Almost a terminator. China has developed a “light liquid metal”

Such rare-crystalline materials are highly conductive and flexible, and they are significant for creating devices for wearing and soft robots.

The researchers created a mixture of gallium and indium, in which the melting point was only 15.7 centigrade. To make him swim, the team carefully added microscopic glass balls filled with air into the liquid. At the same time, oxygen combines with the liquid metal, helping tiny balls to remain in suspension.

The new substance is half lighter than water. Despite its extremely low density, the liquid metal material “still retains excellent characteristics of compatibility, electrical conductivity and stiffness when controlling temperature”, – the document says.

The material is tough enough so that it can be reused “eight times without apparent loss of functionality”, composing it like origami, or providing it with a new formу.

Researchers have also developed a number of use cases for these materials. According to the research team, lightweight liquid metal can be used in many fields, including a 3D printer, underwater electronic devices, exoskeleton systems, and soft robotics.

For example, from liquid metal that floats on water, it can make transforming robots. Thus, works similar to devices from the movie Terminator-2 can be sent to the open sea.

Source: nv.ua