ARC-funded materials’ scientists from The University of New South Wales have created an ‘instruction manual’ for developing metallic glass—an ultra-tough yet flexible alloy described as the most significant materials science innovation since plastic. While still being metals, they become as malleable as chewing gum when heated and can be easily moulded or blown like glass. It’s just like something from science fiction—think of the Liquid-Metal robot assassin in the Terminator films—these materials behave more like glass or plastic than metal. They are also three times stronger and harder than ordinary metals, on average, and are among the toughest materials known. “Metallic glass alloys are expensive to manufacture and to date have only been used in niche products, such as ejector pins for iPhones, watch springs for expensive hand-wound watches, trial medical implants, and tennis racquets and golf clubs...they are also planned for use in the next Mars rover vehicle,” said study author, Dr Kevin Laws. “But if they become easier and cheaper to make, they could be widely used in many applications including as exceptionally strong components in personal electronic devices, in space exploration vehicles, and as hydrogen storage materials in next generation batteries.”
Media issued by the University of New South Wales