According to Plastic News, plastic that turns into a fireproof ceramic in a fire whose potential uses include structural steel protection has been invented by Aussie researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization, Monash University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. In a fire, it can contain the movement of heat and smoke between floors and rooms by sealing gaps as well as prolong stability and create a fire barrier. The plastic's first commercial application was by Melbourne-based Olex Australia as insulation for high-performance fire cable. The cable is normally flexible, but forms a protective ceramic barrier when exposed to heat and fire capable of conducting electricity at temperatures up to 1,832° Fahrenheit for two hours.        EC