actually, yes and no.
the cracks they are talking about start out initially a few nanometers in length. They are also typically internal. BUT, there are many composites which include nodules of a glue-like substance and nodules of a catalyst that enables the glue to harden.
SO the idea is, a crack in the material forms. When it propagates, it hits a glue nod, and breaks it open. the glue expands and fills the crack. The catalyst activates the glue and hardens it, effectively stopping the crack from propagating further. (also stopping any further dislocations/crack that try to cross the "fixed" zone)
I hope the title was meant to be punny, because a model on cracking is nothing new. There are currently many models that work for crack propagation in composites (of metal, polymers and amorphous materials). Every research groups CLAIMS that their model allows them to gain the best insight, because saying anything else: forfeits further research dollars.
Until the model is explained in further detail and some source code is released, rather than the typical hand-waving, hype and money generating BS, this "breaking news" is nothing but hype.
Slashdot Mirror
actually, yes and no. the cracks they are talking about start out initially a few nanometers in length. They are also typically internal. BUT, there are many composites which include nodules of a glue-like substance and nodules of a catalyst that enables the glue to harden. SO the idea is, a crack in the material forms. When it propagates, it hits a glue nod, and breaks it open. the glue expands and fills the crack. The catalyst activates the glue and hardens it, effectively stopping the crack from propagating further. (also stopping any further dislocations/crack that try to cross the "fixed" zone)
I hope the title was meant to be punny, because a model on cracking is nothing new. There are currently many models that work for crack propagation in composites (of metal, polymers and amorphous materials). Every research groups CLAIMS that their model allows them to gain the best insight, because saying anything else:
forfeits further research dollars.
Until the model is explained in further detail and some source code is released, rather than the typical hand-waving, hype and money generating BS, this "breaking news" is nothing but hype.
-PhD student. Metallurgical Sciences.