NASA’s help in the creation of ultra-strong alloys known as “metallic glass” has had a dramatic effect on the way some sports equipment and other components are manufactured. With twice the strength-to-weight ratio of titanium but the behavior of a plastic, these new alloys are resilient, wear- and corrosion-resistant, and easy to cast and mold. They've been used in sports equipment, electronics, smartphone cases, watches, coatings for industrial machinery and equipment, and more.
NASA researchers worked for decades to create metal alloys with amorphous structures, meaning the molecules would be arranged randomly, as they are in plastic or glass, rather than in the crystalline lattice of solid metals. A project between NASA, the California Institute of Technology, and the Department of Energy resulted in the first such materials that could be produced in bulk, and NASA continues to work on such materials today.
Learn more about how NASA helped develop technology that impacts liquid metal within your home's bedroom environment!