Keyword: Plastics

Briefs: Medical
To overcome the limitations of using cleaning agents, sprays, or bulky high-cost sterilizing systems, NASA developed the Ultraviolet Germicidal Door Handle.
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Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping
With its instant repellency and its ability to repel rather than kill or deactivate pathogens, RepelWrap presents an effective alternative to current technologies.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Engineers have invented a way to spray extremely thin wires made of a plant-based material that could be used in N95 mask filters, devices that harvest energy for electricity, and potentially...

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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Substances such as plastics, metals, and wax are used in 3D printers to make products and parts for larger items. Products created through the 3D printing of plastics include every-thing from...

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Briefs: Materials
This method prints 3D structures made of metal and plastic, paving the way for 3D electronics.
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Briefs: Materials
This process could improve large touchscreens, LED light panels, and window-mounted infrared solar cells.
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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
SensiCut, a smart material-sensing platform for laser cutters, can differentiate among 30 materials commonly found in makerspaces.
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Briefs: Materials
Directly visualizing external stresses of plastics is useful in development of materials with improved mechanical properties.
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Articles: Green Design & Manufacturing
Once triggered, the enzyme-embedded plastics self-destruct, completely degrading and eliminating microplastics in days.
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Q&A: Materials
A chemical process produces valuable biodegradable chemicals from discarded plastics.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
High-voltage direct current cables can more efficiently transport electricity over long distances.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
The method could be applied to carbon waste streams.
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Briefs: Materials
The reaction converts 90% of plastic to jet fuel and other valuable hydrocarbon products within an hour at moderate temperatures.
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Briefs: Propulsion
A folded plastic bladder could store and pump the fuel.
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Briefs: Materials
The chemical process turns plastic into biodegradable chemicals for surfactants and detergents.
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Briefs: Materials
By reclaiming polymers in plastics, the process could cut down on millions of tons of plastic waste.
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Briefs: Materials
The high-quality bioplastics can be molded into a film that can be used in plastic bags and packaging.
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5 Ws: Green Design & Manufacturing
A new enzyme-activated compostable material could diminish microplastics pollution.
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Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
The inexpensive cameras are easy to produce.
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Briefs: Energy

Due to the chemical stability and durability of industrial polymers, plastic waste does not easily degrade in landfills and is often burned, which produces carbon dioxide and other hazardous gases. In...

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Briefs: Materials
A potential boon to green manufacturing, the new glue saves on energy, time, and space.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
A chemical process converts polyethylene plastic into a strong, valuable adhesive.
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Briefs: Materials
Ultra-thin and flexible metalenses could replace traditional camera lenses.
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Briefs: Materials
The technology welds adjacent 3D-printed layers more effectively, thereby increasing the reliability of the final part.
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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
A technique enables manufacturing of minuscule robots by interlocking multiple materials in a complex way.
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Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control
Robotic exoskeletons, a breath-test for cancer, and plastic-eating enzymes are Products of Tomorrow.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
This material could reduce persistent plastic accumulation in the environment.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
People could monitor their own health conditions by picking up a pencil and drawing a bioelectronic device on their skin.
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Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
These sensors monitor electrical loads from household appliances to support grid operations.
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