As coastal areas brace for hurricane season, Alcoa Inc. of New York, in conjunction with EI du Pont de Nemours and Co. of Wilmington, Del., are introducing a supposedly hurricane-proof construction material designed to shield building facades from high winds and debris. The companies promise that the material, which combines aluminum with Kevlar, commonly found in bullet-proof vests, can withstand the battering of a category 3 storm, which is known for winds of up to 130 miles per hour. Of course neither of these companies have headquarters in high-risk hurricane zones, so no one should be surprised that experts are weary of the claims. Nonetheless, to prove their claims, the companies hired a research lab in Florida to hurl nine-pound, 2x4s traveling at 50 feet-per-second against the material. Sounds like a fun job if you can get it. —
Matthew Wurtzel
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