While historically, ceramics have been associated with pottery and tiles, recent scientific advances have brought about a new generation of ceramics for high demand applications like engines and …
Materials 101: Structural Color
Surfaces can exhibit many visual attributes that include color, pattern, texture and ‘special effects’ such as interference and pearlescence. These effects are created by a combination of pigmentation …
Materials 101: Foams
Packaging, cushioning, insulation, light-weighting; each of these application areas would be that much less without the presence of foams. There is rarely an industry that does not rely on foams in …
Materials 101: Composites
From wood and bone to carbon fiber reinforced polymers and concrete, composites can be found everywhere. By using more than one type of material, composites can meet a wide variety of demands that …
Materials 101: Corrosion
Rusting, tarnishing, and weathering are all terms commonly used to describe the impact of corrosion. Corrosion can not only ruin the appearance of products, but it can also lead to serious safety, …
Materials 101: Piezoelectric
Piezoelectric materials have been used since the 1800s and ubiquitously in the late 20th century. We make use of them every day, but the process by which they work and how else they could be …
Materials 101: Scratch Resistant
This report primarily deals with abrasion resistance of hard and soft surfaces, and scratch resistance of hard materials. Hard surfaces can be scratched in two distinct ways. Severe contact damage …
Materials 101: Thermal Insulation
All matter comprises small particles called molecules. Though not noticeable to the eye, these molecules are always in motion, which can transfer or emit heat through increases in their vibration …
Materials 101: Compostability vs. Biodegradability
This document serves as a brief overview of the concepts of compostability and biodegradability as defined by existing regulations. Both terms have been defined only for plastics that are incorporated …
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Materials 101: Polymers
Nylon, polyester, and StyrofoamTM are a few examples of the many polymers we may encounter in our daily lives. From bags and bottles to drug delivery systems and 3D printed prototypes, polymers have …
Materials 101: Antibacterial Surfaces
Disease-carrying bacteria are present on almost every surface we encounter. Having the technology to diminish the number of harmful bacteria in our surroundings can positively impact quality of life …
Materials 101: Oxo-Degradable Plastics
A new statement was recently released by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that proposes banning oxo-degradable plastic packaging worldwide. The statement was endorsed by over 150 organizations around …
Material Science 101: Leather
What are leathers? How do we use them, and what kinds of leather do we have in the Material ConneXion library? We'll hear from Material Specialist, Jennifer Coppola, about the world of natural and …
Material Science 101: Recycling + Design
How do we use recycled content in design? What are the limitations and flexibilities of using recycled materials instead of virgin materials? MCX ThinkLAB Senior Material Scientist, Sarah Hoit, …
