Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:The first composite ski

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

The first composite ski! 

The first successful all-fiberglass ski was the Toni Sailer ski in 1959. Art Molnar and Fred Langendorf invented and built the ski in nearby Montreal. There had been other attempts to build all fiberglass (plastic) skis starting as early as 1952, but none had made it into production. This type of construction quickly replaced both wood and aluminium construction for most recreational skis. Within ten years it was the industry standard. 

Let's learn more about its inventors: 

Langendorf was an engineer who specialized in fiberglass and I have not uncovered much subsequent information about him. However, Art Molnar has a long resumé in the ski and snowboard world: Molnar fled Hungary during the 1956 Revolution and landed a job working for Langendorf in Montreal. Molnar designed the first Sailer ski and then in 1963 designed a later model with a ribbed fiberglass core where the ribs were separated by air channels. This latter design made the ski extremely light, but still strong. In 1967 Molnar left Langendorf to go to work for K2 and develop a line of skis using foam cores. Then in 1971 he moved to Lange where he helped produce the first Lange ski. 

Finally in 1973 Molnar started his own ski company utilizing the ribbed fiberglass core he initiated at Sailer. Molnar skis were light in weight with a soft flex and developed a cult following among powder skiers. Molnar was able to keep his company afloat for ten years before having to close his factory in 1983. 

Source: Retro Skiing/ #managingcomposites #thenativelab

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Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Elemental Analysis of Debris

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Elemental Analysis of Debris

The madison Group has completed a project with the objective of analyzing the composition of debris. Upon opening a gaylord of resin, a collection of contaminant debris was apparent interspersed within the plastic molding pellets. Contamination can pose a significant problem if molded into plastic parts, and can lead to premature failure. The debris was sampled, and subsequent visual and microscopic examinations revealed exclusively metallic-looking particles.

The debris material was analyzed via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) in conjunction with a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examination. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy is a nondestructive chemical microanalysis technique. The technique provides relative elemental concentrations for elements having an atomic weight of 5 and greater.

The SEM inspection revealed that the debris consisted primarily of spherical particles. Some distortion, suggestive of partial melting, was observed. The EDS analysis identified that these particles were primary copper. The spherical nature of the particles, together with signs of melting, was consistent with high-temperature re-solidification, such as weld spatter.

Some additional flakes were also evident within the debris. The analysis showed that these were a combination of zinc with lower amounts of iron and lead.

Further analysis of the debris using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) did not show significant levels of organic-based materials above the detection limits of the spectrometer.

Once this information was relayed back to the resin supplier, it was discovered that electrical maintenance and repair work had been performed in the vicinity where this resin production lot had been stored. Work with copper wiring and conduit at elevated temperature was the likely source of the contamination.

Source:The Madison Group

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#plastics #ftir #debris #materialsscience #contamination #eds #sem #metals #microscopy #analysis #copper #zinc

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: METHANOL

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

METHANOL

Methanol occupies a critical position in the chemical industry as a highly versatile building block for the manufacture of countless everyday products such as paints, carpeting, plastics, and more.

Increasingly, methanol is being employed around the globe in many innovative applications to meet our growing energy demand. We use methanol to fuel our cars and trucks, marine vessels, boilers, cookstoves, and kilns, among an increasing list of market applications.

Methanol is a highly versatile product that finds itself in many ubiquitous household products, essential components for cars, and the production of other valuable chemicals. Methanol’s versatility lies in its ability to be produced from different feedstocks – from natural gas, waste, and captured CO2 combined with green hydrogen. Increasingly, methanol is considered a clean and sustainable fuel rather than just a petrochemical. Its inherent clean-burning properties produce lower emissions (while improving fuel efficiency) upon land/marine vehicle combustion. When made from renewable feedstocks like captured CO2 or waste, methanol becomes a net carbon-neutral fuel aligned with climate change policies to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable Methanol:

Compared to conventional fuels, renewable methanol cuts carbon dioxide emissions by up to 95%, reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80%, and completely eliminates sulfur oxide and particulate matter emissions.

Methanol (CH3OH) is a liquid chemical used in thousands of everyday products, including plastics, paints, cosmetics and fuels. Liquid methanol is made from synthesis gas, a mix of hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. These simple ingredients can be sourced from a wide range of feedstocks and using different technology approaches.

Renewable methanol is an ultra-low carbon chemical produced from sustainable biomass, often called bio-methanol, or from carbon dioxide and hydrogen produced from renewable electricity.

