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Preserving food in a whole new way
For the past 100 years, the way refrigerators preserve food has been rooted in technol-
ogy dating back to the mid-1800s, but that is about to change. GE Appliances, Louisville,
Ky., researchers are developing the next leap in home refrigeration technology—magnetic
refrigeration (more specifically, magnetocaloric refrigeration). The technology uses no re-
frigerants or compressors and is 20% percent more efficient than refrigeration technology
currently in use. In addition, the new approach can be applied to other heat pump appli-
cations such as HVAC and has the potential to impact nearly 60% of the average U.S. house-
hold’s energy consumption.
The system uses a water-based fluid rather than a chemical refrigerant such as Freon
to transfer heat from inside the refrigerator and achieve the cooling process. Instead of a
compressor, magnets create a field that agitates particles in the fluid, causing it to cool.
The magnetic field strength determines how cold the fluid becomes, and in turn, how
quickly it cools the refrigerator. Research is progressing rapidly and is on track to move
from the lab to residential homes within the next five years.
Polymer used to make hybrid electric engine covers
More producers of automotive engine covers
are switching to DSM’s Akulon Ultraflow glass
and mineral reinforced polyamide 6. Compared
to other grades of polyamide 6, this one offers up
to 80% improved flow and enables cycle time re-
ductions of 15% to 40%. Such substantial reduc-
tions are achieved through a combination of
shorter injection—and holding pressure times,
faster crystallization speed, and the option to use
processing temperatures 30° to 40°C lower than
competing polyamides—which allows for a
shorter cooling time. Wall thicknesses can be cut
by as much as 20%. The excellent flow properties
of Akulon Ultraflow have minimal effect on its
mechanical properties, which remain in line
with those of more conventional reinforced
polyamides. In addition, the high dimensional stability of the material eliminates the need
for large flat parts like engine covers to be put into special cooling fixtures after molding
to prevent distortion. , .
Glass production reject finds new use
A form of crystal that was long considered an unwanted and unloved “stone” in glass
making could find practical use as an inexpensive and efficient optical diffuser, which scat-
ters and softens light in a variety of industrial and household applications. Devitrite is a
form of crystal produced when commercial soda-lime-silica glass is heat treated for ex-
tended periods. As it degrades the performance of glass by making it opaque, it was con-
sidered a troublemaker in early 20th century glass manufacture. Improvements in
commercial glass manufacturing removed it from the final product altogether.
However, researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK, discovered that devitrite
actually possesses many useful characteristics. In fact, the very optical characteristics that
help to make devitrite unwanted in commercial glass can make it extremely useful as an in-
expensive and efficient optical diffuser. Devitrite grown in glass consists of needlelike crys-
tals, and forms into fanlike shapes. The tiny spacing between the needles is similar to that
of the visible light wavelength, so when light passes through devitrite, it scatters at angles
up to 120°.
Devitrite-based diffusers scatter light more broadly than sandblasted devices, while
giving some control over the shape of the beam, and at lower cost than engineered holo-
news
industry
briefs
Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, invested
$13 million to expand its wheel
manufacturing plant in Europe, to
meet growing demand for its
lightweight aluminum truck
wheels. The expansion of the
Székesfehérvár, Hungary, facility
enables production of twice as
many Dura-Bright EVO surface-
treated wheels in Europe by early
2015, compared to current
production levels. The Dura-Bright
EVO surface-treated wheel is 10
times more resistant to corrosion
primarily caused by road salts and
weather. The wheel is also up to
three times more resistant to
chemicals, including hydrofluoric
acid, found in some truck wash
cleaning agents. This enables use
of a wider variety of cleaning
solutions to simplify maintenance,
while preserving wheel integrity
and brightness. ,
.
Alcoa is doubling
production of its
lightweight Dura-Bright
EVO surface-treated
truck wheels through a
production line expansion
in Hungary. Courtesy of
Business Wire.
Titanium alloy golf clubs can cause
dangerous wildfires, according to
University of California Irvine
scientists. When a club coated with
the lightweight metal is swung and
strikes a rock, it creates sparks that
can heat to more than 3000°F for
long enough to ignite dry foliage.
Orange County fire investigators
asked the university to determine
whether such clubs could have
caused blazes at local golf courses
a few years ago. Course conditions
were recreated in the lab to match
conditions on the days the fires
occurred. Using high-speed video
cameras and powerful scanning
electron microscope analysis, they
found that when titanium clubs
were abraded by striking or grazing
hard surfaces, intensely hot sparks
flew out of them. In contrast, when
standard stainless steel clubs were
used, there was no reaction.
.
METALS POLYMERS CERAMICS
ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES • JUNE 2014 8
Akulon Ultraflow polyamide 6 used by
Miniature Precision Components for
hybrid electric engine covers. Courtesy
of DSM Engineering Plastics.