Raw materials

New strategies offer cleaner, greener, and reusable rare earth elements

By April Gocha / June 16, 2015

Biolantánidos is pioneering a patent-pending process of extracting rare earths from clay using a tank-leaching process with biodegradable chemicals. And the company is betting big that companies will pay a premium for the ability to offer cutting-edge technology with a clear environmental conscious.

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Spider silk without the struggle—a practical synthetic solution is in our future

By Stephanie Liverani / June 15, 2015

After five years of diligent-but-quiet research, Bolt Threads has made “meaningful progress” on developing synthetic spider silk for commercial use.

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Sand infographic depicts facts and figures about our most consumed natural resource

By April Gocha / June 1, 2015

Brush up on all your sand knowledge with this great infographic from Mainland Aggregates Ltd., a U.K.-based company that supplies and delivers aggregates and products.

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Most delicious materials science: Study probes chocolate with X-rays to keep surface bloom at bay

By April Gocha / May 26, 2015

A group of researchers from the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Hamburg University of Technology, and Nestle has taken chocolately materials science goodness a step further by studying just how fat bloom forms on the surface of chocolate.

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Spending at nation’s federal R&D centers down—again

By Jessica McMathis / May 7, 2015

The majority of the nation’s federally-funded R&D centers slashed spending in fiscal year 2013 by more than $1 billion over the previous year.

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Bioceramics isolated from Jaws may someday fix your jaw

By April Gocha / May 5, 2015

Researchers at the University of Vigo’s Institute of Biomedical Research of Vigo (Spain) have shown that bioceramics isolated from shark teeth can potentially help regenerate human bone tissue.

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Radioactive ceramics: Unearthing rare earths reveals heavy environmental impact of today’s tech

By April Gocha / April 21, 2015

A group of architects, designers, writers, reporters, and thinkers called the Unknown Fields Division have traveled the world and are now pulling back the curtain to show the toxic story lurking behind rare earth production.

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Ceramics Expo 2015

Ceramics Expo exhibitor spotlight: Zircoa

By Jessica McMathis / April 15, 2015

Over the next weeks, we’ll preview a handful of the 150-plus manufacturers and suppliers who have signed on for the first Ceramics Expo. Today, we turn the pre-show spotlight to Zircoa

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Ceramics Expo 2015

Ceramics Expo exhibitor spotlight: Harper International

By Jessica McMathis / April 7, 2015

Over the next weeks, we’ll preview a handful of the 150-plus manufacturers and suppliers who have signed on for the first Ceramics Expo. Today, we turn the pre-show spotlight to Harper International.

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Ceramics Expo 2015

Ceramics Expo exhibitor spotlight: Lithoz

By Jessica McMathis / March 31, 2015

Over the next weeks, we’ll preview a handful of the 150-plus manufacturers and suppliers who have signed on for the first Ceramics Expo. Today, we turn the pre-show spotlight to Lithoz.

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