Jan_AMP_Digital

8 / 78

A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6
8 METALS | POLYMERS | CERAMICS
superior ballistic performance in addi-
tion to flame retardancy, dynamic de-
flection, and structural requirements in
a lightweight package.
The LASA helmet series includes
two styles—the full-cut AC914 helmet
for combat operations and the high-
cut AC915 assault helmet for special
operations, which allows greater situa-
tional awareness. The material, which
provides ballistic protection, is one
component of the ultra-lightweight hy-
brid composite that allowed Morgan’s
developers to reduce areal density of
the helmet shell by 30%. As a result, the
full-cut design weighs only 1.2 kg, while
the high-cut model weighs just over
1 kg. This lightweight design offsets the
burden of attachments such as night
vision goggles and increases comfort
and freedom of movement.
, .
Meteoroid image. Courtesy of NASA, ESA, M.A. Garlick ), University of
Warwick, and University of Cambridge.
METEORITE MAGNET IS
RARE-EARTH FREE
Researchers from Tohoku Univer-
sity, Japan, have succeeded in produc-
ing a completely rare-earth free, high-
quality FeNi magnet. Since the 1960s,
it has been widely known that small
amounts of FeNi magnets are included in
natural meteorites (in an extreme equi-
librium state) formed during a cooling
ELIX Polymers, Spain, created a
natural fiber reinforced acryloni-
trile butadiene styrene (ABS)—ELIX
ECO ABS-NF thermoplastic. Com-
pany sources say it is well suited
for injection molding applications
and specific extrusion processes,
delivering an aesthetic value to
final parts. The material can be pro-
cessed without having to modify
machines and offers a number of
key benefits including high stiff-
ness, heat resistance, low molding
shrinkage ratios, low emissions,
and weight reduction compared
to glass fiber reinforced ABS.
BRIEFS
A new study by researchers at Texas A&M University, College Station,
and Los Alamos National Laboratory, N.M., has led to a new principle to
control the macroscopic thermal expansion response of bulk materials,
including obtaining zero thermal expansion metals. The key to obtaining
a tailored thermal expansion coefficient is the alignment of the alloy’s
atoms to harness the natural thermal expansion and contraction at the
atomic level. ,
Morgan’s LASA AC914 helmet with Dynee-
ma Force Multiplier Technology. Courtesy
of Morgan Advanced Materials.
period of billions of years. Until recently,
it was impossible to produce the mag-
nets artificially in a short time due to the
extremely slowdiffusion rate of elements
around the formation temperature. Now,
the team reports producing the magnet
by using high atomic diffusivity at low
temperatures, when crystallizing from
the amorphous state. The effect is like
travelling in a time machine—the time
scale for magnet formation is reduced
from billions of years to just a couple of
days.
LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC
HELMET PROTECTS SOLDIERS
DSM Dyneema, the Netherlands,
recently collaborated with Morgan
Advanced Materials, UK, to develop a
major application for Dyneema Force
Multiplier Technology in combat hel-
mets. LASA helmets reportedly feature