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That "Unbreakable" Glass That's "As Strong As Steel" Isn't Either

Posted by samzenpus on from the you-keep-using-that-word dept.

TheAlexKnapp writes: A number of stories about a new paper in Scientific Reports claim that it describes an "unbreakable" glass that's as "strong as steel." In a report about the paper for Forbes, Carmen Drahl notes that these claims are exaggerated. But that doesn't mean that the researchers haven't produced a promising material. From Carmen's story: "According to their calculations, this glass performed about as well as a heavy duty commercial glass. What this report describes isn't some miracle material, but a well-above-average performing glass that seems promising on a tiny scale."

2 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What are the actual test results? by trout007 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The glass cracked on an impact tester. Steel dents.

    That depends on the steel. High strength steels have yield strengths very close to their ultimate strengths and tend to crack and not dent.

    --
    I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
  2. Re:Well, was it stronger than steel? by coldsalmon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Glass was always "stronger" than steel in that it will take more stress without bending. Glass will just shatter, whereas steel will bend but not break. Glass has more "strength," but steel has more "toughness." An article at Popular Science explores this distinction: "Strength refers to how much force a material can take before it deforms. Toughness explains the energy required to fracture or break something." The article is from 2011, and is entitled "NEW METALLIC GLASS BEATS STEEL AS THE TOUGHEST, STRONGEST MATERIAL YET."