World's Lightest Material Developed By UC, Irvin And HRL Laboratories
"The world is getting smaller and lighter", is once again proved by the development of a material Metallic Micro-Lattice-a strong claimant for the world's lightest material position. This is a major step forward in the technology sector and the lightest density material is made possible by the collective efforts of Home | University of California, Featured Events // Today // UCI and #-Link-Snipped-#. The research which resulted in the outstanding innovation is published in #-Link-Snipped-#.
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Image Shows the lightest material, metallic micro-lattice | Image Credit: HRL Laboratories.
For constructing this material, the team of Engineers have followed various approaches and finally settled on arranging tiny metallic tubes. These metallic tubes are so arranged that they form micro lattice with open space between the tubes. The tiny metallic tubes which are used in the construction are purposefully kept hollow. The thickness measures around 100nm. Even an average human hair is 1000 times thicker than the tubes.
As seen in many other materials, as a material is made lighter and lighter, there is an adverse effect on other physical properties of the material. The most common being, the loss of mechanical strength. Contrary to the belief metallic micro-lattices- the new Lightest material, gains strength. The team behind this development believed that materials actually get stronger as we take them to micro-scale and nano-scale.
While strength testing, the material was put into repeated compressive stress. On the first attempt, the material recovered 98% of its original height and also quickly returned to its original state, regaining its dimensions, when released. The material promises complete recovery from compression until it is 50% strain. A comparatively high energy absorption is also observed in the cellular material.
Presently Silica Aerogels are the lightest materials known to mankind with a density of 1.0 mg/ CC and metallic micro-lattices which comprise of 0.01% solid material with the remaining 99.99% air now bags the first position with 0.9mg/ CC. The potential uses of this cellular material are in the production of battery electrodes, providing solutions for acoustic vibration i.e. shock dampening and catalyst support. The other applications will follow suite as the commercialization commences.
#-Link-Snipped-#
Image Shows the lightest material, metallic micro-lattice | Image Credit: HRL Laboratories.
For constructing this material, the team of Engineers have followed various approaches and finally settled on arranging tiny metallic tubes. These metallic tubes are so arranged that they form micro lattice with open space between the tubes. The tiny metallic tubes which are used in the construction are purposefully kept hollow. The thickness measures around 100nm. Even an average human hair is 1000 times thicker than the tubes.
As seen in many other materials, as a material is made lighter and lighter, there is an adverse effect on other physical properties of the material. The most common being, the loss of mechanical strength. Contrary to the belief metallic micro-lattices- the new Lightest material, gains strength. The team behind this development believed that materials actually get stronger as we take them to micro-scale and nano-scale.
While strength testing, the material was put into repeated compressive stress. On the first attempt, the material recovered 98% of its original height and also quickly returned to its original state, regaining its dimensions, when released. The material promises complete recovery from compression until it is 50% strain. A comparatively high energy absorption is also observed in the cellular material.
Presently Silica Aerogels are the lightest materials known to mankind with a density of 1.0 mg/ CC and metallic micro-lattices which comprise of 0.01% solid material with the remaining 99.99% air now bags the first position with 0.9mg/ CC. The potential uses of this cellular material are in the production of battery electrodes, providing solutions for acoustic vibration i.e. shock dampening and catalyst support. The other applications will follow suite as the commercialization commences.
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