Continuing our series on energy materials we examine the potential of biomass.

Jim King, Principle Inspector at the Health and Safety Executive in Northern Ireland, UK, discusses the implications of REACH legislation on the materials and manufacturing sectors dealing with chemical substances.

John McGagh, Head of Innovation at Rio Tinto, sets out his company’s vision for the future of mining.

Scientists at the ISIS neutron research centre in Didcot, UK, are developing a bioactive glass that releases calcium into the body as it dissolves. This could enable patients to regrow bones and may signal an alternative to bone transplants.

Implantable medical devices must possess sufficient corrosion resistance to the human body’s saline environment to maintain structural and functional integrity, as well as minimise the release of leachable substances which might otherwise react adversely with the surrounding tissue. In vitro corrosion testing is crucial to achieve effective materials selection for these devices.

Researchers from Brunel University, UK, explore the use of diamond-like coatings for medical devices to reduce metal ion migration in human tissue.

In every year of the millennium so far, more steelplant has been commissioned than was put to work in the whole of the previous decade. The design and manufacturing techniques for steelplant engineering that were previously neglected are now being realised, leading to reenergised blast furnaces, slab casters, rolling mills and mechanical shearing.

The Outokumpu Stainless Research Foundations in Sweden and the UK have been working to generate new knowledge and provide opportunities for young people to carry out academic work on this class of materials. Since 1989, support has been provided to 62 students, with over half gaining doctorates. The support ranges from fully-funded studentships to supplementary grants and assistance in kind.

The European automobile industry is facing legislation to achieve significant reductions in CO₂ levels for new vehicles by 2012. In the meantime, the industry is introducing new technologies to offer lower CO₂ products. There are three fundamental ways to improve economy and emissions. In order of effectiveness, these are to improve powertrain efficiency, reduce weight and increase aerodynamic efficiency.

Methane is a valuable fuel, and compared with other hydrocarbons it produces less CO₂ per unit of energy generated. Capturing methane and using it as fuel could be a positive step in reducing its effect on climate change. One UK company that has exploited this is Alkane Energy plc, a Nottinghamshire-based company which runs methane based power plants.