Article: Scientists create transparent layered plastic that's as strong as steel

Report from the Asian News International brought to you by the Hindustan Times

Washington, Oct. 5 -- Composite plastic that's as strong as steel, but light and transparent at the same time is now a reality.

University of Michigan researchers have mimicked a brick and mortar molecular structure found in seashells to create such a type of plastic. It is made up of layers of clay nanosheets and a water-soluble polymer that shares chemistry with white glue.

Engineering professor Nicholas Kotov has dubbed it "plastic steel," although the new material isn't quite stretchy enough.

The researchers created this new composite plastic with a machine they developed that builds materials one nanoscale ...

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