In this podcast, Taylor and Andrew investigate the past, present, and future of materials science and engineering. Topic areas ranging from cutting edge materials technology, the history of different materials, the commercialization of new materials, and exciting advances in processing and characterization are all covered in detail. Our episodes include things like the unlikely discovery of superglue or teflon, the fascinating backstories about modern biomaterials like dialysis filters, and ...
…
continue reading
1
Episode 93: An Introduction to Pyrometallurgy
46:03
46:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:03
Pyrometallurgy is one of the oldest branches of materials science, yet it is constantly evolving. Join us as we take a broad look at the process of transforming ore into the metals we use every day. From ancient techniques for checking counterfeit coins to cutting-edge innovations like battery recycling, we cover every step of the current process a…
…
continue reading
In this episode, we explore the story of Harley Wilhelm, an unsung hero of the Manhattan Project. Discover how the Ames Process revolutionized the production of pure uranium metal, turning a slow and inefficient task into an streamlined operation that played a critical role in ending World War Il. We'll explore the challenges faced, the science of …
…
continue reading
A new class of material doesn't show up often. In this episode, we dive into the revolutionary discovery of high entropy alloys (HEAs) that revitalized the field of metallurgy. We dive into their simultaneous discovery at both Oxford and Tsinghua National University. Learn how they break all the typical rules we know. We explore how their compositi…
…
continue reading
Choosing the wrong material can have dire consequences. In this episode of our failure series, we discuss how the incorrect choice of epoxy led to a catastrophic failure and a tragic death. Discover the series of poor decisions that turned a new highway plan into one of the costliest public works projects ever. Join us as we uncover the lessons lea…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 89: Special Applications of Microscopy Technologies
55:06
55:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:06
Electron microscopy is almost a century old, but it continues to play a role in exciting new developments that extend its use well beyond its original purpose. We sit down with Professor Sergei Kalinin from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to discuss these exciting new applications of this older technology. Learn how electron microscopy, origi…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 88: Accelerating Materials Discovery with Microsoft
36:36
36:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:36
The discovery of new materials is an immense challenge, with a vast design space and numerous success criteria. Microsoft has recently demonstrated an advanced approach to machine learning-assisted material discovery, particularly in the realm of lithium-ion battery electrolytes. They began by exploring all possible structure types, decorating thes…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 87: Stories of a Materials Salesman
36:34
36:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:34
Designing a great material is only half the battle, now you need to sell it. In this episode we sat down with Dan Wilson from Sintx and took a dive into the surprisingly nuanced world of materials sales and the challenges and pitfalls of marketing materials solutions. Learn more about Sintx and the great materials they are developing by visiting th…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 86: PHAs and Biodegradable Plastic
46:40
46:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:40
The challenge of plastic pollution in our environment will be a defining issue in the coming decades. To address this problem, scientists have developed a host of next generation biodegradable plastics that have the potential to improve the sustainability of single use products. Among these are a class of materials called PHAs which are of particul…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 85: Electron Backscatter Diffraction
45:09
45:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:09
There’s more to a material’s microstructure than meets the eye! In this episode of the Materialism Podcast we dive into the world of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) characterization, and discuss some of the important properties you can measure with it including grain size, phase distribution, texture, and more! To help us navigate this topi…
…
continue reading
Meeting the demands of next-generation technologies will require materials to be designed and qualified at faster rates than ever before. The ICME (integrated computational materials engineering) approach is at the forefront of this innovation, blending advanced computational modeling with experimental validation to accelerate the development of ne…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 83: Computed Tomography at Zeiss
1:05:22
1:05:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:22
Examining the inside of a material is often a destructive process that risks obscuring or deforming critical details. However, advances in computed tomography have opened new opportunities to obtain high resolution, three-dimensional reconstructions of materials in a non-destructive manner. Through this technique materials scientists can now identi…
…
continue reading
The ability to avoid detection is one of the most useful tricks of modern day combat aviation. In this episode we dive into some of the history of various stealth endeavors ranging from painting ships with fun stripes to creating radioactive fuel additives. All culminating in a discussion of the materials that make a plane stealthy. References: His…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 81: New Materials for Carbon Capture
44:54
44:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:54
Taylor sits down with Dr. Hayden Evans of NIST and Sir Dr. Anthony Cheetham of UCSB/Cambridge/National University of Singapore to talk about their research on carbon storing materials. Learn what special characteristics makes the materials they are researching well suited for CO2 capture. Articles: Perovskite-related ReO3-type structures Aluminum f…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 80: Ceramic Innovation with Delta Faucet
36:58
36:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:58
Join us as we speak to Delta Faucet about a new way of ceramics processing. Learn how the process works and why they aren't pursuing it further at the moment. This episode is sponsored by Delta Faucet, learn more about their work and services by visiting their website. This episode is sponsored by Materials Today, an Elsevier community dedicated to…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 79: Cryogenic Milling at Cal Nano
31:00
31:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:00
Cryogenic Milling, the name may be self explanatory but the process is not. We sit down with Eric Eyerman CEO of at Cal Nano to talk about what Cryogenic Milling is, how Cal Nano has used it in the past, and the benefits it offers to engineers. This episode is sponsored by calnano, learn more about their work and services by visiting their website.…
…
continue reading
Delve into the new (ish) exciting world of flash sintering and learn how it compares to Spark Plasma Sintering. Also get ready for a little history lesson on ceramic production in the UK. This episode is sponsored by Lucideon, learn more about their work and job opportunities by visiting their website. This episode is sponsored by Materials Today, …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 77: Circular Construction Economy
35:12
35:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:12
The way in which we are using resources to produce materials is putting unsustainable strain on the ecosystem. The circular economy has the potential to make better use of resources, which is particularly important in the construction industry where demand for materials continues to increase. In this episode, we discuss the need for circularity in …
…
continue reading
There must be closer collaboration between industries and more efficient use of resources to achieve more sustainable industry for the future. Industrial symbiosis brings organisations together to find ways to use the waste from one as raw materials for another. In this episode, learn about the benefits of industrial symbiosis, some examples of whe…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 75: Large Language Models in Materials Science
48:43
48:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:43
Every aspect of our life has recently been flooded with new AI driven tools as ChatGPT continues to spread. The question is can Materials Science benefit from these AIs? Is there a future with this or is this just a flash in the pan fad? Do we need to go the way of Dune and destroy all computers? Find out in this episode. This episode is sponsored …
…
continue reading
There are many benefits for the adoption of digital tools, including machine learning, in materials production and development. However, widespread use remains low in part due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of its applications. What is the state-of-the-art and how could the deployment of digital tools shape materials production in the fut…
…
continue reading
Concrete is an essential material in modern society. It is the second most used material after water and it’s demand continues to increase. However, at least 8% of global emissions caused by humans come from the cement industry. Therefore, reducing the environmental impact of cement and concrete production and use is critical in achieving a more su…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 72: Importance of Cross-Sector Collaboration
34:13
34:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:13
The UK foundation industries (chemicals, ceramics, glass, paper, cement and metals) face common challenges to ensure they benefit in the transformation to a more sustainable future. Cross-sector collaboration is essential to share best practice and optimize use of energy and resources. The Innovate UK Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge ha…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 71: Automating Materials Discovery
35:38
35:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:38
Autonomous labs are poised to revolutionize materials and chemistry research. Tools are both less expensive than they once were, and the techniques to use them have been developed. We chat with Andy Cooper of the University of Liverpool to learn how far we've come, what's left to do, and what we can expect going forward. This episode is sponsored b…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 70: Nickel Superalloys at General Electric
1:16:37
1:16:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:16:37
Modern engineers work in environments that most metals simply can't withstand. What do you do when you need a metal to go to incredibly high temperatures? You make an alloy. We take a dive into the history of these nickel "superalloys" to understand what makes them so super and how they are being leveraged to push innovation forward. Interested in …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 69: Manufacturing Monitoring at Gefran, Inc.
53:54
53:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:54
Manufacturing mistakes can be costly to both time and money but a large one can even injure or kill workers. The bets way to combat mistakes is to monitors every step of the process but when it comes to creating complex materials this isn't always so easy. Learn how the sensors used work and why they are so important to the process. This episode is…
…
continue reading