New Amorphous Steel Promises Increased Strength
(Welding Design & Fabrication)
U. S. Scientists have created a new amorphous steel, which has molecular bonds resembling those of a liquid more than metal. Reportedly, it is twice as hard and strong as the most advanced ultrahigh-strength conventional steels. Applications could range from submarine hulls to skyscrapers.
Traditional steel’s molecular structure is crystalline, containing orderly rows and formations of atoms. In amorphous substances, atoms are highly disordered and arrange randomly, eliminating crystallographic defects. Compared with crystalline counterparts, amorphous materials usually show superior mechanical and temperature properties and corrosion resistance.
Other applications for amorphous steel include armor-piercing projectiles, fishing poles, tennis rackets, golf clubs, and bicycles.
Liquidmetal Technologies, Lake Forest, Calif., currently owns an exclusive license to inventions made from amorphous steels.
go to top
|
