Metallurgy

Alloys Earn Kyoto Prizes

2011-07-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

Observations: Cosmic Microwaves and Alloys Earn Kyoto Prizes: "The Inamori Foundation announced this year's Kyoto Prizes on June 24." The Advanced Technology prize went to materials scientist John W. Cahn of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.Cahn earned the Advanced Technology prize through his work on alloys. One of his theories allowed engineers to craft alloys with specific characteristics, such as strength and heat resistance, to best fit them for precise functions. In addition, he helped develop the Cahn-Hilliard equation, which describes the phase separation of a wide variety of materials, from water to galaxies. Every year, the Inamori Foundation awards the Kyoto Prizes to those around the world who have made "significant contributions to the betterment of society."

Tin additions improve corrosion resistance of steel in salt-containing environments

2011-07-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

Tin additions improve corrosion resistance of steel in salt-containing environments: "Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd., Japan, has developed a new corrosion-resistant steel that can be used for bridges in salt-containing environments such as the seaside, or in cold climates where anti-freezing agents are sprayed. The new steel has tin additions that improve corrosion resistance, and is expected to lengthen the intervals between repaints and reduce the repainting workload for such bridges.
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Making complex composite materials to order

2011-06-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

Making complex composite materials to order: "ScienceDaily (May 30, 2011) — A team of researchers at MIT has found a way to make complex composite materials whose attributes can be fine-tuned to give various desirable combinations of properties such as stiffness, strength, resistance to impacts and energy dissipation." The key feature of the new composites is a "co-continuous" structure of two different materials with very different properties, creating a material combining aspects of both. The co-continuous structure means that the two interleaved materials each form a kind of three-dimensional lattice whose pieces are fully connected to each other from side to side, front to back, and top to bottom.

New way to make lighter, stronger steel -- in a flash

2011-06-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

New way to make lighter, stronger steel -- in a flash: "ScienceDaily (June 10, 2011) — A Detroit entrepreneur surprised university engineers in Ohio recently, when he invented a heat-treatment that makes steel 7 percent stronger than any steel on record -- in less than 10 seconds.

In fact, the steel, now trademarked as Flash Bainite, has tested stronger and more shock-absorbing than the most common titanium alloys used by industry.
Now the entrepreneur is working with researchers at Ohio State University to better understand the science behind the new treatment, called flash processing.

Metallic glass: A crystal at heart

2011-06-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Metallic glass: A crystal at heart: "ScienceDaily (June 16, 2011) — Glass, by definition, is amorphous; its atoms lack order and are arranged every which way. But when scientists squeezed tiny samples of a metallic glass under high pressure, they got a surprise: The atoms lined up in a regular pattern to form a single crystal."

Rapid etching X-rayed: Physicists unveil processes during fast chemical dissolution

2011-03-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

Rapid etching X-rayed: Physicists unveil processes during fast chemical dissolution: "ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2011) — A breakthrough in the study of chemical reactions during etching and coating of materials was achieved by a research group headed by Kiel physicist, Professor Olaf Magnussen. The team from the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU), Germany, in collaboration with staff from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, have uncovered for the first time just what happens in manufacturing processes, used for the formation of metal contacts thinner than a human hair in modern consumer electronics, such as flat-screen television."

Aluminum to replace copper as a conductor in on-board power systems

2011-02-20T04:47:00.000-08:00

Aluminum to replace copper as a conductor in on-board power systems ScienceDaily (Feb. 7, 2011) — Electric power and electronics are playing an ever-increasing role in all kinds of vehicles. Currently copper is the conductive material of choice. But in comparison to aluminum copper is heavy and expensive. In particular for fully electric vehicles the switch to the cheaper and lighter aluminum would be an interesting option. That is why the optimization of intricate power supply networks is now in the focus of engineering research. Scientists from the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), in collaboration with BMW engineers, have now found out what tricks make it possible to replace copper with aluminum.

New glass stronger and tougher than steel

2011-01-16T05:42:00.000-08:00

New glass stronger and tougher than steel: "ScienceDaily (Jan. 11, 2011) — Glass stronger and tougher than steel? A new type of damage-tolerant metallic glass, demonstrating a strength and toughness beyond that of any known material, has been developed and tested by a collaboration of researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab)and the California Institute of Technology. What's more, even better versions of this new glass may be on the way."

When metals reach end of life: Researcher develops new method

2011-01-16T05:29:00.000-08:00

When metals reach end of life: Researcher develops new method: "LSU's Michael Khonsari has developed and proven a novel method to avoid the danger that comes with reaching the breaking point."

Feat of clay: From soil to super material - tech - 17 November 2010 - New Scientist

2010-11-18T03:54:00.000-08:00

Feat of clay: From soil to super material - tech - 17 November 2010 - New Scientist The stuff of pottery and piggy banks can be transformed into a nanocomposite that is stronger than steel, light as plastic and cheap as mud

Short Sharp Science: The crack that delayed Discovery

2010-11-10T18:44:00.000-08:00

Short Sharp Science: The crack that delayed Discovery A missing chunk of foam insulation was responsible for the breakup of the shuttle Colombia as it re-entered the earth's atmosphere in 2003, causing the deaths of 7 astronauts.After the cracked foam was removed on Tuesday night, cracks were found in an underlying structure called a stringer. Similar cracks were found on an external tank set to be used by the shuttle Atlantis in 2011 and "may be related to the use of lightweight materials in the latest generation of tanks".

