Researchers tout super-strong transparent plastic

Researchers at the University of Michigan look to have made a fairly significant advance in the oft-explored field of plastics, with them now showing off a sheet of plastic that's not only transparent, but as "strong as steel." That impressive feat was apparently made possible by "mimicking a brick-and-mortar molecular structure found in seashells" or, more specifically, by mixing layers of clay nanosheets with a water-soluble polymer solution. That combination also apparently gave rise to what the researchers call the "velcro effect," which allows any bonds that are broken to be reformed quickly, further adding to the materials strength. What's more, to handle the tedious task of actually building the material, the researchers employed their very own robotic arm, which meticulously pieced together each layer of polymer and clay nanosheets, with 300 of each required to make a sheet the thickness of regular plastic wrap.

[Via Digg, photo courtesy of Cosmos/University of Michigan]

[boulderhorn @ Oct 5th 2007 12:19PM]

ok, this is going to be a little lewd, but if a 300-ply sheet of this stuff is as strong as steel. wouldn't a 10-ply sheet of this stuff be atleast as strong as a modern condum, and 1/30th as thick? just putting that out there to mull over.

[friendlyner @ Oct 5th 2007 12:27PM]

Hopefully it doesn't crinkle like a grocery bag - thin or not that would be an unsexy feeling and sound

[wizzle @ Oct 5th 2007 2:41PM]

and with that kind of durability, it could even be reusable and dishwasher safe!

[GregA @ Oct 5th 2007 5:36PM]

Wow, you have a point! Also if you look at the manufacturing technique, how condoms are molded and how this is molded, we could be only months out from a product.

[Randavance @ Oct 5th 2007 11:26PM]

Don't feel bad about feeling lewd, if it makes you feel any better, I saw the word "University" and plastic bags in the photo below it and imediately thought this article was about drugs.

[porter @ Oct 5th 2007 12:23PM]

Perfect. My biggest problem is that all the plastic in my life doesn't seem to last long enough.

[lincolnshaun @ Oct 5th 2007 12:23PM]

Damn! This sounds like Scotty's transparent aluminum from Star Trek 4. Time to round up some whales.

[Student Driver @ Oct 5th 2007 2:37PM]

Yeah, but is it strong enough to haul my mother-in-law and her f'ing Rascal? Not *that* is a real test.

[Froggy @ Oct 5th 2007 2:54PM]

computer, ON! Computer, ON!!

[Don @ Oct 5th 2007 3:36PM]

Damn, beaten! That was the first thing I imagined - him talking to Stuart Pankin (I think). The weirdest thing in that scene was that Scotty, raised on voice-controls, LCARS, and Blinkinlight control systems could type like hell. Always thought that was a continuity issue.

Back on point - this is cool for sure.

[CharlieX @ Oct 5th 2007 12:24PM]

That's nothing compared to transparent aluminum. Now would that be worth something to you?

[BoneJob @ Oct 5th 2007 5:21PM]

Entourage reference? If so, I like it!

[CharlieX @ Oct 5th 2007 5:31PM]

what are you doing on a gadget website. shame on you. that's from star trek iv: the whalers of home

[CharlieX @ Oct 5th 2007 12:24PM]

That's nothing compared to transparent aluminum. Now would that be worth something to you?

[john @ Oct 5th 2007 12:25PM]

GO BLUE

[Rainier @ Oct 5th 2007 12:42PM]

Hahah! Someone had to say it! =P

[Will @ Oct 5th 2007 1:57PM]

Hail to the Victors Valiant!
;-)

[Sclath @ Oct 5th 2007 12:43PM]

I can see new packaging for kid's toys on the horizon. You ever try to pry a toy out of one those vacuum sealed, arc-welded plastic clamshells? It takes two adults, a knife, a pair of pliers, a lot of cussing and the occasional trip to the ER for stitches. Now they got plastic stronger the steel? I think I'll give my kids movie tickets this year.

[t-bone @ Oct 5th 2007 1:51PM]

I read the article and then thought,"I guess my scissors won't work. Time to get a cutting torch."

[Pedro @ Oct 5th 2007 1:50PM]

I know you're joking, but (and I'm serious) a hunting knife (Bowie style, with an inch or so of serration) works wonders for this kind of packaging.

[HineyWipe @ Oct 5th 2007 12:48PM]

Body bags.

[CoreyJF @ Oct 5th 2007 12:49PM]

Invisible jet to follow.

[anonymous @ Oct 5th 2007 12:55PM]

Hello computer!!! There be whales here Capt'n!!!

[siv_art @ Oct 5th 2007 8:31PM]

I can't believe I'm actualy sayng this, but Kirk was still an Admiral in ST:4 :-)

"Admiral! There be whales here!"

So... um... yeah.
www.youtube.com/musecast5
Spread the word!

[Marcus Albert @ Oct 5th 2007 1:34PM]

Hi Guys,

I am active in plastics business and what is desperatly needed is not a strong polymer (mechanical wise) needed is a stron polymer chemichally seen. This stuff can be solved in water, so not solid, what about acids? Hahahah

Regrads

Marcus

[Chumitz @ Oct 5th 2007 3:28PM]

Nuc-le-ar wessels. In Alameda.

[Kevin @ Oct 5th 2007 4:25PM]

Two words, Mr. Plastics Business.

Spell Check.

[Jon @ Oct 5th 2007 1:54PM]

Finally, a condom strong enough for this guy! Yeah, I got it like that.

[Matthew Hilario @ Oct 5th 2007 1:55PM]

makes suffocating that much easier.

[Student Driver @ Oct 5th 2007 2:39PM]

Hooray! A condom that finally settles the question of Superman having sex with Lois Lane...

[Mark @ Oct 5th 2007 3:35PM]

Is it only as strong as steel of the same thickness? Because I can punch right through aluminum, foil and I am sure it is thicker than that.

[SENATOR @ Oct 5th 2007 4:03PM]

Humpback... people?

[Sirocco @ Oct 5th 2007 4:50PM]

But this implies that a steel sheet that's as thin as a typical plastic bag is "strong"? I would think that existing plastic sheeting is already as strong as steel sheeting of the same thickness.

[nhatman @ Oct 5th 2007 5:50PM]

a material's strength, in its simplist term, does not depend on it's thickness, or more accurately, it's cross-sectional area. so if a 1 inch thick plate of steel is stronger than a 1 inch thick piece of plastic, the steel will still be stronger than the plastic even if they are both 0.001" thick.

that's why a material's strength is measured in PSI or MPa, pounds per square inch or mega Pascal (metric version of pressure or psi).

a plastic that is as strong as steel is amazing and only will be widespread if it can be easily manufactured. its uses will depend heavily on other properties as well, such as density, toughness, stiffness, conductivity, thermal expansion, etc. so don't expect it to replace steel anytime soon.

but i can see it being a great new material for very specialized applications (military, in particular).

[Slappy @ Oct 5th 2007 5:13PM]

Condoms and Star Trek is all ya got?
Get outdoors!
I see some cool tents, sails, kites for kiteboarding, surfboards, etc. in the future.

[Roman @ Oct 5th 2007 5:14PM]

if it comes tinted, I want to bullet proof my car windows.

[jaredwork @ Oct 5th 2007 10:23PM]

Remind anyone else of Star Trek 4? "Transparent Aluminum", baby!.... but steel instead.

[Rev @ Oct 6th 2007 7:05PM]

Um... Is steel at that thickness particularly strong?

[Fred @ Oct 8th 2007 3:44PM]

Breaking news... next generation Lotus Elise will be 1/4 the weight!