Self-destructing material that can obliterate a phone in 10 seconds

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

The innovative material has been made by engineers at the King Abdulla University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in Saudi Arabia.
https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en


It consists of a polymer layer that rapidly expands when heated above 80°C (176°F), causing the device to burst open from the inside.

The mechanism could be adapted to be triggered in a range of ways, including remotely through an app.

Once triggered, the device's battery channels power to electrodes that rapidly heat, causing the polymer to expand to seven times its original size.

This crushes the inner components of the device.

Speaking to IEEE Spectrum, Muhammad Hussain, an engineer who worked on the polymer, said: 'The expandable polymer expands much more and causes sufficient tension in the thin silicon — which is sitting on top of the polymer — so it simply crumples and then breaks.'

The invention could be used as a cost-effective way to destroy devices if they are compromised. The polymer is very cheap to make, and could be fitted into devices for just £12 ($15).

 

[dorsetknob]

i read the post and thought to myself

Various Governments may insist that this is fitted to new phones so that as necessary said governments/security/3 letter Agency's can brick phones at their whim and once its out there any app could / would be hacked

this is not progress

 

[SKBARON]

Not fun at all. Some c4 on the other hand... Like Jamie Hyneman said "when in doubt, c4"

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The invention could be used as a cost-effective way to destroy devices if they are compromised.

Apparently the piles aren't big enough already?

Encryption is the sane solution to that problem. If data needs to be destroyed, there's solutions for that too.


I can't think of any practical, humanitarian use for this technology.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Apparently the piles aren't big enough already?

Encryption is the sane solution to that problem. If data needs to be destroyed, there's solutions for that too.

you cant feed starving devices to africans. That has to be illegal on so many levels

 

[GreiverBlade]

i read the post and thought to myself

i did the same but i thought: "Samsung's battery?" .................................................................................................................

 

[dorsetknob]

If this had been built into phones Prior to "The Arab Spring Revolution"
then the "The Arab Spring Revolution" would have lasted 12 hours instead of months
Participant or bystander those threatened Governments would have Bricked as many phones as possible to stop the Spread of info and news of that event ( it was mainly disseminated by social media spread by phones ).

 

[EarthDog]

This already exists... and can be done in less than 1s...

I slam it on the ground. hehe!

 

[FYFI13]

Not fun at all. Some c4 on the other hand... Like Jamie Hyneman said "when in doubt, c4"

Someone else said "when in doubt, Galaxy Note 7"

 

[Aquinus]

So that's how Samsung did it!

 

[R-T-B]

So they essentially want to give smartphones a true version of the long fabled HCF (halt and catch fire) instruction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halt_and_Catch_Fire

 

[Ferrum Master]

I was expexting Robert Patrick coming out of it and crushing something xD.

 

[qubit]

This is great for spy movies.

 

[dorsetknob]

its a form of Expanding foam not fuckin Explosives
Its foam that is Generated by heat from Battery in a container that when pressurized by the expanding foam shatters the phones circuit board
it wont go Bang
if its in your pocket and it goes off it will look to strangers like you just got a hard on

 

[GreiverBlade]

if its in your pocket and it goes off it will look to strangers like you just got a hard on

that line made me burst in laughter like never ...

on the other hand ... if a Galaxy Note 7 is in your trouser back pocket ... bystander will look at you as if you have your ass on fire .... well, it is ... actually ...

 

[qubit]

its a form of Expanding foam not fuckin Explosives
Its foam that is Generated by heat from Battery in a container that when pressurized by the expanding foam shatters the phones circuit board
it wont go Bang
if its in your pocket and it goes off it will look to strangers like you just got a hard on

Aww dammit dorset, you've just shattered my dream of exploding phones for all.

 

[Caring1]

i did the same but i thought: "Samsung's battery?" .................................................................................................................

Lithium batteries
My phone gets almost too hot to hold sometimes.