SUMMARY VOLUME 2 2023
BREAKING DOWN WASTE AND REFORMING IT INTO PRODUCTS
USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DESIGN INNOVATIVE MATERIALS
MATERIALDISTRICT 2023
SALT BATTERY FOR HOME USE
TOM FORD PLASTIC INNOVATION PRIZE
Separating polyester and cotton
American researchers have developed a method with which they could separate blended cotton and polyester fabric using enzymes. In a landfill, the polyester will not normally decompose, and the cotton may take several months or more to break down. The new method would make it possible to separate cotton from polyester in less than 48 hours, after which the clean polyester can be recycled.
‘Stronger position of critical raw materials essential for the EU’
Experts from TNO investigated and came up with a few solutions that a committee of the European Parliament wanted to know more about. The TNO report recommends building up additional stocks in Europe for products that contain critical raw materials, such as solar panels, machine parts, optics, and mechatronics (systems that incorporate mechanical, electronic, and digital solutions).
3D printed ferroelectric materials eliminate harmful bacteria
British scientists have for the first time successfully created a new kind of ferroelectric composite material with antimicrobial properties using a novel multi-material 3D printing process. They say the use of electrically responsive ferroelectric materials gives the implants the infection-fighting properties, making them ideal for biomedical applications,
Functional perovskites from algae
Scientists have transformed single-cell algae into functional perovskite materials. The team led by scientists at the B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TU Dresden converted mineral shells of algae into lead halide perovskites with tunable physical properties.
Building on Mycelium
In the ‘Building on Mycelium’ project, the Biobased Building professorship of CoEBBE, investigated how mycelium biocomposites can be used for the construction sector. That led to the Whitepaper: Building on Mycelium that was published at the beginning of this year.
Curcumin: sustainable packaging and materials
The CurCol project, in which partners from Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands collaborated, investigated the potential of Curcumin as a natural coloring agent. Curcumin is already used in foods.
Mastering steel deformation
The automotive industry frequently uses steels containing multiple phases, in particular soft ferrite and hard martensite. These types of steel have complex microstructures, making it difficult to control the processes of plastic deformation and damage caused by pressure. Tijmen Vermeij researched exactly how and why these processes occur in multi-phase steels. He received his doctorate cum laude from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Techical University of Eindhoven (TU/e) on Friday, April 2.
New additives could turn concrete into an effective carbon sink
Recent research by a team at MIT has shown that the introduction of new materials into existing concrete production processes could significantly reduce the carbon footprint without changing the mechanical properties of concrete.
‘StarCrete’: new building material for Mars
Scientists at the University of Manchester have developed a new material, ‘StarCrete’ that could be used to build houses on Mars and is made from alien dust, potato starch and salt.
‘Biological’ glass
A research group led by Prof. Yan Xuehai from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a family of eco-friendly glass of biological origin fabricated from biologically derived amino acids or peptides. The material is biodegradable and biorecyclable.
Nanobuttons make materials much stronger
American scientists have developed a new material made of countless interconnected micro-knots. These tiny knots make the material far tougher than identically structured but unknotted materials.
A sewn-in pump
Swiss researchers have developed fibre-like pumps that allow high-pressure fluidic circuits to be woven into textiles without an external pump. Soft supportive exoskeletons and for instance thermoregulatory clothing, can therefore be powered from pumps sewn into the fabric of the devices themselves.
New: the oxygen-ion battery
A new type of battery has been invented at TU Wien (Vienna): the oxygen-ion battery. According to the inventors, the battery can be extremely durable while no rare metals are needed to make it. In addition, it solves the problems of fire hazard.
Breaking down waste and reforming it into products
Scientists at the University of Twente are researching new products from so-called complex and ‘wet’ waste streams. This involves efficiently isolating the chemical components that are then used in new materials. This spring sees the start of the project ReBBloCS - Renewable Building Blocks from Complex and wet waSte - with a grant of 3.8 million euros from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
Using artificial intelligence to design innovative materials
Advanced materials become increasingly complex due to the high requirements they must fulfill regarding sustainability and applicability. Dierk Raabe and colleagues of the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung (MPIE) have been researching the role that artificial intelligence (AI) could play in materials science.
MaterialDistrict 2023
From Wednesday 8 to Friday 10 March, MaterialDistrict Utrecht 2023 was organized in the Werkspoorkathedraal in the same city. The event was attended by more than 4,400 architects, designers and other interested parties.
SeaWood Materials
SeaWood Materials is a series of fibreboards made from brown seaweed, developed by Rotterdam based company Blue Blocks. SeaWood is a 100 procent natural, compostable, and chemical free board material that can be used as a building material, for interior design products and acoustic wall panels.
Burned Wood
Burned Wood is a young company based in Enschede that specializes in hand-burnt wood based on the ancient Japanese technique Shou Sugi Ban (Yakisugi); a technique for preserving wood. The top layer of the wood is burned in a controlled manner, after which the excess carbon is removed. The remaining carbon layer can be treated with a natural wood oil or stain.
Diggels
Studio Volop has developed a collection of sustainable and circular materials based on local waste streams, recycled glass, and natural raw materials. The material is marketed under the name Diggels and, according to the manufacturer, is suitable for use as a worktop, kitchen worktops, counters, or rear panels.
Masterworks panels
Poly Products presented during MaterialDistrict its Masterworks facade elements, an innovative material concept for indoor and outdoor use. Masterworks is a composite based on mineral fillers and acrylic polymer. Masterworks panels are almost incombustible, very strong and have a low weight.
A Waste Epiphany
A Waste Epiphany from Delft is a company that processes two of the most common waste materials in the construction industry upcycled: brick and concrete.
Ceramic house & New Delft Blue
During MaterialDistrict Utrecht, Studio RAP highlighted two current projects: Ceramic House in Amsterdam and New Delft Blue; two projects with 3D-printed ceramics in the lead role.
Salt battery for home use
Storing energy in a salt battery has been seen for years as a sustainable concept that can contribute to the heat transition. Jelle Houben, PhD candidate at TU/e, investigated how to improve materials to increase the battery’s energy storage capacity, and recently developed a salt battery - in collaboration with spin-off Cellcius - that will be used for real-world tests in residential homes.
TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize
Last March in Los Angeles, the winners of the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize were announced; according to the organizers of the global competition aimed at developing scalable and biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastic bags. The award was distracted in 2020 by beauty company TOM FORD and non-profit organisation Lonely Whale.
TECU
TECU is the brand name of the German manufacturer KME for architectural copper wall cladding. TECU products for the exterior cladding of buildings are made exclusively from 100 percent recycled copper and copper alloys
Het verbindend kennis- en netwerkevent in de Benelux over duurzame materialen en oppervlaktetechnieken
Het event biedt een antwoord op de volgende thema’s:
Kom je ook? Registreer je bezoek op www.mes.vom.be
23–25 May • Siegburg/Cologne
23–25 May • Siegburg/Cologne (Germany)
Hoog vacuüm stofzuiginstallatie
Natfilter met slibtransporteur
Frogreiniger
