Bye NCSU. It’s been real.
-MG-

expose-the-light:

Graphene Reveals Its Magnetic Personality

Can organic matter behave like a fridge magnet? Scientists from The University of Manchester have now shown that it can.

Image above shows Strain in graphene opens up a pseudomagnetic gap. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Manchester)

In a report published in Nature Physics, they used graphene, the world’s thinnest and strongest material, and made it magnetic.

Graphene is a sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a chicken wire structure. In its pristine state, it exhibits no signs of the conventional magnetism usually associated with such materials as iron or nickel.

Demonstrating its remarkable properties won Manchester researchers the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.

This latest research led by Dr Irina Grigorieva and Professor Sir Andre Geim (one of the Nobel prize recipients) could prove crucial to the future of graphene in electronics.

The Manchester researchers took nonmagnetic graphene and then either ‘peppered’ it with other nonmagnetic atoms like fluorine or removed some carbon atoms from the chicken wire. The empty spaces, called vacancies, and added atoms all turned out to be magnetic, exactly like atoms of, for example, iron.

“It is like minus multiplied by minus gives you plus,” says Dr Irina Grigorieva.

The researchers found that, to behave as magnetic atoms, defects must be far away from each other and their concentration should be low. If many defects are added to graphene, they reside too close and cancel each other’s magnetism. In the case of vacancies, their high concentration makes graphene disintegrate.

Professor Geim said: “The observed magnetism is tiny, and even the most magnetized graphene samples would not stick to your fridge.

“However, it is important to reach clarity in what is possible for graphene and what is not. The area of magnetism in nonmagnetic materials has previously had many false positives.”

“The most likely use of the found phenomenon is in spintronics. Spintronics devices are pervasive, most notably they can be found in computers’ hard disks. They function due to coupling of magnetism and electric current.

“Adding this new degree of functionality can prove important for potential applications of graphene in electronics,” adds Dr Grigorieva.

Ahh, graphene. The newest thing you / I wish we’d thought of.

(via fuckyeahmaterials)

Ferrofluids are incredible, visually manifesting magnetic fields.

They are colloidal liquids: comprised of a magnetically responsive nano scale particulate suspended in a carrier liquid, usually water or an organic solvent. 

staceythinx:

Protrude, Flow is an amazing interactive installation piece by Sachiko Kodama and his collaborator: Minako Takeno.

Kodama on his work:

In pursuing to create an interactive installation that moves our instinctual feelings, I created dynamic movements and organic shapes using black lustrous magnetic fluid. This fluid was placed in parts of the installation to express the desire and passion for life. Unlike machines, this installation reminds us of the energy pulsating in our own body. Obtaining flexibility and dynamism with any physical material is long sought after by humans and while artist create surreal pictures or moving images emulating these characteristics, they are imaginary. Protrude Flow is an interactive installation which expresses the flexibility and dynamics found in the physical make up of fluid. The fluid moves in synchronization with sound, controlled by a computer, so that it is able to transform into organic wild shapes and movements.

The black magnetic fluid is able to maintain its strong magnetic force, making it more flexibly transformable than iron sand. This allows the possibility to create complicated three-dimensional organic patterns which appear occasionally as pointed mountains or pliable organic shapes and sometimes as flowing particle streams. Interaction of environmental sound, created by the artist and the voices of the spectators, within the exhibition space stimulates the transformation of the magnetic fluid. These sounds are captured by microphones hanging from the ceiling which a computer then converts the sound amplitude into electromagnetic voltage, determining the strength of the magnetic field.

Perhaps this is a little much, but… that’s me!

I obviously love Wonder Woman, but have always be slightly skeptical of her invisible plane. Now through magic science it is possible!

If you’ve ever studied any color theory, dye chemistry, physics, or photography you know a true black is hard to achieve.  There two types of color (hang in with me here). First Subtractive color, the kind you used mixing finger paints, in which a combination of all pigments garners black (or a gross brown-ish).

There is also Additive color, the kind based on light waves, in which white is the combination of all colors and black is the absence of all color. We are able to see because our eyes recognize and process light (in various wave lengths that define color) as it reflects off of surfaces. 

In order to get the ultimate black there needs to be NO light reflection or scatter. The goal is to absorb all light. How can that be done? If you’ve ever looked at those terrible High School Senior yearbook photos, where are the girls are wearing a velvet shawl/drape and pearls? (who’s idea was that?) Notice the darkest point in the image. The black drape, by far. This true black is generated because the velvet with it’s deep pile (long fiber fuzz) is absorbing the light into its texture rather than reflecting it, like off of a smoother surface. Now back to the stealth paint. 

Nano tubes are structurally similar (when vertically aligned) to velvet; absorbing light, even infrared, and electronic signals too! With proper arrangement the tubes could prevent detection, by absorbing rather than reflecting signal. Spacing of the tubes and application of the paint would need to be tuned in order to the mimic the reflection/refraction of the surrounding air. Rendering it invisible to radar and other detection systems, as well as visual identification at night. (During the day the shape would be visible, like a black velvet plane in the sky. Perhaps Prince would be interested?)

The current challenges are production and application for the nano tubes. Scaling up the production of nano tubes is very challenging, as their growth parameters are highly specified and complex. Also, the means by which to suspend the tubes in the appropriate distribution while applying them over a large area is a formidable research question.

The project is under development by Dr. Guo and his team at the University of Michigan. 

