23/02/2017
The average pair of human lungs breathes 10L of air every minute. Air quality has an immediate effect on well-being and exposure to poor air quality can have lasting implications to health. A recent EU review estimates 50,000 Britons are dying prematurely each year from diseases caused by air pollutants, and six million working days are lost from air pollution-related illnesses. Among the most damaging pollutants are fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. These tiny particles are suspended in the atmosphere and when inhaled, can cling to the lining of the lungs and cause respiratory illness and other lasting health issues.
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06/12/2016
While its properties might be considered premium, so too is the price tag associated with carbon fibre production and processing, making the lightweight material out of reach of the mass market. James Bakewell finds out if this is about to change?
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06/12/2016
Materials need to be tested at temperatures that mimic their eventual area of use. But what if, as is the case in aerospace engine development, those temperatures range from below zero to more than 1000°C? Tom Austin-Morgan finds out how the aerospace industry is overcoming the challenge.
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06/12/2016
For those involved in software, ‘hackathons’ have become a popular and effective way of quickly coming up with solutions to problems. The origins of hackathons started with students and enthusiasts, but since the mid-2000s companies have been interesting in adopting the philosophy as a way of rapidly developing innovation, with advocates including Skype and Adobe.
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06/12/2016
As much as Engineering Materials encourage the use of different materials, using the right material for the right application is rarely as straightforward as it sounds. And what happens when something better comes along like graphene?
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06/12/2016
Fibre-reinforced plastics are rapidly becoming the materials of choice for applications where both high mechanical performance and low weight are required. Boeing and Airbus have used these materials extensively in the latest generations of their aircraft, and carmakers – most notably BMW – are working feverishly to find affordable ways of getting them into their vehicles.
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06/12/2016
Using recycled plastics for class A surfaces might raise a few eyebrows by those working in the automotive industry. The notorious variation in properties has meant that anything ‘recycled’ stays firmly under the bonnet where it is out of sight, and touch, of the consumer.
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30/08/2016
Combining different polymers in different combinations per layer of 3D printed material, is leading to the development of an entirely new palette of materials. Justin Cunningham reports.
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30/08/2016
While many automotive manufacturers are looking at composites and aluminium to lightweight, two supercar designers are turning to nature to find fresh innovation in metals. Engineering Materials finds out more.
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30/08/2016
As industries push the boundaries of additive manufacturing, an Airbus engineer wanted to answer the ultimate question, ‘can you 3D print an entire aircraft?’
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11/08/2016
As aluminium becomes the lightweight material of choice for many, we look at one project that aims to secure supply, reduce production emissions and keep value in scrap. Justin Cunningham finds out more about JLR’s REALCAR project.
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07/06/2016
It is so light, it’s said that this material can balance on a Dandelion without even deforming the individual seed heads. Engineering Materials finds out more about this modern day marvel.
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07/06/2016
The weird and wonderful world of nano-materials is gathering pace with many showing genuine promise. But while graphene has been seen as king, has it now been usurped?
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07/06/2016
Like many before, scientists from the University of Oxford and the Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris have taken inspiration from spider webs to create hybrid wire technology. The technique that’s been developed could be used in applications including microfabrication of complex structures, reversible micro-motors and self-tensioned stretchable systems.
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07/06/2016
The fluorescent light bulb was seen as a key step in reducing the energy consumption of consumers. Yet as incandescent light bulbs were phased out, increasing concerns were raised over the items environmental credentials.
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07/06/2016
It’s the material that has spurred the Spinal Tap inspired headline the world over, ‘None more black’. Officially the world’s blackest material, VantaBlack from Brighton based Surrey Nano Systems is moving well beyond development following the materials unveiling some two years ago.
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06/06/2016
As additive parts are rolled out across industry, they’re increasingly put in to actual service. This is especially true for metal parts, where processes such as selective laser sintering (SLM) have usurped more traditional subtractive fabrication and machining methods.
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06/06/2016
Joining composite together poses a number of very different issues from traditional materials. In automotive and those more use to working with metals the reliance on welding is no longer a turn to design staple. It is also not possible to drill and tap composite and honeycomb panels so standard fastener can be difficult to use too. And while bonding is also a popular option, it doesn’t bode well later in life for disassembly.
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06/06/2016
The JEC Show in Paris has become the annual must go to event for composite manufacturers. The talk was once all about the possibilities but this year that turned firmly on the practicalities. While the composites industry has always been inextricably linked to lightweight parts, this year’s show was keen to highlight that high volume composite parts aren’t a pipe dream, but a production ready reality.
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06/06/2016
To enable the manufacture of an intricately-shaped watch case for prestigious Swiss brand Richard Mille, North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT) has developed a unique thin ply quartz prepreg. The 52g/m2 material made its debut in the exclusive RM 27-02 Rafael Nadal watch first worn by the Spanish tennis player at the French Open in May 2015.
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06/06/2016
Additive manufacturing is changing the way many sectors approach product development. However, outside of engineering, it is also being used by surgeons to revolutionise the way they approach major operations.
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09/03/2016
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is part of a UK based collaboration that aims to develop novel sensing technologies for the real time monitoring of machined metal parts.
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08/03/2016
Nasa targets some ambitious reductions in aircraft emissions and has piloted some seemingly bizarre to outright amazing concepts. In all cases, materials innovation remains key.
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08/03/2016
A UK funded project is aiming to develop automotive structures using flax fibres and a bio-epoxy resin intermingled with carbon fibres. The project called CARBIO, is developing hybrid composite materials to produce lighter, cheaper, and environmentally sound parts.
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08/03/2016
Carbon fibre remains a premium and expensive material, out of reach for most mainstream automotive manufacturers. However, recycling virgin fibres and mixing them with a thermoplastic offers an affordable alternative.
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