Organic solvent system improves catalyst recycling

2010-11-03T22:13:00.000-07:00

Organic solvent system improves catalyst recycling Noble metals such as platinum and palladium are becoming increasingly important because of growth in environmentally friendly applications like fuel cells and pollution control catalysts. But the world has limited quantities of these materials, meaning manufacturers will have to rely on efficient recycling processes to help meet the demand.

Rare Earth Metals May Trigger Trade Wars : Discovery News

2010-11-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

Rare Earth Metals May Trigger Trade Wars : Discovery News Alternative energy is not the cure for energy security.
A handful of countries, including China, dominate the markets for many rare earth metals.
More domestic mining and new technologies for extracting the useful metals are needed.

Will we cope if the rare earths live up to their name? - tech - 29 October 2010 - New Scientist

2010-11-01T02:54:00.000-07:00

Will we cope if the rare earths live up to their name? - tech - 29 October 2010 - New Scientist FOR decades, the world has been busy incorporating the so-called rare earth elements into all manner of high-tech devices, including disc drives, wind turbines and hybrid cars. The messy business of mining the ore and extracting the elements was left to China, and few people in the west cared that the nation controlled 97 per cent of world supply."Rare earth" is an alternative name for the lanthanides - elements 57 to 71 - plus yttrium and scandium, and despite the name most of them were not considered rare at all. The elements hit the headlines a few weeks ago, when China appeared to be blocking exports to Japan and the US. The Chinese government, which has also been tightening its export quotas, claims that it needs to clean up mining procedures and support its own growing demand for rare earths.

Short Sharp Science: China sparks concern over rare earth metal supply

2010-10-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Short Sharp Science: China sparks concern over rare earth metal supply China currently provides 97 per cent of the world's rare earth elements (REEs), but it has been imposing export quotas for some time. Last July, it slashed the quotas for REEs and recently made plans for further dramatic cuts, according to the China Daily newspaper. Please remember that these Rare elements are an essential component of gadgets in your home, from iPods to LCD TVs.

New materials could replace costly gold in electrical applications

2010-10-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

New materials could replace costly gold in electrical applications ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2010) — Researchers at the University of Connecticut, partnering with United Technologies Research Center engineers, have modeled and developed new classes of alloy materials for use in electronic applications that will reduce reliance on costly gold and other precious metals.

Rare Earths: Elemental Needs of the Clean-Energy Economy: Scientific American

2010-10-13T20:24:00.000-07:00

Rare Earths: Elemental Needs of the Clean-Energy Economy: Scientific American A massive wind turbine—capable of turning the breeze into two million watts of power—has 40-meter-long blades made from fiberglass, towers 90 meters above the ground, weighs hundreds of metric tons, and fundamentally relies on roughly 300 kilograms of a soft, silvery metal known as neodymium—a so-called rare earth.

Titanium foams replace injured bones

2010-10-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

Titanium foams replace injured bones ScienceDaily (Sep. 22, 2010) — Flexible yet rigid like a human bone, and immediately capable of bearing loads: A new kind of implant, made of titanium foam, resembles the inside of a bone in terms of its structural configuration. Not only does this make it less stiff than conventional massive implants. It also promotes ingrowth into surrounding bones

Short Sharp Science: Is this the start of the element wars?

2010-09-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Short Sharp Science: Is this the start of the element wars? Chinese customs officials are blocking shipments to Japan of rare earth elements (REEs) and companies have been informally told not to export them, says The New York Times.

Titanium foam builds Wolverine bones - health - 23 September 2010 - New Scientist

2010-09-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Titanium foam builds Wolverine bones - health - 23 September 2010 - New Scientist Bone implants are typically made of solid metal – usually titanium. Though well tolerated by the body, such implants are significantly stiffer than bone.Now Prof.Quadbeck and colleagues have created a titanium implant with a foam-like structure, inspired by the spongy nature of bone. The titanium foam does a better job than solid metal when it comes to matching the mechanical properties of bone, such as flexibility, and this encourages more effective bone regrowth.

Elements by Tom Lehrer

2010-09-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

Nanostructures give alloy super strength

2010-09-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Nanostructures give alloy super strength

Space Colonists Could Use Bacteria to Mine Minerals on Mars and the Moon: Scientific American

2010-09-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

Space Colonists Could Use Bacteria to Mine Minerals on Mars and the Moon: Scientific American Microbes currently are used in mining to help recover metals such as gold, copper and uranium. Now researchers suggest bacteria could be enlisted for "bio-mining" in space, to extract oxygen, nutrients and minerals from extraterrestrial bodies such as the moon and Mars for use by future colonists there.

Vizag steel plnt sets record

2010-09-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

09.09.2010:Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (Visakhapatnam Steel Plant) produced 2.52 lakh tonnes of saleable steel during August this year, recording a growth of 9 per cent over August-2009.During the five months of April-August 2010, VSP produced 12.23 lakh tonnes of saleable steel which is also higher compared to corresponding period last year.WelCome to Steel Group

CO₂-free method of producing Iron

2010-09-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

CO₂-free method of producing Iron: "George Washington University Professor Stuart Licht has developed a revolutionary CO₂-free method of producing iron that could provide a breakthrough for an industry that has been using the same polluting process of iron smelting for more than three thousand years."

Materials science-the big winner in R&D awards

2010-08-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

TMS - The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society Group News | LinkedIn Materials science was big winner in the 2010 R&D 100 Awards, announced in July by R&D Magazine. Considered the “Oscars of invention”, the awards recognize the top 100 scientific and technological innovations of the past year as judged by a team of independent experts and the editors of R&D Magazine.

