Pioneering flexibility in hard materials with glassy gels

Explore the cutting edge of mechanical engineering in this week's Mechanical newsletter. We're spotlighting transformative materials and technologies that are redefining what's possible in the industry, from new ways to produce green hydrogen to innovative materials that stretch the limits of design.

See how bio-based resins for space missions and decarbonized steel processing help make engineering more sustainable.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES

🖨️ First-ever 3D printer that gulps plastic, metal, chips to make layered devices
The 3D printer uses lasers and combines various materials to produce complex, functional structures and multi-layered devices.

🛰️ 100% biobased resins made for sustainable spacecraft construction
ESA and a team of researchers collaborate to turn every day into materials for space applications.

🤖 Humanoid robot with highest operational time in tests by US logistics giant
GXO has partnered with robot manufacturer Apptronik to increase its warehouse automation units by about 50%.

🔥 Porous Structures Give Metamaterial Key Properties
Two types of lattices give exceptional properties to printed titanium-material gains lightweight, heat-resistant, and strength.

⚡️ Decarbonizing the Industry: New Way To Recycle Steel Developed
Novel steel recycling technology can remove impurities electrochemically, enabling higher-grade sustainable production.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

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SPOTLIGHT

The Dual Nature of Glassy Gels

Glassy gels are a noteworthy advancement in materials science. Imagine a material that maintains over 50% liquid content while achieving a hardness comparable to glassy polymers. North Carolina State University researchers have given life to this concept by developing a new class of materials known as "glassy gels." These materials combine the rigidity of glassy polymers with the elasticity of gels, a new benchmark for versatility in engineering materials.

The core innovation lies in the material's composition. This unique blend is made possible through a synthesis process that integrates polymer precursors with an ionic liquid. The mixture is then exposed to ultraviolet light, which gives the material its final form. Not only is the production of this material easy, but it also holds great potential in multiple applications, including electronics and medical devices.

Flexibility is a property that is typically not associated with hard materials. The unique feature that makes glassy gel stand out is its ability to stretch up to five times its original length without breaking. The material's significant liquid component imparts flexibility akin to biological gels, hence the stretchability. At the same time, unlike normal gels that are mechanically weak, glassy gel tends to maintain its structural integrity under high stress.

Moreover, a scientific team led by Michael Dickey, the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, further enhanced this material by embedding an ionic liquid into the polymer matrix. This allows the material to maintain superior elastic properties while facilitating a stronger semiconductor-metal interaction. These interactions are critical to applications that require both mechanical strength and high conductivity. With glassy gels, we can see drastic improvements in biomedical implants and flexible electronics.

Glassy gels also have exceptional adhesive properties. This makes them suitable for applications that require strong yet removable bonds, such as wearable technology and temporary medical devices. The adhesive quality can also help develop highly durable building and construction materials with ease of application.

With its combined properties of durability, flexibility, and adhesiveness, glassy gel is a significant leap forward in materials science. It has the potential to empower innovation in tech and industries that rely on advanced material solutions. Interested in more such dual-nature materials? Check out this bizarre fluid that acts like a solid and a liquid at the same time.

MechTech Innovations

Advanced Liquid Metal Films for Green Hydrogen Production

Researchers led by Liu Gang at the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have made significant advancements in the production of green hydrogen. They did it through a novel particle-implanting (PiP) method. This involves embedding photoactive semiconductors within liquid metal films, creating efficient films for solar water splitting.

This method draws inspiration from natural photosynthesis and involves embedding two types of photoactive semiconductors into a metal matrix. Ultimately, this is how charge transfer and solar energy conversion are enhanced. Under simulated sunlight, these liquid metal-embraced semiconductor films have demonstrated a hydrogen production rate 2.9 times greater than traditional films. They also maintained activity over long operational periods and through physical stress tests.

This innovation mimics natural processes of improved charge transfer and leverages a scalable PiP technique for practical application. The films' strong semiconductor-metal interactions facilitate superior photoactivity and architectural stability. These liquid metal films offer a promising solution for scalable and efficient hydrogen production. With potential applications in water purification, biomass conversion, and organic synthesis, this technology clears the path for a number of use cases in energy and environmental solutions.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

⚙️ The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World by Simon Winchester
This book explores the history and advancements in precision engineering. It effectively highlights how engineering has shaped and influenced the modern world, from jet engines to digital reality.

🌎 Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
A catastrophic event forces humanity to leave Earth and live in orbit. The novel gives great insight into the technical and social challenges of sustaining generations of human life in space.

🌊 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
It is a classic adventure novel featuring the submarine “the Nautilus,” a marvel of engineering that voyages through the ocean's mysterious depths.

🔬 Anathem by Neal Stephenson
This book features a unique blend of scientific inquiry, philosophy, and monastic life. The novel explores complex mathematical and philosophical ideas.

🧑🏽‍💻 Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Stephenson weaves together two timelines and explores the creation and breaking of ciphers, the establishment of a data haven, and the quest for a Nazi treasure by codebreakers and engineers.