IM20231en summary

SUMMARY VOLUME 1 2023

MYSTERY OF IRELAND’S CRUMBLING HOUSES SOLVED

WHY WAS ROMAN CONCRETE SO DURABLE?

KVK INNOVATION TOP 100 ‘ROMAN’ SUN ROOF TILES

FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTE TO REUSABLE MATERIALS

Biochar: Capturing CO2 as insulation material

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Empa, want to develop a novel type of insulating material from plant-based raw materials that can permanently bind CO2

Europe’s largest deposit of rare earth metals

Swedish mining company LKAB has identified significant deposits of rare earth elements in the Kiruna area, metals which are essential for, among other applications, the manufacture of electric vehicles and wind turbines.

Mystery of Ireland’s crumbling houses solved

In County Donegal, Ireland, for years unstable concrete has caused massive damage to thousands of houses, leading to agitation, protests, demonstrations an even to disputes in Parliament. A government taskforce has been dealing with the issue since April 2016. However, Swiss experts from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) now believe they have found the cause.

Why was Roman concrete so durable?

Scientists have been trying for decades to learn the secret of Roman concrete, particularly in structures that have endured particularly harsh conditions, such as docks, sewers and seawalls, or structures built in seismically active sites. The material has been indestructible for 2000 years and the question is: ‘why is that?’ An international team of researchers now discovered that the Romans used strategies to make their concrete that provide several important self-healing properties. The trick is in using quicklime during mixing.

Electricity from wood

KTH scientists have succeeded in generating electricity from wood by using water movements in the porous vascular structure, a process called transpiration in biology.

Novel Gray wins Sustainability Isola Design Award

Novel Gray was awarded with the Sustainability Award during the Milanese Isola Design Awards ceremony on January 23. Out of twelve categories: Furniture, Seating, Lighting, Tableware, Textile, Product, Material, Mobility, Sustainability, Digital, Outdoor, Innovation, Novel Gray received the Award for Sustainability.

ERC Consolidator Grant for living composites

The European Research Council has awarded Associate Professor of Aerospace Structures and Materials Dr. Kunal Masania an ERC Consolidator Grant of two million euros for hisor his research proposal AM-IMATE. This research on living composites can lead to ground breaking technology for making aviation more sustainable.

Super reefs of concrete

In Denmark, scientists and artists are currently working on an artificial reef made of newly developed concrete. The ‘Super Rev’ (Super Reefs) project aims to restore 55 square kilometres of reefs off the Danish coast.

Smart solar façade wins the Watt d’Or Energy Award

Solar façade panels developed by the group working under ETH Professor Arno Schlüter follow the sun’s position in the sky and in this way harvest more energy. The technology has now been awarded the Watt D’Or Energy Award.

Low-Pressure Casting of aluminium parts

A new casting technology, Low-Pressure Casting (LPC), developed in Norway, makes it possible to cast aluminium bolts with high-quality properties. Casting makes the production of aluminium car parts cheaper and more environmentally friendly and efficient.

Leading Event on Carbon Capture & Utilisation

Learn about the entire CCU value chain:

• Carbon Capture Technologies and Direct Air Capture

• CO2 for Chemicals, Proteins and Gases

• Advanced CCU Technologies, Artificial Photosynthesis

• Fuels for Transport and Aviation

• Green Hydrogen Production

• Mineralisation

• Power-to-X

Destroying PFAS by grinding it up with a new additive

Researchers of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, USA reported in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters a new type of additive for ‘ball milling’ that completely breaks down PFAS at ambient temperature and pressure.

Changing shapes at the push of a button

Programmable materials can change their characteristics in a controlled and reversible way with the push of a button, independently adapting to fit new conditions. They can be used, for example, to make comfy chairs or mattresses that prevent bedsores.

From industrial waste to reusable materials

To make visible where industrial waste ends up. That was the challenge for PhD student Rusnė Šilerytė (TU Delft). This waste can often be reused, but that happens far too little. ‘Data are available; however, these should be looked at from a different perspective’, says recent PhD graduate Rusnė Šilerytė.

KVK Innovation Top 100

Each year, KVK presents the KVK Innovation Top 100, a showcase full of successful innovations from small and medium-sized businesses. The new ranking was announced at the end of 2022 and contained a large number of innovations in the field of materials and material applications.

Artificial leaf produces hydrogen from air

EPFL scientists have developed a solar-powered artificial leaf capable of extracting water from the air and converting it into hydrogen.

