The researchers from Tata Steel Nederland and the ‘Institute of Physics’ at the University of Amsterdam demonstrated the superior shock absorption of their metamaterial designs through numerous crash tests. For this purpose, the three-story industrial drop tower at Tata Steel was used. Dr. ir. Bernard Ennis, a researcher at Tata Steel Nederland, stated, "We can now confidently state that the newly developed metamaterials act as unique shock absorbers. The next step is to use an AI model to distribute the load more evenly. This way we can, for example, manufacture the casing of car batteries in such a way that the battery remains undamaged in a collision because the forces are diverted away from the battery. But this is just the beginning. With the use of these newly developed metamaterials, many life-saving applications are possible, such as using them for guardrails or making buildings earthquake-resistant."

What are metamaterials?

Metamaterials are materials whose structure has been altered, giving them different material properties than they naturally have. A straightforward example is steel. Steel is typically rigid or flexible. By changing the structure of steel, it acquires different steel properties, and its flexibility can be influenced as desired. The steel becomes, so to speak, 'smart, intelligent.' The researchers from Tata Steel Nederland and the University of Amsterdam have developed a new metamaterial together that can efficiently and repeatedly absorb shocks. Furthermore, this metamaterial can absorb more force with a smaller volume, making it lighter and therefore more sustainable.

New startup: 'Metamaterial Works'

The research will continue in the startup 'Metamaterial Works', focusing on further developing the new patented technique. Bernard Ennis will become the CEO of this startup, which aims to further develop the acquired knowledge for many more high-tech applications. Co-researcher and co-founder Wenfeng Liu stated, "Future applications range from cars and aerospace vehicles on the meter scale to microscopes and nanolithography on the micrometer scale."

Publication in Nature

The research results have been published in the prestigious scientific journal 'Nature'. Wenfeng Liu, Shahram Janbaz, David Dykstra, Bernard Ennis, and Corentin Coulais, "Harnessing plasticity in sequential metamaterials for ideal shock absorption," Nature 634, 842–847 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08037-0