Scientists have designed a new type of nanomaterial with the strength of carbon steel and the lightness of styrofoam using artificial intelligence (AI) and a 3D printer. The material, created by researchers at the University of Toronto and Caltech, is stronger than existing designs and has the potential to be used in the development of lighter, more fuel-efficient components for airplanes and cars. The material’s strength is thanks to a machine learning algorithm that simulated various geometries and predicted the best shapes to evenly distribute applied stresses. The resulting nanolattices have a strength-to-weight ratio of 2.03 megapascals for every cubic meter per kilogram, five times higher than titanium. The researchers aim to scale up the materials and continue to improve their designs to create even lighter and stronger components in the future. The potential applications of this material could include reducing fuel consumption in aviation, with estimates suggesting that replacing titanium components with this new material could save up to 80 liters of fuel per year per kilogram of material replaced.
A revolutionary new material, crafted by artificial intelligence, boasts the remarkable properties of being both incredibly lightweight, like foam, and astonishingly strong, akin to steel.
