Materials & Manufacturing

Topics:

Browse innovative developments in materials and manufacturing that significantly impact military, medical devices, automotive, and industrial manufacturing. Advances in plastics, metals, and composites are transforming 3D printing and rapid prototyping.

Question of the Week: Materials

Will Indoor Light Someday Power Our Smart Devices?

Our lead INSIDER story today looks at “perovskite-inspired” materials that can absorb indoor light at higher efficiencies than ever before.

INSIDER: Motion Control

Printing Paper Structures for Mechatronics

Natural motion in plants occurs because of cellulose fibers absorbing and releasing water. Scientists developed a simple method to produce self-folding origami structures based on this concept....

White Papers: Defense

Hermetic Feedthroughs Block Moisture in Tomorrow's Electronics

From automotive electronic control units to weather satellites and defense systems, electronics failures can bring communications and critical functions to a sudden halt. Experts...

On-Demand Webinars: Materials

Achieving Dimensional Stability of Lightweight Thermoplastic Automotive Parts

Use of thermoplastics can contribute to weight savings for exterior components such as body panels, spoilers, and exterior trim. Some applications present...

Blog: Energy

A Solar Alternative: How to Power Devices with Indoor Light

A new material is especially effective at absorbing indoor light and converting it into usable energy.

Question of the Week: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Would You Use 'Tsugite' Software for Woodworking?

A recent INSIDER story highlighted a new tool for architects, furniture-makers, and woodworking beginners. The interactive software from the University of Tokyo, known as "Tsugite," provides milling machine instructions and on-screen design guidance so that users can piece an object together...

News: Motion Control

New Composite Material Revs Up Pursuit of Advanced EVs

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have used new techniques to create a composite that increases the electrical current capacity of copper wires, providing a...

News: Energy

New Battery Electrolyte May Boost Performance of EVs

A new lithium-based electrolyte invented by Stanford University scientists could pave the way for the next generation of battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs). Their electrolyte...

White Papers: Manufacturing & Prototyping

3D Metal Printing Titanium Hardware for Boom Supersonic

Discover how Boom Supersonic and VELO3D demonstrate additive manufacturing (AM) power and mark a turning point for supersonic travel commercial viability.

Blog: Materials

Bacteria-Fighting RepelWrap Wins 'Create the Future' Design Contest

The RepelWrap inventors explain why their product is especially valuable as the world confronts a pandemic like COVID-19.

Podcasts: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Here's an Idea: A Bug-Inspired Building Material for Mars

We spoke with Javier Gomez Fernandez from the Singapore University of Technology and Design about how Mars explorers – and even those of us on Earth – can make the most out of chitin.

On-Demand Webinars: Electronics & Computers

Watch Live at 11 am ET: The 2020 Create the Future Contest Awards

For the first time, the winners of the Create the Future Design Contest will be announced live! Join us for this special one-hour presentation as we honor our 2020 Grand Prize...

Question of the Week: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Will Paper-Based Keypads Catch On?

The “5 Ws” feature of our November issue of Tech Briefs highlights a paper-based keypad being developed at Purdue University.

INSIDER: Materials

Turning Streetwear into Solar Concentrators

Researchers at Empa and ETH Zurich succeeded in developing a material that works like a luminescent solar concentrator and can even be applied to textiles. This opens up numerous possibilities...

White Papers: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Testing Considerations for Space Copper-Water Heat Pipes

On-board processing is becoming a vital part of satellite systems engineering. This results in more high-power components and more localized waste heat than ever before. A common...

On-Demand Webinars: Materials

Technical Ceramics: The Powerhouse of Advanced Materials

The automotive landscape is evolving at an unprecedented rate, and technical ceramics are poised to assist in shaping the future. Technical ceramics are inorganic ceramic materials whose combination of unique material properties makes them the right choice for electric and hybrid...

White Papers: Materials

Ulbrich RF & Microwave Cable Wire Capability Whitepaper

While commercial and defense aviation advances, so does Ulbrich's ability to provide light weight and high strength materials that allow planes to fly more efficiently than ever. As the...

White Papers: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Industry Secrets to PCB Thermal Management

Keeping electronics at a reasonable temperature is not magic, although it may feel like it at times if you are not very familiar with the rules and situations.