Metal alloy produced in the laboratory is 5 times stronger than steel

A alloy created in the lab hardest material in the world5 times more durable than the best steels. called discovery CrConiIt’s made from an equal mix of chromium, cobalt and nickel elements, so it’s quite soft and impressively strong.

Unlike other known materials, CrCoNi more durable due to exposure to low temperatures🇧🇷 His microscopic observation reveals that he is. grainythis gives it high ductility when stretched – the degree of deformation it can withstand until its structure breaks.

The hardness offered by the material was tested with various techniques such as neutron diffraction, electron backscattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Images show no significant tearing even when stretched. Such unexpected behavior is due to the combination with other microstructures that prevent the formation and propagation of cracks.

The study was published in the journal ScienceIt is the result of years of work by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of Berkeley (USA) in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory at the US Department of Energy.

While the discovery is very promising, its real-world application is still far from being realized. Because it is a new, little-known, and difficult-to-use material, derivatives take years or even decades to come into use.

Also, the whole process involves high costs, as alloys are made from elements that are relatively rare on the market. This is because cobalt and nickel are generally more targeted to the battery industry, so one possible way out would be to find other materials that are more abundant and cheaper but with similar properties.

However, the properties of CrCoNi raise the potential for use in a variety of cryogenic applications. Business leaders believe the alloy can be used in extreme cold environments where today’s standard materials limit some activities.

The most likely scenario proposed is the production of CrCoNi-containing parts for deep space exploration, where planets and other bodies are farther from the Sun, where temperatures are much lower.