Technology
Biomaterials that live, grow and die
Whether algae-based or oil-derived, all our industrial materials are composed of dead matter. Predictable and, above all stable, inert substances are ideal for many practical purposes. Their relatively simple molecular structures can be heated, twisted, and chemically treated to obtain…
New Biomaterial Made From Sawdust Powder Could Substitute Styrofoam
Water bottles, plastic straws, shopping bags, cups, and other single-use plastics often end up in landfills and waterways, harming wildlife and releasing harmful toxins into the environment as they decompose.
New AI Technique Could Lead to Innovations in Biomaterials
Innovation often leads to new products, but new methods can be just as groundbreaking. A new method developed by the Deshmukh lab uses artificial intelligence to analyse the shape of important complex soft materials and predict their behaviours.
Creating Sustainable Textiles From Seaweed
AZoM speaks with Anna Watkins about her business Uncommon Alchemy, which is developing an exciting novel textile material made from seaweed.
Researchers Develop Nanotexture For Plastic Inspired By Insect Wings
A team of researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, Tokyo Metropolitan University, and Mitsubishi Chemical’s The KAITEKI Institute have created an antibacterial nanotexture for rigid plastic packaging.
Why the construction industry needs hemp and fungi
From 2020, the world can emit only 350 gigatonnes of carbon for a chance to stay within 1.5 degrees of warming. Maintaining the carbon budget will require a radical overhaul of how we make our buildings. Currently, manufacturing construction materials…