Scientists Unveil New Micro-Chain Mail
Engineers Jonathan Engel and Chang Liu from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign announced their new textile marvel -- microscopic chain mail. This new breakthrough could be used to make "smart" clothing..
The manufacturing process borrows from the same techniques used to make microchips. And it truly is chain mail, as it is made from microscopic metal links. Possible eventual uses might be clothing that has "sensing" capabilities. Giving sensors a boost is the fact that it easily conducts electricity.
The tensile strength of this new "fabric" is similar to that of nylon, and it is flexible, allowing it to assume many shapes and curves. When stretched beyond its static length it will lengthen to one-third larger.