Articles tagged with Metalworking
A University of Alberta study finds that inorganic elements toxic at low concentrations are being discharged into the air and water by oilsands mining and processing. The research reveals that pollutant concentrations were highest near industry sites, contradicting claims of natural sources.
Researchers at Georgia Tech developed a new type of sensor based on porous silicon, offering enhanced sensitivity and reduced power demands. The devices can detect gases at concentrations as low as 10 parts-per-million, making them suitable for various sensing applications.
A new computer recycling model developed by Purdue University's Julie Ann Stuart can help recyclers determine the economic viability of processing bulk materials. The model takes into account factors such as metal prices and helps prevent financial losses for recyclers.
Researchers have discovered a method for producing silicon-based chemicals from sand, rice hull ash, and antifreeze, reducing the need for expensive high-temperature processing and toxic by-products. The new process enables the creation of novel compounds with potential pharmacological activity, such as wound healing and hair growth.
A new model developed at the University of Illinois predicts residual stresses in polymer-matrix components, enabling accurate prediction of final dimensions and dimensional accuracy. The model combines simulation with optimization methods to reduce product defects and improve manufacturing process.
Scientists use quantum mechanical simulations to explain silicon's fracture anisotropy, which shows cracks prefer certain crystallographic directions. The simulations reveal a key difference in bond breaking behavior between easy and difficult propagation directions.
A breakthrough in nanolithography transforms dip-pen nanolithography into a parallel process, paving the way to mass-producing tiny nanostructures. The new eight-pen nanoplotter can create identical patterns with consistent line widths and requires only one feedback system.
Researchers at Princeton University have created ultrasmall plastic structures using a novel technique called LISA. The discovery has yielded insights into material behavior at nanoscales and has potential applications in computer memory chips, DNA sorting, and more. Refinements of the technique may lead to even smaller structures.
A new sensing and control system is being developed to regulate melt rate, temperature, and iron composition in cupola furnaces, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Intelligent, Integrated, Industrial Process Sensing and Control System (I3PSC) has the potential to save 1500 tonnes of coke annually in the US alone.
Spray forming technology uses tiny metallic droplets to create strong aerospace alloys, reducing production costs and increasing strength. This process enables the creation of larger components, benefiting from cost reduction and improved alloy utilisation.
Researchers used helium scattering to probe the germanium surface at temperatures above 1000K, finding that it undergoes a structural phase transition from an ordered phase to another highly ordered phase. At this temperature, the surface becomes metallic and exhibits jump diffusion of adatoms, similar to liquid germanium.
The USC School of Engineering's Information Sciences Institute has developed a process called EFAB to mass-produce tiny mechanical and electromechanical devices with complex features. This process integrates micromechanics with microelectronics, allowing for the production of sophisticated systems on a chip at relatively low temperatures.
A new bio-tech can remove up to half of impurities from crude oil, improving its physical and chemical properties. This breakthrough technology has the potential to make heavy crudes usable for clean-burning fuel, addressing the dwindling supply of lighter grades.
Researchers have engineered E. coli bacteria to scavenge heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, zinc, nickel, or manganese from very dilute solutions, reducing contamination to the lowest detectable level
Researchers have created a simpler computer simulation for ultrafine particle size growth and distribution, which can accurately predict particle group sizes over time. The simulation is fast, accurate, and uses modest computing power, and has already been confirmed by experimental results in certain cases.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory report a natural process that removes nearly all toxic metals and uranium from polluted soil, successfully cleaning incinerator ash. The patented process uses citric acid and sunlight to separate metal contaminants from radioactive elements, producing a concentrated and stable form.
A materials scientist at Johns Hopkins University reveals a rub-free solution to remove stubborn tarnish from silver. The method uses baking soda, water, and aluminum foil to trigger an electrochemical reaction that separates sulfur from the metal, removing tarnish without harming the silver.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Metals Research have identified two temperature-dependent mechanisms controlling the brittle-to-ductile transition in materials. Dislocation mobility dominates fracture toughness above a characteristic temperature, whereas dislocation nucleation controls fracture toughness below this temperature.
Researchers have developed a new 'self-strengthening' plastic that can be used to make car body panels. The process uses threads of polypropylene to create a rigid sheet with strength similar to composite materials.
A new process called Continuous Rotary Extrusion (CRE) can produce high-quality copper from scrap electrical cable at a lower cost and with minimal environmental impact. The recycling centers can be based in compact light industry plants, reducing staff requirements and operating costs.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new process to create near-net-shaped ceramic parts without shrinking or changing shape. The method uses a mixture of ceramic and metal powders, which oxidize to form ceramics with desired properties.
Researchers are developing atomistic simulations to predict macroscopic deformation behavior from atomic scale processes. These simulations use discrete dislocation dynamic methods, feeding mobility laws and short-range defect interactions into continuum models.
Engineers create instrument to monitor sputtering deposition in real-time, enabling scientists to optimize material properties. The technique allows for precision and quality control in coating processes.
A new technique using electricity instead of chemicals to drive chemical separation processes could greatly reduce waste byproducts at the Hanford nuclear site. The method, being tested for large-scale cleanup efforts, has shown promise in reducing radioactive waste and hazardous byproducts.
Chemical engineers at the University of Illinois are developing carbon-based sorbents to remove hydrogen sulfide from coal-gas streams, increasing efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The new materials can effectively capture hydrogen sulfide and convert it into valuable byproducts.
Researchers design all-carbon backbone that spontaneously folds into compact helical structure without hydrogen bonds. The resulting molecule has a tubular cavity with potential applications in selective chemistry and catalysis.
A laser-based surface-engineering process significantly reduces friction between metal or ceramic components, prolonging machine part life and increasing performance. This breakthrough technology complements traditional lubricants, enabling the use of lower-cost materials in high-performance engines.
A new software developed by UD researchers can generate a simulated version of reforming scenarios in just 100 CPU seconds, improving the accuracy and speed of modeling catalytic reforming processes. The NetGen reforming software allows researchers to build models in a day instead of months.
Researchers at University of Illinois developed a new chemical process for depositing titanium disilicide on submicron-scale device structures, overcoming current manufacturing limitations. This breakthrough enables the fabrication of smaller, faster microelectronic devices.