Still Waters Posted November 18, 2011 #1 Share Posted November 18, 2011 A team of engineers claims to have created the world's lightest material.The substance is made out of tiny hollow metallic tubes arranged into a micro-lattice - a criss-crossing diagonal pattern with small open spaces between the tubes. The researchers say the material is 100 times lighter than Styrofoam and has "extraordinarily high energy absorption" properties. Potential uses include next-generation batteries and shock absorbers. Read more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoff Posted November 21, 2011 #2 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Amazing. I like this new kind of technology. The new generation of batteries is interesting.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeptic Chicken Posted November 21, 2011 #3 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Reckon it could be used as a form of parachute suite or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureBoff Posted November 21, 2011 #4 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Why not lighter ships? The material would be good for my new kayak build of an outrigger for my inflatable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swadwa Posted November 21, 2011 #5 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I didn't see anything on the possible environmental impact of manufacturing this product. That should be ALWAYS be taken into account for any product that may go into mass production! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DieChecker Posted November 21, 2011 #6 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I do wonder how they make it. Hollow tubes that are all joined together. Way to small for any kind of welding/attaching techniques. I'd guess it is not molded, unless the mold is very fragile and is just destroyed every time they manufacture some. That would tend to limit size though. the thin tubes could be made by vapor deposition, I'd guess. Very Cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bildr Posted November 21, 2011 #7 Share Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) I didn't see anything on the possible environmental impact of manufacturing this product. That should be ALWAYS be taken into account for any product that may go into mass production! It's sad, but it's often always the last question people ask about a product. Our race rarely cares about its own planet life and nature that whitout it we would all go Bye Bye Edited November 21, 2011 by Bildr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandOfAmber Posted November 22, 2011 #8 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Ahem. This may be premature, but in my view, this discovery just opened up the gateway to orbit. The biggest thing holding us back from populating the inner Solar System at present is the cost of getting payload to orbit. This is directly measured in lbs./dollar ratios. Lowering one side of the equation this dramatically would necessarily lower the other side to balance... Spaceships just got cheap people... -Brand of Amber I do wonder how they make it. Hollow tubes that are all joined together. Way to small for any kind of welding/attaching techniques. I'd guess it is not molded, unless the mold is very fragile and is just destroyed every time they manufacture some. That would tend to limit size though. the thin tubes could be made by vapor deposition, I'd guess. Very Cool. My guess is that they are either growing them, or assembling them at the molecular level. Like Carbon Nanotubes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJsDietFitness Posted November 22, 2011 #9 Share Posted November 22, 2011 I'm sure they have been using this paticular tech at area 51 for years. There they don't care about anything.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xYlvax Posted November 22, 2011 #10 Share Posted November 22, 2011 (edited) Ehh. Cool, but they're just gonna make more coolers out of it. Edited November 22, 2011 by NikkiAidyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DieChecker Posted November 22, 2011 #11 Share Posted November 22, 2011 My guess is that they are either growing them, or assembling them at the molecular level. Like Carbon Nanotubes... Either way sounds hard. The controls needed to "Grow" it would be crazy, and assembling it on the molecular level would be very time intensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthurion2 Posted November 22, 2011 #12 Share Posted November 22, 2011 couldn't they find more useful things than batteries and shock absorbers to use it on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunXpatriot Posted November 23, 2011 #13 Share Posted November 23, 2011 Yeah, you guys are right and this is a great advancement. I agree with Xanthurion2, there could be way better uses. Environmental impact is imprtant, but just as important is "is it even worth it to mass produce?" How much does it cost to make and would it even be something that could become widespread and used in daily life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhantomFlanFlinger Posted November 23, 2011 #14 Share Posted November 23, 2011 No doubt Formula1 teams will be one of the first to try this new material if it proves its worth...probably be one of the few able to afford it at the beginning too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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