First gold-iron alloy shows power of magnetic attraction - tech - 19 August 2010 - New Scientist

2010-08-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

First gold-iron alloy shows power of magnetic attraction - tech - 19 August 2010 - New Scientist: "GOLD readily forms alloys with the precious metals silver and palladium, but it normally blends with cheap iron about as well as oil mixes with water. That has now changed, with the creation of a gold-iron alloy that is held together by magnetism."

Transformers: More than meets the eye

2010-08-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

Transformers: More than meets the eye

UWM researchers deliver stronger, lighter, cheaper alloys

2010-08-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

UWM researchers deliver stronger, lighter, cheaper alloys: "Cast metal matrix composites (MMCs), they are cheaper, lighter and stronger than their original alloys. In fact, an aluminum-based MMC developed at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) can replace iron-based alloys."

Lithium's Role as a Green Power Material , Green Tech - weSRCH

2010-08-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Lithium's Role as a Green Power Material , Green Tech - weSRCH

Waste steel in the Gulf of Mexico

2010-07-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Waste steel in the Gulf of Mexico: "ScienceDaily (June 10, 2010) — The huge tonnages of waste steel from decommissioned offshore oil and gas structures represents a serious problem for operators looking to recoup losses and avoid environmental harm."

Self-healing concrete: Research yields cost-effective system to extend life of structures

2010-05-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Self-healing concrete: Research yields cost-effective system to extend life of structures: "ScienceDaily (May 25, 2010) — Efforts to extend the life of structures and reduce repair costs have led engineers to develop 'smart materials' that have self-healing properties, but many of these new materials are difficult to commercialize. A new self-healing concrete developed and tested by a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island, however, may prove to be cost-effective."

Nondestructive methods for evaluating ancient coins could be worth their weight in gold

2010-05-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Nondestructive methods for evaluating ancient coins could be worth their weight in gold: "Scientists have shown that sensitive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques can be used to determine the elemental composition of ancient coins, even coins that generally have been considered too corroded for such methods."

I-Micronews - NANOMATERIALS : NIST scientists gain new ‘core’ understanding of nanopartic...

2010-05-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

I-Micronews - NANOMATERIALS : NIST scientists gain new ‘core’ understanding of nanopartic...: "While attempting to solve one mystery about iron oxide-based nanoparticles, a research team working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) stumbled upon another one. But once its implications are understood, their discovery* may give nanotechnologists a new and useful tool."

Scientists reveal secret of nanoparticle crystallization in real time

2010-05-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

Scientists reveal secret of nanoparticle crystallization in real time: "Using high-resolution X-ray scattering at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Jiang and the others examined the crystallization process in unprecedented detail as it forms in real time. They discovered that the nanoparticle arrays formed at the liquid-air interface can enter a regime of a highly crystalline phase defined in the classical two-dimensional crystal theory."

Short Sharp Science: Mining garbage for tomorrow's metals

2010-05-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

Short Sharp Science: Mining garbage for tomorrow's metals: "As we have reported (here and here), the world is facing looming shortages of ruthenium, and other metals few people have ever heard of - indium, tellurium, selenium, gallium, neodymium and more."

I-Micronews - NANOMATERIALS : Nanotubes that heal: Engineering better orthopedic implants...

2010-05-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

I-Micronews - NANOMATERIALS : Nanotubes that heal: Engineering better orthopedic implants...: "Titanium and its alloys have a leg up on all other materials used to make the orthopedic implants used by surgeons to repair damaged bones and joints. They are light, super-strong, and virtually inert inside the body. But whether the implants are destined for your knee, your hip, your spine or your jaw, the silvery metal has one big drawback."Titanium has a mirror surface,” says Tolou Shokufar, a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering–engineering mechanics. Cells don’t adhere to it very well, so implants are often roughened up before they are placed in the body.A good way to roughen titanium is to etch nanotubes into it, since they provide a superb surface for bone cells to grasp onto as part of the healing process."

YouTube - How it's made - Stainless steel ( RO Sub )

2010-05-18T23:24:00.000-07:00

YouTube - How it's made - Stainless steel ( RO Sub )

New material can keep electronics cool: Few atomic layers of graphene reveal unique thermal properties

2010-05-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

New material can keep electronics cool: Few atomic layers of graphene reveal unique thermal properties: "ScienceDaily (May 10, 2010) — Professor Alexander Balandin and a team of UC Riverside researchers, including Chun Ning Lau, an associate professor of physics, have taken another step toward new technology that could keep laptops and other electronic devices from overheating."

Nanotube transistor will help us bond with machines - tech - 12 May 2010 - New Scientist

2010-05-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

Nanotube transistor will help us bond with machines - tech - 12 May 2010 - New Scientist: "A novel transistor controlled by the chemical that provides the energy for our cells' metabolism could be a big step towards making prosthetic devices that can be wired directly into the nervous system."

Making serial parts out of metal powder

2010-05-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

Making serial parts out of metal powder: "ScienceDaily (May 8, 2010) — Complex-shaped components in aircraft engines can be produced quickly and at a reasonable price using selective laser melting. This has been demonstrated by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in the EU-sponsored FANTASIA project."

How shape-memory materials remember

2010-05-02T03:45:00.000-07:00

How shape-memory materials remember: "By studying the way that composition affects a shape-memory material, and comparing measurements to theoretical calculations, it will be possible to understand what makes the materials work, and allow physicists to develop new and improved varieties shape-changing metals."

