Teflon Redefined
Sometimes accidents are a good thing.
A superhard substance that is more slippery than Teflon could protect mechanical parts from wear and tear, and boost energy efficiency by reducing friction.
The “ceramic alloy” is created by combining a metal alloy of boron, aluminium and magnesium (AlMgB14) with titanium boride (TiB2). It is the hardest material after diamond and cubic boron nitride.
BAM, as the material is called, was discovered at the US Department of Energy Ames Laboratory in Iowa in 199, during attempts to develop a substance to generate electricity when heated.
“BAM” may give shady politicians and gansters a new name that doesn’t sound as slick.
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I don’t like that it came via a government body, but as long as it is marketable outside of the government I’ll take it. If the properties mentioned are true it would be a boon in the market governing moving parts. Hopefully it can be made cheaply.