New Material Becomes Thicker when Stretched

May-04-16 Researchers have created a material that becomes thicker when stretched, opening the door to new types of body armor or running shoes.

Developed by a team from the University of California at San Diego, the material is made from the protein RhuA. When the square-shaped proteins are connected at the corners, they form a sort of crystal sheet made of the “protein tiles.” Stretching or squishing the crystal will cause the proteins to rotate in the opposite direction (a property called auxetic), which in turn causes the thickness of the material to change.

The team believes the material could have applications in the soles of running shoes or body armor, where it would thicken in response to impact to offer extra protection.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[UCSDNEWS.UCSD.EDU]

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