Researchers will soon be studying "Metallic Glasses"

Article from Physics.org. Read HERE

Researchers will soon be studying materials samples on the ISS. The materials in question are super-hard and corrosion-resistant alloys of palladium, nickel, copper and phosphorus—also known as metallic glasses. A high-tech company from La Chaux-de-Fonds, which produces materials for the watch industry, is also involved. 

These materials have the color of white gold, but are hard like quartz glass and at the same time exhibit high elasticity. Their smooth surface is free of crystalline structures which makes the materials resistant to salts or acids. Individual pieces—for medical implants, for example—can be produced using 3D printing, while larger series—for watch cases, for example—are manufactured using injection molding. This is roughly how the material of their dreams is described by the scientists that are currently researching. They are talking about bulk metallic glass. 

The production of metallic glass is not entirely simple: Compared to window glass, the specially selected metal alloys must be cooled up to a hundred times faster so that the metal atoms do not form crystalline structures Only when the melt solidifies extremely quickly is it able to form a glass. In industry, thin sheets of metallic glass are produced by pressing the melt between rapidly rotating copper drums. Researchers sometimes cast their samples in molds made of solid copper, which dissipates heat particularly well. But larger, solid workpieces made of metallic glass are not feasible using these methods.The production of metallic glass is not entirely simple: Compared to window glass, the specially selected metal alloys must be cooled up to a hundred times faster so that the metal atoms do not form crystalline structures Only when the melt solidifies extremely quickly is it able to form a glass. In industry, thin sheets of metallic glass are produced by pressing the melt between rapidly rotating copper drums. Researchers sometimes cast their samples in molds made of solid copper, which dissipates heat particularly well. But larger, solid workpieces made of metallic glass are not feasible using these methods.

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