KIST team creates a tougher metal

A research team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology said yesterday that it has successfully created a liquid metal that is twice as strong as steel. The team, led by professor Eric Fleury, published the results of its research in 15 international academic journals, including Applied Physics Letter and Acta Materialia. Liquid metal is seen as a next-generation development because of its irregular atom arrangement that results in an unusually strong metal. However, previously developed liquid metal could suddenly shatter into pieces when expanding the metal’s ductility. For that reason, liquid metal’s use has been limited, such as in golf clubs and mobile phone cases. KIST’s research team not only overcame that problem, but also found its liquid metal is 300 percent more elastic than previous liquid metals. The researchers said the metal could be used in various industries, including automobile, telecommunication and military equipment, in a market that could be worth 1 trillion won ($1 billion) by 2010. by Park Bang-ju, Lee Ho-jeong