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Materials World March 2006

Our March issue focuses on materials modelling. Robin Grimes, Professor of materials physics at Imperial College London, gives an overview of the main approaches in atom-scale simulation, while Andrew Sherry explains the importance of materials modelling to the nuclear industry. In our mining features, we report on the first primary diamonds found in Namibia and Philip Gray investigates the best methods for recovering zinc from known resources.

In our news section, Rupal Mehta unearths a TRL project trying to make grass surfaces tough enough to be used as carparks. We hear from David Arthur, Project Director of SMART.mat, the smart materials arm of the newly launched Materials Knowledge Transfer Network, and in ‘Spinning out’ we report on a novel technique for growing self-supporting scaffolds using polymeric fibres.

 

News

SMART.mat - the UK's Smart Materials, Surfaces and Structures Network

SMART.mat is a node of the materials KTN that implement information and outreach activities to allow the business community to become better informed about the benefits of using smart materials and to facilitate the development of new products and applications. The aim is to bring industry and academia closer and to foster joint projects and collaborations.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

IOM3 education initiative backed by three Worshipful Companies

The Worshipful Companies of Founders, Ironmongers, and Armourers and Brasiers have endorsed and sponsored a new IOM3 initiative for school teaching staff to be held at the Materials Congress 2006. A programme has been developed combining part of the Congress programme and a materials education session at the Tower of London, UK.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

IOM3 School Affiliate Scheme

The Schools Affiliate Scheme was launched in 1999 to assist with the teaching of materials, minerals and mining topics in the secondary school curriculum, and to promote materials science, technology and engineering as potential careers. The institute attends other events such as those organised by The Association for Science Education and UCAS.

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Rubbery material for purifying hydrogen

Researchers at the University of Texas, USA, have developed a rubbery material that can purify hydrogen efficiently in its most usable form for fuel cells and oil refining. The membrane material has been used to successfully separate hydrogen from carbon dioxide and other contaminant gases, and could also replace an expensive step in petrochemical processing.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Self-supporting scaffolds for biomedical applications

Researchers at University College London and Queen Mary, University of London have developed a technique for electrospinning self-supporting scaffolds from polymeric fibres using electrohydrodynamic jet assembly. Biological applications are considered because of the biocompatability of the matieral and its ability to act as a scaffold for cell growth, in creating structures ranging from nanometres to millimeters.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Third annual Manufuture Conference

The third annual Manufuture conference was held as part of the UK Presidency of the European Union. Key stakeholders in R&D were able to raise their concerns about the strategic research agenda for manufacturing currently being developed by the European industry and research community.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Polypropylene fibres reinforce soil at green verges or overflow car parks

The UK's Transport Research Laboratory is studying the use of polypropylene fibres to reinforce soil manufactured from secondary aggregates in the form of sandstone quarry surplus, together with green waste compost, as a sustainable alternative to concrete and bitumen for green verges or overflow car parks. Concrete and bitumen rely on primary aggregates, are resource intensive and aesthetically displeasing for areas that experience only occasional traffic.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Seminar on modern packaging design with anti-counterfeiting techniques

The seminar, organised by the Midland societies of IOP: The Packaging Society, and held in March 2006 in Derby, UK, will examine issues and solutions concerning brand and product piracy. Topics covered will include incorporating RFID into packaging and smart labels, and smart inks and other novel laser-activated security solutions.
Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Book reviews

Collieries and Their Railways in the Manchester Coalfields

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006

Engineering – an Endless Frontier

Materials World Magazine, 01 Mar 2006