One of goals in transport is to create vehicles with less weight in order to lower their energy consumption. An EPFL spin-off company named EELCEE has developed a process that allows fast fabrication of lightweight composite components in large quantities. Polymer composites offer a good lightweight alternative to metals while offering the strength of steel…. »

Objet260 Connex is a compact and attractively priced addition to Objet’s family of multi-material 3D printers. Unlike other 3D printers we previously wrote about, the Objet260 Connex is based on the company’s patented inkjet 3D printing technology that enables mixing of 2 different materials to produce a new material with distinct properties, textures and colors…. »

A team of materials scientists and chemists from The University of Manchester and The University of Leeds have taken inspiration from sea shells found on the beach to create a composite material from dissimilar ‘ingredients’. They have successfully reinforced calcium carbonate, or chalk, with polystyrene particles that are used to make drinks cups. They report… »