Materials & Innovations

PBS, NSF to launch four-part materials science extravaganza Jan. 19

By / January 14, 2011

Like materials science? I am assuming you do if you read this blog. So, believe me when I say you should plan on tuning into your local PBS station and…

Read More

‘Promising’ lightweight, multiwalled carbon nanotube aerogel debuts

By / January 14, 2011

SEM images showing the morphology and structure of MWCNT aerogels. (a) & (d)  Surface morphology indicating a “honeycomb”  structure, (b) & (e) porous honeycomb wall of aerogel, (c) vertical section…

Read More

Rolla hospital’s cancer institute named for ceramist Delbert Day

By / January 13, 2011

Ted Day, left, with father Delbert Day. Nice honors for a good guy! The Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Mo., announced yesterday that it is naming its new cancer…

Read More

Aerogel plaster to restore historic buildings [updated]

By / January 11, 2011

Aerogel plaster is sprayed onto walls of historic buildings. (Credit: Empa) Renovating any historic structure is a project that comes with numerous challenges, one of which is how to insulate…

Read More

California group’s metallic glass is world’s toughest–strongest material

By / January 11, 2011

Ashby map of the damage tolerance of materials. Arrow indicates the combination of toughness and strength potentially accessible to metallic glasses extends beyond the traditional limiting ranges towards levels previously…

Read More

Spinning yarn out of nano powder-infused nanotubes for superconducting applications

By / January 10, 2011

Credit: Science/AAAS/UTD NanoTech Institute Recently I wrote about Israeli-based TorTech, which says it will soon be manufacturing carbon nanotube fiber yarns that it claims to be stronger than Kevlar, yet…

Read More

New ceramic coatings to improve durability of turbine engines

By / January 8, 2011

In the recent print edition of Watts News, Ohio State University’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering newsletter, an article describes new developments that may extend the life of gas…

Read More

Carbon nanotubes and graphene: Patience please!

By / January 6, 2011

One of the editors at Nature has written a good (free) article that provides some of important perspective about the movement of nano-carbon products (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and, more recently,…

Read More

Self-repairing carbon nanotube solar cells mimic photosynthesis

By / January 4, 2011

Using carbon nanotubes combined with natural or synthetic biomaterials, researchers at Purdue University have demonstrated some new types of solar cell designed to self-repair. By mimicking natural photosynthesis in plants,…

Read More

Toilets make their kitchen debut, so to speak

By / January 4, 2011

Toilets in the kitchen isn’t quite as unsanitary as it sounds. Fireclay Tile has introduced its Debris Collection, which is made from over 60 percent recycled toilets, more than 50…

Read More