(shout out to Kelly for this post idea)

Nice. Energy storage is a significant sticking point in the development of many alternative energies systems. Interesting that they’re using a solid membrane, I wonder what the rate of exhaustion is like?

laboratoryequipment:

Materials Make Durable Fuel Cell Membrane

Liang Wang, a post-doctoral researcher in the Univ. of Delaware’s Center for Fuel Cell Research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is developing new materials and structures that can improve the quality of fuel cell technology by increasing the durability of the fuel cell membrane. Like batteries, fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices that produce electricity. By converting hydrogen and oxygen into water, they can be a valuable power source for vehicles, buildings and devices like laptops and cell phones. Wang’s research is aimed at developing new materials and structures for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which are considered the best type of fuel cell for vehicles, and are predicted to eventually replace gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines.

Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-Materials-Make-Durable-Fuel-Cell-Membrane-120211.aspx

As you may have noticed, it is almost the New Year! Which means it’s time to wear something stylish and fancy, top it with a paper hat, drink bubbly, and yell numbers at a TV set. Yep. The Times Square Ball drop is right around the corner. In the spirit of thematic posts, here we go. 

(workers constructing the 2008 ball, NY Daily News)

The first ball drop was in 1907, made of iron and wood, covered in one hundred 25 watt bulbs. Built by Jacob Starr, a young metal worker and recent immigrant. One century and four years later: the ball is a geodesic sphere built from aluminum, lit with light emitting diodes, and faced with Waterford crystal. Interestingly each triangle is cut but Waterford’s artisans in an additional theme each year, past years have included Hope for Peace, Hope for Courage, Hope for Unity, and others; this year sees the addition of a Let There be Love design.

(A short and colorful history of the ball. Times Square Ball)

As MUCH as I enjoy the glamor of crystal (and the sentiments of the cut designs in them) and so on, I would be interested to see a ball that represented, both in fabrication and aesthetic, the zeitgeist of the time. Though perhaps with the perspective of history we will find the accuracy in actions taken without self-reflection. (A hand cut crystal ball lit by a variety of commercially available new lighting technologies, a lovely complement.) 

See you next year. With adult beverages as with Science: Safety First!

-MG-

I’m basically thrilled about these rain coats from TERRA; fashion and function?! Prove it. TERRA’s outerwear is designed for urbanites and bikers to go about their business not looking like drowned rats, a significant feat to be sure. The designs are total win, so on to the science.

The most consistent points of failure in water proof outerwear are the seams, while a fabric could be completely impervious, every stitch is a punctured hole and a breach in the system. TERRA wisely solves this issue with thermal bonding, utilizing the melting and reforming properties of thermoplastic Polyurethane.

Thermoplastic polymers are the ones that melt, unlike thermoset polymers, which just burn. (We can have a longer discussion about thermoplasticity in the future, promise)

Polyurethane is a incredibly versatile polymer: adhesives, paint, elastomers, and more. what!? true.  Defined by the presence of urethane linkage, polyurethanes can be variant in their composition, and higly complex. In my opinion the finest example of this is the usage in block co-polymers, combining the highly crystalline sections with softer rubbery sections. 

In some publications (but not on their website) there is claim of biodegradability, I was completely befuddled by this, so I called up the fine folks at TERRA. Speaking with them I learned that the supplier they purchase the Polyurethane from claims that the polyurethane textile is biodegradable.  TERRA is planning to have independent ecological testing of the product undertaken in the near future, and only then advertise the confirmed results. 

In other Polyurethane news, there are two interesting developments. 1) bio-absorable for implantation and cell growth scaffolding.  2) Natural, made from plant oil based glycerol. (I vote this for the next TERRA line. Fancy!)

Now you know what to buy yourself after you return all those gifts. TERRA. 

Two TRULY NEW Materials! Not just remixes of old ones. Awesome. I’m so over Carbon based. (I’m kidding Kelly)

theweekmagazine:

Two new elements are joining the periodic table. Say hello to number 114, flerovium (Fl), and number 116, livermorium (Lv). The two newbies will sit “down in the lower-right corner of the periodic table.”

In real life, both elements are “so large and unstable” that they can only be created in a lab, says Jennifer Welsh at Live Science. Known as “super heavy” or “Transuranium” elements, “they fall apart into other elements very quickly,” so scientists haven’t been able to study their potential applications quite yet. The elements were first synthesized over 10 years ago, but it was only recently — and through repeated experiments — that their existence was finally confirmed.

But how do they get their names?

I recently made a shelf. (no, no images, it’s not up to the demands of my perfectionist tendencies, and I will not have your opinion of me lowered by substandard carpentry.) Back to the shelf. Due to the mediocrity of my fastening system, I needed to fill some gaps, Wood Putty to the rescue! The next morning I realized, what is that crap made of?

ooooohhhh. Acrylic. But what kind of polymer is that? Well, lots of kinds. Could be thermoplastic, could be thermoset; acrylic acid, or methacrylic acid. Options. The defining feature is that it is a resin (vague) and that its polymerization is precipitated by the application of heat and a initiator to the monomer (really vague). But… don’t worry there is a more specific answer to my query. 

It ends up that most acrylic in paint is Poly(methyl methacrylate) or PMMA. This is the clear glass-like plastic seen in products like Lucite® and Plexiglas®. Once dried it gives that hard solid finish desirable in paints, or wood fillers. Interestingly PMMA is hydrophobic and hence water insoluble. (But the package says cleans with water!?) In this case a co-polymer is used, to suspend the PMMA in water, poly(vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate. Just like lipids this polymer has hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups; in-order to satisfy both halves of its “personality” the vinyl co-polymer loops into a circle with the phobic acetate groups facing in and the phillic alcohol groups facing out. This shape leaves a nice dry center for the PMMA to hide from the water in. It is by this means that insoluble groups are suspended in water based materials. This wrapping of a molecule by a second molecule, for the goal of suspension, is termed a latex; hence latex paints. (Latex fun fact by the fine folks at the Macrogalleria)