http://www.sciencerocksmyworld.com/this-star-trek-substance-just-became-real/
It's a special artificial version of the spinel we find when looking for sapphires, which is an oxide of magnesium and aluminum.
Imagine a glass window thats tough like armor, a camera lens that doesnt get scratched in a sand storm, or a smart phone that doesnt break when dropped. Except its not glass, its a special ceramic called spinel {spin-ELL} that the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has been researching over the last 10 years.
Spinel is actually a mineral, its magnesium aluminate, says Dr. Jas Sanghera, who leads the research. The advantage is its so much tougher, stronger, harder than glass. It provides better protection in more hostile environmentsso it can withstand sand and rain erosion. As a more durable material, a thinner layer of spinel can give better performance than glass. For weight-sensitive platforms-UAVs [unmanned autonomous vehicles], head-mounted face shieldsits a game-changing technology.
It's a special artificial version of the spinel we find when looking for sapphires, which is an oxide of magnesium and aluminum.
Imagine a glass window thats tough like armor, a camera lens that doesnt get scratched in a sand storm, or a smart phone that doesnt break when dropped. Except its not glass, its a special ceramic called spinel {spin-ELL} that the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has been researching over the last 10 years.
Spinel is actually a mineral, its magnesium aluminate, says Dr. Jas Sanghera, who leads the research. The advantage is its so much tougher, stronger, harder than glass. It provides better protection in more hostile environmentsso it can withstand sand and rain erosion. As a more durable material, a thinner layer of spinel can give better performance than glass. For weight-sensitive platforms-UAVs [unmanned autonomous vehicles], head-mounted face shieldsits a game-changing technology.
