Mechanical properties

Dental decay gives up its secrets

Advanced synchrotron small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering reveals how dental caries evolve and the changes in structure of enamel at the nanoscale.

New designs get a grip on auxetic materials

Scientists have designed auxetic materials with smooth curves for distributing forces that can deform repeatedly.

Seed coat suggests design principles for novel smart materials

The puzzle-like wavy structure of the seed coat found in some grasses could hold the secret to creating smart materials that are both flexible and strong.

Nano-wallpaper sounds the alarm

Fire-resistant wallpaper based on inorganic nanowires and graphene oxide (GO) thermal sensors sounds an alarm in the event of fire.

Chemical ‘tug-of-war’ causes change between solid and liquid states

By mixing nanocrystals with polymers and ligands, scientists have found a way to switch between a liquid-like state and a solid-like state.

Novel fibers with embedded electronics set to be latest fashion

Researchers have developed a way to embed high-speed optoelectronic semiconductor devices within fibers, which can then be woven into fabrics.

Exploring the long-term biocompatibility of implantable nanogenerators

Nanotube-reinforced graphene twice as tough as pristine graphene

Researchers have found that ‘rebar graphene’, in which graphene is reinforced with carbon nanotubes, is more than twice as tough as pristine graphene.

Paperboard pattern controls folding in three dimensions

Researchers have created self-folding 3D structures by attaching paperboard sheets with specific patterns to a polymer substrate.

Improving the properties of Kevlar reinforced composites

Could carbon nanotubes give us stronger Kevlar bullet-proof vests?