HEADLINES ARCHIVE
“Designer Carbon" That Boosts Energy Storage Performance
Framework using polymers and chemicals leads to improved storage capability, Stanford researchers say.
The V8 Engine: Can It Survive Automotive Engineering Innovation?
Media reports have sounded the death knell for the V8 engine, and it can be easy to interpret recent automaker initiatives as the beginning of the end. How can this beloved motor survive to thrill a future generation of power-loving drivers?
ASTM Standard to Test Aspiration Potential of Aerosols
A new ASTM standard tests the potential of pressurized aerosol product to be inhaled and aspirated by anyone near the spraying. Aspiration can potentially cause lung damage.
Researchers Develop Repair Process for Fiber-Reinforced Polymers
Researchers from the German Aerospace Center have developed a repair process that could reduce cost and repair time for damaged aircraft components.
Changing Regulations and Energy Costs Impact the Global Chlor-alkali Industry
Concerns about the environmental impact of using mercury or asbestos have encouraged companies to convert to lower-cost alternative chlor-alkali production processes. This article talks about the old and new technologies in chlor-alkali production.
"Smart" Facades Engineered to Save Energy
Many glass-fronted office buildings are energy intensive, requiring extensive heating in winter and cooling in summer to ensure comfortable temperatures for the building's occupants.
Many Plastics Labeled "Biodegradable" Don't Break Down as Expected
A study published in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science and Technology finds that plastics designed to degrade did not break down any faster than their conventional counterparts.
Researchers Identify Process for Improving Durability of Glass
Researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) in Paris, France, have identified a method for manufacturing longer-lasting and stronger forms of glass.
Thermoelectric Nanowires Could Aid Energy Harvesting from Car Exhaust
Even though nanowires are not great for thermoelectric applications, researchers at Sandia National Labs believe that better control of the manufacturing process could improve the quality enough to make a useful thermoelectric material.
GE Perfects Silicon Carbide Engines for Jet Aircraft
After decades of development, scientists at GE's Global Research Center in Niskayuna, New York, say they have perfected a material made of silicon carbide that could lead to fuel-efficiency gains in commercial aircraft, according to a news report in the Albany Times Union newspaper.
Engineers Could Learn About Material Strength from Limpet Teeth
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have found that the material that makes up the teeth of small aquatic snails known as limpets may be the strongest natural material on Earth.
Researchers Identify Possible Silicon Substitute for Future Electronics
A new form of germanium, germanane, may emerge as a viable replacement to silicon in future electronic devices, leading to more efficient LEDs and lasers, according to researchers at Ohio State University.
EPA Moves to Further Restrict PFOA Chemicals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new measures that would keep perfluorinated chemicals from re-entering the U.S. marketplace.
New Process Creates Surfaces That Never Get Wet
Researchers at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y, have developed a laser etching technique that produces permanent, super-hydrophobic metal materials.
ASTM Standard Covers Alkali-aggregate Reaction in Concrete
Alkali-aggregate reaction — the reaction that occurs over time between highly alkaline cement paste and noncrystalline silicon dioxide — can lead to a loss of concrete strength.
China Focuses on Lightweight Materials to Meet Automotive Fuel Economy Standards
Further weight reductions in passenger vehicles are needed to meet new fuel economy standards in China. Beginning in 2015, passenger vehicles in the country must reach an average fuel consumption of 6.9 litres per 100 km, compared with previous standards of 8 litres/100km.
Ford, DowAksa Speed Up Automotive Carbon Fiber Research
Ford Motor Co. and DowAksa say that they are accelerating joint research to develop high-volume manufacturing techniques for automotive-grade carbon fiber. The goal is to make vehicles lighter for greater fuel efficiency, performance and capability.
57 Firms Join Advanced Composites Initiative
The White House says that 57 companies are participating in the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), a public-private partnership aimed at creating jobs and boosting manufacturing within the automotive, wind turbine and compressed gas storage industries.
PPG Highlights Corrosion-resistant Coatings at Detroit Auto Show
PPG Industries’ industrial coatings business will highlight new products at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The products are designed to help global automakers fight metal corrosion and meet increasingly stringent environmental standards.
Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation Site Is Chosen
The White House says the University of Tennessee will lead the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, or IACMI, a $259 million public-private partnership.