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prototype Melanized fungi (Chernobyl "radiation-eating" fungi) 2022

ISS fungus and radiation (peer-reviewed)

Averesch, Shunk and Kern reported growth of C. sphaerospermum aboard the ISS and its effect on ionizing radiation.

Built / tested: fungal radiation-shield test

As reported in: Averesch, Shunk, Kern (2022). Cultivation of the Dematiaceous Fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum Aboard the International Space Station and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. Frontiers in Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.877625

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lab Alginate (seaweed) 2020

Tough self-healing alginate hydrogel

A high-strength, high-toughness sodium alginate/polyacrylamide double network hydrogel with self-healing and self-recovery, made in one pot.

Built / tested: hydrogels

As reported in: Zheng, Zhao, Wang et al. (2020). High-strength and high-toughness sodium alginate/polyacrylamide double physically crosslinked network hydrogel with superior self-healing and self-recovery properties prepared by a one-pot method. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.124402

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prototype Enzymatic plastic recycling to monomers 2020

Engineered PET depolymerase

Tournier and colleagues engineered an enzyme that breaks PET into its monomers, which were used to make near-petrochemical-grade PET for new bottles.

As reported in: Tournier, Topham, Gilles et al. (2020). An engineered PET depolymerase to break down and recycle plastic bottles. Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2149-4

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prototype Melanized fungi (Chernobyl "radiation-eating" fungi) 2020

Fungus aboard the ISS (preprint)

Shunk and colleagues grew Cladosporium sphaerospermum on the International Space Station and measured radiation beneath it.

Built / tested: fungal radiation-shield test

As reported in: Shunk, Gomez, Kern et al. (2020). Growth of the Radiotrophic Fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum aboard the International Space Station and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. . doi:10.1101/2020.07.16.205534

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review Hemp 2019

Modifying hemp fibres

A review of methods to modify hemp fibres for structural fibre-reinforced polymer composites.

As reported in: Tanasă, Zănoagă, Teacă et al. (2019). Modified hemp fibers intended for fiber‐reinforced polymer composites used in structural applications—A review. I. Methods of modification. Polymer Composites. doi:10.1002/pc.25354

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review Lignin 2019

Lignin in polymers and composites

A review of ways to use lignin in polymer and composite systems for engineering applications.

As reported in: Collins, Nechifor, Tanasă et al. (2019). Valorization of lignin in polymer and composite systems for advanced engineering applications – A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.069

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lab Casein (milk protein) 2018

Casein crosslinking of collagen films

Crosslinking collagen-fibre films with casein, keratin or soy protein improved mechanical properties and heat stability.

Built / tested: films

As reported in: Wu, Liu, Wang et al. (2018). Improved mechanical properties and thermal-stability of collagen fiber based film by crosslinking with casein, keratin or SPI: Effect of crosslinking process and concentrations of proteins. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.11.144

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lab Mycelium 2017

Tuning physical properties of mycelium materials

Shows how changing growth and processing conditions alters the physical properties of mycelium-based materials.

Built / tested: test materials

As reported in: Haneef, Ceseracciu, Canale et al. (2017). Advanced Materials From Fungal Mycelium: Fabrication and Tuning of Physical Properties. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/srep41292

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prototype Octopus suckers and octopus-inspired adhesives 2017

Octopus-inspired wet adhesive

Baik and colleagues made a reversible wet/dry adhesive patch based on the dome-like protuberances inside octopus suction cups.

As reported in: Baik, Kim, Park et al. (2017). A wet-tolerant adhesive patch inspired by protuberances in suction cups of octopi. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature22382

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review Wind power 2017

Materials for turbine blades

Mishnaevsky and colleagues reviewed wind turbine blade materials, from standard glass-fibre/epoxy composites to natural, hybrid and nanoengineered composites.

As reported in: Mishnaevsky, Branner, Petersen et al. (2017). Materials for Wind Turbine Blades: An Overview. Materials. doi:10.3390/ma10111285

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review Acoustic metamaterials and phononic crystals 2016

Controlling sound with metamaterials

Cummer, Christensen and Alù reviewed acoustic metamaterials for controlling sound.

