Materials news, January 2018

VELOX at JEC World 2018

Velox GmbH plans to show a range of its speciality composites and additives at JEC World 2018, taking place in Paris, France from 6 to 8 March.

Layered material proves to have handy electronic structure

Scientists have used spiraling X-rays to observe, for the first time, chirality, or handedness, in swirling electric patterns in a layered material.

Just how nano can carbon go?

Nanotechnology limits on carbon nanotubes.

New range of spectrophotometers

Thermo Scientific has developed a range of spectrophotometer for quality assurance and control.

3D printing postdoc available

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the US says that it has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Staff Member.

Conductive textile for flexible lithium batteries

The development of a new lithium-ion conducting ceramic textile could get us a step closer to practical solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Sandvik ranked in sustainable index

Hardmetals company Sandvik says that it has been ranked in the 2018 iteration of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations.

Decrease in GKN’s Fokker placement

GKN Aerospace says that a total of 39 Fokker aircraft were placed in 2017, compared with 42 transactions in 2016.

Tin-based perovskite solar cells can hold on to hot electrons

A new tin-based perovskite solar cell allows 'hot' electrons to retain their high energy levels for longer than usual, which could help produce more power.

Lithium discovered reversing out of nanoparticles in battery electrodes

Scientists have witnessed the concentration of lithium inside individual nanoparticles in a battery electrode reverse during power generation.

Short fiber thermoplastic compounds

Polymer company Piper Plastics has developed the KyronMAX series of structural short fiber thermoplastic compounds.

Glass fiber composite ‘ribbon’ incorporates foam core

A shopping center in Perth, Western Australia features a composite spiral ribbon representing a company logo.

Novel hydrogel offers logical approach to drug delivery

Operating according to simple mathematical logic statements, a novel hydrogel will only release its drug cargo in response to specific physiological cues.

Chemists put a novel twist on carbon nanotube fibers

Twisting films of carbon nanotubes produces short lengths of strong, conductive fibers in about an hour, making this process much faster than spinning.

New 3D printing process can control fiber orientation in composites

A novel 3D printing method can yield unprecedented control over the arrangement of short fibers embedded in polymer matrices.

PM appointments announced

Diana Lados the founder and director of WPI’s Integrative Materials Design Center has been elected a fellow of ASM International.

Death of ‘Father of Titanium’

The MPIF has reported the death of Stanley (Stan) Abkowitz recently at the age of 90.

Research to develop discontinuous composite tubes

NTPT and the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne will implement a research project to improve discontinuous carbon fiber tubes.

New testing method improves composites understanding

A Fraunhofer insitute has developed a new testing method for composites which combines mechanical and radiographic examination.

White graphene makes ceramic stronger and tougher

Incorporating hexagonal boron nitride between layers of calcium silicate should produce a tough, durable ceramic that is resistant to heat and radiation.

Black is the new black

Super black birds could inspire meta materials.

Cleaning nanotubes improves their efficiency

Cleaning nanotubes through heat and ion bombardment.

3D printing soft tissue scaffolds

3D printing soft tissue scaffolds.

GKN reports on company strategy

GKN has published information about its upcoming company strategy.

Total and Microtex form partnership

Total Composite Solutions (TCS) Ltd and Microtex Composites Srl, a weaving and prepreg manufacturer have signed a long term partnership agreement.

Owens Corning recognized for leadership in climate and water

Glass fiber company Owens Corning has been named one of 25 global companies on a list for both climate and water.

Cheaper fuel cells with nanomaterials

Using carbon nanotubes and modified graphene nano ribbons in fuel cells.

Neutrons help close the gap between experiment and theory

For the first time, researchers have compared measurements of a class of metals produced by neutron scattering with realistic theoretical calculations.

ASTM announces first AM proficiency testing program

ASTM International announced its first proficiency testing program in additive manufacturing (AM).

DowDuPont reports Q3 2017

Chemicals company DowDuPont has reported at increase of GAAP net sales of 23% in Q3 2017.

Aluminium composite with carbon nanotubes

A scientist from South Korea has reportedly developed technology for reinforcing metal matrix composites with carbon nanotubes.

New nanostructure offers gateway to organic thin-film transistors

A nanostructure made from a fluoropolymer and metal oxide materials allows thin-film transistors to operate with unprecedented stability.

Blue titania turns carbon dioxide into fuel

Photocatalyst based on titanium dioxide can turn carbon dioxide into usable fuel and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide.

DSM appoints new president

Science company Royal DSM has appointed Wilfrid Gambade as president of DSM Dyneema.

