Sticky gel could have held the London Eye

The engineers in charge of hoisting the London Eye into position could have prevented the cable joints from failing by using a new sticky gel that uses the frictional properties of materials to bond the two components together, claim researchers.

Microwaving Metals with Powdered Perfection

Everyday metallic objects can now be made stronger, harder and longer-lasting thanks to a new process being developed by a research team at Pennsylvania State University, USA. The team, led by Professor Dinesh Agrawal, is using microwaves to sinter together powdered metals to form hard-wearing components ranging from small cylinders to automotive parts.

Powder Metallurgy Industry Building For The Future

The UK Powder Metallurgy industry is looking ten years into the future as it embarks on a second phase "Foresight" analysis to be supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. Building upon the recently completed first phase, the UK branch of the European Powder Metallurgy Association and The Institute of Materials hope to identify areas of weakness within the PM industry, improve management awareness of new technologies and ensure that the industry takes full account of its effect on the environment.

HIP Making Great Strides

The Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) manufacturing process is finding increasing uses in industry for producing dense components from powdered metals and ceramics to cladding hardfacing materials on to substrate surfaces.

Ceramics staying stuck

High temperature brazing alloys that can join and hold graphite parts at temperatures in excess of 2700 degrees Celsius are being developed as one of a range of high temperature active braze alloys. Although not currently commercially available, they are of great interest with the potential of being commercialised in the future.

PLEASE MENTION MATERIALS WORLD AS THE SOURCE OF THESE ITEMS

Notes For Editors
1. These items are due to appear as articles in the November 1999 issue of Materials World. Volume 7, Issue 11.
2. The views and opinions expressed in these articles are the views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of Materials World, IoM Communications or any other organisation with which they are associated.