Check Out Wires That can be Stretched up to 8X Original Length While Functioning

By: Ali Raza  |   December 26th, 2012   |   News

Every now and then we get to see or hear about new technologies which engineers and scientists develop for the betterment of humankind. Although the latest technology that we are going to discuss in this piece of writing already exists, but with their hard work and innovative idea researchers at North Carolina State University have made it better than ever before.

 

This latest invention by the researchers of North Carolina State University is of conductive wires that are hard to break or tear. As the outer layer these wires are made up of elastic polymer that has a filling of liquid metal alloy of indium and gallium, which makes it an ideal conductor for the efficient flow of electricity.

 

Apart from proficiently conducting electricity these latest wires are also pretty elastic due the material used in their making. It is because of this very reason these conductive wires are less susceptible. Therefore, consumers can also stretch them while they are functioning to eight times of their original length.

 

Due to these fine features the latest conductive wires would remain perfect to be used for phone chargers, electronic textiles or headphones. Explaining this stretchable wire, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Bio-molecular Engineering, Dr. Michael Dickey said that, “Previous efforts to create stretchable wires focus on embedding metals or other electrical conductors in elastic polymers, but that creates a trade-off.

 

Increasing the amount of metal improves the conductivity of the composite, but diminishes its elasticity. Our approach keeps the materials separate, so you have maximum conductivity without impairing elasticity. In short, our wires are orders of magnitude more stretchable than the most conductive wires, and at least an order of magnitude more conductive than the most stretchable wires currently in the literature.”

 

Source: PSFK