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DoE Develops Flexible Glass Stronger Than Steel

Posted by Soulskill on from the whale-tested,-scotsman-approved dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The Department of Energy Office of Science recently collaborated with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology to develop a resilient yet malleable new type of glass that is stronger than steel. The material can also be molded, and it bends when subjected to stress instead of shattering. The glass is actually a microalloy and features metallic elements such as palladium. This metal has a high 'bulk-to-shear' stiffness ratio that counteracts the intrinsic brittleness of glassy materials. The team that developed the material believes that by changing various ratios, they could make it even stronger."

6 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. Alas... by Solar+Granulation · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is NOT transparent.

  2. Re:Obligatory... by nedlohs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because hydrogen and water are the same.

  3. Re:Can I throw stones in a house made of this? by Lashat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You CAN, but you SHOULDn't.

    --
    For every benefit you receive a tax is levied. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
  4. Re:Obligatory... by Low+Ranked+Craig · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You can talk to it now. DOesn't mean anything is going to happen though.

    --
    I still cannot find the droids I am looking for...
  5. Re:Will it rust? by somersault · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Weight might not matter in space, but mass does.

    --
    which is totally what she said
  6. Re:Scottie's here! by Guspaz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Obsidian glass blades are far sharper than steel blades, and are sometimes used for scalpels. Some cultures did make swords out of them.