HARD-SURFACED POLYMERSPolymers, developed at the U.S. Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratories, which combine the flexibility and corrosion resistance of plastics with the strength and durability of metals. They are made by high-energy ion-beam irradiation, which displaces some atoms while ionizing others, forming new bonds and creating a highly cross-linked microstructure of much greater hardness, wear resistance, and abrasion resistance. Chemical resistance and oxidation resistance are also improved.
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