The unintuitive properties of LC AuxeTec’s materials mean they thicken when stretched, and could be exploited in body armour and skyscraper windows
Auxeticity – the tendency of a material to become thicker rather than thinner when stretched – is an unusual phenomenon. While the property is uncommon, it’s not unheard of. LC AuxeTec, a new company spinning out from the University of Leeds in the UK, is developing auxetic liquid crystal elastomers.