Liquid-solid interactions, as never before seen: New technique improves researchers’ ability to measure a key property of material surfaces

2010-05-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

Liquid-solid interactions, as never before seen: New technique improves researchers’ ability to measure a key property of material surfaces: "A team of MIT researchers has found a way to obtain images that improves the resolution of wettability measurements by a factor of 10,000 or more, allowing for unprecedented precision in determining the details of the interactions between liquids and solid surfaces. In addition, the new method can be used to study curved, textured or complex solid surfaces,"

Mechanism and Kinetics of Spontaneous Nanotube Growth Driven by Screw Dislocations -- Morin et al. 328 (5977): 476 -- Science

2010-04-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Mechanism and Kinetics of Spontaneous Nanotube Growth Driven by Screw Dislocations -- Morin et al. 328 (5977): 476 -- Science: "We show that nanotube growth can be driven by axial screw dislocations: Self-perpetuating growth spirals enable anisotropic growth, and the dislocation strain energy overcomes the surface energy required for creating a new inner surface forming hollow tubes spontaneously."

Materials research advances reliability of faster 'smart sensors'

2010-04-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

Materials research advances reliability of faster 'smart sensors' In military and security situations, a split second can make the difference between life and death, so North Carolina State University's development of new "smart sensors" that allow for faster response times from military applications is important. Equally important is new research from NC State that will help ensure those sensors will operate under extreme conditions – like those faced in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

Fractals

2010-04-18T20:10:00.000-07:00

Fractals

Fractals

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Wireless nano sensors could save bridges, buildings

2010-04-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Wireless nano sensors could save bridges, buildings ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2010) — Could inexpensive wireless sensors based on nanotechnology be used to alert engineers to problematic cracks and damage to buildings, bridges, and other structures before they become critical? A feasibility study published in the International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity would suggest so.

Scientists create 'molecular paper' -- largest two-dimensional polymer crystal self-assembled in water

2010-04-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

Scientists create 'molecular paper' -- largest two-dimensional polymer crystal self-assembled in water ScienceDaily (Apr. 15, 2010) — Two-dimensional, "sheet-like" nanostructures are commonly employed in biological systems such as cell membranes, and their unique properties have inspired interest in materials such as graphene.

PeerPower : Next big thing is really small

2010-04-09T08:14:00.000-07:00

PeerPower : Next big thing is really small: "On November 9, 1989, a new era dawned. The event that ushered in this era had nothing to do with the historic collapse of the Berlin Wall.

Instead, the momentous event took place in the quiet confines of IBM’s Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California.

It was on that day that two IBM scientists, Don Eigler and Erhard Schweizer, purposely manipulated individual atoms to build a structure, a simple IBM logo. What made the logo so special was that it was created out of only 35 xenon atoms…"

Two-Dimensional Phonon Transport in Supported Graphene -- Seol et al. 328 (5975): 213 -- Science

2010-04-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Two-Dimensional Phonon Transport in Supported Graphene -- Seol et al. 328 (5975): 213 -- Science: "The reported thermal conductivity ({kappa}) of suspended graphene, 3000 to 5000 watts per meter per kelvin, exceeds that of diamond and graphite. Thus, graphene can be useful in solving heat dissipation problems such as those in nanoelectronics."

Discover Some Beauties From The Earth Bowels

2010-04-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

Discover Some Beauties From The Earth Bowels

Discover Some Beauties From The Earth Bowels

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Frictional Characteristics of Atomically Thin Sheets -- Lee et al. 328 (5974): 76 -- Science

2010-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

Frictional Characteristics of Atomically Thin Sheets -- Lee et al. 328 (5974): 76 -- Science: "Using friction force microscopy, we compared the nanoscale frictional characteristics of atomically thin sheets of graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), niobium diselenide, and hexagonal boron nitride exfoliated onto a weakly adherent substrate (silicon oxide) to those of their bulk counterparts. Measurements down to single atomic sheets revealed that friction monotonically increased as the number of layers decreased for all four materials. Suspended graphene membranes showed the same trend, but binding the graphene strongly to a mica surface suppressed the trend"

Wakonda's Lost Wax Process for Solar : Greentech Media

2010-04-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Wakonda's Lost Wax Process for Solar : Greentech Media: "The key is the process. The company takes a sheet of copper and heats it to create a repeating grain pattern. The copper is then coated with another substance, which effectively becomes a mold of the pattern in the copper. The copper is then eliminated and active solar materials are added. Because of the shape of the second substrate, the solar materials take on the same pattern of the now-absent copper."

Stunning Research Shows High Potential for DNA Damage from Nanoparticles

2010-03-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Stunning Research Shows High Potential for DNA Damage from Nanoparticles: "(NaturalNews) Nanoparticles may be able to damage the DNA of cells without ever coming into contact with it, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Bristol Implant Research Center and published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology."

Safer nuclear reactors with self-healing nanocrystalline materials

2010-03-28T04:14:00.000-07:00

Safer nuclear reactors with self-healing nanocrystalline materials: "Science Daily (Mar. 26, 2010) — Self-repairing materials within nuclear reactors may one day become a reality as a result of research by Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists."

Nanotechnology: exploiting the fourth independent degree of freedom - Small Times

2010-03-23T04:18:00.000-07:00

Nanotechnology: exploiting the fourth independent degree of freedom - Small Times: "Executive overview
The many thoughtful definitions of nanotechnology offered in the media and literature in recent years do well in conveying a general idea. However, the most salient point, the essence of nanotechnology, is ignored or possibly unnoticed by most. At the heart of nanotechnology is the exploitation of size as an independent, fourth degree of freedom. This rarely acknowledged fact is discussed and examples presented."

