By drawing on the framework of bone, wood, and honeycomb, German researchers have developed a lightweight, high-strength material. Using 3D laser polymer printing technology combined with ceramic coatings, researchers have succeeded in creating new materials that are less dense than water, but mechanically comparable to high-performance steel or aluminum.
The "frame" is a ceramic-polymer composite.
Despite being inspired by nature, this polymer microarchitecture was created by a research team at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The underlying structure uses "three-dimensional laser lithography" (or polymer printing and hardening) technology.
"Failed" microstructure
In addition to the final results, the researchers also tested a number of structures - including triangular and hexagonal honeycombs. After being coated with vapor-deposited coatings such as ceramics and alumina, the material is given extra strength.
Test results show that the polymer structure is only 50 microns in length, width and height, while the thickness of different coatings is between 10nm and 200nm.
All micro materials have been subjected to a mechanical uniaxial compressive load test.
They found that a honeycombed polymer plus a 50 nm alumina coating can create the best stability/density ratio! The performance of this microarchitecture far exceeds the corresponding triangles and hexagons.
However, after the thickness of the alumina coating exceeds 50 nm, the performance improvement will encounter a bottleneck. Ultimately, the optimized honeycomb structure was lost in a pressure test of 28 kg/mm2 (kilograms per square millimeter) - a density of 810 kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic meter).
Lateral comparisons of "strength-to-weight ratios" with various materials (such as honeycombs and bones).
The researchers said that the material's stability/density ratio has exceeded bones, steel, and even aluminum. In the future, this material can be used for insulating or micro-structured shock absorbers, even in the filter for the chemical industry.
Shenzhen You&My Electronic Technology Co., Ltd , https://www.youmysolarlight.com