Processing

Full ceramic electrodes epitomize next step for fused filament fabrication of lithium-ion batteries

By Lisa McDonald / March 8, 2022

While fused filament fabrication has the potential to fabricate lithium-ion batteries with tailored geometries, the high amount of polymer often included in the electrodes can limit application. University of Castilla-La Mancha researchers attempted the required debinding/sintering treatment to achieve full ceramic electrodes via this additive manufacturing method.

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Consequences of methodology—influence of indenter tip radius on failure mechanisms in borided steel

By Lisa McDonald / February 22, 2022

Replication studies have demonstrated how slight changes in methodology can significantly affect results. Researchers in Mexico investigated the effect that one seemingly minor methodological change can have on experiments—the radius of the indenter tip used in scratch testing.

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Standard sintering aids and dispersants can degrade lasing performance of transparent ceramics

By Lisa McDonald / February 11, 2022

The use of transparent ceramics as a gain medium in lasers is an evolving field, and there is still much to learn about how processing parameters affect the ceramics’ performance. Researchers in Singapore and China published two papers investigating the possible effects of a standard sintering aid and dispersant on lasing performance.

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Cryomilling demonstrates potential to functionalize hexagonal boron nitride

By Lisa McDonald / December 7, 2021

Functionalizing hexagonal boron nitride is difficult due to bonding within the material’s structure. A group led by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University demonstrated the potential of cryomilling to functionalize hexagonal boron nitride through defect engineering.

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The potential of ceramic matrix composites as aerospace radomes—researchers investigate new way to prepare ceramic fibers

By Lisa McDonald / October 29, 2021

Ceramic matrix composites have numerous applications in aerospace, including as radomes to protect sensitive radar devices in an aircraft’s nose. Researchers in China investigated a new way to prepare polymer-derived ceramic fibers for radome composites.

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The potential of pultrusion to produce shape memory polymer composites

By Lisa McDonald / October 15, 2021

The highly automated and continuous pultrusion process offers several benefits over traditional manufacturing processes. Researchers led by Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology explored the potential of pultrusion to produce shape memory polymer composites.

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Melting the unmeltable—new method extends the range of meltable MOF materials

By Lisa McDonald / October 12, 2021

Fabricating metal-organic frameworks in a glassy phase is a successful way to synthesize these materials for bulk production. However, some MOFs decompose before reaching the melting temperature and so cannot be turned into a glass. Researchers in Germany and the U.K. found a way to melt these unmeltable MOFs by adding ionic liquid to the compound.

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New wiki on ceramics processing—ready to join us?

By Lisa McDonald / September 21, 2021

To date, there are few textbooks that cover the topic of ceramic processing well. A new wiki initiated by ACerS members Olivier Guillon and Wolfgang Rheinheimer provides a platform for practical articles to help anybody working on ceramics to set up their lab.

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A ‘gentle’ process for aircraft machining—researchers explore shaping SiC/SiC composites via plasma etching

By Lisa McDonald / September 10, 2021

SiC/SiC composites are one of the main ceramic matrix composites being investigated for aerospace applications. Researchers from Germany and China explored the potential of shaping such composites using the “gentle” machining process of plasma etching.

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Fishy origins: Researchers derive calcium phosphate bioceramics from salmon fish bone wastes

By Lisa McDonald / September 7, 2021

Compared to other meats, fish remains a relatively underutilized waste source in rendering processes. An international team of researchers investigated the possibility of deriving calcium phosphate bioceramics from salmon fish bone wastes.

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