Researchers create a gelatinous material that is resistant to punctures and tears – Al Observer

Researchers have created a new type of material, a “vitreous gel,” that is resistant to punctures and tears, despite containing more than 50% liquid, is easy to produce and could have a variety of uses, it was announced Wednesday.

North Carolina State University (NCSU) said in a statement that glass gels and polymers are different types of materials, with glass polymers being hard, rigid and often brittle, and are used, for example, in water bottles or airplane windows, while glass polymers are hard, rigid and often brittle. Gels, such as those found in contact lenses, contain liquid and are soft and flexible.

The new “glass generation,” as the name suggests, “combines some of the most interesting properties of glass polymers and gels.”

“We've created a type of material we call glassy gel, which is just as tough as glassy polymers, but if enough force is applied, it can stretch up to five times its original length instead of breaking,” says Michael Dickey, a professor of physics at Harvard University. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NCSU and corresponding author of the article published Wednesday in the scientific journal Nature, cited in the release.

Other advantages of the new material are that it “can return to its original shape after stretching if heat is applied” and has a “highly adhesive surface, which is unusual in solid materials.”.

Meixiang Wang, a postdoctoral researcher at NCSU and co-author of the article “Solvent-Strengthened Glass Gels,” highlights the importance of the new material being “more than 50% liquid, making it a more efficient electrical conductor than common polymers.” have comparable physical properties.

Tests conducted showed that although it is 50% to 60% liquid, the “glass gel” does not evaporate or dry out, and it was also discovered that it can be manufactured using different polymers and ionic liquids, but not all types of polymers. it can be used.

Michael Dickey finds that “the most interesting feature” of the new type of material is its ability to stick. “Because while we understand what makes it so rigid and flexible, we can only speculate about what makes it so sticky.”

He also points out that “glass gel” is easy to manufacture and can be processed in any type of mold or 3D printing, whereas “most plastics with similar mechanical properties require manufacturers to create polymers as raw materials and then transport them to another facility to manufacture them.” and turn it into the final product.”

The researchers said they were “excited” to see how the glass gel could be used and “are open to working with collaborators to identify applications for this material.”