New ceramic is not afraid of the cold - tech - 22 March 2010 - New Scientist

2010-03-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

New ceramic is not afraid of the cold - tech - 22 March 2010 - New Scientist: "Dunk a hot ceramic into cold water and it will crack as the material contracts too rapidly to hold together – until now. New ceramics have been developed that wrap themselves in a blanket of insulating air to buffer the effects of sudden changes in the temperature of its environment."

Compliant systems: Flexible yet strong materials allow aircraft wings to flex with air flow

2010-03-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Compliant systems: Flexible yet strong materials allow aircraft wings to flex with air flow: "ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2010) — Those who witnessed the first takeoff of an Airbus A380 Superjumbo from Zurich airport at the end of January know that elegant is not the right word for the aircraft. On the other hand it is perfect to describe a crane as it leaves the ground, rising in a seemingly weightless fashion. This is not just because of the difference in size and weight -- the bird uses its flying surfaces in a completely different manner to the machine. It steers itself by continually varying the geometry of its wings."

NewsDaily: Experts design elastic iron for surgeries, buildings

2010-03-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

NewsDaily: Experts design elastic iron for surgeries, buildings: "HONG KONG, Mar. 19, 2010 (Reuters) — Researchers in Japan have designed a super-elastic iron alloy which they hope can be used in sophisticated heart and brain surgeries and even buildings in earthquake zones."

Metallic glass yields secrets under pressure

2010-03-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

Metallic glass yields secrets under pressure: "ScienceDaily (Mar. 17, 2010) — Metallic glasses are emerging as potentially useful materials at the frontier of materials science research. They combine the advantages and avoid many of the problems of normal metals and glasses, two classes of materials with a very wide range of applications. For example, metallic glasses are less brittle than ordinary glasses and more resilient than conventional metals."

Designer nanomaterials on demand: Scientists report universal method for creating nanoscale composites

2010-03-21T07:16:00.000-07:00

Designer nanomaterials on demand: Scientists report universal method for creating nanoscale composites: "Now, researchers at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, in collaboration with researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, have shown how nanocomposites with desired properties can be designed and fabricated by first assembling nanocrystals and nanorods coated with short organic molecules, called ligands. These ligands are then replaced with clusters of metal chalcogenides, such as copper sulfide. As a result, the clusters link to the nanocrystal or nanorod building blocks and help create a stable nanocomposite. The team has applied this scheme to more than 20 different combinations of materials, including close-packed nanocrystal spheres for thermoelectric materials and vertically aligned nanorods for solar cells."

Silver proves its mettle for nanotech applications

2010-03-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Silver proves its mettle for nanotech applications

Ferrous Polycrystalline Shape-Memory Alloy Showing Huge Superelasticity -- Tanaka et al. 327 (5972): 1488 -- Science

2010-03-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

Ferrous Polycrystalline Shape-Memory Alloy Showing Huge Superelasticity -- Tanaka et al. 327 (5972): 1488 -- Science: "Shape-memory alloys, such as Ni-Ti and Cu-Zn-Al, show a large reversible strain of more than several percent due to superelasticity. In particular, the Ni-Ti–based alloy, which exhibits some ductility and excellent superelastic strain, is the only superelastic material available for practical applications at present. We herein describe a ferrous polycrystalline, high-strength, shape-memory alloy exhibiting a superelastic strain of more than 13%, with a tensile strength above 1 gigapascal, which is almost twice the maximum superelastic strain obtained in the Ni-Ti alloys. Furthermore, this ferrous alloy has a very large damping capacity and exhibits a large reversible change in magnetization during loading and unloading. This ferrous shape-memory alloy has great potential as a high-damping and sensor material."

ArcelorMittal to shift Rs 50k-cr project to Bokaro

2010-03-19T04:37:00.000-07:00

ArcelorMittal to shift Rs 50k-cr project to Bokaro: "New Delhi: Disappointed over delays in the launch of its Rs 50,000-crore steel project in Jharkhand, global steel giant ArcelorMittal is set to relocate its plant proposed at Khunti-Gumla to Bokaro district in the state mainly on account of land acquisition problems. The steelmaker had entered into a pact with the Jharkhand government for setting up a 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant in 2005 but has been facing delays in land acquisition amid regulatory hurdles."

Material tested could guarantee body protheses for more than 150 years

2010-03-08T04:53:00.000-08:00

Material tested could guarantee body protheses for more than 150 years: "The PhD thesis is titled 'Development of a new nanocompound material made of zirconia with coated carbon nanotubes, for orthopaedic applications.' Garmendia wished to show that the aging and cracking of prostheses could be avoided. To begin with, carbon nanotubes were added to the zirconia matrix -- a technique that greatly strengthens its resistance. With this composite material as a base research was initiated."

India’s Steel Plans through 2015

2010-03-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

One of the defining features of the global steel industry is its tendency to build excess capacity. Not so when it comes to the Indian steel industry. As it is well known, China and India both began at the same level when India won Independence. But now, the dragon nation has leapfrogged us and gone so far ahead that comparisons sound ridiculous. In the last 6 years, China added a whopping 300 m tonnes when we added a mere 20 m tonnes. Not that India cannot make up for lost time. After all, we are blessed with abundant raw material, especially in the Eastern part of the country. The problem is delays over land acquisition and mineral rights. More transparency and professionalism could help overcome that.

