HackingTheUniverse

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Hydrogels are made from long chemical chains called polymers that have an ability to absorb a lot of water, often forming a stretchy, rubbery, colloid like substance. Hydrogels often change their structure in reaction to changes in PH (acid/base), temperature, or salt content. They are being used in tissue scaffolds, wound bandaging, diapers, contact lenses, […]

CERMETs are composites of ceramics combined with metals. Most ceramics are oxides of aluminum, magnesium, and beryllium. They are typically strong but brittle and offer both thermal and electrical insulating attributes. Metals on the other hand are more malleable and are usually good thermal and electrical conductors. Combinations of these features offer innovative applications. Rapid […]

In the future, we will wear a basic clothing under suit that could be considered as super skin. It will be made from a variety of layers of composite materials: Nanofoams – hybrids of ceramic, metal, and polymer nanofoams will offer layers of light insulation, armor, and conduction of both liquids and electric current in […]

Using 3D printing to make many porous cells of fiber composite materials that interlock like chain mail, allows the creation of large strong structures at reduced cost. It changes the paradigm for damage repair and recycling. Much greater design flexibility is available by mass producing many small parts instead of large continuous surfaces. How to […]

Composites are made by combining two different materials with different properties: Concrete – concrete by itself is a composite of cement and crushed rock, which has a high strength against compression or crushing (like rock) but can be poured like a liquid into forms to create specific shapes before it hardens. Concrete does not have […]