Tech Briefs

Materials & Manufacturing

Access our comprehensive library of technical briefs on materials and manufacturing, from engineering experts at NASA and government, university, and commercial laboratories.

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Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
This novel gel-creation method could open applications in water filtration, batteries, and smart windows.
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Briefs: Aerospace
The solution increases water recovery, prevents mineral scaling, and cuts the volume of brines in half.
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Briefs: Materials
The desalination method produces clean water while, at the same time, potentially capturing valuable metals such as gold.
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Briefs: Energy
The organic composite material is soft, stretchable, and has good thermoelectric properties for many wearable applications.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
This new technique shields electronics from ionizing radiation in applications such as military and space exploration.
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Briefs: Aerospace
Applications include wind turbines, solar arrays, commercial space mobile launchers, and industrial process stacks and equipment.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The microchips are about 100 times smaller than conventional microchips.
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Briefs: Energy
The battery is smaller than a traditional lithium-ion battery due to the elimination of dendrites.
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Briefs: Materials
Superalloys that withstand extremely high temperatures could be finely tuned for specific properties such as mechanical strength.
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Briefs: Energy
These organic solar cells can be useful where constant, low power generation is sufficient.
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Briefs: Nanotechnology
The technology potentially enables a new generation of miniaturized electronic and optoelectronic devices.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
High-frequency sound waves can be used to build new materials, make smart nanoparticles, and even deliver drugs to the lungs for painless, needle-free vaccinations.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
By introducing defects to a common material, a highly efficient capacitor offers dramatically increased energy density.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
By capturing more cancer cells than blood draw screening, this device could help doctors understand a tumor’s biology and make decisions about treatment.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
Prototypes show promise as a low-cost, natural filtration option.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
The high-quality bioplastics can be molded into a film that can be used in plastic bags and packaging.
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Briefs: Energy
An enhanced polymer could be used for more energy-efficient systems with a smaller carbon footprint.
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Briefs: Materials
A novel method was developed to produce an alkaline hydrogel that could improve wound healing.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
A production-based X-ray solution performs product quality evaluation directly on the manufacturing line.
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Briefs: Green Design & Manufacturing
This portable method could enable hospitals to make their own supply of the disinfectant on demand and at lower cost.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Microspheres are used in wind tunnel experiments to monitor airflow, to stain biological samples, and in time-delayed drug release.
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Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
The carbon fiber serves as the electrode, conductor, and load-bearing material.
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Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
The soft material demonstrates autonomous, heartbeat-like oscillating properties.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Terrestrial uses include physical therapy, clinical diagnosis, athletic training and performance, and robust exercise equipment.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
This wearable device is placed on the skin to measure a variety of body responses, from electrical to biomechanical signals.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
The size and shape of the nanostructure can be controlled as it is assembled piece by piece.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
The material could be used in security, health, industrial, and safety applications.
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Briefs: Materials
The new metal lattice material can be used to create models that regain shape after being crushed.
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Briefs: Energy
The new material could provide efficient and reusable protection from shock, vibration, and explosion.
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