Giving a plastic useful new properties does not necessarily mean changing the whole material. Researchers at the University of Leicester have developed a technique that anchors nanoparticles in a polymer’s surface, leaving enough of each particle exposed to do its job. The approach could give familiar plastics and coatings new functions while preserving properties such as … [Read more...] about Nanoparticle ‘skin’ could improve protection for wind-turbine blades
Construction
Oxford and WSP to investigate historic Chepstow bridge
A bridge can stand for two centuries without revealing everything about the metal holding it together. Researchers from the University of Oxford and engineering consultancy WSP will now look beneath the surface of Chepstow’s Old Wye Bridge to understand hidden defects in its cast iron and help guide its conservation. The Grade I listed structure spans the border between … [Read more...] about Oxford and WSP to investigate historic Chepstow bridge
Straw could help UK meet housebuilding targets
Every summer, fields across Britain produce something the construction industry needs in enormous quantities: material. Around 9.9 million tonnes of straw comes from UK cereal farming each year, and researchers at the University of Bath believe some of it could provide a renewable alternative to more carbon-intensive building materials. At the moment, that barely happens. … [Read more...] about Straw could help UK meet housebuilding targets
Nanoscale coating boosts condensation heat transfer by up to 5.5 times
Getting water to condense isn't particularly difficult. Getting it to condense efficiently, and then move out of the way quickly enough for the process to start again, is rather more complicated. Engineers at KAIST have developed an ultrathin polymer coating that tackles both sides of that problem. Applied to copper tubes, the surface achieved condensation heat transfer … [Read more...] about Nanoscale coating boosts condensation heat transfer by up to 5.5 times
Origami-inspired mechanism could give robots the ability to change shape
Most robots are designed to do one job well. A wheeled robot can move quickly across smooth ground, while a four-legged machine is better suited to uneven terrain. The problem is that once a robot is built, its shape is largely fixed. Researchers at King's College London believe that could eventually change. Working with collaborators in China, the team has completed what … [Read more...] about Origami-inspired mechanism could give robots the ability to change shape