In fact, there are several 10 to 12 m tonnes capacity Greenfield ventures lined up. Investors have rushed in to sign as many as 222 memoranda of understanding for building 276 m tonnes of new steel capacity. Not that all of them are willing or able. But the serious players have hung around despite the recent financial crisis. ArcelorMittal and Posco are still keen on India. And so are Tata Steel, JSW, JSPL and Essar. Little wonder then that the steel minister believes that India can become the second largest steel producer in the world by 2015, next only to China. But it is high time the government started helping these players and stopped dragging its feet.
Source: The 5 Minute Wrapup, March 3, 2010

The History of Stainless Steel (Pre-Publication)

2010-02-24T19:46:00.000-08:00

The History of Stainless Steel (Pre-Publication): "“Chemical engineers designing, operating and maintaining their ever-expanding industry during the second half of the 20th century relied heavily on stainless steels. Few, however, were familiar with or understood its history. This treatise satisfies that shortcoming in an interesting, readable manner."

Nanoscale structures with superior mechanical properties developed

2010-02-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

Nanoscale structures with superior mechanical properties developed: "ScienceDaily (Feb. 13, 2010) — Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a way to make some notoriously brittle materials ductile -- yet stronger than ever -- simply by reducing their size."

New knowledge about the deformation of nanocrystals offers new tools for nanotechnology

2010-02-07T04:53:00.000-08:00

New knowledge about the deformation of nanocrystals offers new tools for nanotechnology: "With new, advanced equipment, scientists at Risø DTU have shown that materials to produce micro-and nanocomponents react very differently depending on whether crystals are large or small. This research creates important knowledge that can be used to develop technologies aimed at the nanoproduction of micro-electro-mechanical systems such as digital microphones in mobile phones, miniature pressure sensors in water pumps and acceleration sensors in airbags."

"Introduction to Nanoscience" Provides Readers with Overview of Emerging Discipline

2010-02-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

"Introduction to Nanoscience" Provides Readers with Overview of Emerging Discipline: "Stuart Lindsay, Arizona State University Regents' professor and director of the Biodesign Institute's Center for Single Molecule Biophysics, has just released the first comprehensive guide to a tiny world a million times smaller than a single grain of sand. Introduction to Nanoscience (published by Oxford University Press) provides readers with an overview of an emerging discipline which has in recent years, produced remarkable achievements in areas as varied as DNA sequencing, molecular machinery, nanocrystals and microscopy."

ATI Allvac® 718Plus®

2010-02-03T04:56:00.000-08:00

ATI Allvac® 718Plus® The superalloy for the 21at century.
Allvac® 718Plus® alloy was developed to be a lower cost alloy capable of use at higher temperatures than 718 with similar manufacturability compared with existing superalloys. This new alloy achieves this and much more. Utilizing 718Plus alloy in gas turbine applications is showing a substantial cost savings without sacrificing the strength and safety that are needed in critical parts. With evaluations in the final stages, major manufacturers are gearing up to put 718Plus alloy into production.

Spray-On 'Liquid Glass' Protects Surfaces From Just About Anything | Popular Science

2010-02-03T04:50:00.000-08:00

Spray-On 'Liquid Glass' Protects Surfaces From Just About Anything | Popular Science

Materials Today - Innovative metallic glass shows promise for bone surgery

2010-01-30T07:10:00.000-08:00

Materials Today - Innovative metallic glass shows promise for bone surgery: "A team of scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich, www.ethz.ch), Switzerland, has developed an innovative biodegradable metallic glass that might one day replace the metal implants currently used to repair bone fractures"

WWW > News Item

2010-01-28T05:58:00.000-08:00

WWW > News Item: "Oshkosh Corporation announces that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded research funding to the joint-development team on which Oshkosh is a member. The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) funding is projected to be nearly $5 million over a five-year duration. With the team providing in-kind contribution of engineering resources, the project’s total value is approximately $10 million."

Global supply of rare earth elements could be wiped out by 2012

2010-01-26T07:18:00.000-08:00

Global supply of rare earth elements could be wiped out by 2012: "The rare earth bubble is due to pop in 2012, potentially devastating the industries of western nations that depend on these rare elements.

What industries are those? The automobile industry uses tens of thousands of tons of rare earth elements each year, and advanced military technology depends on these elements, too. Lots of 'green' technologies depend on them, including wind turbines, low-energy light bulbs and hybrid car batteries. In fact, much of western civilization depends on rare earth elements such as terbium, lanthanum and neodymium."

weSRCH.com - Potential Benefits of Nanomaterials - Paper Details

2010-01-01T18:40:00.000-08:00

weSRCH.com - Potential Benefits of Nanomaterials - Paper Details

Valuable, rare, raw earth materials extracted from industrial waste stream

2009-12-28T04:50:00.000-08:00

Valuable, rare, raw earth materials extracted from industrial waste stream

Nanoparticles to be incorporated into traditional castings

2009-12-23T04:14:00.000-08:00

WWW > News Item: "Nanoparticles to be incorporated into traditional castings"

Micro-alloyed fine-grained steels designed for stamped auto parts

2009-12-23T04:07:00.000-08:00

WWW > News Item

Report: China plans reserve for rare earths, AS - Yahoo! India News

2009-12-23T03:28:00.000-08:00

Report: China plans reserve for rare earths, AS - Yahoo! India News

Heat reistant metallic nano-particles

2009-12-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

First Metallic Nanoparticles Resistant to Extreme Heat

ScienceDaily (Dec. 1, 2009) — A University of Pittsburgh team overcame a major hurdle plaguing the development of nanomaterials such as those that could lead to more efficient catalysts used to produce hydrogen and render car exhaust less toxic. The researchers reported Nov. 29 in Nature Materials the first demonstration of high-temperature stability in metallic nanoparticles, the vaunted next-generation materials hampered by a vulnerability to extreme heat.

