Super-Light Plastic As Strong as Steel

Roland Piquepaille writes "A new composite plastic built layer by layer has been created by engineers at the University of Michigan. This plastic is as strong as steel. It has been built the same way as mother-of-pearl, and shows similar strength. Interestingly, this 300-layer plastic has been built with 'strong' nanosheets of clay and a 'fragile' polymer called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), commonly used in paints and glue, which acts as 'Velcro' to envelop the nanoparticles. This new plastic could soon be used to design light but strong armors for soldiers or police officers. The researchers also think this material could be used in biomedical sensors and unmanned aircraft."

I hear..

[valkabo]

I hear the wicked witch of the west is made of this stuff..

It's made of layers of clay nanosheets and a water-soluble polymer that shares chemistry with white glue

How quaint!

[daeley]

McCoy: You realize that by giving him the formula you're altering history.

Scotty: Why? How do we know he didn't invent the thing?

Obvious use

[Anonymous Coward]

The researchers also think this material could be used in biomedical sensors and unmanned aircraft."

And swords. Don't forget swords.

just curious

[User 956]

Did they invent it by talking into the mouse?

Plasteel

[Anonymous Coward]

Sweet! Our soldiers can have REAL Storm Trooper armor now! Wait...that's a bad thing, right?

Superman

[king-manic]

Man of heavily layered plastic?

Another common material of similar construction

[erroneus]

Not sure which restaurant makes it, but there's this ultra-cheesy lasagna... it's pretty good but by the time it's "processed" it is not only as strong as steel, but as binding as epoxy.

Re:Superman

[jameskojiro]

I thought "Man of heavily layer plastic" was *DUM DUM DUM* TROJAN MAN!!!!

Re:Blame the movies.

[Anonymous Coward]

An ultra-light plastic would be valuable for so many things, from cutlery to...

Assuming the material (or some variation of it) has the necessary properties make good "cutlery", metal detectors installed for safety are suddenly less effective. If the material could be made in thick (or even millable) configurations, the plastic handgun becomes a possibility (no, Glocks don't count - they have plenty of metal parts to set off a metal detector). And Wandering Wombat was concerned that someone's first thought was a purely defensive military application; people like me must scare him shitless.

- T

Re:How quaint!

[UncleTogie]

Given that it was the first thought that entered my head when I read the headline (and probably that of every true geek) I wouldn't be so quick to judge.

Amen. I was just about to try to tag it "transparent aluminum"...

In Soviet Disney ...

[A nonymous Coward]

Did they invent it by talking into the mouse?

In Soviet Disney, mouse talks into you!

Your sig

[A nonymous Coward]

If you mod this up, your slashdot background will turn into a beautiful sunset!

I tried that and it didn't work, so I am posting this comment to take back my mod point. Neener neener neener!

Re:You know what else is as strong as steel?

[MyLongNickName]

My rock hard cock

Pictured here [outofthefryingpan.com]

Re:Link with pics

[MyLongNickName]

Two words: Marketing

See, you even got let down with the "Two words" part. Priceless.

Re:How quaint!

[Anonymous Coward]

RTFA: It's per Rhode Island.

Re:How quaint!

[mblase]

The Ringworld engineers called. They have a patent for something called "scrith" and a half-dozen of the ugliest lawyers you've ever seen.