A newer lightweight metal that scientists propose is the strongest among all metals, yet lightweight, has been created that could be used to make future ground and airline vehicles.
The research team based out of the University of Los Angles used materials that have a stiffness to weight ratio which exceeds other metals that engineers have relied on for centuries in manufacturing, according to Newsweek.com. The engineers have combined ceramic silicon carbide nanoparticles and magnesium to achieve this super strong metal. Another feature of the lightweight metal is that it can withstand high levels of heat without becoming warped or damaged in any way.
Nanoparticles are microscopic in nature and their chemical and physical properties are altered when scaled to a small size. According to the engineers, the silicon carbide nanoparticles were infused into a molten magnesium zinc. They said that their nanocomposite metal is composed of 14 percent silicon carbide and 86 percent magnesium by weight.
Since magnesium is readily available in large quantities, the engineers are confident that no harm will come to the environment and that production of the metal would be easy.
“It’s been proposed that nanoparticles could really enhance the strength of metals without damaging their plasticity, especially light metals like magnesium,” said Xiaochun Li, a professor of manufacturing and engineering at UCLA, in a press statement. “But no groups have been able to disperse ceramic nanoparticles in molten metals until now.”
Vehicles are currently manufactured using the load bearing magnesium, although it is “a weaker version,” according to the engineering team.