As reported in: Cummer, Christensen, Alù (2016). Controlling sound with acoustic metamaterials. Nature Reviews Materials. doi:10.1038/natrevmats.2016.1

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lab Shark electroreception (ampullae of Lorenzini) 2016

The most proton-conductive biological material

Josberger and colleagues measured the jelly from skate and shark ampullae of Lorenzini at about 2 mS/cm proton conductivity, the highest reported for a biological material and only 40 times lower than the synthetic polymer Nafion.

As reported in: Josberger, Hassanzadeh, Deng et al. (2016). Proton conductivity in ampullae of Lorenzini jelly. Science Advances. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1600112

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lab Wood 2016

Transparent wood composites

Highly anisotropic, highly transparent wood composites.

Built / tested: transparent wood

As reported in: Zhu, Song, Li et al. (2016). Highly Anisotropic, Highly Transparent Wood Composites. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.201600427

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review Silk fibroin 2015

Structure and mechanics of silk materials

A review linking the molecular structure of silk fibroin to its mechanical behaviour and uses.

As reported in: Koh, Cheng, Teng et al. (2015). Structures, mechanical properties and applications of silk fibroin materials. Progress in Polymer Science. doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2015.02.001

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lab Spider silk proteins 2015

Fibres as tough as natural silk

Biomimetic fibres made of recombinant spidroins with the same toughness as natural spider silk.

Built / tested: biomimetic fibres

As reported in: Heidebrecht, Eisoldt, Diehl et al. (2015). Biomimetic Fibers Made of Recombinant Spidroins with the Same Toughness as Natural Spider Silk. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.201404234

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lab Beaks, jaws and the fastest strikes 2014

Composites inspired by the mantis shrimp club

Grunenfelder and colleagues made impact-resistant composites inspired by the helicoidal structure of the mantis shrimp's club.

As reported in: Grunenfelder, Suksangpanya, Salinas et al. (2014). Bio-inspired impact-resistant composites. Acta Biomaterialia. doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2014.03.022

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review Cellulose nanocrystals 2014

CNC nanocomposites review

A review of properties and challenges of cellulose nanocrystals and their nanocomposites.

As reported in: Mariano, El Kissi, Dufresne (2014). Cellulose nanocrystals and related nanocomposites: Review of some properties and challenges. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics. doi:10.1002/polb.23490

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lab Cellulose nanocrystals 2014

Shape-recovering CNC aerogels

Chemically cross-linked cellulose nanocrystal aerogels with shape recovery and superabsorbent properties.

Built / tested: aerogels

As reported in: Yang, Cranston (2014). Chemically Cross-Linked Cellulose Nanocrystal Aerogels with Shape Recovery and Superabsorbent Properties. Chemistry of Materials. doi:10.1021/cm502873c

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review Flax 2014

Flax composites review

A review of flax fibre and its composites.

As reported in: Yan, Chouw, Jayaraman (2014). Flax fibre and its composites – A review. Composites Part B: Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2013.08.014

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lab Thermoelectrics 2014

Tin selenide record

Zhao and colleagues reported a thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 2.6 at 923 K in SnSe single crystals, due to ultralow thermal conductivity.

As reported in: Zhao, Lo, Zhang et al. (2014). Ultralow thermal conductivity and high thermoelectric figure of merit in SnSe crystals. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature13184

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lab Cephalopod camouflage & reflectin 2013

Infrared camouflage from reflectin

Phan and colleagues made reconfigurable infrared camouflage coatings from squid reflectin.

Built / tested: reflectin coatings

As reported in: Phan, Walkup, Ordinario et al. (2013). Reconfigurable Infrared Camouflage Coatings from a Cephalopod Protein. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.201301472

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lab Flax 2013

Flax/glass hybrid composites

Tensile and interfacial properties of unidirectional flax/glass fibre hybrid composites.

Built / tested: hybrid composites

As reported in: Zhang, Li, Ma et al. (2013). Tensile and interfacial properties of unidirectional flax/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites. Composites Science and Technology. doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2013.08.037

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lab Jute 2013

Sisal-jute-glass hybrids

Evaluated mechanical properties of sisal-jute-glass fibre reinforced polyester composites.

Built / tested: hybrid composites

As reported in: Ramesh, Palanikumar, Reddy (2013). Mechanical property evaluation of sisal–jute–glass fiber reinforced polyester composites. Composites Part B: Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.12.004

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review Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) 2013

MOF chemistry and uses

Furukawa and colleagues reviewed MOF chemistry and applications.

