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Wood is not just a conventional material, it also has great innovation potential as a high-tech component and raw material for chemistry. This is one of the conclusions of the National Research Programme “Resource Wood” (NRP 66), which is nearing … Weiterlesen …

From your phone case to airplane windows, polycarbonates are everywhere. Several million tons of polycarbonate are produced every year around the world. However, worries about the dangers of this material are increasing because of the toxicity of its precursors, especially … Weiterlesen …

Hybrid compound forging is the first process that combines two lightweight construction approaches, namely creating a material bond between steel sheets and bulk parts, and employing different materials with different properties – such as lightweight aluminium and strong steel. In … Weiterlesen …

Flexoelectricity is a property of specific materials that exhibit an electrical charge induced by a strain. The ICN2 Oxide Nanophysics Group led by ICREA Prof. Gustau Catalán has recently published the latest findings from their research line on flexoelectricity. PhD student Kumara Cordero-Edwards … Weiterlesen …

Grape harvesting is already completed. Ripe grapes are collected and will be processed to tasteful wine. Before the liquid will be filled, the bottles need to be very clean and free of germs. Bottles and cups can be treated and … Weiterlesen …

Kostiantyn Kravchyk works in the group of Maksym Kovalenko. This research group is based at both ETH Zurich and in Empa’s Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics. The two researchers’ ambitious goal at is to make a battery out of the most common … Weiterlesen …

The chemicals company Clariant announced a new amide- and amine-free anti-static masterbatch concentrate for polyethylene films to be used in pharmaceutical production. “The introduction is timely due to the changes in industry standards which, by 2020, will limit the acceptability of many … Weiterlesen …

A proposal in the fight against global climate change is to separate CO2 from the waste gases from power plants or factories and to store it deep underground. Natural gas and other gases could also be stored temporarily in the ground … Weiterlesen …

Laser coding of PVC film uses high heat during the process, which produces exhaust air containing hydrochloric acid. The environmentally hazardous and unhealthy substance must be removed as soon as possible using suitable cleaning systems. Activated carbon filters are commonly … Weiterlesen …

Nylon captivated the world’s attention when “Miss Chemistry” modeled nylon hosiery that claimed to be “better than silk” at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. The world’s first commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer, it was invented by two scientists … Weiterlesen …