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.

INSIDER: Energy

Researchers Determine Optimum Pressure to Improve the Performance of Lithium Metal Batteries

A team of materials scientists and chemists has determined the proper stack pressure that lithium metal batteries, or LMBs, need to be subjected...

INSIDER: Materials

Prize-Winning Technology for Large-Scale Energy Storage

Safe, cheap, and sustainable technology for energy storage has been developed at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Linköping University (LiU). It is based on two major...

INSIDER: Power

High-Performance Mxene Electrodes for Next-Generation Powerful Battery

Scientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has recently developed battery-like electrochemical Nb2CTx MXene electrodes.

White Papers: Medical

How to Integrate Thin, Flexible Force Sensors into a Portable, Wearable Device

As consumers demand devices that are smaller and sleeker, more design engineers are turning to thin, flexible sensors like FlexiForce™ sensors because of their...

Question of the Week: Transportation

Will Automotive and Aerospace Industries Adopt Self-Healing Composites?

An INSIDER story this month highlighted how researchers from RPI and the University of Washington have created a composite that reverses fatigue damage — after applying some heat.

Blog: Materials

Biocompatible Adhesive Gel Works Underwater

With some help from mussels and spider silk, a team of researchers has developed a strong, biocompatible adhesive that works well underwater.

White Papers: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Smart Factories Need Smarter Machines

There are many different types of businesses and companies in the machine and equipment manufacturer (OEM) space but one challenge is always the same — the market is highly competitive. Each generation...

White Papers: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Volume Ramps Versus Capital Spends

As the automotive industry continues to invest in clean energy, the volume requirements for these vehicles continues to rise. This has caused automakers and tier suppliers to be creative when purchasing...

On-Demand Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Application of Industrial Metrology in Industry 4.0

This 20-minute Lunch & Learn explores how industrial metrology tools have been successfully applied to overcome the challenges faced by manufacturers engaged in precision machining. The discussion draws from experience in aerospace, automotive, medical, consumer, and military...

White Papers: Photonics/Optics

Principles of Injection Molding

Optimizing custom part designs for injection molding requires a thorough understanding of the process and outcomes. In this ebook, you'll learn about common molding resins, special molding terms you should...

Question of the Week: Materials

Will Mars Habitats Be Made from Blood?

Transporting a single brick to Mars is extremely expensive. The high cost presents a challenge for those planning the future construction of a Martian colony.

Blog: Materials

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.

On-Demand Webinars: Imaging

Using High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography to Inspect Additive Manufactured Parts

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques are quickly replacing conventional “subtractive” machining for producing low volumes of complex parts. While some of these parts may be used for safety-critical functions, their complex nature means they are...

White Papers: Design

Smarter Products Need Smarter Development

As demand for connected products grows, the pressure to quickly create and launch innovative digital products also increases. To get an idea of how modern manufacturing organizations are adapting to...

Special Reports: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Medical Manufacturing & Outsourcing - November 2021

In this new report from the editors of Medical Design Briefs and Tech Briefs magazines, discover how the latest advances in 3D printing, machining, molding and more are changing the way...

Tech Talks: Materials

Protecting Battery Management System Electronics with Conformal Coatings

A key component in the design of any electric vehicle is the battery management system (BMS). The BMS helps to optimize the usage of the vehicle’s batteries and maintain an optimal temperature. Keeping the BMS working is critical for overall vehicle safety and...

INSIDER: Materials

Metal-Halide Perovskite Semiconductors Compete with SilicMetal-Halide Perovskite Semiconductors Compete with Silicon Counterparts for Solar Cells, LEDson Counterparts for Solar Cells, LEDs

Climate change and its consequences are becoming...

INSIDER: Photonics/Optics

Seeing the World Through Different Eyes

Infrared (IR) light is invisible to humans. However, some animals, such as rattlesnakes or bloodsucking bats, can perceive IR radiation and use it to find food. But even for humans, the ability to...

Blog: Materials

A New Idea for Cleaning Up Space Debris: Magnets

Prof. Jake J. Abbott is leading a team that has discovered a way to manipulate orbiting debris with spinning magnets.

White Papers: Design

Testing Polyimide Materials: Higher Thermo-Oxidative Stability & Mechanical Performance

Polyimide materials are high performance polymers used for temperature resistance and mechanical performance, in particular when friction is involved....

Question of the Week: Nanotechnology

Can Borophane Beat Graphene?

A Tech Brief in our November issue highlights a new material that’s super-thin and super-strong. By combining hydrogen with an atom-thick sheet of boron known as borophane, researchers from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) have created a potential alternative to the breakthrough 2D material graphene. The Argonne...

Articles: Materials

Inside Story, November 2021: Momentive Materials in Space, Defense, and Aviation

Thanos Yiagopoulos, Chief Technology Officer of Momentive Performance Materials, discusses how engineers can determine the best product for their application.