A new study out of Northwestern University is changing the way researchers look at pure metals.
Christopher Schuh, a Professor of Material Science and Engineering at Northwestern, led the study that’s now been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
“We’re talking about trying to understand the strength of metals, how strong materials are, under various and extreme conditions.”
For example, it’s been widely believed that extreme heat softens metal, helping in the forging and forming process.
“It turns out that the opposite effect can happen. You heat up a metal and you strike it very fast, it actually gets stronger when heated as compared to when it’s cold.”
Schuh says the study’s findings can be used to help improve technologies subject to extreme heat, such as planes and spacecrafts, making them far more resistant to debris.
“If you’re deforming things fast, your intuition goes out the window.”