Carbon fiber has been incorporated into everything from tennis rackets to airplanes. It increases the strength and stiffness of structural parts without adding weight. Unfortunately, carbon fiber itself is not cheap to produce. A new tool for the carbon fiber toolbox is 3D printing. This article explores the emerging market opportunity for 3D printing of carbon fiber composite materials.

This sample report demonstrates technology scouting in the edible packaging market space.

Researchers have isolated a 2-dimensional sheet of the 12th element of the periodic table from graphite called graphene, and both academic and industrial scientists have fantasized about applications in areas such as energy, aerospace, biomedical & life sciences, electronics, oil & gas, paints, coatings & adhesives, and defense. Where will the killer app for graphene be found?

Muhammad Ali was known for his agility, improvisation and speed. That set him apart from and above all his rivals. He became one of the most celebrated sports legends of the 20th century. Your company can benefit when you introduce Ali’s qualities to your strategic business decision-making process.

Injection molding of plastics is continuing its dominance within the processing of polymers to render products for everyday use including kitchenware, toys, and packaging.

In the automotive sector – including cars, light trucks, and motorcycles – as well as the commercial aerospace industry, lightweight materials increasingly replace metal parts or structures.

Innovation is not a cool slogan on a casual Friday tee-shirt. It is a serious endeavor undertaken by companies who wish to stay ahead of the pack. Dump the buzz-words and learn how to really get your team to innovate.

Whether trying to stay aware of competitors, or seeking alternative chemicals to utilize in product development, it is important to actively monitor new offerings within a given market to stay ahead of industry practices.

In many aspects, the development, refining, and commercialization of plastic-to-liquid fuel is a classic example of the market forces being the main determining factor in adoption of a technology that is fairly well-developed.

Nanocellulose is making waves as a viable alternative to the more expensive high tech materials such as carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes. Its first creation in 1977 was inauspicious and likely accidental. A researcher at a pulp and paper mill asked the question “What would happen if I took some wood pulp and put it into a milk homogenizer?”