Researchers Develop Plastic as Strong as Steel

Researchers at the University of Michigan have devised a way to bond nanosheets and create a composite plastic that is as durable as steel. The researchers copied the molecular structure of the inner lining of oyster and mussel shells called Mother of Pearl which contributed to the strength of the composite plastic. The new plastic material is made up of layers of clay nanosheets and polyvinyl alcohol that has the same chemistry as white glue, though not quite as stretchable so researchers had to scrap the name "plastic steel" for their composite plastic.

Nicholas Kotov, an engineering professor at the University of Michigan and other researchers were able to make the composite plastic by hurdling a problem that has confused engineers and scientists for decades: how to bond nano-size building blocks. Nano-size building blocks such as nanotubes, nanosheets and nanorods are very strong by themselves, however, when a larger product is made out of these nano-sized building blocks, they become weaker.

Kotov says that when scientist tried to build something out of the nano-sized blocks that they can hold, they have difficulties in transferring the strength of each individual nanosheets to the entire material. The researchers however, were able to achieve an ideal transfer of stress between nanosheets and a polymer matrix using a machine that they have developed that can build materials one nanoscale layer after another.