Scientists from McGill University develop stronger and tougher glass, inspired by the inner layer of mollusk shells. Instead of shattering upon impact, the new material has the resiliency of plastic and could be used to improve cell phone screens in the future, among other applications.

Classified as: glass, seashells, mollusk, strongest, toughest, unbreakable, Allen Ehrlicher, Ali Amini
Published on: 28 Sep 2021

Normally when you drop a drinking glass on the floor it shatters. But, in future, thanks to a technique developed in McGill’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, when the same thing happens the glass is likely to simply bend and become slightly deformed. That’s because Prof. François Barthelat and his team have successfully taken inspiration from the mechanics of natural structures like seashells in order to significantly increase the toughness of glass.

Classified as: mechanical engineering, NSERC, CFI, Barthelat, glass
Category:
Published on: 29 Jan 2014
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