Materials and Chemicals

HEADLINES ARCHIVE

  • Structural flaw uncovered in lithium batteries

    Lithium dendrites, a flaw in batteries, are observed to be strong and brittle, allowing them to pierce separators and cause safety risks.

  • How sewage treatment plants could handle food waste, sparing landfills and the climate

    Sending such waste to wastewater treatment facilities instead of landfills can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while capturing biogas and organic matter for reuse.

  • Hemp-based thermoplastic emerges as a greener option for plastic packaging

    The team developed a stretchy, hemp-derived thermoplastic that is capable of extending up to 1,600% of its size. Thanks to material’s high "glass transition temperature", the plastic alternative can stay dry and durable when it comes into contact with boiling hot water.

  • Arburg at Plastpol 2026: Allrounder Trend to be seen in Poland for the first time

    On display: an Allrounder 1800 e Trend with a Multilift Select -- a linear robot system that produces spatulas -- and the automated hybrid Allrounder 470 H producing drinking cups.

  • This gel delivers targeted treatments to plants, clearing infections quickly

    Potential applications for this proof of concept include monitoring plant stress, improving crop protection and harvesting energy from plants for the grid.

  • Smartphone test spots microbial water contamination in under a minute

    The test is designed to specifically detect the molecule urobilin because it is produced in the body during the breakdown of hemoglobin, excreted and thus behaves as a natural indicator that traces of human or animal excrement are present in water.

  • Very much in demand in Asia: Premiere of Allrounder Trend and complete solutions

    The Asian premiere of the Allrounder Trend electric standard machines caused quite a stir, as did the new Gestica lite basic control system.

  • FACT surface technology for the environment: An adhesive bonding process without wet-chemicals

    With this high-performance process, the surfaces of components can be permanently modified at the microscopic level without the use of solvents or binders.

  • Green hydrogen from solar power: Electrolysis at industrial scale

    Green hydrogen is made by splitting water using renewable electricity, as opposed to traditional hydrogen derived from steam methane reforming, which releases a lot of carbon dioxide.

  • Arburg at Equiplast 2026: Complete solutions for the Iberian market

    The highlight will be the new electric Allrounder Trend, featuring the equally new Gestica lite control system, which produces LSR injection molded parts automatically.

  • Smalley Wave Springs from AFC Europe: Space-saving technology for the aerospace industry

    Replace conventional round wire coil springs by using less material and a smaller assembly size, resulting in reduced production costs and more effective product design.

  • How often should you calibrate your pH sensor?

    The importance of calibration, the recommended frequency and best practices to keep a pH sensor performing optimally are discussed.

  • Discarded oyster shells could help extract rare Earth metals from contaminated water

    Although oyster shells would typically end up in landfills after consumption, the team determined that they can be used to capture and remove rare Earth elements from polluted water, turning them into stable mineral crystals.

  • Ethylene fuel out of thin air? This German startup makes it so

    The goal is to have air pass through a membrane, which directly produces the desired chemicals on the spot.

  • Shrimp waste drives cleaner, more sustainable concrete

    The team found that adding chitosan increased compressive strength by roughly 67%, increasing from 2.10 MPa in the base material to maximum values of roughly 3.51 MPa in the optimized formulations.

  • Self-healing artificial muscle achieves 91% recovery and restores shape after damage

    New dielectric elastomer actuator uses phase-transitional ferrofluid, enabling heat- or magnetic-triggered reshaping of electrodes for adaptive, flexible devices.

  • New antimicrobial targets dry-food processing equipment cleaning, sanitation

    The team evaluated how antimicrobial liquids formulated with volatile, nonpolar liquids such as cyclomethicone and isoparaffin performed against Salmonella and Cronobacter bacteria, which pose food safety risks.

  • A slim solution for electrifying industrial gas heating

    This approach reflects the philosophy that thin is in: Deploy carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) as a new type of electric heating element.

  • A powerful path for plastic waste upcycling

    A novel upcycling process has been developed to convert plastic waste into sustainable liquid fuels.

  • Photocatalyst prescribed to remove antibiotics from water

    Antibiotic pollution in water can be alleviated with a biochar-enhanced photocatalyst.

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