Glass, Ceramics, Fibers & Fabrics News

A U.S. materials design firm has patented a technology that could be a game changer in how complex composite structures are made. DiscoTex® formable textiles, developed by Pepin Associates Inc. of Maine, permit the rapid fabrication of complex contours while preserving fiber orientation and volume. Labor-intensive fabric cutting and darting are eliminated. DiscoTex® technology is suitable for any type of reinforcing yarns currently used in composites manufacturing, including glass, carbon, and ceramic, allowing for a wide range of product options such as carbon aircraft structures, glass fiber piping for chemical applications, and ceramic matrix composites for turbine engines.

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Harper's custom thermal systems are designed for continuous processing of granular, powder, or particulate aggregates in high purity and specialty atmospheres at temperatures up to 2400° C. Our focus is on ensuring precise control of temperature, process atmosphere, material flow, and residence time to deliver consistent and uniform material production.

PFC provides metallization and brazing services to the highest industry standards and often times exceed design requirements. PFC metallization systems are suitable for Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) from 94% to 99.5%, depending on the ceramic body, strength of the metallization usually exceeds 22,000 PSI. Brazing ceramic to metal provides complete services.

Aremcoloxtm 502-600 is a new, advanced machinable glass-ceramic developed for use in electrical/electronic and high temperature applications to 1100^o F (593^o C). Principal features include outstanding electrical resistance, low thermal conductivity, high mechanical strength, zero porosity, and ease of machinability using carbide tools. Visit us here for more information.

Saint-Gobain Thermal Spray Powders are manufactured using several different techniques, including agglomeration, sintering, fusion, and plasma densification. All Saint-Gobain Thermal Spray Powders are manufactured by Saint-Gobain Ceramic Materials — the world's leading ceramic experts. Each product is the result of years of engineering, testing, and quality control.

A unique ceramic facade on a new elementary school in Barcelona, Spain not only provides an interesting architectural feature to the building, but acts as a sun screen as well. Multicolored tiles adorn the south-, east-, and west-facing sides of the building, providing passive sun protection, particularly on the southern side. The tiles are set at right angles to each other, with the sides facing the sun glazed with brilliant hues to create a colorful mosaic while also enhancing natural ventilation.

Finding cheap and readily available ways to provide clean drinking water in underdeveloped countries has been a frustratingly elusive goal for world health officials. Now, a team of university researchers think they've found a solution in graphite-coated sand. The process involves dispersing graphite oxide into water, mixing it with fine sand, and then heating it. The resulting material, dubbed "super sand," has proved effective in purifying dirty water.

It's no secret that carbon fiber composites can reduce the weight of an automobile by as much as 50%, but the big drawback has been the high cost to manufacture these fibers compared to conventional materials. Now researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a cheaper processing route using microwave-assisted plasma technology that can reduce the cost of making carbon or graphite fibers by nearly 20%.

A European fiber maker has developed a strong monofilament yarn of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) for use in sutures and other medical applications. Advantages of a monofilament yarn compared to the multifilament variety often used in sutures is that no twisting of the yarns is needed, both simplifying the manufacturing process and also ensuring there are no tiny gaps where bacteria might gather. In addition, spin solvent residue left on the yarn is less than 100 parts per million, thus reducing the chance of the chemical causing a harmful reaction in the patient.

Fusite is a global leader in the design, development, and production of precision glass-to-metal hermetic seals. Fusite produces custom feedthroughs and connectors for demanding customer applications such as aerospace communication, process instrumentation, pressure, and temperature sensing, air-conditioning compressor terminals, and many more. Contact one of Fusite's five global facilities today, or visit our Web site.

IRD Glass manufactures several different components used in the medical device field, including ceramic probe types with conductive ink traces, and ultra-precision shaped slides for non-invasive testing, among others. The components are manufactured on a variety of equipment while quality is maintained using a series of in-process control inspections.

These engineers wouldn't be padding their accomplishments to say the helmets they've designed for soldier protection and comfort outperform those the National Football League (NFL) provides to its million-dollar players. Results of a study showed that combat helmet liners engineered by Team Wendy, as explained in this video, helped protect against impact-induced traumatic brain injury, outperforming those of the NFL and other systems without increasing the helmet's weight.

The world's first all natural fiber monobloc chair was unveiled last month at Material Vision 2011 in Frankfurt. Germany's BASF chemical company and designer Werner Aisslinger teamed up to create the Hemp Chair, using hemp and kenaf compressed with a water-based acrylic resin to form a sturdy, eco-friendly composite. The compression molding process used to make the chair is common to the auto industry to produce natural fiber composites used in lightweight components such as door linings and interior trim parts.

Understanding how glass-forming materials "relax," or change from highly fluid to extremely viscous, has been a mystery that's long eluded scientists and frustrated manufacturers. Now, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Wesleyan University are using computer simulations to gain a better understanding of the glass transition process at the molecular level and thus better guide material designers.

A cutting edge solar electric glass project is set to transform Chicago's venerable Sears Tower — now the Willis Tower — into a veritable solar farm. The skyscraper's windows are being replaced with high power density photovoltaic glass units, or PVGUs, which have monocrystalline silicon solar cells sandwiched between two layers of glass. Pythagoras Solar, which is supplying the technology, claims these vertically integrated solar cells will produce the same amount of energy as standard roof-top solar panels, with the windows providing the added benefit of interior energy efficiency.

Zeus PEEK Drawn Fiber has excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance, tensile strength, and tenacity. It also performs excellent in extreme temperatures up to 500 F/260 C, produces low smoke and gas emissions, and has high elongation properties. The lightweight material also has superior friction and wear properties when used in abrasive environments.

The United Automatic Carbon Fiber Tester is designed to automatically test up to 200 specimens of carbon fiber in one setup. For easy record keeping and generating reports, specimen data are entered into the test software via barcode. The diameter of each fiber specimen is measured by a laser diffraction measuring system.

Hey, Baby Boomers, isn't it about time to call it quits? With millions of workers reaching retirement age every year, more and more companies are grappling with how and when to ask senior workers to step aside, especially those who stay on after they turn 66, when they qualify for full Social Security benefits.

Major League Baseball, concerned over the literal explosion in broken bats and the subsequent potential for player and fan injury, turned to the U.S. Forest Service for help. That turned out to be a game-saving move, as a mild-mannered research engineer at the Forest Service's Forest Products Laboratory hit a grand slam when he discovered that the "slope of grain" in the wood was to blame. See how they solved the mystery by watching the video.

How Old is Too Old to Work?

Should there be a mandatory retirement age? Or, is forcing people out of their jobs costing companies more than just the expertise of experienced workers?

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