Microlattice metal just sounds pretty , does n’t it ? And the most democratic moving-picture show march the lightweight nature of microlattice metallic element is of a little part of the material perched atop a downy dandelion chief . Cute !
And , because each empty strand of optical maser - cut nickel is thinner than a human hair , the structure of the material is 99.99 percent air . Air ! opine make an emptyStyrofoamcup in one hand and a cup made of microlattice metal in the other . The metal cup would be light-colored .
The magic trick – and strength – is in the laser cutting . The structure of the material was developed by University of California - Irvine , CalTech , and HRL Laboratories for DARPA ( the defense department ’s geekiest research arm ) , to absorb stress and reverberate back . It can be contract to half its volume and it ’ll bound right back to its original shape .
This could potentially revolutionizecar manufacture . Picture it : A car consistency light than the same design made of Styrofoam , yet capable to absorb an impact and pass to its right strain . lite cable car mean less retarding force and better fuel efficiency , and the power to absorb so much energy is an obvious safety plus , too . Parking bunch door nick would be a thing of the past .
DARPA seems to think there are other use for microlattice metals ( besides construct awesome featherweight cars ) , like aeronautic engineering science and excogitation , muscularity harvesting systems , work up a better battery and even just as a damping cloth – since it can plunge acoustic , shock and vibration push .
Of of course , this stuff is still pretty observational . But someday … just maybe , we ’ll all be park our cars on the heads of dandelions .
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How can something made of atomic number 28 be 99.99 percent air ? I say the description of the chemical operation over and over , and I think I finally understand . Sort of . It ’s not like I ’m fit to be make this stuff at my kitchen table or anything . But here ’s how I understand it : First a lattice of polymer is created and then invest in a nickel - phosphate answer . Once the nickel - orthophosphate is in seat on the lattice , scientist dispatch the polymer , leaving behind hollow tubes of latticework atomic number 28 - phosphorus .
I had been picturing tiny lasers etch out the design , maybe run by computer mouse in petite clean elbow room gear , with the slippers and hoods and everything . I ’m not sure the chemical substance mental process is any easier than a tiny optical maser , but it is definitely less cunning .
