Materials & Coatings

Coatings & Adhesives

Browse the latest news and technical briefs that explore coatings and adhesives. Access the coatings and adhesive applications used in military, aerospace, medical devices, and automotive.

Q&A: Semiconductors & ICs
Q&A: Underwater Smart Glue Turns On and Off
Articles: Test & Measurement
Boosting Performance in Hydraulic Systems with Alternative Coatings
Briefs: Materials
Surfaces That Grip Like Gecko Feet Could Be Easily Mass-Produced
Briefs: Materials
Essential Oils Inhibit Mold on Wood
Products: Data Acquisition
New on the Market: June 2020
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Top Stories

Blog: Sensors/Data Acquisition

'HEAT' Uses Cameras to Detect Facial Temperatures and Keep the Room Cool

Briefs: Nanotechnology

Carbon Nanostructure is Stronger Than Diamonds

Videos: Aerospace

'Mini Rover' Can Wiggle Out of Martian Sand Traps

Videos: Automotive

Design Contest Winner Jon Sumroy Shares Success Story

Blog: Test & Measurement

Answering Your Questions: Will the 2020 Mars Rover Have Back-Up Features?

Videos: Test & Measurement

Hyper-Efficient 'SlothBot' Uses Innovative Power Management Technology

Latest Briefs & News

5 Ws: Wearables
5 Ws of Bacteria-Killing Metal Surfaces
Bacterial pathogens can live on surfaces for days. What if frequently touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, could instantly kill them off?
Question of the Week: Materials
How Would You Use Gecko-Inspired Adhesion?

A team at Georgia Tech has discovered a Velcro-like way of mass-producing gecko-inspired adhesives. Principal investigator Prof. Michael Varenberg believes his team’s technology can someday be used on pick-and-place industrial machines, wall-scaling cleaners, and even small repair robots that travel...

Blog: Materials
Gecko-Inspired: Researchers Find Easier Way to Mass-Produce Adhesives
A team at Georgia Tech has discovered a Velcro-like way of mass-producing gecko-inspired adhesives.
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Low-Cost Detection of Thin Film Stress During Fabrication
This method uses fiber optic probes for measurement of semiconductors, optical coatings, magnetic read/write heads, and precision machines.
Application Briefs: Materials
Hydrophobic & Oleophobic Coating Technologies for Polymer Optics
With the recent boom in touch-based, polymer display substrates must be fingerprint-resistant.
White Papers: Materials
Developing Surface Treatment Processes for Bonding Dissimilar Materials

A recent concept in automotive lightweighting is the joining of dissimilar materials. The purpose is to tailor the materials in a structure to ensure that each part of...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Coating Extends Lithium Metal Battery Life
The coating could make lightweight lithium metal batteries safe and long-lasting for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Articles: Materials
Choose Surface Treatments Early to Avoid Future Problems
Surface treatments have limitations that demand attention early in the design process.
Briefs: Aerospace
Powder Particles for Corrosion Prevention in Rebar
The coating protects parking decks, bridges, concrete piers, offshore platforms, buildings, and cooling towers.
Briefs: Materials
Double-Sided Tape Rapidly Seals Tissues Together
The adhesive that binds wet surfaces within seconds could be used to heal wounds or implant medical devices.
Briefs: Energy
Thin Films of Barium Zirconium Sulfide Offer Exceptional Electronic Properties
These thin films hold great promise for solar cells and LEDs.
Articles: Imaging
Products of Tomorrow: March 2020
Biodegradable batteries, solid-state ultracapacitors, and infrared camouflage.
Briefs: Materials
Slippery Surfaces Allow Sticky Pastes and Gels to Slide
An engineered surface treatment can reduce waste and improve efficiency in many processes.
Briefs: Materials
Self-Cleaning, Non-Stick Coating
The coating can prevent the transfer of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and other bacteria in settings ranging from hospitals to kitchens.
Question of the Week: Energy
Will Cooling Coatings Catch On?

This month’s Tech Briefs featured a potential alternative to the air conditioner: A painted-on polymer coating that can cool down a building.

Facility Focus: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Facility Focus: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Explore Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's first space flight complex.
Briefs: Materials
Polymer Coating Cools Down Buildings
This coating acts as a spontaneous air cooler and can be fabricated, dyed, and applied like paint.
Briefs: Materials
Thermally Conductive Polymer Films
These materials may replace metals as lightweight, flexible heat dissipators in cars, computers, cellphones, and refrigerators.
Q&A: Wearables
Q&A: Electrically Conductive Coated Yarn for Wearable, Washable Fabrics
Drexel Professor Genevieve Dion is coating yarn with the highly conductive, two-dimensional material MXene.
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Soft, Skin-Like Structures for Robotic Locomotion and Transportation
These soft robots can be rolled up and carried in a pocket.
Special Reports: Materials
Advanced Materials - February 2020

Breakthroughs in plastics, composites, metals, and other materials technologies are enabling exciting new applications in industries ranging from aerospace to automotive to medical. Read more in this...

Blog: Materials
New Coating 'Confuses' Infrared Cameras by Hiding Temperature Changes
"View it as an infrared privacy shield," says Professor Mikhail Kats.
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Robotic “Cockroach” Explores Underwater Environments
This microbot can walk on land, swim, and walk underwater.
Briefs: Materials
Design Treatment for Advanced Metals Enables Easier Machining
Applying a surface-active agent makes metal easier to cut and shape into parts and pieces.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Breathable Electronic Skin Using Nanofiber Substrate
This electronic skin can track heart rate, respiration, muscle movement, and other health data.
Briefs: Materials
Optical Window for Far-IR Instruments Using Thin TOPAS® Film
This thin film can be used for ground-based and airborne applications in aircraft, balloons, and other flight missions.
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Dynamic Mechanical Strain-Induced Temperature Gradient Coating
The non-destructive coating has applications in structural health monitoring, aerospace, automotive, and military/defense.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Hardening Lightweight Metal Foams with Nanocoating
Load-bearing structures in cars and airplanes could be manufactured from the metal foam.
Question of the Week: Materials
Can Gels Stop Wildfires?

A preventive treatment developed by Stanford researchers could greatly reduce the incidence and severity of wildfires. The cellulose-based, gel-like fluid protects against fires and stays on target vegetation through rain, wind, and other environmental exposure. Watch the demo on Tech Briefs TV.

Webcasts

Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace

Understanding O-ring Complexity in the Aerospace Industry

Upcoming Webinars: Robotics, Automation & Control

The Path to High-Level Autonomy for Commercial Vehicles

Upcoming Webinars: Medical

COVID-19: The New Design Paradigm and Emerging Technologies

Upcoming Webinars: Robotics, Automation & Control

Why Multiple Sensing Modalities Are Required to Achieve Level 3...

Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace

Aviation Electrification: Choosing Your Motor Topology and...

Upcoming Webinars: Robotics, Automation & Control

Collaborative Robotics: Sharing the Workspace

Trending Stories

Application Briefs: Lighting

Harness Wireless IoT Sensors for Integrated Building Management

Facility Focus: Materials

Facility Focus: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Articles: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Lightweighting in Aerospace Component and System Design

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Picosatellite Design Incorporates Thin Aluminum Structure and Self-Clinching...

NASA Spinoff: Materials

Alloy-Enhanced Fans Maintain Fresh Air in Tunnels

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Single-Event Latchup Protection of Integrated Circuits

Videos