GKN board rejects Melrose takeover

GKN says that it has received a preliminary and unsolicited acquisition proposal from financial services firm Melrose.

Copper award for US consultant

Eugene A Golebiowski has won the Copper Club Award from ASTM International’s committee on copper and copper alloys.

Hair-thin OLED fibers

Hair-thin OLED fibers could have fashion and healthcare applications.

Strong and tough nanofibers produced by new process

New technique offers strong and resilient ultrafine polymer fibers with a range of applications.

Water-absorbing MOF can regulate humidity

Scientists have developed a water-absorbing metal-organic framework that can suck up to twice its weight in atmospheric moisture.

Iron-based superconductor in a state over flipping microscope

Researchers have discovered a way to flip an iron-based superconductor between superconducting and non-superconducting states using a microscope.

New process conducts 2D electron gas on gallium arsenide

Researchers have found a way to produce a two-dimensional electron gas between insulating oxides on the semiconductor gallium arsenide.

‘Gyroscope’ crystal spins on the inside

A crystal with an exterior case surrounding a rotating axis is the first proof that a single material can be both static and moving, or amphidynamic.

EPMA launches PM life training program

The European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) has launched a new training course to help support and develop the powder metallurgy sector.

Global carbon fiber market could reach US$4,650 million

The global carbon fiber market could reach US$4,650 million in the next four yeara, according to a report published by Reportbuyer.com.

Webinar focuses on nonwoven fire protection

TFP plans to host a live webinar entitled ‘Enhancing Composite Fire Protection using Nonwovens’.

New alloy catalyst produces fuels without coking

An innovative platinum and copper alloy catalyst can convert methane from shale gas into hydrocarbon fuels without becoming coated in carbon.

Curves and edges could help turn carbon nanomaterials into fuel-cell cathodes

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes or modified graphene nanoribbons could replace the platinum cathodes that currently reduce oxygen in fuel cells.

Novel ultrafine polymer fibers stronger and tougher than Kevlar

A novel process called gel electrospinning can produce ultrafine polymer fibers that are exceptionally strong and tough.

SGL Carbon sells share in joint venture

Carbon company SGL Group has sold its 51% shareholding in the SGL Kümpers joint venture.

Sandvik completes divestment of Sandvik Process Systems

Sandvik has completed its divestment Sandvik Process Systems to FAM AB.

Topological insulator offers smooth way to switch from graphene

The topological insulator trisodium bismuthide can be as electronically smooth as the highest-quality graphene-based devices.

3D printer supplied to F1 team

The Sauber F1 Team has officially taken delivery of a 3D printer built by Additive Industries as part of a three-year technology partnership.

Spirit AeroSystems to grow fabrication and defense segments

Spirit AeroSystem has unveiled plans to grow in fabrication and defense, each of which it says could exceed US$1 billion over the next five years.

Implementation of adhesive-free bonding

AZL says that it has implemented adhesive-free bonding for FRP for the first time in large-series production with cycle times of less than three minutes.

Researchers identify novel facets of colloidal metal nanocrystals

By conducting systematic studies, researchers have provided a quantitative picture of how surface conditions control the growth of metal nanocrystals.

Novel metalens uses nanofins to focus all the colors of the rainbow

Researchers have developed the first single metalens able to focus the entire visible spectrum of light in the same spot and in high resolution.

Additive Industries appoints new director

Additive manufacturing company Additive Industries has appointed a new director of operations & supply chain.

Sandvik to sell wear-resistant tool company

Hardmetals company Sandvik has signed an agreement to divest Hyperion to US-listed investment firm KKR for SEK4 billion.

Adhesives gain ClassNK approvals

Scott Bader says that various products in its adhesives range have received ClassNK approvals.

Spirit develops new manufacturing technology

Spirit AeroSystems’s Advanced Technology Centre has reportedly developed an improved method for manufacturing composite parts.

Carbon nanotube contaminants mess up conductivity

A novel method for removing contaminants from carbon nanotubes has helped to reveal why their electrical properties are so difficult to measure.

Flat NMR in shape for studying nanomaterials

By utilizing flat coils with different shapes, scientists have adapted nuclear magnetic resonance to study nanomaterials and exotic states of matter.

DNA strands direct design of novel polymer materials

Asymmetrical polymer particles imprinted with DNA are able to bind together in a spatially defined manner for use in biomedicine and 'soft robotics'.

Safety light curtain feature on machinery

Mixer company Charles Ross says that it now offers protective light curtains.

