An RMIT University researcher team, led by the School of Engineering’s Professor Yufei Wu, has invented a process it calls “Rubberized Concrete Processing Technology (RCP-Tech).” It says it can create materials up to 35 per cent stronger than traditional concrete, and can use recycled construction waste.The researchers used a mix of course and fine aggregates, rubber tyre waste, cement and water, which was then compressed to its minimum volume using pressure in a customised mould.Wu said RCP-Tech could "improve performance of any type of concrete material" and "[address] the performance issues affiliated with waste recycling in concrete."https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/rmit-team-d
Nanollose's origins are in a co-founder noticing a leathery substance in a batch of wine that went bad.15 years later, the company says it is close to selling the first commercial garment out of "microbial cellulose". Its lyocell rayon fibres come from fermented food waste (currently the focus is coconut water by-products) instead of wood pulp, and it is in partnership with a global rayon leader to industrialise this "tree-free" substitute.It says the lyocell is stronger than tree-derived rayon, needs less water and chemical additives in processing, and doesn't contribute to deforestation. https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/biomaterials-startup-looks-past-pulp-pandemic
Covid-19 and manufacturing… In areas where firms adopted
more IT, unemployment rate rose less because of social-distancing. Israeli
innovation played a role in helping the global economy adapt to changing
circumstances. There are over 250 companies in the Industry 4.0 sector that
provide services within cybersecurity, infrastructure, supply-chain &
logistics, energy-optimization, 3D-printing, robotics, real-estate, food,
quality and yield-improvement, predictive analytics, sensors, AI, security,
AR/VR &c. It is not surprising that many global corporations, who are
researching and developing cutting-edge solutions in the realm of digital
transformation, are choosing to look in Israel. Click to learn about a select few:
RMIT researchers have used lobster-inspired spiral shapes to increase the strength of 3D printed concrete structures.Natural materials like lobster exoskeletons had “evolved into high-performance structures over millions of years” according to lead researcher Dr Jonathan Tran."...lobster shells are naturally strong and naturally curved, we know this could help us deliver stronger concrete shapes like arches and flowing or twisted structures.”The team's work, published in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, favourably compared these “helicoidal patterns" against other patterns. The most commonly-used 3DP build method is lines laid down on top of each other in parallel. More: https://www
