#interfaces

How plastics grip metals at the atomic scale: Molecular insights pave way for better transportation materials

What makes some plastics stick to metal without any glue? Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have peered into the invisible adhesive zone that forms between certain plastics and metals—one atom at a time—to uncover how chemistry and molecular structure determine whether such bonds bend or break. Their insights clarify metal–plastic bonding mechanisms and offer guidelines for designing durable, lightweight, and more sustainable hybrid materials for use in transportation. Combining the strength of metal with the lightness and flexibility of plastic, polymer–metal hybrid structures are emerging as key elements for building lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. The technology relies on bonding metals with plastics directly, without adhesives. The success of these hybrids, however, hinges on how well the two materials stick together.

There's a certain amount of people who went study engineering because of Iron Man movies, but there's also quite a lot of folks who turned into VFX, design and animation after seeing those mind-blowing interfaces. I guess, almost every motion designer had an "Iron Man alike HUD/FUI" project on their hard drive at some point. I mean, I had one too :D

So if you're into Iron Man, film making and design - that's a solid recommendation for reading. There's the link: