Technique Creates Transparent Polythene Films as Strong as Aluminum

Scientists replacing heavy and often brittle glasses with a transparent plastic previously used conventional transparent plastics like polycarbonate (PC) and poly(methylmethacrylate)(PMMA), both of which possess relatively unsatisfactory mechanical performance compared to an engineering material like aluminum. Current methods of creating high-strength plastic films such as hot-drawing of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) can lead to materials that can compete or even outperform traditional engineering materials like metals.