Scientists Develop Ultra-Strong, Flexible Polymer Inspired by Chainmail

The breakthrough material, featuring unprecedented mechanical bond density, shows potential for lightweight armor and advanced composites.

Researchers at Northwestern University created the first two-dimensional polymer with mechanically interlocked molecules, likened to nanoscale chainmail.
The material boasts 100 trillion mechanical bonds per square centimeter, the highest density of such bonds ever achieved.
A scalable production process enabled the creation of over half a kilogram of the polymer, marking a significant step toward practical applications.
Adding just 2.5% of the new polymer to Ultem, a Kevlar-like material, increased its tensile modulus by 45%, showcasing potential for stronger and lighter body armor.
The study honors Nobel laureate Sir Fraser Stoddart, whose pioneering work on mechanical bonds laid the foundation for this innovation.