polymerguru

  A viscous biopaste that is easy to process, solidifies quickly and is suitable for producing even complex structures using the   3D printing process   has been developed by a research team headed by Prof. Dr. Marie-Pierre Laborie from the Chair of Forest Biomaterials at the University of Freiburg. The wood-based   biodegradable synthetic   could potentially be used in lightweight construction, amongst other things. Alternative Way to Use Lignin Lignin strengthens the cell walls of plants and causes them to turn woody (lignify) – a mechanism that helps plants to protect themselves against wind or pests. It is a waste product from paper manufacture and largely incinerated to produce bioenergy. “ This is why we’re researching into alternative possibilities for making better use of this raw material in future ,” says Laborie. As a result, the team started to reexamine a combination of materials which was already investigated in the 1980s by an American research te...

  Boom Supersonic   (Denver, Colo., U.S.) an aerospace company building the world's fastest civil aircraft, and leading industrial technology company,   Rolls-Royce  (London, U.K.), announced on July 30 an engagement agreement to explore the pairing of a Rolls-Royce propulsion system with Boom's composite-intensive flagship supersonic passenger aircraft,   Overture . Boom’s XB-1, the world’s first independently-developed supersonic jet, makes extensive use of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites, as detailed in its blogs, “ The big 3 components of supersonic aircraft ” and “ Going the distance: Materials made for supersonic ”. Boom says the goal of the new agreement is to work together to identify the propulsion system that would complement Boom's  Overture  airframe and will involve teams from both companies collaborating in engine-airframe matching activities for the aircraft. The teams will also examine certain key aspects of the propul...