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Materials World July 2009

The July issue looks at ceramics. Features examines the ADOPTIC project and geometallurgy.

News focuses on low-carbon vehicles and algae for bone grafts. We also have a special section this month on manufacturing.

News

Continuous cancer monitoring in vivo

Non-invasive, continuous, in vivo monitoring at the site of cancerous tumours may eventually be possible thanks to research at MIT, USA. Scientists are looking into what they say is the first implantable device that can fulfil this function.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Jul 2009

Designing out bugs – hospital furniture

Prototypes of hospital furniture and equipment to help the fight against healthcare associated infections will be unveiled at UK exhibitions over the coming months. Katherine Williams reports on some of the designs and materials used.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Under strain – pipe forming

An online, non-contact, digital imaging technique to calculate local strain during electric resistance welded (ERW) metal pipe forming has been developed at the University of Alberta, Canada.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Emission impossible? Low-carbon vehicles

Hydrogen, electric, biofuels or hybrid – can the solution to eliminating automotive emissions be found in existing technologies? Delegates at the Low-Carbon Vehicles event held in London, UK, in May 2009 discussed the possibilities.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

The maze of mixed plastics recycling

The UK’s Waste Resources & Action Programme (WRAP) has thrown down the gauntlet to local authorities, waste management companies and retailers. Its vision is for 500,000t of mixed plastics waste packaging from households to be recycled every year by 2020.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Embedding sensors using sound

Researchers in the UK have used ultrasonic consolidation (UC) to embed active and passive fibres, including optical sensors, into aluminium foils. This technique could be exploited in aeroplane wings.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Algae for bone grafts

Synthetic bone fillers derived from mineralised marine red algae could transform grafting procedures for broken bones, according to scientists at Queen’s University Belfast, UK.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Laminating tile façades

A polymer lamination system for ventilated tile façades improves integrity as well as resistance to tearing, water and UV, say researchers in Spain. They add that the film is faster and cheaper to apply than using
traditional wet-chemistry methods.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

‘Short circuiting’ alloy design

Developing TRIP steel, stainless steel and other advanced alloys may become faster using a novel genetic algorithm-based thermokinetic computer model.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Continuous cancer monitoring in vivo

Non-invasive, continuous, in vivo monitoring at the site of cancerous tumours may eventually be possible thanks to research at MIT, USA. Scientists are looking into what they say is the first implantable device that can fulfil this function, using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Features

Special section – Lean manufacturing – a remedy for tough times

Rachel Wignall of C-TEC (left) with manufacturing expert Christine Phipps
Lean manufacturing processes can help companies cut costs and increase efficiency. This article presents case studies and explains the importance of whole-staff involvement.
Materials World Magazine, 03 Jul 2009

What’s hot? – thermal tracing applications

Swallowtail butterfly with hot body
Thermal tracing equipment used for military applications is successfully being transferred to applications such as wildlife welfare and clothing. Information gathered may have other materials related uses.
Materials World Magazine, 02 Jul 2009

Special section – Tightening the links in the chain to handle corporate manslaughter legislation

Breaking chain
The first prosecution based on the UK’s 2007 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act has begun. Guy Bastable, Partner in Business Crime and Regulation at law firm BCL Burton Copeland, based in London, UK, explores the impact of the legislation on industry and the need to review procedures and take preventative steps.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Special section – Man and the Machinery Directive

Man operating machinery
The new EU Machinery Directive will come into force on 29 December 2009. Tony Reynolds, Compliance Consultant at Lorien Engineering Solutions in Lichfield, UK, discusses the implications for manufacturers of machinery, system integrators and end-users.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Special section – Creating the future in design

Recycled carrier bags from Nelson Packaging Ltd
Professor Simon Bolton, Director of the Centre for Competitive Creative Design at Cranfield University, UK, explores how to navigate the current economic storm through resilient design-led innovation.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Special section – Sparking ideas for UK manufacturing

Plasma spray coating at Zircotec

With concerns about the state of UK manufacturing, Meagan Ellis takes a look at niche fields where UK firms are making a name for themselves and the challenges that lie ahead.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Preparing for growth – phosphate mining

Lorry full of crops
The Chilisai phosphate rock deposit in Kazakhstan is being mined to supply local markets with fertiliser. This article examines the project.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Geometallurgy for mine data - explaining the advantages

The merits of geometallurgy over chemical analysis of cores are presented.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

ADOPTIC a new approach - web tool for ceramics additives selection

Opening page of the ADOPTIC electronic knowledge system
An European Framework 6 project has resulted in a new approach to additive optimisation in ceramics. The web tool helps with additive selection.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Piezo promises – piezoelectric research and applications

The University of Pittsburgh's piezoelectric 'seaweed'
Modern uses of piezoelectric materials are presented such as energy generation and medical applications.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Cell-ing future power – hydrogen and fuel cells

Hydrogen storage using transition metal hybrides
This item discusses the issues surrounding hydrogen and fuel cells. Long seen as the holy grail of energy, fuel cells are not simple to produce.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Jul 2009

Book reviews