2D Polymer Lighter Than Plastic Yet Tougher Than Steel

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Polymers are incredible. But they do have a weakness. It is hard to turn them into a 2D material with interesting properties. Nonetheless, MIT did it and created a 2D material from melamine.


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Image by zeeshan ahmad from Pixabay

Polymers are versatile materials. Plastics and other types of polymers are truly all around us. If you take a look at a polymer under a microscope you will see a chaotic mess of fibers and monomers – one-dimensional molecules that together create the mass of the polymer.

We can do many things with polymers. But material scientists found out that it is surprisingly hard to arrange the monomers of polymers into a 2D material. While some laboratories managed to create certain 2D materials the result quickly lost its strength and other desirable properties of polymers.

Recently, experts from MIT succeeded where others failed. They developed a new ultrathin material that is as light as plastic while being tougher than steel. It could find its place in electronics, vehicles, and many other fields. The key to success was a method that made the 2D polymer keep its original toughness.

The research lead – Michael Strano and his colleagues used organic melamine as the monomer that comes with a cycle of carbon and nitrogen atoms. Under the right conditions, the melamine molecules created a 2D film that holds together.

The material was named 2DPA-1 and has incredible properties. On one hand, the polymer is extremely thin and light while being two times as tough as steel. It is also six times more durable against piercing than bullet-proof glass. And as a cherry on top, 2DPA-1 is also impenetrable for gasses and liquids. There are so many possible applications for such material.

We usually do not consider plastics as something we could use for building. But 2DPA-1’s properties destine it to be used as an advanced construction material. And the researchers are convinced that they will be able to produce it at an industrial scale.

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