Unbreakable Glass Strong Like Steel

Japanese scientists claim that they created a glass which is as strong as steel.

Japanese scientists claim that they created a glass which is as strong as steel.

The new unbreakable glass could be used to glass in buildings and vehicles, but also it could be used in electronics screens, such as tablets, smartphones and computers.

This breakthrough material is a result of the research team from the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science.

"We will establish a way to mass-produce the new material shortly," Atsunobu Masuno, an assistant professor at the University, told The Asahi Shimbun. "We are looking to commercialise the technique within five years."

The secret component for the production of this glass is aluminum oxide (or alumina). The mixing with Silicon dioxide makes the glass extremely strong.

The problem is that the use of large amounts of alumina in the past caused the crystallization of the mixture when produced in a container.

The solution that was found was the removal of the container: the scientists used an aerodynamic levitation furnace where ingredients were released into the air. The result was the production of a glass containing 50% alumina competing in rigidity and elasticity of steel and iron.

The alumina glass is thin, lightweight, and excellent optically. The only thing which is missing is to be produced on a large scale and marketed.