As reported in: Furukawa, Cordova, O’Keeffe et al. (2013). The Chemistry and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1230444

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lab Beaks, jaws and the fastest strikes 2012

The mantis shrimp's damage-tolerant hammer

Weaver and colleagues found the peacock mantis shrimp's club combines hydroxyapatite and amorphous mineral phases with a helical (helicoidal) arrangement of chitin fibres, giving several defences against breaking under repeated high-energy impacts.

As reported in: Weaver, Milliron, Miserez et al. (2012). The Stomatopod Dactyl Club: A Formidable Damage-Tolerant Biological Hammer. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1218764

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lab Shark skin 2012

Hydrodynamics of shark skin

Oeffner and Lauder used a robotic flapping foil to show real shark skin can increase swimming speed; the biomimetic materials they tested did not match that effect.

Built / tested: biomimetic shark skin

As reported in: Oeffner, Lauder (2012). The hydrodynamic function of shark skin and two biomimetic applications. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi:10.1242/jeb.063040

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review Silica 2012

Sol-gel silica nanoparticles

A review of sol-gel silica nanoparticles, their surface modification and use in silica-polymer nanocomposites.

As reported in: Rahman, Padavettan (2012). Synthesis of Silica Nanoparticles by Sol‐Gel: Size‐Dependent Properties, Surface Modification, and Applications in Silica‐Polymer Nanocomposites—A Review. Journal of Nanomaterials. doi:10.1155/2012/132424

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lab Spider web robustness 2012

Nonlinear silk makes webs robust

Cranford and colleagues showed silk's softening then stiffening under strain localizes damage to single threads, making webs robust.

As reported in: Cranford, Tarakanova, Pugno et al. (2012). Nonlinear material behaviour of spider silk yields robust webs. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature10739

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lab Silk fibroin 2011

A lab protocol for making silk materials

A step-by-step protocol for turning silkworm cocoons into fibroin solution and then into many material formats.

Built / tested: films, gels, sponges, fibres

As reported in: Rockwood, Preda, Yücel et al. (2011). Materials fabrication from Bombyx mori silk fibroin. Nature Protocols. doi:10.1038/nprot.2011.379

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lab Wood 2011

Moisture in densified wood

Studied water vapour sorption of thermally modified and densified wood.

As reported in: Hill, Ramsay, Keating et al. (2011). The water vapour sorption properties of thermally modified and densified wood. Journal of Materials Science. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-6154-8

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lab Beaks, jaws and the fastest strikes 2010

Toucan and hornbill beaks compared

Seki, Bodde and Meyers compared toucan and hornbill beaks and found the stiffness of the toucan's keratin shell is the same lengthwise and crosswise, while the hornbill's may differ by direction.

Publisher update notice: erratum

As reported in: Seki, Bodde, Meyers (2010). Toucan and hornbill beaks: A comparative study. Acta Biomaterialia. doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2009.08.026

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review Shark skin 2010

Shark-skin drag reduction review

Dean and Bhushan reviewed shark-skin-inspired surfaces for reducing drag in turbulent flow.

Publisher update notice: correction

Built / tested: riblet surfaces

As reported in: Dean, Bhushan (2010). Shark-skin surfaces for fluid-drag reduction in turbulent flow: a review. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. doi:10.1098/rsta.2010.0201

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lab Chitin & chitosan 2009

Uniform nanofibres from crab shell

Describes a way to separate crab-shell chitin into nanofibres of consistent width.

Built / tested: chitin nanofibres

As reported in: Ifuku, Nogi, Abe et al. (2009). Preparation of Chitin Nanofibers with a Uniform Width as α-Chitin from Crab Shells. Biomacromolecules. doi:10.1021/bm900163d

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lab Bone trabeculae and topology optimization 2008

Bone remodeling ≈ topology optimization

Jang, Kim and Kwak showed an analogy between strain-energy-based bone remodeling algorithms and structural topology optimization.

As reported in: Jang, Kim, Kwak (2008). Analogy of Strain Energy Density Based Bone-Remodeling Algorithm and Structural Topology Optimization. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. doi:10.1115/1.3005202

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lab Graphene and carbon nanotubes 2008

Strength of graphene

Lee and colleagues measured graphene as the strongest material ever tested.

