Artificial intelligence has helped scientists create a new material that is as hard as steel and as light as Styrofoam
Scientists from the University of Toronto and the California Institute of Technology have used artificial intelligence to develop a new material that combines the strength of carbon steel with the lightness of polystyrene foam.
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This material was created using machine learning, which analysed many possible nanostructures and predicted new lattice geometries not previously found in nature. The researchers printed these structures on a 3D printer, producing ultralight nanolattices that were twice as strong as previously known structures and five times stronger than titanium.
The new material is not only lightweight, which can significantly reduce fuel consumption in aeroplanes, helicopters and spacecraft, but also strong enough to withstand extreme loads. Replacing titanium components in aircraft with this material could save up to 80 litres of fuel per year for every kilogram of material replaced. Scientists plan to scale production and create even stronger and lighter materials for spacecraft, high-performance vehicles and buildings.
This breakthrough demonstrates how AI is opening up new possibilities for developing the materials of the future.
Source: Advanced
