3D Sound Systems Using Groundbreaking Piezoelectric Springs
Digital speakers that can project three dimensional sound across a room are being developed using springs built from piezoelectric ceramics. Applying an electrical current to the material forces the spring to expand causing a vibration that produces a coherent sound image away from the speaker.
Stirring Stuff From Friction Welding
The new technique of friction stir welding is showing great promise for the automotive and other industries. The process is environmentally friendly and there are no glare or reflected laser beams with which to contend.
A Helping Hand For Materials Testing
New materials for artificial limbs, and the prostheses themselves, must match up to the mechanical property requirements of application. Materials testing plays an important part in the development work at the Edinburgh Bioengineering Centre.
Hard-Wearing Iron-Base Alloy Is Soft On The Pocket
Alloying expertise is allowing engine designers to make extremely durable components at much lower cost than with conventional hard-wearing materials.
Looking Into The Sole Testing Shoe Materials
Developing high performance sports shoes means understanding the forces at work on an athlete¹s feet and finding materials that respond in the right way.
Also in this issueŠ.
Shaping the body from memory
Tony Anson, Director of Anson Medical Ltd., reports on the expanding range of applications for shape memory alloys in the medical field.
Miniature Silicon Mirrors (short)
Boat Uses Foam Elastomer (short)
Friendly Slag Blocks Reef (short)
PLEASE MENTION MATERIALS WORLD AS THE SOURCE OF THIS ITEM
For a full copy of any of these articles please contact Andrew McLaughlin:
Tel: 44-0-20 7451 7395
Email: Andrew_Mclaughlin@materials.org.uk
Notes For Editors
1. These items are due to appear as articles in the December 1999 issue of Materials World.
2. Brief contents of Materials World, The journal of The Institute of Materials, are also
available on the web: www.materials.org.uk
3. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author and are not
necessarily the views of Materials World, IoM Communications or any other organisation with which they
are associated.