Mechanical properties news, September 2012

MAXimising the lubricity of shape-memory polymers

Addition of titanium carbide-based materials significantly reduces friction and wear

Biodegradable plastics: from product to end-of-life

Korean researchers investigate degradation of commercial materials in soil and seawater

Bioinspired copper alloys use dendrites to boost performance

tailored dendrites can be exploited to create hierarchical structures in metal alloys that boost both strength and ductility

Silica particles take a crack at rubber fatigue

Using a new, multiscale approach, researchers have increased the resistance to crack growth of particle-reinforced rubber.

Space materials: the final frontier