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How Negative Thermal Expansion Works

Posted by michael on from the weird-science dept.

Bill Kendrick writes "Scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, are discovering why compounds like zirconium tungstate 'are acting like they are from Bizarro world': contracting, rather than expanding, when heated. They believe it's a combination of geometrical frustration (which sounds a lot like what it is), and a 'twisting' motion of the atoms."

1 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Call me dumb... by MindStalker · · Score: 3, Informative

    RTFL. They said the theoretical right mix of expanding and contracting elements which would produce zero change is what the ultimatly are wanting to develop. This is the first material that contracts over large temperature ranges, so it may be perfect for such a mix. Obviously they are still working on it.