Innovations articles

Tsu-Wei Chou & Mei Zu- CCM

Researchers Create Flexible Composites

The Chou research group recently reported success in fabricating flexible composites based on carbon nanotube (CNT) fibres in the high impact factor journal, Advanced Functional Materials (AFM). Both light and strong, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known as a revolutionary material with excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Continuous CNT fibres are one-dimensional assemblies of CNTs [...]

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ORC Develops Worlds Strongest and Lightest Nanofibres

The University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is pioneering research into developing the strongest silica nanofibres in the world. The quest has been on to find ultra high strength composites, leading ORC scientists to investigate light, ultra high strength nanowires that are not compromised by defects. Historically carbon nanotubes were the strongest material available, [...]

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Detecting Composite Material Fatigue

Detection of material failure is a difficult task for engineers, cracks appearing inside a material block can hardly be identified from the outside.It is even more difficult to detect material failure in composite materials. A German research team has now developed a new concept to design so-called self-reporting composite materials. The concept utilises zinc oxide [...]

composite pipes for seawater desalination

Heat Conducting Composites Could Help in Future Seawater Desalination

There are vast quantities of seawater available; drinking water, on the other hand, is in scarce supply. Desalination plants can convert seawater into drinking water. Yet these plants require pipelines made of a special kind of steel or titanium – expensive material that is growing increasingly difficult to procure. Heat-conducting polymer composites may soon replace [...]

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Carbon Fibre Could Replace Computer’s Thermal Grease

Sony have recently exhibited a new prototype cooling sheet, made of silicon and packed with carbon fibre it has been designed to take the place of thermal grease in conducting heat away from the computers processor towards a heatsink. The company claims the life of the new sheet is longer than current thermal grease solutions [...]

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Daytona Research Institute Wins Funding for 3D Printing Program

The University of Dayton Research Institute have been awarded $3 millon from the Ohio Third Frontier to provide specialised materials for using computer printers to create three-dimensional, functional objects. 3D printing technology has been around for about 20 years while additive manufacturing in its current form is about 5 years old. The difference between the [...]

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Zyvex Partnership Introduces Worlds first Nano-Enhanced Carbon Fibre Maine Products

Zyvex Marine and Pacific Coast Marine announced a partnership to make the industry’s lightest and most durable doors, hatches, and other marine closures using nano-composites. Zyvex Marine, the maker of the 54’ boat Piranha that weighs over 3,500 kilos, would have weighed 18,000 kilos with traditional materials, is a leader in watercraft and component manufacturing [...]

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