3 Durable Materials That Help Make Air Travel Possible
As aircraft companies prepare to introduce hypersonic flights that can travel from London to New York in just two hours, manufacturers are developing a new jet coating that is up to the task of handling the increased speed and temperature. Researchers at the Royce Institute and the University of Manchester have partnered with the Central South University of China to develop a coating made of zirconium carbide, a compound used on drill bits. The material is reinforced with a carbon-carbon composite, a substance used in braking systems for Formula One cars. The resulting combination can protect aircraft flying at speeds up to five times the sound speed under temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Celsius. Innovations like this illustrate the scientific research required to develop materials durable enough to handle the stresses planes experience during flight. Here’s a look at three of the amazingly resistant materials that make air travel possible.