Tougher Heat-Resistant Plastics

Scientists have patented a method of mixing plastic with silica tocreate a material three to four times tougher than the plastic alone.

Plastic engine parts would mean lighter, more fuel-efficientcars and airplanes, but today's heat-resistant plastics aren't toughenough, they shatter at the smallest impact, said John Lannutti,associate professor of materials science and engineering at Ohio State.

The new composite material is tougher than plastic alonebecause it divides the force of an impact into many small interactionsinvolving millions of individual silica particles.

Source: sciencedaily.comAdded: 21 September 2005