As reported in: Lee, Wei, Kysar et al. (2008). Measurement of the Elastic Properties and Intrinsic Strength of Monolayer Graphene. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1157996

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lab Sea cucumber stiffness-changing tissue 2008

Sea cucumber-inspired nanocomposite

Capadona and colleagues made a polymer composite that switches between stiff and soft when wetted, inspired by sea cucumber dermis.

Built / tested: stiffness-changing composite

As reported in: Capadona, Shanmuganathan, Tyler et al. (2008). Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Nanocomposites Inspired by the Sea Cucumber Dermis. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1153307

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lab Self-healing materials 2008

Self-healing rubber

Cordier and colleagues made a rubber that heals when broken pieces are pressed together.

Built / tested: self-healing rubber

As reported in: Cordier, Tournilhac, Soulié-Ziakovic et al. (2008). Self-healing and thermoreversible rubber from supramolecular assembly. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature06669

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review Silica 2008

Silica aerogel

Synthesis, properties and characterisation of silica aerogel.

As reported in: Soleimani Dorcheh, Abbasi (2008). Silica aerogel; synthesis, properties and characterization. Journal of Materials Processing Technology. doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2007.10.060

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lab Space radiation shielding 2008

Polyethylene/boron nitride shields

Harrison and colleagues made polyethylene and boron nitride composites for space radiation shielding.

As reported in: Harrison, Weaver, Bertelsen et al. (2008). Polyethylene/boron nitride composites for space radiation shielding. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. doi:10.1002/app.27949

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review Thermoelectrics 2008

Complex thermoelectric materials

Snyder and Toberer reviewed strategies to raise thermopower and cut thermal conductivity in complex thermoelectric materials.

As reported in: Snyder, Toberer (2008). Complex thermoelectric materials. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat2090

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review Graphene and carbon nanotubes 2007

The rise of graphene

Geim and Novoselov reviewed graphene and its prospects.

As reported in: Geim, Novoselov (2007). The rise of graphene. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat1849

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lab Hemp 2007

Water and hemp-fibre composites

Studied how water absorption affects the mechanical properties of hemp fibre-reinforced polyester composites.

Built / tested: fibre composites

As reported in: DHAKAL, ZHANG, RICHARDSON (2007). Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Composites Science and Technology. doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2006.06.019

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lab Mussel adhesive proteins (DOPA) 2007

Gecko-mussel adhesive

Lee, Lee and Messersmith combined gecko-like pillars with a mussel-inspired coating for adhesion wet or dry.

Built / tested: geckel adhesive

As reported in: Lee, Lee, Messersmith (2007). A reversible wet/dry adhesive inspired by mussels and geckos. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature05968

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lab Self-healing materials 2007

Vascular self-healing

Toohey and colleagues used a skin-like network of channels to heal a coating repeatedly.

As reported in: Toohey, Sottos, Lewis et al. (2007). Self-healing materials with microvascular networks. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat1934

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lab Beaks, jaws and the fastest strikes 2005

Inside the toucan beak

Seki, Schneider and Meyers studied the structure and mechanical behaviour of the toucan beak.

As reported in: SEKI, SCHNEIDER, MEYERS (2005). Structure and mechanical behavior of a toucan beak. Acta Materialia. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2005.04.048

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lab Flax 2005

Short flax fibre polypropylene

Studied how matrix and fibre modification, fibre content, water uptake and recycling affect short flax fibre/polypropylene composites.

Built / tested: composites

As reported in: Arbelaiz, Fernández, Ramos et al. (2005). Mechanical properties of short flax fibre bundle/polypropylene composites: Influence of matrix/fibre modification, fibre content, water uptake and recycling. Composites Science and Technology. doi:10.1016/j.compscitech.2005.01.008

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lab Keratin 2005

Dissolving wool in ionic liquids

Used ionic liquids as solvents to dissolve and blend wool keratin fibres.

Built / tested: keratin blends

As reported in: Xie, Li, Zhang (2005). Ionic liquids as novel solvents for the dissolution and blending of wool keratin fibers. Green Chemistry. doi:10.1039/b502547h

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review Nitinol (shape-memory alloy) 2005

Nitinol metallurgy

Otsuka and Ren reviewed the physics and metallurgy of Ti-Ni shape-memory alloys.