Götz Veser, an associate professor and CNG Faculty Fellow of chemical and petroleum engineering in Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering, and Anmin Cao, the paper's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in Veser's lab, created metal-alloy particles in the range of 4 nanometers that can withstand temperatures of more than 850 degrees Celsius, at least 250 degrees more than typical metallic nanoparticles. Forged from the catalytic metals platinum and rhodium, the highly reactive particles work by dumping their heat-susceptible components as temperatures rise, a quality Cao likened to a gecko shedding its tail in self-defense.

"The natural instability of particles at this scale is an obstacle for many applications, from sensors to fuel production," Veser said. "The amazing potential of nanoparticles to open up completely new fields and allow for dramatically more efficient processes has been shown in laboratory applications, but very little of it has translated to real life because of such issues as heat sensitivity. For us to reap the benefits of nanoparticles, they must withstand the harsh conditions of actual use."

Veser and Cao present an original approach to stabilizing metallic catalysts smaller than 5 nanometers. Materials within this size range boast a higher surface area and permit near-total particle utilization, allowing for more efficient reactions. But they also fuse together at around 600 degrees Celsius-lower than usual reaction temperatures for many catalytic processes-and become too large. Attempts to stabilize the metals have involved encasing them in heat-resistant nanostructures, but the most promising methods were only demonstrated in the 10- to 15-nanometer range, Cao wrote. Veser himself has designed oxide-based nanostructures that stabilized particles as small as 10 nanometers.

For the research in Nature Materials, he and Cao blended platinum and rhodium, which has a high melting point. They tested the alloy via a methane combustion reaction and found that the composite was not only a highly reactive catalyst, but that the particles maintained an average size of 4.3 nanometers, even during extended exposure to 850-degree heat. In fact, small amounts of 4-nanometer particles remained after the temperature topped 950 degrees Celsius, although the majority had ballooned to eight-times that size.

Veser and Cao were surprised to find that the alloy did not simply endure the heat. It instead sacrificed the low-tolerance platinum then reconstituted itself as a rhodium-rich catalyst to finish the reaction. At around 700 degrees Celsius, the platinum-rhodium alloy began to melt. The platinum "bled" from the particle and formed larger particles with other errant platinum, leaving the more durable alloyed particles to weather on. Veser and Cao predicted that this self-stabilization would occur for all metal catalysts alloyed with a second, more durable metal.

Veser and Cao conducted their work with support from the National Energy Technology Laboratory, the lead research and development office for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy, as well as the DOE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the National Science Foundation.

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Understanding mechanical properties of silicon nanowires paves way for nanodevices

2009-12-06T04:54:00.000-08:00

Understanding mechanical properties of silicon nanowires paves way for nanodevices

Science news videos from Scientific American

2009-11-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

Science news videos from Scientific American
China's 'rare-earth' monopoly

5215_3f_a0005400.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2009-11-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

5215_3f_a0005400.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Crystal Plasticity Fundamentals.

WWW > News Item-Nanotubes Make Aluminum Nearly as Strong as Steel

2009-11-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

WWW > News Item

WWW > News Item-Joint IISc-ISRO Team Develops Facility to Study Effects of Cryo-Treatment on Materials Developed by ISRO for Space Applications

2009-11-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

WWW > News Item

WWW > News Item-Aluminum diesel piston has improved fatigue strength

2009-11-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

WWW > News Item-Federal-Mogul Corporation has developed an innovative aluminum piston design

Hollow Spheres Made Of Metal

2009-11-09T06:37:00.000-08:00

Hollow Spheres Made Of Metal

Metallic Glass For Bone Surgery

2009-10-27T05:26:00.000-07:00

Metallic Glass For Bone Surgery

A toch of glass for metals

2009-07-05T05:18:00.001-07:00

ScienceDaily (July 4, 2009) — Better predictions of how many valuable materials behave under stress could be on the way from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where scientists have recently found evidence of an important similarity between the behavior of polycrystalline materials—such as metals and ceramics—and glasses.

See also:

Matter & Energy

Reference

Most metals and ceramics used in manufacturing are polycrystals. The steel in a bridge girder is formed from innumerable tiny metal crystals that grew together in a patchwork as the molten steel cooled and solidified. Each crystal, or “grain,” is highly ordered on the inside, but in the thin boundaries it shares with the grains around it, the molecules are quite disorderly. Because grain boundaries profoundly affect the mechanical and electrical properties of polycrystalline materials, engineers would like a better understanding of grain boundaries’ formation and behavior. Unfortunately, grain boundary formation in most technically useful alloys has eluded efforts to observe it for a century.

“You’d like to have simple engineering rules regarding how a material’s going to break,” says NIST materials scientist Jack Douglas. “For example, corrosion typically travels along grain boundaries, so polycrystals usually fracture along them. But metals melt and deform at very high temperatures, so observing them under those conditions is a challenge.”

While some scientists had speculated that the molecules in grain boundaries behave similarly to the way molecules do in glass-forming liquids, whose properties are well understood, none had found conclusive evidence to back up such a claim. That started to change when NIST theorist James Warren saw a conference presentation by the University of Alberta’s Hao Zhang concerning some odd “strings” of atoms in his simulation of grain boundary motion using a simulation technique called molecular dynamics. The collective atomic behavior observed in grain boundaries reminded the team of prior findings made at NIST about glass-forming liquids, whose atoms also form strings.

