In our pursuit of materials design, who better to imitate than Mother Nature? Biomimetic, or bioinspired materials are making huge strides in materials design! In this episode, Andrew chats with Dr. Steven Naleway from the University of Utah to talk about his research in this exciting field. This episode is sponsored by Matmatch . Check out how they can help you find the perfect material for your next engineering project! This episode is also sponsored by Materials Today , an Elsevier community ...
Sep 18, 2020•21 min•Ep. 24
Printing human organs? Replacing worn-out body parts with fresh, newly printed ones? This sounds like science fiction but in some ways, it's already here! From kidneys to bladders and even more complex organs the bizarre future of 3D-bioprinting is here! In this micro-materialism episode, we introduce a new producer, Ramsey Issa, to help separate fact from fiction when it comes to the materials science of bioprinting. Articles Discussed: 2014 Chua and Yeong, Bioprinting: Principles and Applicati...
Aug 21, 2020•15 min•Ep. 23
We usually take modern rubber for granted, but in this episode, Jared and Andrew dive into the incredible history of this miracle material. They discuss the discovery of the vulcanization process by Charles Goodyear all the way through Ford's abandoned corporate towns in the jungle to the present. Articles Discussed: 2014 Kohjiya & Ikeda. Chemistry, manufacture and applications of natural rubber [ LINK ] 1994 Science & Technology of Rubber [ LINK ] 1939 Fisher, Vulcanization of rubber vu...
Aug 03, 2020•26 min•Ep. 22
This episode covers a fascinating class of materials called auxetics. Experience tells us that when we pull a material in tension, it should shrink; auxetics do the opposite. By shifting, winding, or rotating, these materials get wider when stretched and thinner when compressed. Articles Discussed: Lakes R. Foam structures with a negative Poisson's ratio. [ LINK ] 2004 Evans, Auxetic polymers: a new range of materials [ LINK ] 2016 Saxena et al Three Decades of Auxetics Research − Materials with...
Jul 22, 2020•14 min•Ep. 21
Materials Informatics is the application of data science tools and techniques to materials research. In this episode, we examine how the uses of machine learning are applied to materials science. We try to give an honest appraisal of the pros and cons of this emerging field to separate the hype from reality and even provide some tips on how to get started in the field. Articles Discussed: Excellent YouTube tutorial for Materials Informatics from Dr. Sparks [ LINK ] 2020 Wang and coworkers Best P...
Jul 06, 2020•54 min•Ep. 20
How do N95 masks work? In this episode we dive into the science of diffusion and the materials that are used to control it. With the lingering threat of airborne COVID-19 it might be a good idea to learn about the materials that can protect you from it. This episode is sponsored by Matmatch . Check out how they can help you find the perfect material for your next engineering project! Thanks to Kolobyte and Alphabot for letting us use their music in the show! If you have questions or feedback ple...
Jun 15, 2020•12 min•Ep. 19
Diamonds aren't forever. They are a metastable phase of carbon that is slowly reverting to graphite. But before that happens it has proven an invaluable tool in industry for cutting through metals and boring miles into the earth. In this episode, we sit down with Colton Fox, a research engineer at US Synthetic, and discuss the process of manufacturing artificial, polycrystalline diamonds for drilling applications. From their dramatic history to present challenges, this episode is a great primer ...
Jun 01, 2020•40 min•Ep. 18
Making a polymer sample is one thing, but churning out large batches of consistent product brings a host of challenges. In this episode we interview Alex Reed, CEO of Fluence Analytics, a company specializing in polymer processing data. By leveraging real-time characterization and data analysis, we can optimize materials production to reduce waste and increase output. Learn how Fluence Analytics is tackling these challenges and more! Articles for Further Reading: Manivannan, G. (1997). UV-vis sp...
May 04, 2020•48 min•Ep. 17
Soap wasn't always a household item. In this episode we dive into the history of soap, who developed it, and the materials used to make it. Throughout its history, soap underwent several changes in application and chemical formula in order to address changing purposes and environmental concerns. Today, as we are in the throws of a global pandemic, soap is getting more attention than ever before, but how effective is it against a virus? Referenced Articles: A Historical Review of Surfactants in C...
Apr 06, 2020•26 min•Ep. 16
In this episode we dive into the science behind ultrasound characterization for flaw internal, non-destructive flaw detection. Piezoelectric materials generate electricity in response to an applied stress. Through careful tuning, these materials can detect differences in ultrasonic vibrations that allow us to identify flaws deep within materials. At the end of the episode we sit down with Dr. Jeff Bates and discuss his work on hydrogels in ultrasound applications and his experience in materials ...
Mar 02, 2020•40 min•Ep. 15
What if materials could heal like we do? In this episode, we dive in to the science behind self-healing polymer materials, explore different approaches to polymers design, and peer into what the future may hold. Whether you are interested in soft-robotics, re-useable textiles, or just curious how a material could repair itself - this is the episode for you! Articles Discussed: 2008 Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles [ LINK ] 2012 Chen and coworkers UC Irvine [ LINK ] 2013 Rahma...
Feb 03, 2020•35 min•Ep. 14
Have you ever watched a blacksmith work an old railroad tie into an elaborate metal trinket and wonder "How do they do that?" or "Why are doing it that way" or "What is the purpose of that step?" In this episode, we dive into the science behind those exact questions. We talk about metal deformation, heat treatments, fracture, different steel types, and wrap up the episode interviewing Alexander Wickstrom an undergraduate in the Materials Science & Engineering Department at the University of ...
