How advanced materials are creating a hopeful future today
According to Abraham Lincoln, “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” Lincoln lived in a time of great uncertainty, but his determination and vision enabled him not only to shape his own future but to reimagine the entire United States at the same time. Today, we often associate the future with challenges like climate change – but it’s worth remembering that no matter how uncertain our times, our actions today can truly create the future of tomorrow.
Luckily, in the world of advanced materials, it’s possible to make real change without ever needing to give a Gettysburg Address! Two of the areas playing significant roles in creating our future are battery research and additive manufacturing, which both have the potential to revolutionize areas of our lives.
The energy revolution
Batteries enable greener energy storage and transfer, and they’re an important part of the transition toward sustainability. As more and more of us choose electric or hybrid cars, the performance of the batteries that power them is increasingly vital. We need to be able to drive useful distances safely and charge our cars quickly, so they fit into our daily lives. For those looking to travel a little further, next-generation lithium-sulfur batteries are predicted to change how aviation and space travel are powered. To achieve all this, battery technology is evolving rapidly – powered by cutting-edge research and analysis, which rely on techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and laser diffraction.
We might be glad the days of replacing our portable CD player’s batteries every week are over, but the earliest batteries looked like jars, pots and piles of metal disks – even less convenient! Finding the best way to store energy has always led to innovation and invention, and it’s no different today: researchers are experimenting with novel materials from zinc-manganese to gold. It’s safe to say that anyone with a cellphone, an electric car or a laptop should be excited about the upcoming energy revolution.
Adding up the benefits
Just like batteries, most of the items produced by additive manufacturing aren’t things we think about much in our daily lives – but that doesn’t make them any less critical. From medical devices to tooling and integral parts for cars and airplanes, additive manufacturing can produce complex shapes in a single piece. This uses fewer resources, reducing environmental impact, and allows for infinite customization. One benefit is that parts can be produced on demand, reducing the need for extensive inventories. This makes it easier to replace older components, so our cars and machines can have longer lives.
Additive manufacturing is also well-suited to automated processes. As ‘Industry 4.0’ takes shape around a vision of faster, more efficient manufacturing, it’s likely that more manufacturers will start to rely on additive methods for production of finished products – and automate those processes too. But to make the jump from niche applications to full-scale production, quality and process control is critical. Fortunately, many current- and next-generation instruments already allow the automation of analytical processes such as laser diffraction, polymeric structure and particle shape imaging.
A glimpse into the future
Uncertainty can be challenging, but as Abraham Lincoln knew, it’s also a fundamental part of progress. Looking to the future helps us to make better decisions in the present, and inspires us to create and invent new things that make life better for us all. That’s why we’re hosting a special event for advanced materials professionals: Future Days.
On November 8 we’ll be exploring the future of batteries and additive manufacturing, in an innovative two-track hybrid format that enables you to hear from industry experts about what they see coming next for their specialty – and what we can do to prepare. There will be presentations, interviews, discussions and more, so come along for a look into the future!
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