‘Roman’ sun roof tiles

At the end of December, the European POCITYF program paid attention to a special project in the Pompeii Archaeological Park. POCITYF is a European Union project to make historic cities greener, smarter and more liveable. The problem with historic sites is that it is difficult to make them more sustainable without coming into conflict with the aesthetic appearance of such a location. Solar panels on a roof of a Roman temple are of course not a sight. So why not ‘invisible’ roof tiles?

New corrosion protection that repairs itself

ETH Zurich (ETHZ) researchers have developed an extraordinary protection against corrosion after a chance discovery. It glows in places where it is not damaged, repairs itself - and can be reused multiple times.

The Unique Conference Focused on Cellulose Fibres in Textiles, Hygiene and Packaging

Cellulose fibres are bio-based and biodegradable, even in marine habitats, where their degrading does not cause any microplastic.

250 participants and 30 exhibitors are expected in Cologne to discuss the following topics:

• Strategies, Policy Framework of Textiles and Market Trends

• New Opportunities for Cellulose Fibres in Replacing Plastics

• Sustainability and Environmental Impacts

Award Sponsor Organiser

• Circular Economy and Recyclability of Fibres

• Alternative Feedstocks and Supply Chains

• Ionic Liquids and New Technologies for Pulps, Fibres and Yarns

Sponsors

• New Technologies and Applications beyond Textiles

• Cellulose Fibre Based Packaging

• Cellulose Fibre Based Hygiene Products

Glassman Europe

15 - 16 March 2023, Istanbul

Fastener Fair Stuttgart

21 - 23 March 2023, Stuttgart

International Conference on Masonry Construction and Masonry Materials

27 - 28 March 2023, Paris

3D Delta Week 27 - 31 March 2023, Benelux

European Coatings Show 2022

28 - 30 March 2023, Nurnberg

Hannover Messe

17 - 21 April 2023 Hannover

BAU München

17 - 22 April 2023, Munich

Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals 2023

19 - 20 April 2023, Cologne

De Nederlandse Metaaldagen 2023

19 - 21 April 2023 Den Bosch

JEC World International Composites Event

25 - 27 April 2023, Paris

BioMAT 2023

3 - 4 May 2023, Weimar

Munich creative business week 2023

6 - 14 May 2023, Munich

PCIM Europe

9 - 11 May 2023, Nurnberg

KUTENO Kunststofftechnik Nord

9 - 11 May 2023, Rheda-Wiedenbrück

Ceramics and Composite Materials

10 - 11 May 2023, Zürich

MIX Noordoost

10 - 11 May 2023, Hardenberg

Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2023

10 - 11 May 2023, Amsterdam

Łódź Design Festival

12 - 22 May 2023, Łódź

Houtbouwbeurs

23 - 25 May 2023, Den Bosch

Renovatiebeurs

23 - 25 May 2023, Den Bosch

Renewable Materials Conference 2023

23 - 25 May 2023, Siegburg/ Keulen

FIT show 2023

23 - 25 May 2023, Birmingham

Maintenance Dortmund 24 - 25 May 2023, Dortmund

SurfaceTechnology GERMANY

4 - 6 June 2024, Stuttgart

Center of expertise for materials characterization.

Independent, dedicated, objective research and consultancy. ISO 17025 accredited.

We are pleased to support you with research and analysis of your innovative materials. Call us on +31 26 3845600 or email info@tcki.nl www.tcki.nl

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Innovative Materials, the international version of the Dutch magazine Innovatieve Materialen, is now available in English. Innovative Materials is an interactive, digital magazine about new and/or innovatively applied materials. Innovative Materials provides information on material innovations, or innovative use of materials. The idea is that the ever increasing demands lead to a constant search for better and safer products as well as material and energy savings. Enabling these innovations is crucial, not only to be competitive but also to meet the challenges of enhancing and protecting the environment, like durability, C2C and carbon footprint. By opting for smart, sustainable and innovative materials constructors, engineers and designers obtain more opportunities to distinguish themselves. As a platform Innovative Materials wants to help to achieve this by connecting supply and demand.

Innovative Materials is distributed among its own subscribers/network, but also through the networks of the partners. In 2021 this includes organisations like M2i, MaterialDesign, 4TU (a cooperation between the four Technical Universities in the Netherlands), the Bond voor Materialenkennis (material sciences), SIM Flanders, FLAM3D, RVO and Material District.