New structures 'tougher than Kevlar'

Developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas, these structures are said to absorb up to 98 joules per gram whilst Kevlar, a common material in bulletproof vests, can absorb up to 80 joules per gram. The University claims also that the material can reinforce itself at points of high stress and could potentially be used in military aircraft or other defence applications.

In a study published by ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, researchers twisted nanofibre into yarns and coils. The electricity generated by stretching the twisted nanofibre formed an attraction 10 times stronger than a hydrogen bond, which is considered one of the strongest forces formed between molecules.

Researchers sought to mimic their earlier work on the piezoelectric action of collagen fibres found inside bone in hopes of creating high-performance materials that can reinforce itself, said Dr Majid Minary, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering in UT Dallas’ Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and senior author of the study.