Nanoscale metallic glue could replace welding and soldering

[hhfarang]

"Researchers at Northeastern University have developed a new method for welding and soldering that does not require heat. The glue-like compound called MesoGlue bonds metals together at room temperature with minimal pressure needed to initiate a bond. “It’s like welding or sol­dering but without the heat,” says Hanchen Huang, pro­fessor and chair of Northeastern’s department of mechanical and industrial engineering. ..."

https://news.yahoo.com/groundbreaking-m ... 12023.html

[brianks]

Great to read about this stuff but the real question is WHERE CAN I GET THE STUFF?

[Bristolian]

^^ it's not available yet. They are now working to develop a special material for the container as no one can currently open the lid or open the door of the lab.

[pharvey]

^ Interesting stuff - would love to know the strength of bond that can be achieved.... and how exactly you'd analyse it. Would this be suitable for "heavy metal" engineering?

Some years back, the company I was previously with changed the design of their tanks (Clarifier/Thickener/Settlement) to bolted sections rather than welded - simply due to the extortionate cost of welding on site in places like Australia. Safety regulations ("hot work", permits etc.) were the main cause - simple on site bolting was far easier, however you had to be accurate with the fabrication!!

[Bristolian]

If the report is accurate the bond would be at molecular level and the strength equal to the strength of the weakest parent metal in the bond.

In the most common heavy engineering case this is usually steel to steel. Whilst welding is often claimed to be stronger than the components it joins, this is in the case of relatively thin section tubes or structural sections. The ability to assemble components with this " "adhesive" , perhaps from metallic 3D printers opens a whole new series of door opportunities.

[VincentD]

Welding as per se requires both the parent metal and the filler to be melted. Soldering (and brazing) only require that the filler melts, not the parent metal.
Reading between the lines, I surmise that for this to bond at a 'molecular' level, the parts would need to be in intimate contact between the joining surfaces for this to work.
Joint inspection would be a bit of a bugger and doubt if it could be applied to pressure vessels?

[georgy]

A few years ago another northeast university claimed that they found a medicament against SARS or another serious disease. never heard of that again...