Aerographite Becomes the Lightest Material Ever Produced
13th July 2012
Researchers have created a new material they’re calling “Aerographite” that has taken the crown of “world’s lightest material” away from the micro-lattice structure that previously held it back in November. With a density of only 0.2 mg/cc, the substance is comprised of 99.99 percent air — though a large piece of it looks like a black, opaque sponge. Aerographite consists of a “seamless interconnected network of closed shell micro tubes” and reportedly can be compressed by a factor of a thousand before springing back to its original shape. Interestingly, it’s also conductive, which the research team from the Hamburg University of Technology and University of Kiel note opens up possibilities in the technology space. MEMS, electrical shielding, and even batteries.
July 13th, 2012 at 11:05
Only tangentially related, but this materials revolution – the progress toward lighter, yet stronger and more durable materials, especially synthetic polymers – came home to me in a very real way out at the firing range: my Dad had brought out his stainless steel Ruger “speed six” .357 magnum, which he bought in the mid-70s; when compared to my Glock 33, the fully-loaded weight ratio between the two firearms was striking.