New material adds chrome-like shine to cars
JAN 18, 2012
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.025822
New York Times : The chrome look is making a comeback for automobiles, writes Tudor Van Hampton for the New York Times. However, rather than actual chrome, which is expensive and heavy, manufacturers are using materials that mimic chrome. One such material has been produced by Hamlin Jennings, a cement scientist at MIT who has developed a process to coat aluminum with a thin layer of glass. The glass chemically fuses to the metal, producing the look of polished chrome and protecting the surface from scratches and oxidation. The process will probably be used mainly in luxury vehicles for trim around windows and headlights. For most purposes, a good-quality shiny plastic is just as effective and much less expensive.
© 2012 American Institute of Physics