As reported in: Otsuka, Ren (2005). Physical metallurgy of Ti–Ni-based shape memory alloys. Progress in Materials Science. doi:10.1016/j.pmatsci.2004.10.001

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lab Chitin & chitosan 2004

Electrospun chitin nanofibres

Reports electrospinning chitin into nanofibres and then converting them to chitosan.

Built / tested: electrospun fibre mats

As reported in: Min, Lee, Lim et al. (2004). Chitin and chitosan nanofibers: electrospinning of chitin and deacetylation of chitin nanofibers. Polymer. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2004.08.048

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lab Gecko adhesion 2003

Gecko tape

Geim and colleagues made a microfabricated adhesive copying gecko foot hairs.

Built / tested: gecko tape

As reported in: Geim, Dubonos, Grigorieva et al. (2003). Microfabricated adhesive mimicking gecko foot-hair. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat917

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lab Hydrogels 2003

Double-network hydrogels

Gong and colleagues made double-network hydrogels with very high strength.

As reported in: Gong, Katsuyama, Kurokawa et al. (2003). Double‐Network Hydrogels with Extremely High Mechanical Strength. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.200304907

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lab Nacre & calcium carbonate 2003

Artificial nacre

Made a nanostructured artificial version of nacre.

Built / tested: nacre-like films

As reported in: Tang, Kotov, Magonov et al. (2003). Nanostructured artificial nacre. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat906

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lab Bamboo 2002

Aging of bamboo-glass composites

Tested how environmental aging affects bamboo-glass fibre hybrid polymer composites.

Built / tested: hybrid composites

As reported in: Thwe, Liao (2002). Effects of environmental aging on the mechanical properties of bamboo–glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix hybrid composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. doi:10.1016/s1359-835x(01)00071-9

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lab Hydroxyapatite 2002

Growing pure HAp crystals

Compared three ways of growing hydroxyapatite crystals from solution and found that aging and precipitation speed are critical for purity.

As reported in: Koutsopoulos (2002). Synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite crystals: A review study on the analytical methods. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. doi:10.1002/jbm.10280

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review Industrial enzymes 2002

Industrial enzyme applications

Kirk, Borchert and Fuglsang reviewed enzyme uses in detergents, food, feed, textiles and other industries.

As reported in: Kirk, Borchert, Fuglsang (2002). Industrial enzyme applications. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. doi:10.1016/S0958-1669(02)00328-2

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lab Lignin 2002

Lignin-based carbon fibres

Investigated making carbon fibres from lignin for use in fibre-reinforced composites.

Built / tested: carbon fibres

As reported in: Kadla, Kubo, Venditti et al. (2002). Lignin-based carbon fibers for composite fiber applications. Carbon. doi:10.1016/s0008-6223(02)00248-8

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review Lotus effect (superhydrophobic surfaces) 2002

Artificial superhydrophobic surfaces

Feng and colleagues reviewed superhydrophobic surfaces from natural examples to artificial ones.

Built / tested: superhydrophobic coatings

As reported in: Feng, Li, Li et al. (2002). Super‐Hydrophobic Surfaces: From Natural to Artificial. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.200290020

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review Soy protein 2002

Soy adhesives and plastics

Reviewed adhesives and plastics based on soy protein products.

As reported in: Kumar, Choudhary, Mishra et al. (2002). Adhesives and plastics based on soy protein products. Industrial Crops and Products. doi:10.1016/s0926-6690(02)00007-9

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lab Coconut coir & shell 2001

Treated coir in polyester

Studied how fibre treatments change the performance of coir-polyester composites.

Built / tested: composites

As reported in: Rout, Misra, Tripathy et al. (2001). The influence of fibre treatment on the performance of coir-polyester composites. Composites Science and Technology. doi:10.1016/s0266-3538(01)00021-5

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review Industrial enzymes 2001

Industrial biocatalysis overview

Schmid and colleagues reviewed how enzymes and whole cells were used in industrial chemical production and where the field was heading.

As reported in: Schmid, Dordick, Hauer et al. (2001). Industrial biocatalysis today and tomorrow. Nature. doi:10.1038/35051736

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lab Nacre & calcium carbonate 2001

Why nacre is strong

Used elastic theory and fracture mechanics to explain the strength of layered biocomposites like nacre.

