Metal Velcro

RotJ writes "British scientists have developed technology that can grow structures up to 2 millimetres high and 0.2 millimetres in diameter on metal surfaces. Dubbed Surfi-Sculpt, it 'will act like ultra-strong Velcro to form much tougher joints between metals and lightweight composite materials'."

Comments

Re:Fast to create as well

[AndroidCat]

us Brits have always been jealous of the Yanks for inventing the zip anyway/i>

Really? Strange, since the modern zipper was invented by Canadian Gideon Sundback.

Re:Other applications?

[xmda]

Did you read the article:

The projections could be used to encourage bone to grow onto artificial hips. They could also be used in electronics to produce heat sinks of just about any shape.

Re:And I hate to point this out...

[f13nd]

it's not like dragging your finger through clay though

when you use the beam, then drag it, the metal will accumulate near the start point, not where the beam is

in all, it's a pretty cool application of physics, really, and deserves this patent

at least they're not trying to patent electrons

Re:Heatsinks

[Jennifer E. Elaan]

Assuming the added turbulence of all the protrusions doesn't end up blocking the flow of the coolant entirely (by creating vaccum pockets between them via Bernouli's Principle, or similar effects), then yes, it would make a heat-sink much more efficient.

The gains would be much more noticable in a system where the bulk of the coolant action comes from a high specific heat with low fluid motion, as in a liquid cooled system. It would increase the efficiency of still air, but could end up decreasing the efficiency of forced air.