Game-Changing Steel: Twisting Technique Creates Submicron 'Anti-Crash Wall'

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a novel twisting technique that dramatically enhances the fatigue resistance of stainless steel. By creating a submicron-scale, three-dimensional 'anti-crash wall' within 304 austenitic stainless steel, the technique significantly improves strength and reduces cyclic creep. Tests showed a 2.6-fold increase in strength and a 2-4 order of magnitude reduction in strain due to ratcheting, resulting in up to a 10,000-fold improvement in fatigue resistance. This breakthrough has potential applications in aerospace and other demanding industries.