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See also

The October 2009 issue of IOM3 member magazine Materials World focuses on natural materials. 

 

Wood Focus is published three times a year, covering issues in the wood industry.

 

The bi-monthly magazine of ICTa, the International Clay Technology Association, Clay Technology focuses on clay products such as tiles, pipes and bricks, innovative use of heavy clay products, and people within the industry.

Home › Technical communities

Natural Materials Association

The first UK body representing the breadth of natural materials has been launched by IOM3

The Natural Materials Association (NMA) will provide a much-needed focus for a diverse range of natural materials, including wood, stone, clay/ceramic, natural rubber, wool, leather, hemp, etc, as well as enabling an improved understanding of biomimicry (learning from nature).

The formation of this body was announced at the Natural Fibres conference, a UK event celebrating the United Nations’ International Year of Natural Fibres, and will build upon the recent integration of the Institute of Wood Science within IOM3 to create IWSc: The Wood Technology Society.

The NMA will form an important bridge to the product design community as well as outreach to schools and higher education. It will also enable greater interaction and networking between individual natural materials communities, and will support the growth of these links across the global membership of IOM3.

Further details will appear here as they become available. In the meantime this page contains links to selected content from the IOM3 website on specific natural materials as well as natural materials in general.

News

Clearing up - biodegradable packaging

Biodegradable packaging can only be a positive step but insufficient information and unregulated marketing could lead to more harm than good. Packaging Professional asks a panel of experts.
Packaging Professional Magazine, 21 Jan 2012

Bio Composites Funded Study Tour to Belgium

Technology Networks is an ERDF funded project that offers places on study tours and placements to European centres of excellence to share good practice, develop collaborations and receive vital guidance on research and development.
Polymers, 19 Jan 2012

Bamboo back in the frame

Marginally-engineered building techniques used in rural residential shelters are being investigated to initiate a mainstream engineering code for bamboo.
Materials World Magazine, 05 Nov 2011

Synthetic solution for biominerals

Synthetic crystals that mimic naturally occurring biominerals such as sea urchin spines are being fabricated in the UK. The results would assist ceramic production, and the creation of larger, less brittle structures for electronic devices.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Nov 2011
more

Features

Please note features can only be viewed in full by IOM3 members. Become a member

Column of strength - predicting failure behaviour

Azrul Mutalib and Hong Hao from The University of Western Australia show how pressure-impulse diagrams for fibrereinforced polymer-strengthened concrete columns can be used to predict failure behaviour.
Materials World Magazine, 05 Nov 2011

Modern master - profile of Andrew Lawton

Andrew Lawton
Andrew Lawton combines new and traditional wood materials to form unique and simple bespoke furnishings.
Wood Focus Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Preservative treatment - the wood treatment process

treated and untreated wood
David Jones and Michael Barnes of Mississippi State University, USA, explain the wood treatment process and safe handling and disposal of treated wood.
Wood Focus Magazine, 02 Sep 2011

Building in natural strengths - natural fibre composite materials

lamb
Chartered Architect John Hutchinson takes a look at the development of strong natural fibre composite materials and their potential commercial application in the construction industry. 
Materials World Magazine, 02 Sep 2011
more

Upcoming/current events

3rd International Conference on Shaft Design and Construction 2012

24 Apr 2012 - 26 Apr 2012, London, UK
Conference for shaft design and construction professionals worldwide

Global Stone Congress 2012

16 Jul 2012 - 20 Jul 2012, Borba, Alentejo, PORTUGAL

WCTE

16 Jul 2012 - 19 Jul 2012, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
World conference on timber engineering

Timber Expo 2012

25 Sep 2012 - 26 Sep 2012, Coventry, UK
UK Only dedicated Timber Event
more

Past events

Surface Coal: Planning Issues At Minorca, Leicestershire

06 Feb 2012, Keele, UK
Western Institute of Mining & Minerals Evening Lecture

Biology in Ground Engineering: Bioremediation and Biogeotechnics

19 Jan 2012, St Asaph, UK
Free half day seminar covering Bioremediation science & technologies, future of biological clean-up, Biogeotechnics

Where there’s muck there’s brass? Anaerobic Digestion Plants

09 Jan 2012, Keele, UK
WIMM Evening Lecture

Paperex - International Pulp and Paper Exhibition and Conference

10 Dec 2011 - 13 Dec 2011, New Delhi, UK
10th international technical conference and trade fair on pulp, paper and conversion industry

“Designing Green Interiors” - Industry Networking Event

08 Dec 2011, Watford , UK
Designing Green Interiors - Industry Networking Event
more

Book reviews

An Introduction to Sustainable Resource Use

An Introduction to Sustainable Resource Use

Materials World Magazine, 05 Feb 2012
Geomaterials Under the Microscope – A Colour Guide

Geomaterials Under the Microscope – A Colour Guide

Materials World Magazine, 01 Jan 2012
more
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