Lighter, stronger and resistant to flames. That?s what researchers at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division - China Lake want from materials that will be used to build future ships, jets and space craft.
These chemical and materials scientists start with molecules 100,000 times tinier than the width of a human hair. They end with exotic materials called composites.
Their creations are subjected to flame, crushing and other abuse. “We only make so much, so we have to test small samples,” says Eric Abernethy, a materials engineer. “Otherwise it's just too expensive and too difficult to work with.”