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Abalone Shell

Abalone shell makes scientists look silly. For years they have been baffled as to how they can possibly reproduce the same kind of structure as that which occurs in abalone shell and produce the same level of resistance to impact. They have all failed. Engineers have retired and settled down in their vacation homes in Martha’s Vineyard continuing to wonder what makes the abalone shell tick. Until now.

True, scientists have indeed figured out how the abalone shell is structured, but until recently no one had produced a material based on the molecular structure of the abalone shell that was as tough and impact resistant. By combining alternating layers of aluminum and titanium alloy and heating them to 700 degrees, one scientist has created a material he is calling a ‘metallic intermetallic laminate’ which when tested was able to retain its’ structural continuity after having a tungsten alloy rod fired into a 2cm thick sheet of it at 2,000 mph. The rod penetrated about halfway through. Abalone shell tough no, but pretty darn tough, and lightweight, too!