Materials

Conductive plastic for a better (lighter) battery “While you can’t change the basics of how batteries work, you can change the materials that are used to create them,” asserted Bill Robinson, the CEO of Integral Technologies Inc. And that is precisely what the Bellingham, WA-based company did; it has developed a moldable conductive plastic called ElectriPlast, a polymer blend that can be used to conduct electricity. Read full story

Sunny days ahead for plastic solar modules Solar modules in vehicles are still very much niche products. One reason is glass-based module manufacturing limits the use of photovoltaic cells in size and weight, according to Proof Design and Innovation Management. The German company presented a plastic-based solution, the Composite Solar Module, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Read full story

Huss takes a new angle on DPF design Huss has developed an innovative LPS-SiC diesel particulate filter specifically for heavy-duty on- and off-highway applications. Read full story

Phosphorescence a novel property of composite electroless nickel coatings One category of coatings is based on electroless nickel (EN) plating. EN is a chemical process with many inherent features well suited to automotive applications, including hardness, corrosion resistance, and conformity to complex geometries. It is possible to add super-fine particles into the EN to form composite EN coatings. These particles can provide hardness, wear-resistance, low-friction, heat-transfer, and even phosphorescent properties. Read full story