Jan 06, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 13
About half of the solid wastes produced each year end up in a landfill. A quarter gets recycled, 10% is composted, and the rest is burned. Why isn't more being recycled? Is this trend going to change? What will be the impact of China's new policy regarding impurities? This episode dives into recycling and we interview Dr. James Nagel of EDX Magnetics, a company with an innovative new tool for separating metals that could transform the recycling landscape. References For Further Reading: EDX Magn...
Dec 02, 2019•52 min•Ep. 12
A great empire demands an equally great building material. In this episode, we cover the development and implementation of cement and concrete throughout human history. We are joined by Marie Jackson, a research associate professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah, and an expert on Roman concrete. She explains how Romans were able to develop concrete and why Roman concrete is able to endure for thousands of years. Finally, we cover some new and exciting concrete technologies t...
Nov 04, 2019•53 min•Ep. 11
The optical microscope was discovered in the 17th century and ever since has been a staple of scientific discovery. It uncovered germs and let humanity investigate the microscopic world. However, optical microscopes face a limit to their resolution since they rely on visible light. If materials scientists were going to ever probe atoms, grains, domains, and other features smaller than a few hundred nanometers, it would be necessary to fundamentally change the way we see matter. In this episode w...
Oct 07, 2019•49 min•Ep. 10
Imagine stepping on your favorite glasses and bending the frame horribly out of shape. Now imagine immersing these glasses in boiling water and seeing them snap back into their original shape with no evidence of ever being deformed. Shape memory alloys are as close to real-life science fiction materials as it gets! In this episode, we dive into what the materials are, their discovery, how they work, and lots of cool applications. Referenced Articles: Shape memory alloys: a state of art review [ ...
Sep 02, 2019•38 min•Ep. 9
Did you know that chocolate has a crystal structure? We all think of metals, ceramics, polymers, electronic materials, composites and so forth as materials. But what else? Is chocolate an engineering material? In this episode we dive into this amazing substance and describe the critical processing steps that makes it a unique including regional differences in cocoa, chocolate tempering and more. Along the way we'll cover the fundamental materials science topic of crystallization and solidificati...
Aug 05, 2019•42 min•Ep. 8
Can you structure a company like a material? In this episode we cover the fascinating discovery of Gore-Tex, and the equally fascinating company that created it. First, we delve in the materials science that allows Gore-Tex to repel water, while remaining breathable. We then, discuss the unique, non-hierarchical structure of W.L. Gore and Associates that has allowed them to continuously innovate over the past 60 years. Referenced Articles: Innovation Democracy: W.L. Gore's Original Mana...
Jul 02, 2019•31 min•Ep. 7
What role do materials play in artificial organs? Are there materials that body simply won't accept? In this episode we talk about the birth of artificial organs as we describe the history of hemodialysis which is critical for treating chronic kidney disease. We introduce materials science fundamentals associated with mass transport across semi-permeable membranes such as Ficks First Law. We then tell the story of Willem Kolff and others who pioneered the invention of hemodialysis and describe t...
Jun 03, 2019•41 min•Ep. 6
In this episode we cover the history and development of crystallography, the study of the structures that make up the materials around us. The history of this field is filled with accidental discoveries, ingenious inventions, and drama between those who study it. One of the most important discoveries to come out of this field is x-ray diffraction. This important characterization technique allowed scientists to delve deeper into crystal structures than ever before. We discuss new advances in x-ra...
May 06, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 5
In this episode we talk about thermoelectrics, which are materials that can convert heat into electricity or vice versa. Since their inception almost 200 years ago there have been major advances in thermoelectric efficiency and they have found their way into some amazing applications such as NASA’s deep space probes or the Mars rover Curiosity. For the latter half of the 20th century, thermoelectric materials research was relatively stagnant with little improvement in materials. However, in the ...
Mar 31, 2019•58 min•Ep. 4
In this episode we learn about an unexpected approach to processing materials: the common kitchen microwave. While most people only think about the microwave when it’s time to reheat some leftovers, there has been a surprising scientific interest from materials researchers in the last few decades. In fact, microwave processing can achieve pretty remarkable feats such as extremely rapid sintering and heat treatment of materials as well as providing a means for microstructural control in alloys. T...
Mar 04, 2019•42 min•Ep. 3
In this episode we sit down with Dr. Chett Boxley, the co-founder of Glycosurf LLC and Batch 21. Chett is a serial entrepreneur with a PhD in chemistry from the University of Utah and a long history of bringing products out of the laboratory and into the market. Chett describes the unique challenge of both developing a new materials-based product and also selling it and running a young startup. You can learn more about Batch 21 and their green skin care products by visiting batch-21.com . For th...
Feb 04, 2019•35 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Materialism Podcast! In this episode we cover the most ubiquitous and important engineering material of all time: steel. The story of steel is fascinating and ties into the history of the Industrial Revolution, the birth of capitalism, and so much more. It would be hard to think of another material that did more to change society. Thanks to Kolobyte and Alphabot for letting us use their music in the show! If you have questions or feedback please send us em...
Jan 07, 2019•41 min•Ep. 1
What is materials science? What is the Materialism Podcast? Find the answers to these questions and more in this trailer for what is to come! Each episode includes a brief general introduction to the topic so that any listener can understand the subject matter. We hope you’ll enjoy the podcast. Feel free to connect with us on instagram at @Materialism.podcast. You can also send us questions or suggested podcast topics at materialism.podcast@gmail.com.
Jan 07, 2019•3 min
