• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
Science Update

Science Update

Sharing Science | Satisfying Curiosity | Debunking BS

  • Spotlights
  • Reality Check
  • Why Is It?
  • Radio Archives
  • Sciup @ School
Home » Radio Archive » Daily Show » Ultrastrong Plastic

Ultrastrong Plastic

November 1, 2007
https://podcast.scienceupdate.com/071101_sciup_ultr.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window

BOB HIRSHON (host):
Super-strong plastic. I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.

A new plastic has the load-bearing strength of steel, yet it’s transparent, lightweight, and can be made at room temperature. Chemical engineer Nicholas Kotov and his colleagues at the University of Michigan created the material. They make it by alternating incredibly thin layers of clay with a polymer that binds to it.

NICHOLAS KOTOV (University of Michigan):
And keep on just adding these layers, one after the other.

HIRSHON:
One key to its strength lies in the chemical bonds between the polymer and the clay particles, which can re-attach immediately after separating. And although it takes about 300 layers to make a sheet as thick as household plastic wrap, it’s the first time anyone’s made a polymer this strong above the molecular scale. Future applications might include tough electronics components and lightweight military body armor. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.

Category: Daily ShowTag: Chemistry, Engineering & Technology, Materials Science, Terrorism & War
Previous Post:Spider Webs
Next Post:Fear and Bonding Roundup

Sidebar

Radio Program Archives

Want to learn more about the brain? The environment? Here you can browse the topics that come up regularly on Science Update.

Search the Archives

Categories

  • Daily Show
  • Station Download
  • Weekly Show

Find By Tag

  • 2020
  • Acoustics & Sound
  • Aging
  • Animal Behavior
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Astronomy & Space
  • Biology
  • Brain Science
  • Bugs
  • Cat Video
  • Chemistry
  • Children & Families
  • cicadas
  • Climate & Weather
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Economics & Business
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environment & Conservation
  • Genetics & Evolution
  • Geology
  • Marine Science
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine & Health
  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology
  • NASA
  • Nutrition & Food Science
  • Paleontology & Dinosaurs
  • Physics
  • Plants & Agriculture
  • Political Science
  • Reality Check
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Sports & Fitness
  • spotlight
  • Spotlight Bugs
  • Terrorism & War
  • Why Is It? Questions
  • Wildlife
  • Year in Review

Find By Date

Science Update
  • About Science Update
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

Image of computer screen depicting an orange cat with a variety of alphanumeric scientific data superimposed on the the screen.
Spotted skunk performing handstand to threaten predators

Copyright © 2025 · Springtail Media LLC · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Pongos