Organic crystal demonstrates superelasticity

(Phys.org) —Not only rubber is elastic: There is also another, completely different form of elasticity known as superelasticity. This phenomenon results from a change in crystal structure and was previously only found in ...

Plastic crystals open up possibilities for novel materials

(Phys.org) —Researchers of the Dutch FOM Foundation have discovered that plastic crystals, which constitute a special type of matter, can be made with the help of rod-shaped particles. The crystals could be used, for example, ...

New state of liquid crystals discovered

(Phys.org) —New collaborative research, carried out by Dr. Vitaly P. Panov, Research Fellow, and Jagdish K Vij, Honorary Professor of Electronic Materials of Trinity College Dublin's School of Engineering, Department of ...

A liquid crystal force to reckon with

A need for fast, solution-based processing of organic electronic devices has sparked increased interest in 'discotic' or disc-shaped liquid crystals. These molecules, which contain a flat aromatic core surrounded by hydrocarbon ...

Silicone liquid crystal stiffens with repeated compression

(Phys.org) —Squeeze a piece of silicone and it quickly returns to its original shape, as squishy as ever. But scientists at Rice University have discovered that the liquid crystal phase of silicone becomes 90 percent stiffer ...

Searching for defects in space

Topological defects in space may have developed fractions of a second after the Big Bang. Simulations of these wormlike entities and a comparison of the simulations with cosmic background radiation measurements by the Planck ...

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