Materials Features

The power and potential of piezoelectric energy harvesting

The process of piezoelectric energy harvesting – that of converting mechanical into electrical energy – has rapidly gained momentum in recent years for a number of reasons, primarily due to its energy efficiency and environmental benefits. Fred Pimparel reports.

Metallized injection moulded components: an automated approach

Injection moulding of reflectors is a highly complex process where any imperfections reduce the performance of the end product. In a bid to improve profitability without outsourcing overseas, injection moulding specialist IV Group has invested in a new type of metallization plant that works in tandem with the injection moulding machine in an unmanned cell, coating reflectors as they come off t

Are you sitting comfortably?

Knoll's 'Generation' work chair embraces the idea of elastic design – where a product rearranges itself in response to its user. Key to the chair’s flexing and supportive features is the use of high performance thermoplastics supplied by DuPont.

Tooling specialist gets stuck into Airbus project

French tooling specialist, Loiretech is using Araldite 8615 resin in the manufacture of prototype lower front panels for Airbus' new A350 passenger airline, which is expected to go into service with launch customer, Qatar Airways in approximately two years time.

More Materials Features Features

'Lacquered carbon weave' - a finish to be proud of(04/01/2013)

Niche automotive manufacturer, Noble gets its prototypes and low volume composite production parts from materials specialist, ARRK. During the course of development, the Nuneaton based supplier suggested an alternative to conventional body paintwork for its customer's high-performance M600 supercar - a special finish that took full advantage of the carbon fibre fabric surface texture.
RTM speeds production of automotive composites(11/10/2012)

Out-of-autoclave processes, such as resin transfer moulding (RTM), as well as other fast curing epoxy systems, are accelerating the take-up of lightweight automotive composites as their rapid manufacture matches the mass production needs of this demanding industry. Klaus Ritter reports.
Corrosion-resistant heat exchangers feature pressure tubes made from DuPont PTFE(03/07/2012)

AlWaFlon pressure tubes supplied by Wallstein Ingenieur GmbH of Recklinghausen, Germany are made with DuPont Teflon polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This enables them to resist the highly corrosive media present within the flue gas desulphurisation plants of coal-fired power stations. Unlike heat exchangers made of nickel-base alloys, these systems withstand a long-term exposure to aggressive acid mixtures.
Ceramic dielectric components enable next generation medical MRI systems(02/07/2012)

Morgan Technical Ceramics is working with the University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrect in The Netherlands to design an antenna for the next generation of ultra high field medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. Scientists have designed a radio frequency (RF) coil array element for use in MRI systems with increased magnetic strength, which will enhance the quality of images from MRI body scans.
Labels: that essential finishing touch(01/06/2012)

Possibly not as well known to the consumer market as it is to its big commercial customer base, Foster Refrigerator is a byword for technologically and market leading refrigeration for the demanding foodservice, bakery and retail industries.