Reducing power train component weight

Dr Huaxin Li, material/welding technical specialist at General Motors, talks about his role.

Vehicle component manufacturing

John Catterall, executive director, Auto Steel Partnership, talks about his role.

Composite fire system improves tunnel safety

Aliancys has supplied a range of resin system for a firewater system forming part of a new motorway multi-level road tunnel in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Lightweight composites for Spanish bank

Diab says that it has supplied a lightweight PET core for the new corporate headquarters of Spanish banking group Banco Popular Español, SA.

Diamene looks like graphene, acts like diamond

Applying pressure at the nanoscale to two layers of graphene transforms them into a super-hard, diamond-like material, termed diamene.

Scientists cover metal ‘mesas’ in graphene

A method for encapsulating metals such as dysprosium and copper in a single layer of graphene could produce materials with novel properties.

Metyx at JEC World 2018

Metyx plans to exhibit acrylic painted glass fiber sculptures at JEC World 2018.

Renishaw 3D prints sundial

Additive manufacturing company Renishaw has created an additively manufactured sun dial for historic Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, UK.

Solvay named new USA bobsled partners

Carbon fiber companies Solvay and deBotech have formed partnership with USA Bobsled and Skeleton.

Molecules give back some of the energy they take from nanomaterials

The transfer of energy from nanomaterials to molecules can go both ways, causing the nanomaterials to photoluminesce over long timescales.

Board of Arcam applies for de-listing

The board of directors of Arcam has applied for de-listing of the company's shares from Nasdaq Stockholm.

Quantum material can mimic shark’s sixth sense

Quantum effects allow samarium nickelate to mimic a shark's sixth sense, by detecting minute electric fields in salt water.

Breakable electrode design brings safer batteries for electric cars

Lithium-ion batteries designed to be safer in an accident.

Materials Today takes a special look at research "Down Under"

Read our latest series and find out about materials science researchers in New Zealand and Australia.

Nanogenerator promises blue energy dream

Jellyfish-inspired triboelectric nanogenerator can harvest energy from waves and power sensors that can detect fluctuations in the water surface.

Deadline for EuroPM submission

The EPMA reports that the Abstract Submission Deadline for the Euro PM2018 Congress and Exhibition is 24 January 2018.

Current trends in 3D for automotive

Dr Paul J. Wolcott, applications engineer additive manufacturing at General Motors talks about his role.

ELG to focus on Japanese auto market

ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd says that it will be exhibiting for the first time at the Automotive World Show, taking place in Tokyo from 17-19 January.

Speakers sought for composites in sport conference

The organizers of the Composites in Sport 2018 conference have issued a call for speakers is now open.

New study finds MOFs have an issue with replicability

Comparing the results reported in thousands of papers about the properties of MOFs revealed that replicability could be a problem in material science.

Scientists create ‘artificial graphene’ from semiconducting materials

Scientists have engineered ‘artificial graphene’ by replicating, for the first time, the electronic structure of graphene with semiconducting materials.

Just add water for carbon capture

Adding water to asphalt-derived porous carbon produces a material that can adsorb more than two times its weight of carbon dioxide.

Solvay and Boeing sign materials agreement

Solvay says that it has signed an agreement with Boeing to supply composites and adhesives in support of the 777X airplane production.

Michelman and EFT announce partnership

Michelman and Engineered Fibers Technology LLC (EFT) plan to develop innovative solutions for specialty fibers and composites.

Nanoscale stainless steel spikes kill bacteria

A nanotextured surface on a stainless steel alloy, produced by an electrochemical etching process, can kill bacteria while not harming mammalian cells.

Eely simply power source

Electric eel inspires energy system for wearables.

Call for Papers: Special Section on Nuclear Materials Data in Nuclear Materials and Energy

Quick, split and make hydrogen from water

Quick, split and make hydrogen from water.

Stretch batteries

Flexible stretchable bacterial bio-batteries.

Gold nanorods and iron nanoparticles come together for biomedical applications

Researchers have found a simple way to deposit magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles onto silica-coated gold nanorods for biomedical applications.

3D tattoos for chemical sensing

3D tattoos light up for chemical sensing.

Isotopically pure hyperlens material can smash diffraction limit

A new hyperlens crystal made from hexagonal boron nitride with isotopically pure boron can resolve features as small as 30nm in size.

Nanodevice acts as improved DNA detector

Improved DNA detection using nanopore sensors.

Video explains ASTM work

ASTM International has released a new video to shows its work in helping develop standards.

Grant to commercialize AM

America Makes has been awarded a grant to help commercialize Intellectual Property resulting from America Makes' project calls.

