Interesting materials?

Question

Does any one know of any materials with interesting properties? I was set an assignment about materials and their used. My friend did a presentation about liquid armor. I'm looking for strange materials with strange properties that have interesting uses, can anyone help?

Answer 1

inconel 901, refractaloy - both are used in high temp applications like steam turbines (that generate electricity)

"Refractaloy 26 is a superalloy developed and used by Westinghouse (W) for gas and steam turbine bolting. It was commonly used thru the 1960’s and 1970's by W. The typical operating temperature range for this alloy is 1050 deg F up to 1250 deg F. It is a nickel-base alloy that is solution treated at 1950 deg F, oil quenched and aged at 1500 deg F for 4 hours."

source: http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=117142&page=4

It may sound like old hat, but we still use it, most power plants are running on 30 yr old technology just fine. Besides, once you know where you came from, you'll have a better understanding of where you can go.

Answer 2

Fullerene, which is one of the allotropes of carbon is an interesting material. It has plenty of uses... I studied one of them months ago. It has been used to produce carbon nanotubes, which are long tubes with such a small diameter, unique electrical properties and great strength. They've been used in nanotechnology, opticals, etc...

You can find lots in information about this on the net.

Answer 3

nitenol wire is neat, called 'muscle wire' when a current is passed through it the wire contracts, when it cools it returns to the original length. jamico.com

Answer 4

You might try nanoparticulate matter.

Or silicone.

Or carbon fiber.

Or "memory" metals (they remember their shape after being distorted).

Or metallic glass (it's really metal...I don't know why they call it "glass").