What is Liquidmetal? What are the potential uses of Liquidmetal? - … · 2017. 2. 3. · School-...
Transcript of What is Liquidmetal? What are the potential uses of Liquidmetal? - … · 2017. 2. 3. · School-...
What is Liquidmetal?
Contrary to its name, Liquidmetal is not liquid, but a manufactured material made from metals such as
Titanium, Copper, Aluminium, and Nickel. It is synthesised by a company of the same name, ’Liquidmetal
Technologies’. Liquidmetal belongs to a group of metallic alloys known as the bulk metallic glasses. This
is because it shares properties with glasses such as impact brittleness and lack of a fixed melting point.
Liquidmetal is flexible, malleable, easy to mould into intricate shapes, non-corrosive, scratch resistant, and
is harder than Titanium as it is not crystalline in structure. How does it feel to work with Liquidmetal? In
the words of the Director of Advanced Materials at WSU. "In a thin card or rod form, it feels much more
flexible than stainless steel or Aluminium. However, as you bend it more, it feels much stronger and will
require much more force to bend... One can think of Liquidmetal alloy as a much stronger plastic."
How is it made?
The fundamental difference between Liquidmetal and other alloys is the cooling process during
manufacturing. Instead of simply mixing alloys and quickly cooling them, Liquidmetal is
cooled by itself at room temperature, changing its atomic structure. Liquidmetal has a rather
chaotic atomic structure as appose to the crystalline structure of most other metals. This allows
the alloy to retain its shape similar to a liquid. It also has no directional grains like other metals.
Liquidmetal is also easier to make than other materials, as it can be cooled, ready-made, in
larger quantities.
Why Liquidmetal?
Liquidmetal is a revolutionary breakthrough in the material world. It is an alloy that has
remarkable qualities and has been shown to have three times the elasticity of other alloys. It
is also scratch resistant, malleable at low temperatures, and can be moulded into complex
shapes. The current uses of liquid metal are not substantial, however it may be used as a
substitute for hard plastics, titanium, and other delicate machinery in future technological
ventures.
What are the potential uses of Liquidmetal?
Currently Liquidmetal is being used in various fields such as Sports equipment, electronic protection, space
exploration and some military uses (Kinetic energy shells), though it is currently beginning developed for a
wider range of uses due to its very unique properties as well as having as well an affordable price point of
$5 per 100g.
It can also be applied in wearable goods as a strong threading in high quality clothing such as Jeans, jackets
and in shoes and boots, as the material is not particularly heavy. This can use also be extended to body
armour lining as this material is strong and flexible which would allow a larger range of movement.
Through investigation it has been found that Liquidmetal is a cheaper alternative to hard plastics and steel,
as it contain properties of both these materials. This can be useful in replacing the materials used in watch
gears and clocks.
Liquidmetal also offers new options for jewellery as it can be easily moulded into intricate shapes which
are then plated in more precious metals such as gold or silver. This would make usually expensive material
more readily available to the broader public.
Liquidmetal is flexible and retains its shape well. This would be ideal for the creation of new bicycle
spokes and gears. It is also non-corrosive and will last through very extreme weather conditions.
The material may be used to create delicate instruments and tools to be used in medicine and space
technology.
A-atomic structure of
Liquidmetal
School- St Davids Marist Inanda; Teacher- Mrs Dell; Students- Mohamed Fayaaz Cassim, Loyiso Zinzombe ,
Valerio Vernetti
IN CONCLUSION, LIQUID METAL IS A MATERIAL THAT HAS
BEEN DEVELOPED TO BE USABLE IN MANY FUTURE AND
PRESENT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, BE IT IN MEDICINE,
BIOCHEMISTRY, SPACE TECHNOLOGY, OR JUST COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS. LIQUID METAL IS THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE
FUTURE AND WILL HELP US BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW
FORLATER GENERATIONS.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidmetal
http://gizmodo.com/5614154/giz-explains-what-is-liquidmetal
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-
phones/liquidmetal-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-care-1083874
http://liquidmetal.com/