Materials
Whether it's the latest wonder material, such as graphene, or uncovering the secrets to the longevity of ancient Roman concrete, material science is the reason so much of our technology is more than the sum of its parts.
Latest News
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New polymer removes dye from wastewater, and can be reused afterwards
August 12, 2022In wastewater produced by the textile industry and others, dye is one of the primary pollutants. A newly developed synthetic polymer is capable of removing that dye from the water, plus it can be cleaned up and reused to treat more wastewater. -
Scientists create quality concrete with 100% tire-rubber aggregate
August 11, 2022In recent years, we've heard about efforts to replace some of the aggregate used in concrete with crumbled used tires. Now, however, scientists have succeeded in producing good quality concrete in which all of the aggregate has been replaced with tire particles. -
3D-printable 5-metal alloy proves ultra-strong but ductile
August 10, 2022With new manufacturing techniques comes the opportunity for new metal alloys with a range of possible properties. A team of researchers has now developed a new 3D-printable alloy with a specific nanostructure that makes it ultra strong and ductile. -
Self-healing coating repairs car scratches with 30 minutes of sunlight
August 08, 2022Finding a scratch on your car is a special kind of heartbreak, but in the future they might be gone before you even notice. Scientists in Korea have developed a coating that self-heals scratches in as little as 30 minutes when exposed to sunlight. -
Nano-sponges on graphene make efficient filters of industrial wastewater
August 05, 2022Engineers at the University of Vienna have developed a new composite material that makes an efficient filter for removing organic pollutants from water. The system uses super-porous “nano-sponges” embedded on a sheet of graphene. -
Material obtained from shrimp shells makes for stronger cement
August 02, 2022The production of cement is a major source of carbon emissions, so the less of it that's used, the better. A new study could help, as it shows that cement can be made much stronger with the addition of material derived from waste shrimp shells. -
Polymer bricks made of industrial waste bond together without mortar
August 01, 2022Construction is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Flinders University researchers have now developed a polymer made out of industrial waste that can be formed into building bricks that bond together without needing any mortar. -
Low-energy fluidic cells could shade and cool buildings dynamically
July 27, 2022A large percentage of a building’s energy usage is consumed by heating and cooling, but a new dynamic shading system could help. Inspired by the skin of krill, the system uses cells of blooming pigment that can block light on demand. -
Powerful new adhesive stays strong from freezing to boiling temperatures
July 19, 2022A powerful new adhesive can grip strongly in extreme temperatures, from the deep freeze of liquid nitrogen to the sweltering heat of an oven. Better yet, it can be broken back down into its component parts and reused without losing strength. -
Nature's strongest known material inspires green alternative to Kevlar
July 07, 2022Scientists studying the makeup of limpet teeth have drawn inspiration from the way they form to create a composite biomaterial with extreme strength that could provide a more sustainable alternative to high-performance materials such as Kevlar. -
Plant-based plastic strong as PET, degrades into sugars in the environment
June 27, 2022Plastics are tough, which is great when in use but not so good in the environment. Scientists have developed a new PET-like plastic derived from waste plant matter that can be chemically recycled or degrade into harmless sugars in the environment. -
Mussel glue used in scar-free skin grafting technique
June 27, 2022Mussels have long been known for the adhesive they produce, which allows them to cling to rocks. The protein responsible has now been utilized in a new skin grafting technique, which reportedly results in little to no scarring. -
Cement formed with biogenic limestone promises carbon-neutral concrete
June 23, 2022Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder claim to have uncovered a greener form of cement production by tapping into a species of cloudy microalgae that naturally produce limestone particles through photosynthesis. -
Magnetic electrode traces ion flows to reveal battery life in real time
June 19, 2022Scientists at the University of Buffalo experimenting with next-generation battery designs have demonstrated how magnetism might be used to bring a new level of precision to the way we monitor a battery's state of charge. -
Mistletoe glue could one day be used to seal wounds
June 16, 2022In order to spread to other host trees, the parasitic mistletoe plant has very sticky seeds that cling to bird feathers, bark, and other materials. According to a recent study, the "glue" on those seeds could inspire new biomedical adhesives.
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