Materials and Fastening

In an age of environmental consciousness, how many people have received a delivery package lined with foam and thought, 'what a waste'? Here, Jordan Flagal, an environmental scientist and policy analyst, writes for Matmatch, explaining how mushrooms can be an ally in creating a biodegradable alternative to polystyrene.

Teysha Technologies has created an infographic to show how its next generation of bioplastic can replace existing petroleum-based plastics. With CO2 emissions to grow by more than 2.75 billion tonnes by 2050, the burden that manufacturing plastics has on our environment is starting to be of concern.

When selecting materials for a composite solution, many people become preoccupied with one decision: glass or carbon fibres? Although fibres provide the strength and stiffness composites are known for, resin choice is often overlooked. Here, Sami Pirinen, Chemist and Resin Expert at Exel Composites, explores how resins can affect a composite’s properties and why we should consider resin choice with the same significance as fibre.

Philip K. Dick’s 1964 science fiction novel, Martian Time-Slip, imagined a human colony on Mars reliant on waterways, allotments and robots. Today, such quaint sci-fi concepts are actual scientific possibilities now that we better understand the resources that are available on the red planet. Here, Samir Jaber, engineering content writer at Matmatch, examines how materials testing could make or break humanity’s future on Mars.

Graphene Flagship researchers have developed a new measurement standard for the analysis of graphene and layered materials that could accelerate production and optimise device fabrication. X-ray scans revolutionised medical treatments by allowing us to see inside humans without surgery. Similarly, terahertz spectroscopy penetrates graphene films allowing scientists to make detailed maps of their electrical quality, without damaging or contaminating the material.

To help ensure equal and inclusive work conditions in STEM, European research initiative, the Graphene Flagship, is holding a career event as part of its Diversity in Graphene programme. The Diversity in Graphene Career Event 2021 is a digital event, taking place over two days, 8th to 9th March 2021. The first day will include sessions on topics from equal opportunities in STEM, to the experiences of diverse Graphene Flagship speakers working in industry and academia.

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a central aspect of our world, particularly within the materials industry. Multiple sustainability indicators within environmental, economic and social schemes are specifically sought to ensure sustainable production, use, reuse and disposal of products and materials. However, the challenge lies in the quantification of these indicators and finding the best methods for measuring and reporting their impacts. 

Graphene Flagship researchers have reported a new method to integrate graphene and 2D materials into semiconductor manufacturing lines, a milestone for the initiatives recently launched 2D Experimental Pilot Line (2D-EPL) - a €20m project to bridge the gap between lab-scale manufacturing and large volume production of electronic devices based on two-dimensional materials.

Exel Composites has secured a patent across Europe for its telecommunications radome design. Four years in the making, the innovative material design will support the increasing roll out of fifth generation (5G) networks and will help telecommunications companies to overcome challenges with signal attenuation and protecting devices on the antenna.

Online materials database, Matmatch has launched a new guide to sustainable materials selection, a section on the site dedicated to green materials. The new page aims to inform and educate engineers on the importance of sustainable materials and to recommend suppliers for design engineering projects. As sustainability increasingly becomes a critical factor in many engineering projects, this guide is a must read for anyone concerned about the environment and the circular economy.