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Science-Technology Title: Scientists Create the Superman of Metals A group of scientists say they have created the Superman of metals, a material so strong and lightweight it could lead to the creation of faster vehicles and revolutionize the airline and automotive industries. Engineers at the University of California, Los Angeles, used a combination of ceramic silicon carbide nanoparticles and magnesium. The new metal boasts a stiffness-to-weight ratio that far surpasses other strong metals that engineers have reliably used for generations. The metal is also capable of absorbing and withstanding high heat without having its integrity altered. Nanoparticles are a tiny speck of any material, just 1 to 100 nanometer in size, or a billionth of a meter—not even close to being visible to the naked eye. When the material is scaled down to such a small size, its physical and chemical properties change. In this case, the silicon carbide nanoparticles were infused into a molten magnesium zinc. Silicon carbide is the hard ceramic material used for cutting blades. This “nanocomposite” metal is made up of approximately 14 percent silicon carbide and 86 percent magnesium by weight. “It's been proposed that nanoparticles could really enhance the strength of metals without damaging their plasticity, especially light metals like magnesium,” said Xiaochun Li, a professor of manufacturing and engineering at UCLA, in a press statement. “But no groups have been able to disperse ceramic nanoparticles in molten metals until now.” Magnesium is available in large quantities, meaning it would be easy to produce the material without damage to the environment. It is considered a type of load-bearing metal that is already used to make cars, albeit a weaker version. Correction: A previous version of this article inaccurately stated that an object with width between one and 100 namometers would be just barely visible to the naked eye. In fact, such an object would not be visible at all. By way of comparison, the diameter of a strand of human hair is in the range of 80,000 to 100,000 nanometersm, according to the National Nanotechnology Initiative
Very interesting development. Sounds very promising. I would think it would have positive impact not only on cars, and airliners, but also on combat aircraft, and spacecraft. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 14. are they going to call this new metal Adamantium ?
#13. To: tomder55 (#10) Adamantium ? Wasn't than something that was obtained from ameteor? I thought they might call it unobtainium. I suspect that like many things created in a laboratory in small quantities it won't prove to be commercially obtainable
#14. To: paraclete (#13) Adamantium ? it's a fictional metal that they used in the comic book character Wolverine's skeleton .It is the metal in his claws . But I like the suggestion of Rearden steel better . Who is John Galt ?
Replies to Comment # 14. #15. To: tomder55 (#14) (Edited) Who is John Galt ? Beats me, use your google. I know what adamantium is according to fiction, I also know what unobtainium is according to fiction and no doubt you can find out what reardon steel is according to fiction just for your benefit Tom becuase I know you can't get past googling the constitution which is printed on a parchment made of unobtainium "in the realm of scientific wishful thinking, Unobtainium can refer to any substance needed that is critical to the plot of a science fiction story, but which does not exist in the universe as we know it. In other words, total bullshit"
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