The Elements of Innovation Discovered

Articles from the February 14, 2024 edition


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  • Artist John Sabraw with reclaimed pigment on a steel table.

    Acid mine drainage to earth tone paints

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Apr 4, 2024
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    Gamblin Artists Colors introduces oil paints pigmented with waste from acidic water draining from old coal mine. Paints throughout the ages have been uniquely colored by crushed gemstones, rare shellfish, and even powdered Egyptian mummies. With that same pioneering spirit, the Portland, Oregon-based Gamblin Artists Colors began recycling dry pigment dust collected by their Torit air filtration system during the 1990s and mixing it into a paint color they called Torrit Grey....

  • DexMat CEO Bryan Hassin holds a roughly one-foot section of Galvorn cable.

    DOE backs Galvorn heat exchanger tech

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 6, 2024

    Aims to curb industrial heat's CO2 footprint, which is more than cars and planes combined. Climate tech company DexMat and Rice University have received $1.5 million in U.S. Department of Energy funding on a project to replace aluminum or copper fins in heat exchangers with a thermal conductivity-enhanced version of DexMat's flagship product, Galvorn – a high-performance, carbon nanomaterial that is stronger than steel, lighter than aluminum, and as conductive as copper. T...

  • Aerial shot of Tesla’s lithium-ion battery gigafactory in Nevada.

    First US graphite AAM production begins

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Syrah begins production of lithium-ion battery anode material for Tesla and others at Vidalia. A major milestone in breaking America's reliance on China for the minerals critical to the clean energy transition has been reached with the start of operations at Syrah Resources Ltd.'s Vidalia graphite anode materials plant in Louisiana. Being the primary material used for anodes, graphite is the single largest ingredient that goes into the lithium-ion batteries powering electric...

  • A Nexys mapping system being carried in a backpack at a construction site.

    The Nexys for next-gen mine mapping

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Exyn Technologies unveils a new 3D mapping solution to dock with its industry-leading autonomous drones and other delivery systems. Whether carried in a backpack, on the back of a Boston Dynamics Spot robot dog, or docked with one of its own state-of-the-art autonomous drones, Exyn Technologies' new Nexys modular 3D mapping system offers unmatched flexibility, speed, and accuracy for surveying and inspecting mines, construction sites, and other demanding environments. As a...

  • Morpheus Space FEEP thrusters on display.

    Morpheus' liquid metal ion thruster

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Startup sets new standard for orbital industry with scalable, modular thrusters that come with a suite of support tech for seamless operation. Supporting the dreams of countless space-venturing hopefuls, like its namesake, Morpheus Space Inc. has unveiled a potentially game-changing liquid metal ion propulsion system that they believe will chart a path to the stars for smaller companies and organizations to explore the infinite possibilities of endless space. As orbital capabi...

  • A sunset paints the sky orange behind large offshore wind turbines.

    Wind energy lives up to its potential

    Rose Ragsdale, For Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Spurred by government and private incentives, innovators and engineers overcome obstacles to proliferation of green technology. Wind energy – long considered by many, including some environmentalists, as a viable alternative to fossil fuels – is living up to its promise, thanks to government initiatives and technological innovations. Despite the technology's promise to deliver clean and cheap energy that reduces the United States' dependence on fossil fuels with minimal imp...

  • Futuristic EV fast charging station.

    An EV battery that charges in five minutes

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Indium for lithium battery anode makes fast charging a reality; Cornell researchers look for lighter alternatives. Engineers at Cornell University have developed a lithium battery capable of charging in less than five minutes, with stable performance over extended cycles of charging and discharging. The secret ingredient? Indium. "Range anxiety is a greater barrier to electrification in transportation than any of the other barriers, like cost and capability of batteries, and...

  • 3D rendering of the Hitachi all-electric EH4000 AC3 haul truck.

    Hitachi unveils all-electric mining truck

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Works with ABB to develop prototype that seldom needs a recharge due to innovative trolly assist and regenerative braking system. Heavy equipment staple Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. and electrification and automation leader ABB Ltd. have reached a milestone in their collaboration to develop a battery-powered electric mining haul truck that never needs to break for a recharge. Under development since 2021, with the goal of meeting the growing demand for reducing...

  • Artist’s rendering representing layers of tape, graphene and substrate.

    Transferring nanomaterials with tape

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Polymer tape's sticky properties change when irradiated with UV light. The discovery of graphene – a material with an ever-increasing number of uses – came from the humblest of beginnings: a hunk of graphite, and Scotch tape. Now, tape is once again taking center stage as an unlikely hero of science and technology as researchers from Japan have developed an adhesive with stickiness properties that can be programmed by UV light. Nanomaterials like graphene, which are mere ato...

  • A miner registers at desk at sign that reads “For Freedom’s Sake” in 1943.

    DOD increases Idaho antimony funding

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 20, 2024

    Pentagon agrees to invest an additional $34.6 million to establish a domestic source of metalloid critical to military and civilians. To help break America's reliance on China and Russia for the antimony needed for military hardware and munitions, the U.S. Department of Defense has conditionally agreed to invest up to an additional $34.6 million into Perpetua Resources Corp.'s Stibnite gold-antimony mine in Idaho. "This latest award from the Department of Defense brings us a...

  • Illustration of defunct H2 fueling station with “Sorry we’re closed” sign.

    Are hydrogen cars dead in the water?

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 13, 2024

    H2 infrastructure - Nikola builds out, Shell pulls back, and passenger cars lag heavy vehicles. Shell's withdrawal from passenger-vehicle hydrogen refueling operations has ignited debates on the developing industry's overall timing and viability. However, automakers and governments are still backing hydrogen fuel cells due to growing concerns about the slow pace and environmental expense of new critical mineral mines needed for lithium-ion batteries currently powering most...