Materials Science

Discover the fascinating story of the AWZ P70, East Germany's plastic car made from coal tar and cotton waste—a testament to post-war ingenuity and composite materials.

Discover how microscopic imperfections and environmental degradation dictate the lifespan of engineered structures, from bridges to jet engines.

A batch of polyimide-coated wafers undergoes a standard plasma-etching process to improve adhesion for subsequent layers. Post-process inspection reveals a dramatic darkening of the surface, shifting from a light green to a dark green hue.

Modern electronic systems often fail in environments where they are physically shielded from external pollutants. Thin-film resistors exhibit high-resistance or open-circuit conditions despite being housed in supposedly clean enclosures.

A series exploring chemical fingerprinting techniques in failure analysis, from atomic emission spectroscopy to surface-sensitive probes.

An aluminum housing arrives at the laboratory exhibiting a complete structural fracture. Initial visual inspection reveals a clean break, but the specified alloy must meet the rigid AMS4218 requirements of 7.0% silicon and 0.35% magnesium.

A comprehensive examination of material life-cycles, embodied energy, and circular economy principles for sustainable design.

The mantis shrimp is a masterpiece of evolution, featuring adaptations that inspire modern engineering. From its damage-tolerant clubs to its extraordinary visual system, this crustacean reveals nature's ultimate engineering prowess.