Scientists have discovered why blades have such a small shelf life.
In our daily lives is the mass of illogical and very strange situations. Take, for example, shaving and cutting the hair. The hair on our head and facial hair is much softer than steel blades, which we cut and shave. But, after several approaches, the blades quickly become dull and they become impossible to use. Scientists have long been aware of this problem and probably often encountered it in my life. On this basis, they decided to find out what exactly is rapid wear of the blades and is it possible somehow to increase their shelf life. In the study, they used a robot who had their hair shaved off from different angles. This whole process was filmed on camera electron microscope and of itself was a very interesting spectacle. This rather simple sounding experiment was enough to identify the causes of wear of the blades from impact soft hair. Perhaps soon razors and scissors will be more durable.
On the conducted research work was described in science . According to Professor Casana CEM (Cem Ţāsān) of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, and his colleagues are very interested in how and what wear metals. The story of the interaction of the steel blades with a soft hair full of mysteries. After all, it would seem that the metal should deform only by friction with hard materials. A human hair consists of soft keratin protein and, in fact, should not affect the structure of the blades so much. Perhaps, to all men and women without exception familiar with the situation when absolutely new razor ceased to do its job in a couple of days of use. But razors are not cheap.
Animation of how the blade cuts the hair,
In the first part of the scientific work the researchers used an electron microscope to identify the differences between new and used blades. It turned out that after the interaction of the blades with human hair, their cutting edges are formed by notches and cracks. With each subsequent use of razors and their number and depth increase. On this basis, it became clear that the blades become blunt due to irregularities. But why they arise, scientists are still not clear. Therefore, they proceeded to the second part of the study.
To identify the reasons of occurrence of chipping and cracks on the blades, it took scientists a robot. He had their hair shaved off with a razor at different angles and the whole process was filmed on video by using the electron microscope. Experience has shown that when the robot is shaved the hair is not at a right angle, the blades received substantial damage. And all because human hair is covered with many scales and are not perpendicular to the shaving blade fell between them. While the load on the cutting edge of the blade increased and she had cracked.
the Moment of formation of cracks.
According to the researchers, the main disadvantage of modern blades is that they are heterogeneous. If they were made from, say, a single piece of steel was perfectly smooth, they would have served much more time. A group of researchers hopes that their discovery will help manufacturers of razors to increase the shelf life of their products. But whether it is necessary for companies? The faster it breaks down technique, the more there is a chance that people will come for new purchase. On this subject there is a huge conspiracy theory, which is sometimes true. You probably already read the news that with the release of a new model of any smartphone, the old one started to work slower. It is believed that companies such as Apple, especially at the hardware level, so people quickly ran to the shops for novelty.
Actually, scientists have yet to do a huge amount of work. There are many materials with amazing properties, which have no scientific explanation. For example, a light much stronger than steel and it can be comfortable to wear bullet-proof vests. And the glue, which is produced in organisms, certain molluscs, and suitable for use under water than can not boast of ordinary adhesives. What exactly is due to these amazing properties, yet no one understood, but the scientific work is already underway.
