Hungarian physicist Denes Gabor said that the future cannot be foreseen, but it can be invented. And these words fully reflect reality.
The future is in development
Surely many of you have seen the 1998 film The X-Files: Fighting for the Future. This is a fantasy film with elements of a thriller and a detective story. Today we will also talk about materials for which the future lies. They are not classified, but not much is known about them. Because the scope of their application is still small. But over time, these materials will surely be firmly entrenched in the market and will be widely used.
List of materials that we will consider today:
- Airgel.
- Transparent aluminum.
- Metal foam.
- Self-healing concrete.
- Graphene.
- Willow Glass.
- Glass roof tiles.
- Building materials from mushrooms.
And now let's dwell on each of them in more detail.
Airgel
Airgel is the material of the future that can be used very soon. Information about him was published back in 2013. Development is the brainchild of Chinese scientists. This nanomaterial is repeatedly mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records. All thanks to its unique properties.
Airgel (translated into Russian as "frozen air" or "frozen smoke") is incredibly light, because its main component is air. Translucent, with a slight bluish tint, it resembles a frozen shaving foam. It contains 99.8% of the air, which fills tiny cells that are visible only with a microscope.
Airgel is made of regular gel. But instead of the liquid component, it contains gas. At a minimum density (1000 times less than the density of the glass), it is very durable. Airgel samples can withstand a load several thousand times its weight. It is also a good heat insulator and can be used in astronautics.
Ease of use makes it virtually universal. But airgel will find the greatest application in construction, as a heat-insulating, moisture-proof reliable material.
Transparent aluminum
Technology is moving forward - and now regularly in the media there is information that scientists created transparent aluminum. This latest material, which was recently developed and produced under the brand name ILON, consists of aluminum, nitrogen and oxygen.
The main task of aluminum quartz oxynitride is to replace bulletproof glass. However, it can be used not only for this purpose. Material of the future is shock resistant. It is almost impossible to scratch. At the same time, transparent aluminum is twice as light as glass.
Today ALON began to use. Microsoft is already using metal. It is part of the smart watch case. Perhaps someday, aluminum quartz-oxynitride will be produced. But only when the price of this material falls. Deferred expenses amount to billions if its value does not become more affordable.
Metal foam
This lightweight material has the unique ability to stop a bullet in the air and turn it into dust. The composition of the foam may vary. There is no single “recipe”. For example, pass gas through molten metal. Or add powdered titanium hydride to molten aluminum.
Metal foam is an example of the evolution of materials. Now they seem to be a curiosity, but will soon become something mundane and familiar.
Due to the presence of air pockets, the foam has heat-insulating properties. She does not sink in water, is easily cut. This allows you to use it for decorative work. Moreover, it has a natural, beautiful pattern.
The material has acoustic properties, is resistant to corrosion and does not melt even when exposed to very high temperatures. Studies of its stability have already been conducted. Even at a temperature of 1482 ° C, it oxidized, but its strength and structure were preserved. Lower temperatures generally do not affect the appearance and properties of the material.
Self-healing concrete
The durability of the structure under construction during the construction of the building is always in doubt. The dishonesty of builders and low-quality materials can very quickly destroy a new building. And its restoration always requires huge financial expenses.
Dutch scientists have solved this problem. They created self-healing concrete containing live bacteria and calcium lactate. Imagine concrete patching itself! How do they work?
Bacteria, absorbing calcium lactate, produce limestone. It fills cracks and almost completely restores the integrity of concrete, which will significantly save on repairs in the future and significantly increase the duration of operation.
This concrete was created by Henk Jonkers of the Netherlands Technical University. A scientist with his team spent 3 years to make this miracle. Henk says that he chose bacteria sticks that can live for decades without water and oxygen. Bacteria are placed in special capsules. They open and “release” bacteria when water enters through the cracks. The product has already been successfully tested at the building of the rescue station, located near the lake.
This material is not yet used in the present. And the future is undoubtedly his.
Graphene
Scientists are sure that this material is the future. It is a carbon layer 1 atom thick. It is called the thinnest material in the world.
It is noteworthy that they received graphene by accident - scientists Andrei Geim and Konstantin Novoselov simply had fun. For fun, they examined pieces of adhesive tape, which is used as a substrate for graphite. Using adhesive tape, they began to peel off carbon layer by layer. And in the end, they got a perfectly even layer of carbon one atom thick. In 2010, scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for this discovery.
The properties of graphene allow us to consider it the basis of future technical developments. It is much stronger than steel, which will make gadgets of the future more resistant to confirmations. And even tens of times speed up Internet access. A similar property is likely to be appreciated by every user of social networks.
Graphene is the material of the future. An interesting fact about him was recently told by scientists. In the course of research, it was revealed that two-layer monoatomic graphene is able to become an excellent material for bulletproof vests - hard as a diamond, but flexible.
However, this material has its drawbacks. It can harm the environment and human health. Graphene contamination of surface water can make them toxic.
We continue to consider the list of incredible materials of the future.
Willow glass
This glass was provided by Corning, which is already a manufacturer of protective coatings for smartphones and tablets, called Gorilla Glass. This glass is known for shock and scratch resistance. However, manufacturers decided to go further and develop a new coating - Willow Glass.
This is glass whose thickness is comparable to the thickness of A4 paper. That is only 100 microtons. In terms of functionality, it resembles ordinary glass, and looks very similar to plastic. With one significant addition, it has flexibility. Willow Glass can be bent in different directions, without fear of losing its properties.
Perhaps in the near future this unique glass will serve as a screen for smartphones. In addition to its amazing flexibility, Willow Glass is also incredibly resistant to high temperatures - up to 500 ° C.
Alas, glass does not have the strength of Gorilla Glass and does not protect so effectively from mechanical damage.
Glass roof tiles
Glass tiles were created by the Swiss company SolTech Energy. This company was established in 2006. Her activities are aimed at developing innovations in the field of alternative energy and their accessibility to a wide range of people. Undoubtedly, this is the material of the future.
Glass roof tiles are not an absolute novelty, but company employees claim to have improved it.
The main advantages of such a coating are:
- Strength. The material is not inferior to its metal counterparts.
- Its size and shape are selected in such a way that it can be used in half with ordinary metal tiles.
- Beauty. The glass roof covering looks impressive and harmoniously combines with any building design.
The principle of its work is quite simple. The sun's rays easily pass through the glass. And then they remain on special surfaces that absorb solar energy. You can manage this energy at the discretion of the residents - use it for heating or for the mains. The greatest effect is achieved if the roof is turned south.
