03 NOVEMBER 2015www.ibnlive.com
Researchers use alumina to develop nearly 'unbreakable' glass
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
In a revolutionary breakthrough, Japanese researchers have developed a new type of glass that is nearly unbreakable and is said to be as strong as steel. To make glass tougher, alumina- an oxide of aluminium and silicon dioxide- is used.
However, in the past, when researchers tried building strong glass by using large amounts of alumina, it caused the mixture to crystallize as soon as it touched any kind of container, preventing glass from being formed. Overcoming the obstacle, the team at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science, instead did away with the need of using container to make the glass.
The researchers used gas to push the chemical components into the air, where they synthesized together. The resultant transparent ultra glass was 50 per cent alumina and rivals the Young’s modulus of steel and iron, which measures rigidity and elasticity in solids.
Once commercialised, practical use of the thin, light yet strong glass containing alumina could range from buildings and vehicles to even electronics like tablets, computers, and even smartphones.
However, in the past, when researchers tried building strong glass by using large amounts of alumina, it caused the mixture to crystallize as soon as it touched any kind of container, preventing glass from being formed. Overcoming the obstacle, the team at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science, instead did away with the need of using container to make the glass.
The researchers used gas to push the chemical components into the air, where they synthesized together. The resultant transparent ultra glass was 50 per cent alumina and rivals the Young’s modulus of steel and iron, which measures rigidity and elasticity in solids.
Once commercialised, practical use of the thin, light yet strong glass containing alumina could range from buildings and vehicles to even electronics like tablets, computers, and even smartphones.
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