Michael Anissimov of the Lifeboat Foundation has posted a special report on the top 10 Futuristic Materials. For the most part, there aren't very many surprises. I was hoping to see information about a bunch of stuff I'm not familiar with, but he covers aerogels, carbon nanotubes, buckyballs, metamaterials, and more.
The only things on Michael's list that I had read only a little about were amorphous metals and metal foams. Those are interesting materilas that definitely warrant further study. Also, since for the most part the items highlighted are actually available now, I'm not sure how "futuristic" they really are, but I get his point that we'll be seeing more of these in the future.
He also highlighted e-textiles, but I'm not sure those should be classified as materials so much as devices woven into clothing. The idea of wearable computers and electronics has been around for a while, but our technology is only now reaching the point where the electronics and power sources are small enough to actually embed in clothing.
Still, reading the report could give you some ideas of how the future is shaping up, and of what materials it will be built.
Showing posts with label materials science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label materials science. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
New Process Improves Cost, Usefulness of Titanium
Researchers working with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have devised a new system for creating objects using titanium powder that could dramatically reduce the cost of using the material. The process uses considerably less energy for constructing parts from titanium powders because it does not involve having to melt the powders.
The researchers see new applications in armor for soldiers and vehicles, new alloys for brake rotors, more durable artificial join replacements, and more. The clearest gain is in armor for military vehicles. The titanium alloy armors do a much better job of stopping bullets and shrapnel, but are also lighter. By being lighter, the vehicles become more responsive and mobile, making them more useful to the military. And obviously, by stopping more bullets, the vehicles are clearly more useful to the soldiers inside.
Similarly, new corrosion-resistant alloys could make their way into automobiles, making them lighter and more responsive and helping improve their fuel efficiency.
The researchers see new applications in armor for soldiers and vehicles, new alloys for brake rotors, more durable artificial join replacements, and more. The clearest gain is in armor for military vehicles. The titanium alloy armors do a much better job of stopping bullets and shrapnel, but are also lighter. By being lighter, the vehicles become more responsive and mobile, making them more useful to the military. And obviously, by stopping more bullets, the vehicles are clearly more useful to the soldiers inside.
Similarly, new corrosion-resistant alloys could make their way into automobiles, making them lighter and more responsive and helping improve their fuel efficiency.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
GE Lab Discovers Direct Pathway to Ordered Nanostructured Ceramics
General Electric announced today that it's research labs have developed a very simple synthesis for the polymeric precursor, which enables a very efficient path towards ordered non-oxide ceramic nanostructures.
The technology is based on a novel inorganic/organic block copolymer that forms ordered polymeric nanostructures via self-assembly. The resulting material is subsequently pyrolized to yield the desired ceramic, in which the original nanostructure is retained. The unique aspect of the invention is that the desired composition and the ability to form ordered nanostructures are built in. No external template is needed, and the process is simple and robust.
The researchers point out that while damage tolerant high-temperature ceramics could revolutionize product development in aviation and energy, structural applications are still many years away. More immediate applications could result from the ability to prepare high surface area ceramics that could be exploited in catalysis.
Unlike yesterday's nanotech news from HP, this is an example of nanotech that is years or decades from providing true results. However, this is research that can be built upon, and which brings us closer to the truly revolutionary innovations to come.
The technology is based on a novel inorganic/organic block copolymer that forms ordered polymeric nanostructures via self-assembly. The resulting material is subsequently pyrolized to yield the desired ceramic, in which the original nanostructure is retained. The unique aspect of the invention is that the desired composition and the ability to form ordered nanostructures are built in. No external template is needed, and the process is simple and robust.
The researchers point out that while damage tolerant high-temperature ceramics could revolutionize product development in aviation and energy, structural applications are still many years away. More immediate applications could result from the ability to prepare high surface area ceramics that could be exploited in catalysis.
Unlike yesterday's nanotech news from HP, this is an example of nanotech that is years or decades from providing true results. However, this is research that can be built upon, and which brings us closer to the truly revolutionary innovations to come.
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