Glassy Gels
Jun. 20th, 2024 12:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithResearchers create new class of materials called 'glassy gels'
Researchers have created a new class of materials called 'glassy gels' that are very hard and difficult to break despite containing more than 50% liquid. Coupled with the fact that glassy gels are simple to produce, the material holds promise for a variety of applications.
[---8<---]
"We've created a class of materials that we've termed glassy gels, which are as hard as glassy polymers, but -- if you apply enough force -- can stretch up to five times their original length, rather than breaking," says Michael Dickey, corresponding author of a paper on the work and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University. "What's more, once the material has been stretched, you can get it to return to its original shape by applying heat. In addition, the surface of the glassy gels is highly adhesive, which is unusual for hard materials."
Oh yeah, I remember these -- stable liquids.
"Maybe the most intriguing characteristic of the glassy gels is how adhesive they are," says Dickey. "Because while we understand what makes them hard and stretchable, we can only speculate about what makes them so sticky."
I can think of several aspects:
* They contain a lot of liquid, and moist things tend to be tacky. Think of licking your finger to pick up crumbs.
* When something stretches and then contracts, it can create tiny lines of pinching action that grip things.
* Some surfaces have high traction that can make them clingy, like using a silicone potholder to grip a jar or lid.
* Ionized things can be clingy based on their electrochemical qualities.
* Some gels and polymers are glues. This category of materials could be glue-adjacent, meaning here it is a stable liquid but if you tweak it a bit, then it could turn into glue form.
... this is starting to remind me of Terramagne tacky gel. Now I want to electrocute the stuff and see if it can be made to change form by zapping it the right way.
"Creating glassy gels is a simple process that can be done by curing it in any type of mold or by 3D printing it," says Dickey. "Most plastics with similar mechanical properties require manufacturers to create polymer as a feedstock and then transport that polymer to another facility where the polymer is melted and formed into the end product.
That's going to be super useful in 3D printing. My first thought is to print customized grip pads to keep things from slipping. Especially if it is flexible enough to make a good suction cup. Make one for the bottom of your blender so it doesn't dance over the countertop. Suction bottoms exist but don't work as well as actual clamps.
I wish L-America would throw invention fairs. You know, invite a bunch of inventors to somewhere like a university that has a lot of labs and workshops. Stock a room with some old and new materials, then see what people come up with just screwing around and brainstorming under the influence of way too much caffeine and sugar.
Researchers have created a new class of materials called 'glassy gels' that are very hard and difficult to break despite containing more than 50% liquid. Coupled with the fact that glassy gels are simple to produce, the material holds promise for a variety of applications.
[---8<---]
"We've created a class of materials that we've termed glassy gels, which are as hard as glassy polymers, but -- if you apply enough force -- can stretch up to five times their original length, rather than breaking," says Michael Dickey, corresponding author of a paper on the work and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University. "What's more, once the material has been stretched, you can get it to return to its original shape by applying heat. In addition, the surface of the glassy gels is highly adhesive, which is unusual for hard materials."
Oh yeah, I remember these -- stable liquids.
"Maybe the most intriguing characteristic of the glassy gels is how adhesive they are," says Dickey. "Because while we understand what makes them hard and stretchable, we can only speculate about what makes them so sticky."
I can think of several aspects:
* They contain a lot of liquid, and moist things tend to be tacky. Think of licking your finger to pick up crumbs.
* When something stretches and then contracts, it can create tiny lines of pinching action that grip things.
* Some surfaces have high traction that can make them clingy, like using a silicone potholder to grip a jar or lid.
* Ionized things can be clingy based on their electrochemical qualities.
* Some gels and polymers are glues. This category of materials could be glue-adjacent, meaning here it is a stable liquid but if you tweak it a bit, then it could turn into glue form.
... this is starting to remind me of Terramagne tacky gel. Now I want to electrocute the stuff and see if it can be made to change form by zapping it the right way.
"Creating glassy gels is a simple process that can be done by curing it in any type of mold or by 3D printing it," says Dickey. "Most plastics with similar mechanical properties require manufacturers to create polymer as a feedstock and then transport that polymer to another facility where the polymer is melted and formed into the end product.
That's going to be super useful in 3D printing. My first thought is to print customized grip pads to keep things from slipping. Especially if it is flexible enough to make a good suction cup. Make one for the bottom of your blender so it doesn't dance over the countertop. Suction bottoms exist but don't work as well as actual clamps.
I wish L-America would throw invention fairs. You know, invite a bunch of inventors to somewhere like a university that has a lot of labs and workshops. Stock a room with some old and new materials, then see what people come up with just screwing around and brainstorming under the influence of way too much caffeine and sugar.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-22 03:34 am (UTC)Yeah, we need an ENORMOUS maker fair.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-22 09:38 am (UTC)Something on the scale of the Worlds Fare or Expo... but on a regular recurring basis.
Well ...
Date: 2024-06-22 09:47 am (UTC)When it comes to big events, a conference is good for announcing stuff in a seminar -- if people are tolerant of crowds. A lot of nerds prefer to hole up in their workshop and aren't fond of large noisy groups.
Re: Well ...
Date: 2024-06-22 09:54 am (UTC)That's why I was thinking Worlds fare actually.. bring in the big boys in science and industry, but there a whole lot of little booths etc in between the pavilions. Then we get economies of scale, pull in enough exhibitors to reduce costs to the point where anyone can pitch a tent or a table.
Although Makers fares are a thing already, and the biggest of those does pull in the more socially pro-active companies, while still being a home for odd-balls and weirdos that do engineering and science for fun!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-22 05:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-22 05:14 pm (UTC)Valid point... smaller touring fares as well?
(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-22 05:41 pm (UTC)The house I lived in before this one had central air conditioning built into the furnace ducts. This house just has window air conditioners, and we rent. Next house is going to have "split cycle" heating and cooling. Much more sensible and efficient.
Most of my ancestors evolved in cool climates - British Isles, Scandinavia, so I'm not biologically optimized for hot weather. My Scottish ancestors lived in villages that were repeatedly pillaged by Vikings, so there must be some Norse DNA in there somewhere. And the Native Americans of northeastern North America were able to weather harsh winters. But none of my ancestors came from the tropics or the desert. Just give me an environmentally controlled (with very accurate controls) little capsule in a space station, with air temperature, pressure, chemical mix, and motion controlled at my whim with a click of a key or a spoken command.