They created Metal rubber

[AudiLikeA4]

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science...676853,00.html

Terrible, horrible things can be done to this millimeters-thick patch of shimmering material crafted by chemists at NanoSonic in Blacksburg, Virginia. Twist it, stretch it double, fry it to 200°C, douse it with jet fuel—the stuff survives. After the torment, it snaps like rubber back to its original shape, all the while conducting electricity like solid metal. “Any other material would lose its conductivity,” says Jennifer Hoyt Lalli, NanoSonic’s director of nanocomposites.

The abused substance is called Metal Rubber, and, according to NanoSonic, its particular properties make it unique in the world of material chemistry. As a result, the company’s small office has been flooded with calls from Fortune 500 companies and government agencies eager to test Metal Rubber’s use in everything from artificial muscles to smart clothes to shape-shifting airplane wings.

At this stage, however, NanoSonic is busy meeting the demand for its 12-inch-by-12-inch samples, which take custom-built robots up to three days to create. That’s speedy, if you consider that Metal Rubber, a product of nanotechnology, must be fabricated molecule by molecule.

The manufacturing process, called electrostatic self-assembly, starts with two buckets of water-based solutions—one filled with positively charged metallic ions, the other with oppositely charged elastic polymers. The robot dips a charged substrate (glass, for example) alternately from one bucket to the next. The dipping slowly builds up tight, organized layers of molecules, bonded firmly by opposing charges. Afterward the substrate is removed, leaving a freestanding sheet of Metal Rubber.

With investor interest booming, Metal Rubber could make its commercial debut within a year or so. Although shape-shifting aircraft wings and sensory robotic gloves are on the horizon, Metal Rubber will probably appear first in more humble, practical roles. Abuse-resistant flexible circuits and wires, for instance, could allow you to do terrible, horrible things to your portable electronics—consequence-free.

[cdub]

Coooooool, now when're they gonna get to work on flubber?

[jpsimon]

bought 200 shares of them today

[dukez]

You're going to be rich JP.

[kennious]

Um, i call bs. LINK

[JMG]

dentless doors panels!!!

[JMG]

http://www.smalltimes.com/document_d...cument_id=7894

[JMG]

http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/meta...ket-016179.php

ghey

[foofighter]

what are they listed under? I want in although it's prolly a little late in the game

[jpsimon]

na im kidding i didn't really buy any, im not sure if they are even traded.. if they aren't, and they go public at some point i will jump in on it though

[jpsimon]

pretty sure they aren't listed now... but i did find out they are gunna be working with Lockheed...


this company will be going places

[madrussian]

jpsimon... teach me to invest and be rich.

sincerely,

enjoi

[Saturnine]

Great.

We're all screwed

[jpsimon]

hahaha

[astris]

Originally posted by jpsimon
pretty sure they aren't listed now... but i did find out they are gunna be working with Lockheed...


this company will be going places

Lockheed is major. I used to work inside their facilities in San Diego. Crazy. I got to see some things that I am sure are now orbiting our solar system. Plus Lockheed Martin does government contracts so if this company teams up with them, they will see some major money.

[voodooA4]

I saw this thing on the discovery channel about 'memory metal', which is more or less the same as this...but basically, they showed a metal plate (like a body panel), slammed it a few times with a sledgehammer, then poured hot water on it...went right back to normal, couldn't even tell the difference.

I wonder what issues you'd run into with painting this kind of thing though...wouldn't the paint chip off after it flexed and went back?

[DDQ]

They're not publicly traded. If/when they are, there will be an IPO that will pretty much eliminate most people's chance on getting in on it, especially if there's strong interest. That is, unless your stock broker works for the underwriting firm, and also happens to value your account enough to allocate some shares to you (read: you trade millions through him).

I'm in the investment biz.

[kennious]

Memory metal is common... we had some in my AP chem class. it was a wire shaped into a word, and you could bend it really easily. As soon as you put it in a hot water bath, it returned to its original shape

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by Saturnine
Great.

We're all screwed

That was the first thing that popped into my head as well...

[Ryan S.]

Originally posted by DDQ
They're not publicly traded. If/when they are, there will be an IPO that will pretty much eliminate most people's chance on getting in on it, especially if there's strong interest. That is, unless your stock broker works for the underwriting firm, and also happens to value your account enough to allocate some shares to you (read: you trade millions through him).

I'm in the investment biz.

any interest in buffett?

[DDQ]

Originally posted by Frank S.
any interest in buffett?

No, not really. I've read a few of his books. The way he himself invests is not practical for most of individuals. Although he's got one helluva track record.