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Technology Report

Manufacturing & Prototyping

Coherix’s Laser-Based Computer-Vision Improves Electronics Manufacturing

An industry-first 3D laser-based, computer-vision system can monitor and control the application of adhesive beads as tiny in width as two human hairs. This unique...

News

Materials

Altair Honors Innovations in Automotive Lightweighting and Sustainability

General Motors engineers opted for a battery structure comprised entirely of high-performance polymeric materials for the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray’s hybrid...

Briefs

Aerospace

Testing Military-Grade Adhesive in Extreme Loading Conditions

Military performance requirements for adhesives have been traditionally derived to fulfill niche defense needs in harsh operational environments with little consideration for dual-use commercial potential. Read on to learn more.

News

Electronics & Computers

SPE Names 2023’s Best Automotive Plastics Innovations

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) in early November, 2023 announced the winners of the 52nd annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala (IAG). The annual competition highlights...

Briefs

Materials

Towards Sustainable Recycling of Epoxy-Based Polymers: Approaches and Challenges of Epoxy Biodegradation

Epoxy polymers are widely used in various industries. However, the disposal of epoxy polymers and composites thereof has become a significant concern due to their recalcitrant nature and the adverse environmental effects caused by traditional recycling methods.

Briefs

Sensors/Data Acquisition

Learning Defects From Aircraft NDT Data

Non-destructive evaluation of aircraft production is optimized and digitalized with Industry 4.0. The aircraft structures produced using fiber metal laminate are traditionally inspected using water-coupled ultrasound scans and manually evaluated.

News

Automotive

2022 Honda Civic Hatchback Enjoys Premium Assembly, Weight-Cutting Measures

As a veteran manufacturing engineer, Jill Fuel was an ideal choice for the project leader for the production launch of Honda’s 2022 Civic Hatchback at Honda's...

News

Materials

Rivian R1T Analyzed by Teardown Expert

Rivian’s R1T is in big demand by both the public and the industry. OEMs are still scrambling to acquire their own examples of the pioneering, innovative electric pickup for competitive analysis and...

Articles

Materials

Honda Sticking with Structural Adhesives

For the all-new 2021 Acura TLX sedan, Honda revealed a new design for its front shock towers (aka “damper housings”) that leveraged dissimilar materials, self-piercing rivets (SPRs) and...

Articles

Nanotechnology

Stuck on Structural Adhesives

A funny thing happened on the way to the total-vehicle lightweighting that’s now a common engineering dictate for nearly every new vehicle: structural adhesives—which entered low-volume automotive use in...

News

Energy

Nexcel Project Turns Christmas Trees, Chewing Gum and Flashlight Batteries into Engine Oil

What is the connection between a Christmas tree, chewing gum, used frying oil and 14 flashlight batteries? Answer: together with some other commonly...

Technology Report

Materials

For Bonding Dissimilar Materials, Adhesives Can Be a Sticking Point—or Lack of It

As the auto industry adopts an increasingly wide mix of materials in its pursuit of constantly tougher weight-saving and service-longevity targets, joining...

News

Materials

Breaking Bonds

Bonded composite airframe structures offer a potential to achieve more affordable manufacturing and more efficient structures, ultimately meeting United States Air Force (USAF) goals to increase range and reduce fuel...

News

Defense

Faster, Lighter, Stronger: Aerospace Composites Join Together Advanced Materials

Boeing and Airbus forecast a worldwide demand for up to 40,000 new aircraft over the next two decades. With a 10-year production backlog and new aircraft...

Briefs

Materials

High Temperature Graphene-Peek Adhesive

Joining of composites can be a challenging issue. If adhesives are used, the joints are permanent and cannot be undone. If they need to be undone, inserts are often used and these inserts increase cost...

Briefs

Photonics/Optics

Laser Integration on Silicon Photonic Circuits Through Transfer Printing

The purpose of this project was to develop a transfer printing process for the massively parallel integration of III-V lasers on silicon photonic integrated circuits....

Application Briefs

Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Fastener Inserts

Fastener Inserts Designed for Lightweight Aerospace Materials Reduce Risks, Costs Ongoing efforts to increase fuel efficiency, tactical mobility, and payload capacity in aerospace design have driven engineers to find numerous...

Briefs

Manufacturing & Prototyping

Fabrication of Novel Transparent PMMA Composites for Optical Tagging

The emerging threats caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have drastically increased concerns about soldier survivability. The ability to identify “friend vs....

Briefs

Materials

Biodegradable MEMS Based on Cellulose Paper

Electro-Active Paper(EAPap) has been recognized as a new smart material that can be used for sensors, actuators, biomimetic robots, and smart wallpapers. EAPap is made with cellulose paper by coating...

Briefs

Materials

Validation of Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP)-Free Torque Seal Inspection Lacquer

The Army uses numerous adhesives and sealants, among other coating materials, that contain significant amounts of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This work...

Briefs

Materials

Wettability Tests of Polymer Films and Fabrics

High-strength polymer materials are useful components in many multifunctional materials applications. However, because of low reactivity, their use is inhibited in many processing techniques....

Briefs

Materials

Polymer Matrix Composite Materials for a Structural Multifunctional Fuel Cell

A structural multifunctional fuel cell design enables material elements participating in power or energy processes to also carry significant structural loads. Power...

Briefs

Physical Sciences

Acceleration Strain Transducer Containing Cantilever Flaps

A recently invented acceleration strain transducer is based on the principle of a conventional spring-and-mass acceleration transducer combined with a linear strain sensor that measures...

Briefs

Electronics & Computers

High-Voltage, High-Temperature Power Electronics Capacitor

A novel high-temperature, high-voltage power electronics capacitor incorporates materials of construction and electrical components that have been initially designed as a segment of an...

Briefs

Materials

Barium Ferrite Materials for Microwave Circulators

Barium ferrite thick disks have been fabricated for incorporation in self-biased microwave devices. The process uses barium ferrite nanopowder mixed with epoxy. The mix is placed on alumina substrates to fabricate 500 μm thick disks of BaM to achieve good magnetic properties such as magnetic...

Briefs

Physical Sciences

Cracking of Aluminum Panels Repaired With Composite Patches

An experimental study of the mechanical behavior of cracked aluminum specimens repaired with composite-material patches has yielded findings that may eventually contribute to the...

Briefs

Materials

Aligned MWCNTs as Thermal Conductors in Adhesive Joints

A developmental method of increasing the thermal conductance of an adhesive joint in a composite-material structure (or between a composite-material structure and another structure)...

Articles

Defense

Considerations for Thermal Management of Printed Wiring Boards

Remaining at the forefront of technological advancements in the printed wiring industry requires a proven combination of process methodology, state-of-the-art processing equipment,...

Briefs

Materials

Incorporating Functional Fillers into Silicone Elastomer Systems

Silicones can be developed into fluids, gels, adhesives, elastomers, and resins designed with unique properties that make them ideal for specific application uses in the defense...