This Material Is BulletProof And Can Be 3D-Printed

3D printing has long been associated with fragile objects that cannot withstand wear and tear. It is not the case anymore as experts at Rice University have found a way to 3D-print an intricate pattern of plastic that is as hard as diamond.

To the eyes, the zigzag and crisscrossing patterns look randomly placed, but in reality, they are the result of careful calculations. The incredible strength is impressive enough already, but the patterns can be tweaked and tuned to have other properties too.

The idea inspiring the patterns is from the tubulances, the microscopic structures created by carbon nanotubes that are crosslinked. The tubulances are predicted to enable the creation of lightweight yet durable material. However, before this experiment, the design for them had never been materialized due to the logistics hardship of manufacturing carbon nanotubes.

The experts tested the durability of the technology by blasting a cube made by tubulane structure and another by solid polymer by a projectile traveling as fast as 5.8 km/h. While the latter showed a dent and cracks, the former’s second layer managed to stop the projectile, keeping the rest of the cube intact.

The former’s complex polymer lattice was able to collapse and compress so that the kinetic energy is absorbed and the damage is contained, resulting in only a small area is affected.

This finding can benefit fields that rely on durable and lightweight material, including architecture, military, and aerospace. Objects that have to be manufactured from ceramics or metals can be made with cheaper polymers now, thanks to the study.

However, we may have to wait for some more time before the first practical application of this material makes it to reality.