As reported in: Okumura, de Gennes (2001). Why is nacre strong? Elastic theory and fracture mechanics for biocomposites with stratified structures. The European Physical Journal E. doi:10.1007/s101890170150

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lab Self-healing materials 2001

Self-healing polymer composite

White and colleagues embedded healing-agent capsules that burst and repair cracks in plastic.

Built / tested: self-healing composite

As reported in: White, Sottos, Geubelle et al. (2001). Autonomic healing of polymer composites. Nature. doi:10.1038/35057232

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lab Acoustic metamaterials and phononic crystals 2000

Locally resonant sonic materials

Liu and colleagues built sonic crystals of small resonators that block sound at wavelengths 100 times their spacing; a 2 cm slab beat the normal mass law of sound transmission by an order of magnitude or more at 400 Hz.

As reported in: Liu, Zhang, Mao et al. (2000). Locally Resonant Sonic Materials. Science. doi:10.1126/science.289.5485.1734

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review Bacterial cellulose 2000

An overview of a natural nanomaterial

An early overview of how bacteria produce cellulose and why its structure is unusual.

As reported in: Iguchi, Yamanaka, Budhiono (2000). Bacterial cellulose—a masterpiece of nature's arts. Journal of Materials Science. doi:10.1023/a:1004775229149

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lab Coconut coir & shell 2000

Lignin helps coconut fibre bond

Used lignin as a compatibiliser to improve coconut fibre-polypropylene composites.

Built / tested: composites

As reported in: Rozman, Tan, Kumar et al. (2000). The effect of lignin as a compatibilizer on the physical properties of coconut fiber–polypropylene composites. European Polymer Journal. doi:10.1016/s0014-3057(99)00200-1

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lab Jute 1999

Alkali-treated jute epoxy

Improved mechanical properties of jute/epoxy composites by alkali treatment of the fibres.

Built / tested: composites

As reported in: Gassan, Bledzki (1999). Possibilities for improving the mechanical properties of jute/epoxy composites by alkali treatment of fibres. Composites Science and Technology. doi:10.1016/s0266-3538(98)00169-9

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review Spider silk proteins 1999

Sequence, structure and strength

Hypotheses linking the sequence, structure and mechanical properties of spider silk proteins.

As reported in: Hayashi, Shipley, Lewis (1999). Hypotheses that correlate the sequence, structure, and mechanical properties of spider silk proteins. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi:10.1016/s0141-8130(98)00089-0

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lab Jute 1997

Jute-polypropylene surface treatment

Effect of fibre surface treatment on jute-polypropylene composites.

Built / tested: composites

As reported in: Gassan, Bledzki (1997). The influence of fiber-surface treatment on the mechanical properties of jute-polypropylene composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. doi:10.1016/s1359-835x(97)00042-0

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lab Lotus effect (superhydrophobic surfaces) 1997

Purity of the sacred lotus

Barthlott and Neinhuis explained how micro-rough waxy leaf surfaces make lotus leaves self-cleaning.

As reported in: Barthlott, Neinhuis (1997). Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces. Planta. doi:10.1007/s004250050096

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lab Clay 1994

Clay-reinforced epoxy

An early study dispersing layered clay inside epoxy resin to make a nanocomposite.

Built / tested: epoxy nanocomposites

As reported in: Lan, Pinnavaia (1994). Clay-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites. Chemistry of Materials. doi:10.1021/cm00048a006

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prototype Quantum tunneling 1982

Scanning tunneling microscope

Binnig, Rohrer and colleagues demonstrated surface microscopy using vacuum tunneling for the first time, imaging surfaces at the atomic scale.

As reported in: Binnig, Rohrer, Gerber et al. (1982). Surface Studies by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.49.57

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lab Nitinol (shape-memory alloy) 1963

Discovery of nitinol behavior

Buehler and colleagues described the phase changes behind the unusual properties of near-equal nickel-titanium alloys.

As reported in: Buehler, Gilfrich, Wiley (1963). Effect of Low-Temperature Phase Changes on the Mechanical Properties of Alloys near Composition TiNi. Journal of Applied Physics. doi:10.1063/1.1729603

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lab Silica aerogel (Stardust comet catcher) 1931

First aerogels

Samuel Kistler first made aerogels by replacing the liquid in a gel with gas.

Built / tested: aerogel

As reported in: KISTLER (1931). Coherent Expanded Aerogels and Jellies. Nature. doi:10.1038/127741a0

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