Flexible Lightweight Radiation Shielding

An innovator at NASA Langley Research Center has developed a novel method for making thin, lightweight radiation shielding that can be sprayed or melted onto common textiles used in clothing such as cotton, nylon, polyester, Nomex, and Kevlar. Read on to learn more about it.

Silicone Membrane for Wearable Devices is Comfortable and Breathable

A silicone membrane for wearable devices is more comfortable and breathable thanks to better-sized pores made with the help of citric acid crystals. The new preparation technique fabricates thin, silicone-based patches that rapidly wick water away from the skin. The technique could reduce the redness and itching caused by wearable biosensors that trap sweat beneath them. Read on to learn more.

Sustainable Technology Finalist: Cosmetic Silica Upcycled from Rice Husk as Natural Alternative to Microplastic Powders

Meet Dow Silicones Belgium SRL’s Anne-Marie Vincent, Sustainable Technology Finalist. Her project focuses on commercializing silica upcycled from rice husk to address these needs.

RTV Silicone Sealing Method for Component Interfaces

The RTV sealing method may benefit terrestrial applications that may demand cure-in-place internal seals. The method could also innovate manufacturing processes for components by enhancing the speed of assembly while increasing seal integrity. Read on to learn more.

3D-Printing Flexible Devices without Mechanical Joints

Eva Baur, a Ph.D. student, used 3D-printed double network granular elastomers (DNGEs) to print a prototype ‘finger,’ complete with rigid ‘bones’ surrounded by flexible ‘flesh.’ The finger was printed to deform in a pre-defined way, demonstrating the technology’s potential to manufacture devices that are sufficiently supple to bend and stretch, while remaining firm enough to manipulate objects. Read on to learn more.

A Soft Robotic Gripper Mimics a Woven Structure

Dr. Song Kahye along with Professor Lee, Dae-Young have jointly developed a soft gripper with a woven structure that can grip objects weighing more than 100 kg with 130 g of material. To increase the loading capacity of the soft robot gripper, the team applied a new structure inspired by textiles.

5 Ws of a Self-Healing Robot

A team of researchers at Cornell Engineering has developed a soft robot that can detect when and where it was damaged — and then heal itself on the spot.

Respirator 2.0: New N95-Alternative Introduces Sensors for a Better Fit

The respirator earned a 100 percent success rate for fit testing.

Tentacle Robot Can Grasp Fragile Objects

Researchers designed a new type of soft robotic gripper that uses a collection of thin tentacles to entangle and ensnare objects.

Electronic Skin Powered by Sweat Serves as Human-Machine Interface

Researchers have developed electronic skin (e-skin) that is applied directly on top of real skin. Made from soft, flexible rubber, it can be embedded with sensors that monitor...

Elastic Polymer is Both Stiff and Tough

Elastic polymers, known as elastomers, can be stretched and released repeatedly and are used in applications such as gloves and heart valves, where they need to last a long time without tearing. But...

Tires and Building Rubble Combine to Form a Sustainable Road-Making Material

The sustainable material offers a zero-waste solution to boost recycling and support the circular economy.

5 Ws of the Portable Braille Display

Imagine a tablet or Kindle that can display braille on command for the visually impaired.

3D Printing of Polymers

A 3D-printable elastomer yields soft, elastic objects that feel like human tissue.

Tires Turned into Graphene Make Stronger Concrete

An optimized flash process could reduce carbon emissions.

Self-Healing, Highly Adhesive Elastomers

These elastomers have a wide range of uses for the building, automotive, and electronics industries.

Swimming Living Robots Can Self-Train

Biobots based on muscle cells can swim at unprecedented velocities.

Soft Components for Soft Robotics

An electrically driven soft valve paves the way for fully soft robots.

Inside Story, November 2021: Momentive Materials in Space, Defense, and Aviation

Thanos Yiagopoulos, Chief Technology Officer of Momentive Performance Materials, discusses how engineers can determine the best product for their application.

Using Silicone Wristbands to Measure Air Quality

The inexpensive, convenient devices can measure exposure to a class of chemicals that can be harmful during pregnancy.

“Flexoelectricity” in Soft Elastomers Could Improve Robot Movement

A connection between electricity and mechanical motion in soft, rubber-like materials could improve robot range.

High-Pressure Soft Lithography for Microtopographical Patterning of Molded Polymers and Composites

Applications include anti-fouling and anti-contamination, aerodynamic and hydrodynamic drag reduction, and adhesive joining of composite parts.

Stretchable Thermoelectric Generators

The organic composite material is soft, stretchable, and has good thermoelectric properties for many wearable applications.

Reduced Heat Leakage Improves Wearable Health Device

A flexible device worn on the wrist harvests heat energy from the human body to monitor health.

Generation of Polystyrene Latex Spheres with Incorporated Fluorescent Dyes

Microspheres are used in wind tunnel experiments to monitor airflow, to stain biological samples, and in time-delayed drug release.

Evaluating Low-and Ultra-Low-Outgassing Silicones for Space Applications

Highly purified, low-outgassing silicones prevent material degradation in satellites and space vehicles.

Thermally Conductive, Stretchable Rubber Material

This material could be used for artificial muscles that power bio-inspired robots.

5 Ws of Slip-Resistant Shoe Coatings

MIT researchers are developing a shoe coating that provides a stronger grip on ice and other slippery surfaces.

Flexible Feet Help Robots Walk Faster

This technology can help robots walk up to 40 percent faster on uneven terrain such as pebbles and wood chips.