. 24/7 Space News .
INTERNET SPACE
New see-through film stronger than aluminum
by Brooks Hays
Washington (UPI) Apr 1, 2019

For those in the business of phone repair, researchers in England have some bad news.

Thanks to a new transparent polythene film, shattered phone screens "could be a thing of the past," according to Ton Peijs, professor at the University of Warwick.

Peijs and research partner Cees Bastiaansen, a professor at Queen Mary University of London, developed a new technique for creating the see-through film.

Material engineers have developed impressive high-strength films, including the hot-drawing of high-density polyethylene, HDPE. While these films can compete with the strength of industrial materials, including metals, they're not very transparent, making them poor replacements for glass.

"The microstructure of polymers before drawing very much resembles that of a bowl of cooked spaghetti or noodles, while after stretching or drawing the molecules become aligned in a way similar to that of uncooked spaghetti, meaning that they can carry more load," Yunyin Lin, a PhD student with Peijs and Bastiaansen, said in a news release.

Meanwhile, the most popular transparent plastic replacements for glass, such as polycarbonate, are quite weak.

Peijs and Bastiaansen found they could create polythene films that are see-through and high-strength by fine tuning the drawing temperature.

In the lab, researchers drew out HDPE polythene sheets at a range of temperatures. Scientists found the best balance between strength and transparency was achieved when drawing the sheets between 195 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit.

"We expect greater polymer chain mobility at these high drawing temperatures to be responsible for creating fewer defects in the drawn films, resulting in less light scattering by defects and therefore a higher clarity," Peijs said.

Tests showed the resulting films were 10 times stronger than conventional see-through films. The new transparent polythene film boosted a great maximum tensile strength to that of space grade aluminum. The films are extremely light in weight, making them ideal for uses in small electronics and as an added coating on windshields.

Scientists described their new hot-draw process this week in the journal Polymer.


Related Links
Satellite-based Internet technologies


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


INTERNET SPACE
Apple pulls plug on AirPower wireless charging mat
San Francisco (AFP) March 29, 2019
Apple confirmed on Friday that it will not deliver on its promise of helping usher in a wireless future with an AirPower mat for charging its devices. The project announced in late 2017 proved to be an engineering challenge, Apple senior vice president of hardware engineering Dan Riccio told AFP. "After much effort, we've concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have canceled the project," Riccio said. "We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

INTERNET SPACE
It takes a team

Final frontier: Russia develops washing machine for space

US Asked Russia to Delay Soyuz MS-13 July Launch to ISS for Two Weeks - Source

NASA Astronauts Complete 215th Spacewalk at Station

INTERNET SPACE
China completes compatibility test on core parts of rocket engine

India launches PSLV-C45, with spysat and 28 microsats onboard

Arianespace Flight VS22: A fifth launch for the operator SES and its O3b constellation

Russian S7 space firm to cancel deal with Ukraine's rocket maker

INTERNET SPACE
Results of BIOMEX, the Biology and Mars Experiment on the ISS

After the Moon in 2024, NASA wants to reach Mars by 2033

Mars Express matches methane spike measured by Curiosity

Scientists find likely source of methane on Mars

INTERNET SPACE
China launches new data relay satellite

Super-powerful Long March 9 said to begin missions around 2030

China preparing for space station missions

China's lunar rover studies stones on moon's far side

INTERNET SPACE
Where space missions are born

Inmarsat agrees to $3.4 bn takeover from consortium

OneWeb starts to mass-produce satellites in Florida

UAE announces pan-Arab body for space programme

INTERNET SPACE
Indian satellite destruction created 400 pieces of debris, endangering ISS: NASA

Group teams up to combat growing space debris threat, protect satellites in orbit

Indian satellite destruction creates debris field of 'space junk'

Bodybags, rats, waste: Disaster response turns to VR for grim training

INTERNET SPACE
High School Senior Uncovers Potential for Hundreds of Earth-Like Planets in Kepler Data

Surviving A Hostile Planet

Exoplanet Under the Looking Glass

Astronomers Discover Two New Planets Using Artificial Intelligence

INTERNET SPACE
Europa Clipper High-Gain Antenna Undergoes Testing

Scientists to Conduct Largest-Ever Hubble Survey of the Kuiper Belt

Jupiter's unknown journey revealed

A Prehistoric Mystery in the Kuiper Belt









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.