BDE-Materials

A study by Dr. Tom Mackay of the University of Edinburgh and Professor Akhlesh Lakhtakia of Penn State may solve one of the great challenges in optics and electromagnetics.

In addition to resisting HCl at all concentrations and at temperatures above the boiling temperature, zirconium and its alloys also have excellent resistance in sulfuric acid at temperatures above boiling and concentrations to 70%.

Copper conducts electricity at a rate 97% that of silver, and is the standard for electrical conductivity.

Those steel alloys known as high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels provide increased strength-to-weight ratios over conventional low-carbon steels for only a modest price premium.

Polyamide-imides are engineering thermoplastics characterized by excellent dimensional stability, high strength at high temperature, and good impact resistance.

Material and process selectionAs with almost any material, selecting a rubber for an application requires consideration of many factors, including mechanical or physical service requirements, operating environment, a reasonable life cycle, manufacturability of the part, and cost.

Thermoset matrix systems dominate the composites industry because of their reactive nature and ease of impregnation.

Though light in weight, commercially pure aluminum has a tensile strength of about 13,000 psi.

Steels that contain specified amounts of alloying elements -- other than carbon and the commonly accepted amounts of manganese, copper, silicon, sulfur, and phosphorus -- are known as alloy steels.

The class of materials known as ceramic matrix composites, or CMCs, shows considerable promise for providing fracture-toughness values similar to those for metals such as cast iron.

Metal-matrix composites are either in use or prototyping for the Space Shuttle, commercial airliners, electronic substrates, bicycles, automobiles, golf clubs, and a variety of other applications.

Fiber reinforcements dominate composites.

Not only is lead the most impervious of all common metals to X-rays and gamma radiation, it also resists attack by many corrosive chemicals, most types of soil, and marine and industrial environments.

Refractory metals are characterized by their extremely high melting points, which range well above those of iron, cobalt, and nickel.