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Ferric sulfate is a safe coagulant alternative to alum
Hilary Ferrand ManufacturingPublic water systems provide clear, clean water largely because of chemical treatments needed both to kill harmful microorganisms and to improve appearance, taste and smell. Unfortunately, some of these treatments have shown to react with organic and inorganic compounds naturally found in the water. Certain of these disinfection byproducts have been proven to cause health conditions, like stomach cancer and early miscarriage.
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The View from Europe: A new climate for cooling
Andrew Gaved Construction & Building MaterialsIt has been a remarkable, perhaps even historic, week in Europe for the refrigeration industry. In fact, some would argue, for the future of the planet, too. Representatives from the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in Brussels had been charged with finding a resolution to the somewhat stalled negotiations for the revised F-gas regulations. Late in the afternoon of Dec. 16 , they reached a deal of sorts.
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Medical device plastic material innovations to watch
Don Rosato ManufacturingThe medical device universe encompasses a particularly imposing spectrum of constant technological innovation, including hundreds of different technologies and thousands of types of products. This affords high performance specialty plastics material suppliers unique opportunities in medical device market development.
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Looking forward to apptastic CES 2014
Mitch Weinraub CommunicationsAs we turn our calendars to 2014, most engineers' and technologists' dreams turn not to sugar plums, but to CES. The annual tech fest in Las Vegas usually sets the technology tone for the year and lets us know what everyone will be buying next Christmas. Judging by the pre-CES announcements and leaks that always start around this time of year, the one "word" that will be included in every announcement is not really even a word, just an abbreviation — app.
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Coatings: The skin of plastic matter
Adolfo Benedito ManufacturingIn a risky analogy, we might say that coatings in plastics play the role of human skin. The first bastion defending the material, coatings are an added value that aim to both protect from the outside and to provide the material with unique and exclusive functionalities. Plastics and their coatings belong, therefore, to a complex and unique system with significantly enhanced properties compared to the original material.
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The View from Europe: Heat recovery
Andrew Gaved Facilities & GroundsLast time we looked at how the subject of doors on chiller cabinets was vexing the supermarket refrigeration managers in Europe, because the way to undoubted energy savings was being blocked by concerns over the effect on merchandising. But if doors on fridges is a well-understood set of technologies remaining unexploited for nonengineering reasons, then the flip side of the coin is the whole realm of heat recovery.
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Titanium vs. tungsten: Which is the most resistant to corrosion?
Sasha Viasasha ManufacturingSteel has ruled the world for two centuries because it's relatively cheap and tough, but there are times when steel is just not tough enough. Recently, a full variety of custom-designed alloys has come to light — original ceramic composites and nanofabricated materials, like carbon nanotubes, that have been engineered to withstand specific pressures or environments. However, when engineers need to deploy the overall strongest metal to handle a wide range of stressors and corrosive threats, there are only two serious contenders: titanium and tungsten.
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Medical device market trends and the headwinds of change
Don Rosato ManufacturingThe term "medical device" can be applied to a wide range of products. The global market is comprised of about 8,000 types of medical devices, ranging from simple bandages and spectacles, through life-maintaining implantable devices and equipment to screen/diagnose disease and health conditions, to the most sophisticated diagnostic imaging and minimally invasive surgery equipment.
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Greenbuild offers a glimpse of emerging green building trends
Don Rosato ManufacturingThe U.S. Green Building Council's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the USGBC put on quite a show for attendees in Philadelphia. This year, 30,000 attendees from 90 countries came to Greenbuild, which featured 1,000 exhibitors and sponsors with green products and service innovations and 100 education sessions led by business, environmental and social leaders.
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Exploring the use of ceramic materials to prevent corrosion
Jesse Puga ManufacturingThere are many methods and techniques used for corrosion prevention. They generally include changing the environment, choosing the appropriate metal, monitoring surfaces, altering anodic areas, using chemicals that prevent deterioration and applying protective coatings. Typically these techniques are used for the protection of metal — the material that is most often the focus of corrosion prevention. In sharp contrast to metals, ceramics are less vulnerable to corrosion because their chemical bonds of ceramics are oxidized at the outset, and therefore, corrosion is already present.
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