Science

An ultralight polymer is twice as strong as steel

American chemists have developed a new two-dimensional polymer material with an ultra-low density and superior to high-quality steel in strength by about two times.
The scientists solved this problem by developing polymers consisting of two different types of organic molecules. During these experiments, chemists managed to create a material with a unique two-dimensional structure that forces its constituent molecules to combine into a kind of grid without any interference from scientists.
Due to this, the new polymer has an extremely low density, but at the same time it is twice as high as the best steel grades in terms of resistance to deformation and pressure. In the past, chemists doubted that such two-dimensional polymer materials could be created in principle. Polymers also have disadvantages. They have a chaotic or amorphous structure, which makes them vulnerable to certain types of mechanical loads and other influences.

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