Next-gen smartphones might get indestructible displays

Apr 29, 2015 09:20 GMT  ·  By

Every time a new flagship smartphone gets released into the wild, a bunch of endurance tests are performed on it, which usually involve dropping the handsets on hard surfaces and see if the display comes out unharmed.

Well, in the near future, we might not have to worry about things as trivial as this. That’s because a new invention might end up revolutionizing the smartphone and tablet industry by bringing into the picture a bulletproof glass that just doesn't crack or shatter.

The technology is the result of a ten-year research effort by the US Navy, which finally produced a transparent material stronger than bulletproof glass. The setup is being called “Spinel” and uses a synthetic powder clay to make the material translucent just like glass, as reported by IB Times.

Spinel might make your smartphone indestructible

Basically, Spinel is a mineral called magnesium aluminate, and its advantage is that it can be molded virtually into any shape you might dream of.

Unlike traditional bulletproof glass, Spinel does not block the infrared wavelength of light. This means that the material is suited for use in things such as camera lenses and smartphone screens.

The researchers dedicating their time to the project developed a new technique for making transparent Spinel, which is called “sintering.” Interestingly enough, this technique is usually applied in 3D printing when a layer of crystal particles are pressed together.

The process is quite different from how normal glass is made, so if a device utilizing a Spinel display falls on a tough surface, the screen will only chip, as the crack is absconded by the hard crystals residing in the material.

For the time being, the implementation of this technology into smartphones has only been discussed at a theoretical level, so don’t expect to see smartphones and tablets taking advantage of Spinel arrive on the market too soon.

Initially, Spinel will be implemented in the military environment, more precisely on camera lenses for drones, armor of vehicles, and satellites. But eventually, we might end up seeing the technology making it out into the consumer market as well.

Spinel might revolutionize smartphones (2 Images)

A piece of super tough Spinel glass
The hot press used to create Spinel
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