MPM wins two engineering awards

UK composites company MPM has been awarded regional manufacturing champion at this year’s EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.

Michelman to join composites consortium

Michelman has become a member of the University of Delaware’s Center for Composite Materials (UD-CCM) Industry Consortium.

Heating boosts graphene’s conductivity

Two-step thermal reduction process boosts conductivity and mobility of reduced graphene oxide (RGO), opening up new potential applications.

Metallic glass nanotubes promise novel properties

Fabrication of the first-ever metallic glass nanotube arrays on a Si substrate by a simple lithography and sputter deposition process.

Solar energy harnessed by new 'double-glazing' approach

Solar power device like a double-glazed window offers new approach.

New insight into battery charging supports development of improved electric vehicles

First technique capable of determining lithium metal plating during lithium ion battery charging reported in Materials Today.

New method shines light on thin-film perovskites

A new method based on vaporizing a frozen solution with a laser can create hybrid thin-film materials that would otherwise be impossible to make.

Prof. Sinan Keten announced as 2017 JMBBM Early Career Researcher Award winner

Hexcel predicts sales growth in 2018

Hexcel Corporation has reported 2018 revenue guidance for sales in the range of US$2.10 billion to US$2.20 billion.

Website for Indian market

Michelman has launched a new website for the Indian packaging market.

GE Additive opens Munich center

GE Additive has opened its first ‘Customer Experience Center’ in Munich, Germany.

Stretchable, twistable textile-based biobatteries become a reality

Batteries powered by sweat made completely from fabric

Nanocomposite hits the right note for bone repair

Novel bioactive nanocomposite hydrogel based on hyaluronic acid and self-assembled bisphosphonate-magnesium nanoparticles facilitates bone regeneration.

Ultrafast cooling produces strong and ductile printed metal parts

A new technique for 3D printing metals, which utilizes ultrafast cooling, can produce components with exceptional levels of strength and ductility.

Sintavia begins construction of 3D printing plant

AM specialist Sintavia, has begun construction on a new 55,000 ft2 manufacturing facility located in Florida, USA.

Ames Laboratory improves on 2016 performance

Ames Laboratory has improved on its 2016 performance and now exceeds expectations in a majority of the key performance areas measured by the DOE.

Aliancys announces price increase

Aliancys has announced a price increase for its complete product portfolio sold in Europe, the Middle East and India.

Hexcel to acquire OPM business

Hexcel Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the aerospace and defense (A&D) business of Oxford Performance Materials (OPM).

Plasma process offers fine control over diamond properties

Adding a tiny amount of boron to a carbon-containing plasma can alter the grain size and electrical properties of the diamond film produced by the plasma.

Cathode study shows road to better batteries for electric cars

Using analytical techniques, scientists have discovered how the atomic structure of lithium-rich battery cathodes evolves during charging and discharging.

Aliancys and JRD sign distribution agreement

Aliancys and JRD Polymers, based in India, have signed an agreement for the latter to distribute the full resins portfolio of Aliancys.

Umicore opens cathode plant

Umicore has opened a production site to make cathode materials used in Li-Ion rechargeable batteries in Jiangmen, China.

Materials Today ‘How Many Marbles in a Jar’ Competition Winner

Charred polymers produce precise graphene nanoribbons

Scientists have developed a new method for produce semiconducting graphene nanoribbons by heating a specially-prepared polymer.

Interface mismatch causes growth of tiny nanowires in 2D materials

Scientists have determined the mechanisms that cause tiny wires of molybdenum disulfide to extend into tungsten diselenide at their interface.

AOC announces price increases

AOC has announced a price increase of US$0.05 per lb for all its products sold in Latin America.

Höganäs acquires ceramics powder business

Höganäs reports that it has signed an agreement to acquire H.C. Starck’s surface technology and ceramic powders division, STC.

Lanxess increases dye prices

Chemicals company Lanxess says that it has made a global increase in the price of some of its dye products.

Textile-based biobattery produces power at full stretch

Scientists have developed an entirely textile-based, bacteria-powered bio-battery that could one day be integrated into wearable electronics.

Stacked semiconductors can become cool topological insulators

Scientists have produced a ‘topological excitonic insulator’ for the first time by cooling stacked semiconductors to below 10K.

Kordsa opens new reinforcement line

Turkish composite specialist Kordsa has opened a new polyester yarn line at a plant in Izmit, Turkey.

GE increases shareholding in Arcam

GE Sweden Holdings AB has agreed to acquire shares in Arcam for SEK 345 per share.