Development of Elastic Metal™, a metallic material with the characteristics of rubber

Development of Elastic MetalTM, a metallic material with the characteristics of rubber

What is Elastic Metal™, a metal with the characteristics of rubber?

Elastic Metal is the trademark for a technology and material invented by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. We enabled the surface of a metallic material to have the characteristics of rubber while retaining the heat resistance of metal.

Background technology and issues – The trade-off between the characteristics of metal and rubber

So far, industrial materials had been generally classified as organic materials which include rubber, inorganic materials such as ceramics and metallic materials. These materials have been appropriately selected or combined for use according to the characteristics that are required for the specific purpose.
However, using these materials constantly involves trade-offs between the characteristics of the selected materials because of the great impact of the unique characteristics of each material.

Solution to the issue – Leveraging the flexibility and adhesiveness of special microscopic shapes

Inspired by biomimetics, we successfully created microstructure on the surface of metals to give them the characteristics of rubber, such as flexibility and adhesiveness using the surface enhancement technology being developed by the Central Research Institute.

Functions of Elastic Metal

Anticipated application of Elastic Metal

It has been pointed out that while rubber based on organic materials is flexible and adhesive, it has limitations such as restrictions on its use at high temperatures and contamination by residues. On the other hand, the flexibility and adhesiveness of metallic materials is inferior, but they have excellent heat and contamination resistance.
Elastic Metal can address this trade-off, achieving both the heat resistance and contamination resistance that organic materials lack and the flexibility and adhesiveness that metallic materials lack.

Surface enhancement technologies (biomimetics)

Explanation

Biomimetics

Biomimetics is an area of technology that has been drawing attention recently. It tries to mimic and effectively utilize many different historical products, such as body shapes, colors, functions, and behaviors of creatures that evolved over millions of years.

The adhesion of the feet of geckos

The adhesion of the feet of geckos is one example of biomimetics. In 2000, a research group led by UC Berkeley elucidated the mechanism used by geckos to rapidly climb up vertical walls. The gecko's foot has as many as 600,000 very fine stiff hairs. The geckos can attach and detach their feet leveraging Van der Waals force, the intermolecular force, which is exerted by the stiff hairs.

Applied in-house technologies

Metallic material technology

We commenced the Metals Business when we acquired Yoshioka Mine in 1873. Metallic materials including copper are indispensable in many industries. We have supported the development of the industries and society of Japan for over a century. Today, we supply our products to overseas clients.
Additionally, we are actively working to effectively use resources, having established a system for recovering and recycling valuable metals such as gold and silver from the e-waste that is occasionally called an urban mine.

Microstructure technologies

Demand for minute three-dimensional components has grown in recent years in fields such as electronics which includes semiconductors, micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS), and micromachines, optical communications, medical care, minute molds and various nozzle holes to increase the functionality and accuracy of products. To meet these needs, we provide processing tools, thin film formers and others products leveraging minute shape technologies using etching and laser technologies.

Under our corporate philosophy, "For People, Society and the Earth," we at the Mitsubishi Materials Group have set a vision - "We will become the leading business group committed to creating a sustainable world through materials innovation, with use of our unique and distinctive technologies, for People, Society and the Earth." We will continue to supply unique materials and contribute to building a prosperous society by providing the optimal solutions suited to the customer's needs.

Contact

Monozukuri R&D Strategy Div. New Business Promotion Dept.

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