A team from the Polytechnic Institute of Montreal recently demonstrated that fabrics designed using rapid prototyping manufacturing technology can absorb up to 96% of impact energy—making the screen completely unbreakable. Cell Reports Physical Science magazine recently published an article detailing this innovation, paving the way for the creation of unbreakable plastic coverings.
The concepts and supporting research revealed in the article are relatively simple. Professors Frédérick Gosselin and Daniel Therriault from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Montreal Polytechnic Institute, as well as doctoral student Shibo Zou, wanted to prove how to integrate plastic mesh into glass to prevent it from breaking during impact.
This seems to be a very simple concept, but further thinking will reveal that this plastic net is not simple.
The researcher’s design was inspired by spider webs and their amazing properties. Professor Gosselin explained: "The spider web can resist the impact of insects colliding with it. This is because the spider web can deform at the molecular level through sacrificial connections within the silk protein itself. Our method is affected by this property. Inspired."
Realize bionics through 3D printing
The researchers used polycarbonate to achieve their results. When heated, the polycarbonate becomes sticky like honey. Professor Gosselin’s team used a 3D printer to "weave" a series of fibers with a thickness of less than 2 mm using this feature, and then repeat the process before the entire mesh solidifies to print a series of new vertical, fast-moving fibers. .
It turns out that the magic is in the process itself-this is where the final product acquires its key characteristics.
When it is slowly extruded by a 3D printer to form fibers, the molten plastic will form a circle, eventually forming a series of rings. "Once hardened, these loops will become sacrificial links, giving extra strength to the fiber. When an impact occurs, these sacrificial links will absorb energy and break to maintain the overall integrity of the fiber-similar to silk protein. "Researcher Gosselin explained.
In an article published in 2015, Professor Gosselin's team demonstrated the manufacturing principles of these fibers. The latest Cell Reports Physical Science article reveals the behavior of these fibers when they are interwoven into a network.
The lead author of the study, Shibo Zou, used this article to illustrate how such a net behaves when the material is inside the protective screen. After embedding a series of meshes into a transparent resin plate, he conducted an impact test. As a result, the plastic wafer dispersed up to 96% of the impact energy without breaking. They did not crack, but deformed in some places, maintaining the overall integrity of the silicon wafer.
According to Professor Gosselin, this nature-inspired innovation may produce a new type of bulletproof glass, or produce a more durable plastic to protect the smartphone screen. "It can also be used in the aviation field as a protective coating for aircraft engines." Professor Gosselin pointed out. At the same time, he certainly intends to explore the possibilities of this method.