Plastics

Magazine Archives

2022 September August July June May April March February January 2021 December November October ...

Method Sprays Extremely Thin Wires on 3D Objects

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...

Multi-Material Manufacturing of Molded Composites

Researchers combined additive manufacturing with conventional compression molding to produce high-performance thermoplastic composites reinforced with short carbon fibers. The approach...

Metal-Plastic Hybrid 3D Printing

This method prints 3D structures made of metal and plastic, paving the way for 3D electronics.

Three-Layer Method Makes Plastic More Transparent and Adds Electrical Conductivity

This process could improve large touchscreens, LED light panels, and window-mounted infrared solar cells.

Lightweight, Strong Plastic Beats Steel and Bulletproof Glass

A plastic known as 2DPA-1 is super-strong and super-light.

Healable Carbon Fiber Composite

The carbon fiber reinforced material can be repeatedly healed with heat.

Tires Turned into Graphene Make Stronger Concrete

An optimized flash process could reduce carbon emissions.

A Battery Breakthrough, Made from Rubber

An everyday material that we all know well may lead to safer, longer-lasting batteries for the electric vehicle.

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.

Smart Laser Cutter System Detects Different Materials

SensiCut, a smart material-sensing platform for laser cutters, can differentiate among 30 materials commonly found in makerspaces.

Camera Captures Images of Interior of Solid Objects

The camera combines lasers, computers, and terahertz waves to see “unseen” details.

UpFront: December 2021

NASA's satellite data reveals the pandemic's effect on our atmosphere, and a team of shoebox-sized rover scouts is prepped for the lunar surface.

With Help from Heat, A Carbon-Fiber Composite Self-Heals

A team has created a new type of carbon fiber reinforced material that reverses any fatigue damage -- you just need a little heat.

Color-Changing Dyes Visualize Stress in Plastics

Directly visualizing external stresses of plastics is useful in development of materials with improved mechanical properties.

2021 Create the Future Design Contest Grand Prize Winner: Self Destructing Plastics via Embedded Enzymes

Once triggered, the enzyme-embedded plastics self-destruct, completely degrading and eliminating microplastics in days.

With Enzymes, A 'Create the Future' Winner Builds Self-Destructing Plastic

The 2021 Create the Future Design Contest winner wants to build a truly recyclable bioplastic.

Q&A: Plastics Could See Second Life as Biodegradable Surfactants

A chemical process produces valuable biodegradable chemicals from discarded plastics.

Glass Injection Molding

The process produces rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly material.

Insulation Material Enables More Efficient Electricity Distribution

High-voltage direct current cables can more efficiently transport electricity over long distances.

Manufacturing Technique Yields Flexible Electronics

With this advance, so-called “flextronics” move closer to reality.

UpFront: October 2021 Tech Briefs

NASA reveals winners of a CO2 conversion challenge.

New on the Market: September 2021

Power distribution units, pressure sensors, connector straps, and more.

Technology Converts Waste Plastics to Jet Fuel

The reaction converts 90% of plastic to jet fuel and other valuable hydrocarbon products within an hour at moderate temperatures.