Material World - 22/01/2009

Quentin Cooper hears how neutrons are revealing the secrets of materials, from spider silk to Samurai swords. He goes to Oxford to find out about the latest applications of the ISIS neutron source, a state-of the-art particle accelerator which is probing materials in greater detail than is possible with any microscope. The intense beams of neutrons and particles called muons that it sends out are being used by more than 1,500 scientists, ranging from biologists to geologists. They can reveal the chemicals of life in molecular detail and the structure of materials used in electronics and nanotechnology. The ISIS is being used to identify the recipe for the silk spun by spiders, the strength and elasticity of which makes it a prime candidate for everything from flexible body armour to biomedical implants Neutrons are also helping aerospace companies tackle the challenge of cosmic radiation and its damaging effect on microchips in aeroplanes. Neutrons in the atmosphere can collide with microchips and upset microelectronic devices, a problem that is 300 times greater at high altitude. The research can identify materials that can store hydrogen safely, efficiently and cost effectively for hydrogen cars of the future. The technology is also helping scientists to discover the true origins of historical artefacts. These have included ornate pistols owned by a former US president and Japanese swords that are over a thousand years old.