Rapid Fire
Unusual Materials
- 28 Feb 2025
- 2 min read
- Gallium (Ga): It is a non-radioactive metal that melts near room temperature (similar to Cesium, Rubidium, and Mercury).
- It exhibits the rare property of being denser as a liquid than as a solid, like Silicon, Germanium, Bismuth, and Plutonium.
- Aerogel: Aerogel is an extremely light solid, composed mostly of air (over 99% by volume).
- It is made by removing the liquid component of a gel through supercritical drying, preserving its porous structure.
- Concrete: Concrete is the second most used material after water. While strong in compression, it has low tensile strength, making it susceptible to cracking.
- Scientists have explored self-healing concrete using bacteria which uses Bacillus species to produce calcium carbonate upon water exposure, sealing cracks and enhancing durability.
- Aluminium Oxynitride (ALON): ALON is a transparent ceramic compound made of aluminum, oxygen, and nitrogen. It is extremely durable and has been tested to resist armor-piercing bullets.
- Tin (Sn): Stanene (Sn) is a one-atom-thick layer of tin atoms with a honeycomb structure, similar to graphene.
- It is expected to be a topological insulator, conducting electricity along its edges with minimal energy loss, while its interior remains insulting.
| Read More: Moiré Materials and Superconductivity |