Subsequently, the team showed that the strings of atoms arising in grain boundaries are strikingly similar in form, distribution and temperature dependence to the string-like collective atomic motions generally found in glass-forming liquids—and that properties for both types of substances change with temperature in virtually the same way. “This work represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of grain boundaries,” Douglas says. “All the important qualities relating to atomic motion in both of these types of materials—the development of these string-like atomic motions, or the amplitude at which their atoms rattle—are strikingly similar. For all intents and purposes, grain boundaries are a type of glass.”

Douglas says the findings could permit substantial progress in predicting the failure of many materials important in construction and manufacturing and could improve our understanding of how crystals form boundaries with one another.

Journal reference:

Zhang et al. Grain boundaries exhibit the dynamics of glass-forming liquids. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009; 106 (19): 7735 DOI:10.1073/pnas.0900227106

Adapted from materials provided by National Institute of Standards and Technology.

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Lead-Free Soldering

2009-06-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Engineers Investigate Lead-Free Soldering

ScienceDaily (June 27, 2009) — Research carried out by a University of Leicester engineer aims to improve reliability of lead-free soldering alloys that are used to make electronic devices.This attempt to take one more step towards implementing new environmentally-friendly materials in electronics production is supported by the Materials Research Group, Department of Engineering, University of Leicester.

Due to the considerable toxicity of lead, health concerns, environmental and legislation reasons efforts have been made to replace the traditional soldering alloys with new compositions. However, the reliability of the new Lead-Free materials requires further investigation.

Sergey Belyakov will be presenting his research at the Festival of Postgraduate Research which is taking place on the 25th June at the University of Leicester.

Belyakov said: “Traditional lead-based alloys have a 50 year history and there has been extensive investigation of their micro-structural stability and reliability.”

“New solder materials have been proposed to replace the traditional alloys but there may be a deterioration in the reliability of solder-joints and consequently, the reliability of a piece of electronic equipment.

“The objective of the research is to bridge the technical gaps and meet the challenges of lead-free solder application in the electronics industry through the fundamental understanding of lead-free assembly and reliability issues.

“The research also demonstrates the effect of lead-free solder alloy composition on the interfacial reactions and micro-structural features.”

TMS Board Approves Advocacy Policy

2009-06-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

The TMS Board of Directors has approved a policy that sets guidelines for taking an advocacy position of significance to the materials science and technology community. The policy, TMS Advocacy Guiding Values and Approval Process, which was approved in May, identifies guiding values and advocacy activities to be followed when considering requests to sign letters or endorse position papers.

The guiding values are:

Recognizing the importance of advocacy and the involvement of ordinary citizens in the political process, TMS will work to educate our elected officials through the efforts of its own Public & Governmental Affairs (P&GA) Committee and in unison with other professional societies. These efforts will focus on the promotion of materials science and technology and involve themes that are widely shared by the TMS membership.
TMS will not advocate for a position that favors one technology solution or member group over another.
TMS will not engage in any advocacy activities that will fall into the category of lobbying and jeopardize TMS' 501(c)(3) status.
TMS will not advocate any positions that impact any specific regulation that may benefit member organizations in a preferential way.
TMS will be transparent in determining and communicating those positions for which it does provide advocacy and will openly communicate its endorsement activities.

Focus areas addressed in the new policy are: funding for broad-based materials-related research and development; support for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs; promoting the materials science and engineering profession; production, use, conservation, and storage of energy; environmental and health impacts and applications of materials; sustainable materials design and processing, including resource recovery and recyclability; and more effective approaches to the issuance of visas that maintain open borders for genuine scientific exchange.

A copy of the TMS Advocacy Guiding Values and Approval Process, along with any TMS-endorsed advocacy position, can be found in the TMS Public Affairs and Governmental Resource Center.

Is Nanotechnology Safe? Interactions Between Nanomaterials And Biological Systems Explored

2009-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Is Nanotechnology Safe? Interactions Between Nanomaterials And Biological Systems Explored

US physicists create thinnest superconducting metal June 9th, 2009 - 4:51 am ICT by IANS

2009-06-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Washington, June 9 (Xinhua) A superconducting metal sheet with just two atoms thick has been developed by physicists at the University of Texas in Austin.
The university said in a statement Monday that it was the thinnest superconducting metal layer ever created.

The development of the thin superconducting sheets of lead lays the groundwork for future advancements in superconductor technologies.

The superconductors are unique as they can maintain an electrical current indefinitely with no power source. They are used in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines, particle accelerators, quantum interference devices and other applications.

Professor Ken Shih and his colleagues first reported about their creation in the June 5 issue of Science.

“To be able to control this material - to shape it into new geometries - and explore what happens is very exciting,” says Shih. “My hope is that this superconductive surface will enable one to build devices and study new properties of superconductivity.”

In superconductors, electrons move through the material together in pairs, called Cooper pairs.

One of the innovative properties of Shih’s ultra-thin lead is that it confines the electrons to move in two dimensions. Quite uniquely, the lead remains a good superconductor despite the constrained movement of the electrons through the metal.

Shih and his colleagues used advanced materials synthesis techniques to lay the two-atom thick sheet of lead atop a thin silicon surface. The lead sheets are highly uniform with no impurities.

“We can make this film, and it has perfect crystalline structure - more perfect than most thin films made of other materials,” says Shih.

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