Bye Bye Titanium

Not too long ago, titanium was known as a revolutionary material for its lightness and its use in composites. This time might be over. Researchers from Caltech have produced metals they call "metallic glass" composites. These metals are reported to be twice as tough and elastic as titanium. A 3mm rod of the composite can support a 2 tons truck. The new composites could be used in the making of lighter vehicles and consumer electronics. For more details, please visit www.wired.com

Polycarbonate made using CO2

A good news for the environment. It is apparently possible to make polycarbonate (commonly used for lenses and bottles) using CO2. Two scientists presented their work on the subject at the American Chemical Society annual meeting. For more details on the two presentations, please refer to the proceedings and look for the following authors: Thomas E. Muller and Thoshiyasu Sakakura www.acs.org

Single-Crystal Semiconductor in an Optical Fiber

They came up with a device that will add new electronic capabilities to optical fibers. They managed to grow a single-crystal semiconductor inside the tunnel of a hollow optical fiber. If you would like to know more about this device, the article is in "Advanced Materials" vol. 20, Issue 6.

Cars made of Biomaterials

I was glad to read today that it appears there are some advantages to the price of oil going up. The automobile industry is trying to lower their use of petroleum-based plastics and composites; to replace them with biomaterials which are lighter and "greener". A lighter car consumes less fuel, a greener car generates less carbon dioxide. It is reported that substituting 1 tonne of conventional plastics with its "bio" equivalent eliminates 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. WOW! It is predicted that in 2015, each car will have approximately 200 pounds of biomaterials... I am telling you, the "organic" car is just around the corner :)

New Self Healing Rubber

I read in the news that a professor in Paris came up with a self-healing rubber. They think its applications could range from adhesives to tires for bicyles. One can break a piece in parts and put them back together over and over... I don't know why, but it reminds me a popular toy back when I was a kid. I believe its name was "slime", it was green. You could not have made a tire with it, but you were able to put it back together over and over... :)