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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 | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0 9 increase proportionately to the amount of energy applied, making the material even harder the faster the tool spins. Proteus is effective against angle grinders, drills, other conventional cut- ting tools and even high-pressure water jet cutters. The researchers see possible applications in the safety and security industries. For example, armored vehi- cles could be stronger and lighter and locks could prove impenetrable by cut- ting tools. The material could also be used to make protective equipment for personnel who use cutting tools. www. dur.ac.uk . MAKING COMPOSITES FROM NEW RAW MATERIALS Materials scientists from the Na- tional University of Science and Tech- nology (NUST MISIS), Moscow, devel- oped a novel method to produce alumi- num matrix composites from new raw materials—leading to promising com- posite powders for 3D printing of light, durable cases for aircraft and automo- tive engineering. The new technique increases the uniformity of properties and hardness of the obtained 3D-print- ed composites by 40% in comparison with analogs. Aluminum matrix composites are lightweight, have high strength low thermal expansion coefficient, and ex- cellent wear resistance, with applica- tions in the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. Their properties are due in part to a special method of production—3D printing using selective laser melting (SLM) technology. The re- sulting composite consists of spherical aluminum particles hardened with ce- ramic additives or coated with a layer of aluminum oxide. An advantage of this method is the high activity of the powder particles and uniformity of their properties, which cannot be achieved using alternative methods, like introducing ceramic fill- ers into molten aluminum. www.en. misis.ru . Alexander Gromov, professor at NUST MISIS, heads up the aluminum project. Courtesy of Sergey Gnuskov/NUST MISIS.