Investigating Practical Duplication of Captain America's Protective Round Shield in Reality
Professor Ricardo H.R. Castro, the chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Lehigh, is making waves in the world of materials science research. His work, which has been highlighted in a Popular Science article, focuses on the scalability of materials, a crucial aspect of the field as it holds potential to impact various industries.
In his Engineering Superheroes course, launched in 2024, Professor Castro challenges students to think beyond the ordinary. They are encouraged to consider how the thermal layer they design for a small shield could protect larger structures like buildings or aircraft. This approach not only makes learning fun but also emphasises the importance of considering the implications of designs for real-world applications.
The course, which forms part of a comprehensive education story, covers the scalability of materials. Students are introduced to the challenges and opportunities that come with developing new, sustainable materials, particularly in fields such as aerospace, aviation, and electric vehicle batteries.
Professor Castro's research has also extended to the materials science behind Captain America's shield. The Popular Science article explores the fictional properties of vibranium and compares them to real-world materials. Notably, the vibranium-metal alloy shield is impenetrable to lasers, flames, and more. It also absorbs, stores, and releases kinetic energy, a property that could inspire the development of future materials.
The article also mentions that space, aviation, and electric car batteries are some of the realms that will benefit from continued research into the next generation of materials. This underscores the significance of Professor Castro's work and the need for continued research into materials that can scale up.
Meanwhile, Professor Hedan Bai, a professor for robotics materials, is also making strides in the field. She aims to develop novel materials with individually controllable properties. Her work could pave the way for materials that can be tailored to specific applications, further enhancing their scalability.
In the Engineering Superheroes course, students are given the opportunity to explore these concepts hands-on. In one experiment, they designed a small shield with a thin protective organic layer on the surface and tested it by hitting it with a flame. This practical approach not only makes learning engaging but also reinforces the principles they are learning.
The development of better and more sustainable materials that can scale up is a significant challenge in the real world. However, with professors like Professor Castro and Bai leading the way, the future of materials science looks promising. The continued research into the next generation of materials, as emphasised in the Popular Science article, will undoubtedly contribute to advancements in various industries.
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