-lattice and you have a unique cellular material."
Materials group manager at HRL Laboratories, William Carter, explains, this new material mimics the concept of building a stately but light built in modern times, such as the Eiffel Tower and Golden Gate Bridge.
Both buildings are standing strong with relatively light overall weight. "We brought the concept of this building to the nanoscale," Carter said. *** [PHYSORG | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3714]
