Concrete may have found it's killer app in graphene.
This is still an exciting area of research for materials scientists, with few real world commercial applications of the material so far, but it will likely have far reaching consequences for electronics in the future, a number of companies are already banking on it.
This is a developing story and we will update this page as we receive more information.
The materials industry is experiencing constant change. The pace of development is rapidly increasing due to the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, smart contracts, blockchain, 5G, machine learning, the Internet of Biological Systems and Big Data. These trends provide great opportunities for innovation and business. But, they also pose a new set of challenges. While traditional manufacturers had decades to reach maturity and complexity in design, it is now necessary to achieve quality, speed and security on new levels.
In the digital age, there are many new players such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple. The digital world has disrupted the way in which we create, communicate, and work. Digitalization is having a massive impact on industries such as materials, automotive, industrial engineering, and the design of electronics and medical products. This disruption also introduces complex challenges for suppliers, manufacturers, and engineers. They must now respond more quickly than ever, sometimes in a matter of hours.
On the basis of these challenges, the DPG provides a forum to discuss problems and the latest developments in modern manufacturing. As part of the digital age, a huge emphasis is placed on the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, machine learning, and the Internet of Biological Systems. The digital world has created many new digital industries. For example, robotics, Augmented reality, wearable technology, and biotechnology are no longer separate sectors. In the end, they are all related and will influence every industry, including the materials industry.
What are the latest developments in materials?
The digital world brings an opportunity to create new industries. It has created new materials, such as carbon nanotubes, which made its first appearance in the 80’s. It has also encouraged new types of materials, such as graphene, which are used in medical equipment and aerospace. But will new materials change our day-to-day lives? To be able to move forward, the new technologies must be compatible with current materials. For example, what if we could 3D print a jet engine on-demand?
New material inventions and new manufacturing techniques are also constantly being developed. It is becoming easier to manufacture complex products, but a lot more difficult to predict behavior. To achieve quality, speed, and safety, manufacturers must be able to accurately model their products and predict performance. And they must be able to predict the behavior of materials, such as metals, plastics, or composites. If you can accurately model and simulate materials, you can design and control what you have designed. With that, you can ultimately predict product reliability.
What changes in materials do you expect in the future?
Nanotechnology is an area of extensive research. There are currently approximately 2,000 products that have been approved by the FDA that are based on nanotechnology. New nanomaterials are continually being developed. Examples include carbon nanotubes, which are used in aircraft manufacturing, and nanocellulose which can be used to create more durable materials. Nanomaterials are also increasingly being used in cosmetics, food, personal care, and even in drug delivery systems. This trend is likely to continue, for example, with self-repairing materials, and smart materials which can adapt to environmental changes.
Another area of research is microscale components and structures. Micro or nano structures are required for sensors and actuators, since this enables materials to move and function. Microstructures are currently used in industrial robots, cameras, and in artificial muscles. New materials that can control electromagnetic waves, such as radar, are also being developed. Micro and nano structures are also very useful for photonics, which is used in LED and solar panels.
Manufacturing is entering a new phase of development. The Industrial Internet of Things, which was first developed in the 80s, is now moving into the digital age, where it will connect the world. The Internet of Biological Systems is also a growing area of focus, with a similar approach. IoT and IoBS mean that manufacturing should increasingly become more connected. And the industrial revolution is moving to the fourth industrial age, Industry 4.0. This evolution is accelerating the digital age of manufacturing.
To achieve high product safety and quality, manufacturers should create smart control systems that monitor materials and devices. They should also be able to communicate with sensors, machines, and materials in real time. The use of cloud computing and Internet of Things will also be increasingly applied.
How will this affect current manufacturing?
The trend is that we are increasingly becoming a highly connected society. A few examples are smart dust, Internet of biological systems, and the Industrial Internet of Things. Digitalization has provided manufacturers with a means to access a huge amount of data. It allows them to create control systems that can predict behavior. It can make machines more efficient and help them to predict failures. This means it can be used to create advanced materials.
Companies that manufacture these smart materials and applications, as well as materials, will become leaders in the market. New materials will emerge, for example, in the future we will see more self-repairing materials, and smart materials that adapt to environmental changes. In the future, the Internet of Biological Systems and the Internet of Things will take over more aspects of our daily lives.
Which part of your organization is responsible for adopting new tools and technologies to the factory floor?
Everyone has a responsibility. The first step is to start small, with an initial pilot project. Then it is about making adjustments and trying to get a grip on it. Everyone from top to bottom should be involved. This means that you need to start training management, and train employees who will be using the tools and technologies. You should involve other managers, in order to help employees adjust to new tools.
What do manufacturers need to consider in the coming years?
New tools will lead to big changes in manufacturing. As manufacturers will start working in a different way, it will become more important to work together.
In the future, it will be necessary to work collaboratively with customers to be able to improve complex products. This means combining physical and digital world. You will also need a partner that can be able to support you in making digital transformation. This also includes consulting for digitalization, as well as the use of digital tools. The aim is to enable companies to build these partnerships more quickly, so you can accelerate digitalization.
How do we plan for new tools and technologies?
It is important to start small. First of all, you need to understand what is going on. For example, a tool may involve a smart sensor, and a material or machine that can sense and record things that cannot be seen, such as the sound and strength of a connection. All of these smart sensors and smart machines will then be combined. This will enable manufacturers to see and understand what is going on. That means new digital information that can be used for more reliable predictions.
For example, your material or machine may not be functioning properly. If you can record this in real time, and you can give employees the information they need, they will be able to fix the machine or material in the event of a failure. This can lead to big improvements in productivity. This way, companies can see exactly what is happening, instead of making predictions.
All of these new digital technologies will need to be easy to use. This means you will need to plan for training and coaching staff to use the new tools. The aim is to allow employees to do their job as efficiently as possible, in the same way as with traditional machines and materials. This will be a major change, as it may require more effort.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in adopting new technology?
All of these new tools can introduce many new challenges. First of all, there is a big question mark about how far ahead of the curve we will be. Do we know what the future will look like? This requires a lot of research. Another problem is that the tools being developed are highly complex.
It is also important to have the right skills. Do you have the necessary skills? A lot of managers assume that the skills are universal, but they aren’t. Digitalization is a big opportunity for our industry. This means we can see far more potential than there is in the existing manufacturing process. We can increase the performance of products, and make them safer and more durable. Manufacturers need to be able to make changes quickly, but this is not always possible. And you need a partner that can support you.
What are the most difficult steps in adopting new tools?
This depends on the tool that you choose, and how it will be used
