THE GIST Scientists have created the hardest known organic substance ever. The technology could be used for cheap, light body armor that's stronger than steel. The material is similar to the plaques found in patients with Alzheimer's disease. \t\t The new material is tougher than stainless steel and even the previous record holder, bulletproof Kevlar. Going to a show in a rough part of town? Don't forget to print your tickets and your body armor. Scientists in Israel have developed the hardest organic material known to man. Tougher than stainless steel and even the previous record holder, bulletproof Kevlar, the transparent material is similar to the beta-amyloid proteins found in patients with memory-robbing Alzheimer's disease. The new material could make steel tougher and may also lead to cheaper and lighter body armor. "In principle it may be possible," to print body armor, said Ehud Gazit, a scientist at the Tel Aviv University and a co-author of a new article in the journal Angewandte Chemie international edition. "But we are thinking of more straightforward uses: to improve the mechanical properties of composite structures, such as ceramics and bulletproof glass," he added. The new material is similar, but not identical, to the brain plaque linked with Alzheimer's disease. Dozens of amino acids form those beta-amlyoid proteins. The new synthetic proteins only have a fraction of those amino acids and are covered with an additional protective layer to create super-strong spheres. The spheres are microscopic, ranging in size from about 30 nanometers to two micrometers. The material itself is transparent and easy to manipulate and manufacture. It is also incredibly tough. Only a diamond-tipped probe could penetrate the material -- and to make a dent the probe needed twice the pressure of what it would take to make a mark in Kevlar. All of these properties means the new material could be used in a range of applications, from bulletproof armor to stronger, lighter steel. "I think this is an amazing discovery," said Kenneth Woycechowsky, a scientist at the University of Utah familiar with the research. "The rigidity and stiffness of these spheres is unique, and surpasses any other known organic molecule, even Kevlar." Don't expect to buy an ink jet cartridge of body armor any time soon though. "We have several patents and it is being licensed, so we hope to see it on the market soon," said Gazit. "But it always takes more time than one expects. Kevlar was invented in the 1960s but only in the 1980s did it become incorporated into body armor."
very cool find! It's kinda interesting that the "stronger" materials we keep finding the more transparent they seem to be. (going from "dark" to "clear") iron, steel, titanium, Kevlar, this stuff Of course that's only a few but I can't think of any that don't fit into this idea, can anyone else? just a side note, not equating "clearness" to how strong the material is, just that it is seeming to be a property common to strength which would give a better indicator when looking for new materials.
^^^ i personally use my diamond body armor when making a venture into the hood although it seems to bring a lot of negative attention for some reason...
It's odd.. the article goes on and on about the body armor.. but it doesn't say what it's made out of. It's graphene, if anybody is interested. It's a very simple carbon compound, but it has many different practical uses. This is just one of many more that are going to be popping up in the near future.
Sweet, now they just need to combine this material with the already developed Dragon Skin Body Armour.
how do you get graphene from that description? Graphene is just carbon atoms layed out in a particular pattern, not any protein or amino acids.
Thought I had read the article more thoroughly. The other aspects of it are very similar to graphene, however. Specifically it being organic and stronger than stainless steel. I think my brain might be broken, though. My reading comprehension used to be way better.
Oh it's graphene? I read an article about it a week or 2 ago and i just thought they were already on to the next super strong material lol
[T]he transparent material is similar to the beta-amyloid proteins..." Does this mean that they can make stronger glass? Strong enough to hold some Whales? Like that time Scotty showed the past how to invent transparent aluminum?