surface roughness

3D-printed rocks improve understanding of fracture formation

By Lisa McDonald / April 21, 2020

The unpredictable nature of fracture formation in rocks makes it difficult to ensure reproducible measurements across different samples. Researchers at Purdue University 3D-printed gypsum rocks to overcome this problem and clearly investigate the effect of mineral fabric and layering on fracture formation.

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Understanding roughness on a small scale: The origin of self-affinity

By Lisa McDonald / February 28, 2020

Roughness plays a big role in determining friction and adhesion between materials, which greatly affects processes in both scientific and industrial fields. So understanding roughness can help control these factors. Researchers led by the University of Freiburg investigate the origins behind a particular characteristic of roughness—self-affinity.

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Necessary roughness: Engineering particle surfaces to control how cements and other suspended materials flow

By April Gocha / May 4, 2018

Researchers from ETH Zurich have created a library of silicate particles and precisely studied how the surface roughness of particles affects the viscosity and thickening behavior of suspensions of those particles.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / November 1, 2017

Molybdenum ditelluride could bring optical communication onto silicon chips, 3-D printer makes first wearable ‘battery’, and other materials stories that may be of interest for November 1, 2017.

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