Scientists from the Delft Technological University have developed a new material that exceeds Kevlar in strength by ten times. This new material, called an amorphous silicon carbide (A-Sic), has a strength comparable to graphene and diamonds.
Kevlar has long been a reliable form of protection against wear and abrasion, particularly in body armor and helmets.
The discovery of A-Sic promises to revolutionize not only protective equipment but also the world of microcircuits.
Associate Professor Richard North, the project leader, explains that the amorphous structure of A-Sic is an accidental arrangement of atoms, unlike the regular arrangement found in crystalline materials like diamonds. This unique structure gives the material a strength of 10 gigapascal (GPa), making it extremely durable.
To put this into perspective, North provides an example: to break a strip of adhesive tape with the equivalent strength of 10 GPa, you would need to hang ten cars on it.
However, strength is not the only advantage of A-Sic. Its mechanical properties make it suitable for creating sensitive microchips.
Scientists used a new testing method on microcircuits to study the potential of A-Sic. This technology allowed them to create high tensile stresses by growing films of amorphous silicon carbide and suspending them.
Unlike expensive materials like graphene and diamonds, A-Sic is easy to produce. This makes it practical for a wide range of applications, including space research, DNA sequencing, sensitive microcircuits, and solar panels.
“A-Sic opens new horizons for microcircuit research,” says North.