Formation of rare earths, forever chemicals absorbed through skin, and other materials stories that may be of interest for July 3, 2024.
Read MoreIn August 2023, researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil conducted preliminary tests on the potential of metakaolin-derived geopolymer binders to replace calcium aluminate cement binders in high-alumina refractory castables. A new follow-up study confirms this potential.
Read MoreGeopolymers are emerging as a promising alternative to cement binders in refractories. In a recent study, researchers in Brazil identified a new geopolymer composition that could serve as a binder in high-temperature alumina castables.
Read MoreThe effect niobium oxide has on the macroscopic properties of glass is reasonably well-known, but its specific structural role in glass remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, researchers from the Center for Research, Technology, and Education in Vitreous Materials in Brazil combined spectroscopic data on niobium-containing silicate glasses with advanced computational modeling.
Read MoreThe process by which a crystal nucleates and grows within a glass during heat treatments remains a conceptually ill-understood phenomenon. Researchers in Brazil developed a nuclear magnetic resonance strategy combined with atomistic computer simulations that allowed them to shed unprecedented light on the structural changes that take place in a glass during relaxation and crystal nucleation.
Read MoreMuch research has taken place on glass-ceramics since its discovery in the 1950s. However, the nucleation process within glass-ceramics still is not understood across all glass systems, nor is the specific role of nucleating agents. Researchers in the United States and Brazil aimed to help advance research in this area by clarifying some terms and effects for the glass-ceramics community.
Read MoreFlash-sintering of ceramics can lead to microstructural heterogeneity, which can negatively impact the material’s performance. Researchers in Brazil demonstrated that forming method can influence the final microstructure of flash-sintered ceramics.
Read MorePlastic straws cannot be recycled to make new straws, but that does not mean straws are nonrecyclable. Researchers in Brazil looked at turning straws into anti-spalling fibers for refractory castables.
Read MoreAn international team of researchers found they could use 3D printing to create Biosilicate® glass-ceramic scaffolds. This method offers low-cost fabrication of bioactive glass-ceramics for biomedical applications.
Read MoreResearchers trained an artificial neural network to predict glass transition temperatures of never-before-made glass compositions. The software will soon be freely available as a web application.
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