Processing

New materials for flexible electronics: Deposition technique bends possibilities with MXene thin films

By April Gocha / March 13, 2018

A team of scientists from Texas A&M University has developed an aqueous deposition technique to build flexible MXene thin films that could enable new possibilities for future flexible electronics.

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Materials advances broaden prospects for ceramics in future fuel cells

By April Gocha / March 2, 2018

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a high-efficiency protonic ceramic fuel cell that operates at mid-range temperatures; and researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are harnessing the power of computation to identify better materials for solid oxide fuel cells.

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Fusion cast refractories for nuclear waste vitrification, plus much more, in March 2018 ACerS Bulletin

By April Gocha / February 15, 2018

The March 2018 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring stories about fusion cast refractories for nuclear waste vitrification, the World Materials Research Institutes Forum, micromilling ceramic nanoparticulate materials, new NSF awards, and more—is now available online.

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New strategies aim to give wood the strength to replace concrete in construction

By April Gocha / February 9, 2018

Despite its material strength, concrete’s weakness is its huge carbon footprint. New methods are emerging to process wood into a high-performance structural building material that could someday take concrete’s place in buildings and beyond.

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Video: Solidia Technologies cement cuts emissions and enables concrete that soaks up carbon dioxide too

By April Gocha / January 10, 2018

Solidia Technologies is founded on the concept of using eco-friendly processing techniques to drastically lower the carbon footprint of concrete—watch this video to see how the company makes its carbon-dioxide-absorbing concrete blocks.

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The road to REE independence: Rare-earth elements discovered in U.S. coal basins

By Faye Oney / December 8, 2017

A collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy, academia, and business has resulted in the discovery of high concentrations of rare-earth elements in several U.S. coal basins. The success of this discovery could eventually reduce the U.S.’s dependence on imported rare earths.

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One flash spark plasma sintering to rule them all: Technique can densify most materials in mere seconds

By April Gocha / December 8, 2017

Researchers at San Diego State University have developed a flash spark plasma sintering technique that can densify all kinds of materials, regardless of their electrical conductivity, in a matter of just seconds.

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To infinity and beyond—This glass is going places after building world’s largest telescope

By April Gocha / November 10, 2017

The Giant Magellan Telescope, when completed and operational in 2023, will be the world’s largest telescope—but to build a giant, incredible telescope, you first need to build giant, incredible mirrors. And that process is currently underway at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab at the University of Arizona.

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Ancient material, new uses—Gorilla Glass is going places, according to The Economist

By April Gocha / November 7, 2017

An article recently published in The Economist science and technology section takes on a technology that most people look at everyday, yet hardly ever notice—glass.

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Silicon carbide manufacturing process to lower barriers for SiC power electronics

By April Gocha / October 6, 2017

North Carolina State University researchers have developed a silicon carbide manufacturing process that may finally give this material the boost it needs to compete against silicon in the power electronics market.

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