The Methanol Institute (MI) is tracking more than 80 renewable methanol projects around the globe that are projected to produce more than eight million metric tons (2.7 billion gallons or 10 billion liters) per year of e-methanol and bio-methanol by 2027. 

Methanol is an essential chemical building block and emerging energy resource. Methanol is synthesized using a mixture of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These elements can be derived from a variety of feedstocks and processes, with conventional methanol produced from natural gas or coal. Renewable methanol is a low carbon and net carbon neutral liquid chemical and fuel produced from sustainable biomass, often called bio-methanol, or from captured carbon dioxide and hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, referred to as e-methanol.

Source:Methanol Institute

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#methanol #renewableenergy # #carbonneutral #alternativeenergy #sustainable #marine

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Failure modes:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Failure modes:

What are the most common failure modes for fiber reinforced composites? Let's check them out in detail! 

This image shows three different failure modes: delamination, fiber breakage, and tensile/shear matrix cracks in a composite laminate! 

Fracture analysis when zoomed-in can reveal a lot of info to engineers! 

Image Credits: Vinoda Yakkundi here on LinkedIn

Source:#managingcomposites #thenativelab

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#composites #failure #microscopy #failureanalysis #fiber #crack

India’s First-ever Methanol Fueled Buses launched by Transport Minister, Know about Clean Energy Mission here

On March 12, 2023 (Sunday), Nitin Gadkari showcased 100% methanol-powered buses that will be run by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The buses will be operated with methanol blended fuel as part of Mission Clean Energy.

The preliminary tests will be run on a pilot basis. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently announced several pilot trials of MD15 buses on the premises of Vidhana Soudha. Moreover, they are to be tested with 15% methanol-blended fuel provided by Indian Oil. On this occasion, a truck that runs on 100% methanol (M 100) was also introduced by the government.

Government’s Clean Energy Project

An official of BMTC stated that this methanol-focused initiative has been put forth by the Central Government and NITI Aayog. The corporation will be providing 10 buses including both BSVI (Bharat Stage Emission Standards) and BSIV (Bharat Stage IV) for the implementation.

This illustrious project of the Union government aims at solving air quality problems and also curbing pollution along with promoting dependency on the import of fuel. Experiments will be done in order to determine the success rate of these buses. The newly designed buses are to be operated for a total period of three months. Methanol blended fuel will be taken from Indian Oil for conducting the trial run.

‘Methanol Economy’ Programme by NITI Aayog

According to the data given by Niti Aayog on “Methanol Economy”, Methanol is a good alternative to conventional transportation fuels. This is a low-carbon, hydrogen-carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, and CO2 from thermal power plants as well as natural gas.

NITI Aayog’s ‘Methanol Economy’ Programme is determined to significantly decrease India’s oil import bill and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, the aim is to convert coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol, as stated by the resource centre.

Blending 15% methanol in gasoline would as a consequence lead to at least a 15% reduction in the import of gasoline/crude oil. In addition to this, this would cut down GHG emissions by 20%. Therefore, improving urban air quality. NITI Aayog emphasized Methanol Economy as it can create more than 5 million job opportunities through methanol production or application and other distribution services.

Benefits of Methanol

In the production of Methanol, lower cost is involved hence it is preferred by the economies as compared to other fuel alternatives. Talking about its multiple benefits, Methanol as a fuel has a much lower risk of flammability relative to gasoline which is quite hazardous.

Source:Methanol Institute

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#methanol #efuel #energy #sustainable #energytransition #futurefuel #cleanfuel #alternativefuel #marine #maritime #cleanenergy

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Failure Analysis on Poly Carbonate hub

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Failure Analysis on Poly Carbonate hub
I recently completed a failure analysis on a polycarbonate hub used to secure a steel tube. A number of parts had cracked while undergoing engineering use testing in the laboratory. The fractographic examination, which included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed fracture surface features that indicated that the parts failed though the application of stress at a high strain rate. It was concluded that the engineering testing produced rapid mechanical overload, in which the stresses exceeded the short-term strength of the material. Plastic materials, including polycarbonate, can undergo a ductile-to-brittle transition associated with high strain rate events.

The high strain rate failure mechanism was specifically identified in the SEM images by the presence of features known as river markings. They extended out from and bounded the crack origin. The crack origin area also displayed a relatively smooth texture, which was indicative of a brittle fracture mode. The cracking initiated with a design corner (yellow circle), which likely acted as a point of stress concentration.

Source:The MADISON GROUP
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 #plastics #plasticsengineering #crack # #failureanalysis #fractography #SEM #failure #polymerscience #materialsscience #polycarbonate #microscopy #design