When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
Do you like to think for fun? Do you like to think on deadline? Think polymers then! Right now it’s a good time to think about Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), a tough, light, and inert polymer, because there’s a call to find possible new applications for it. This crowdsourcing challenge is delivered by InnoCentive and it is open to all:
InnoCentive is the global leader in crowdsourcing innovation problems to the world’s smartest people, who compete to provide ideas and solutions to important business, social, policy, scientific, and technical challenges.
What is so special about UHMWPE? As the name implies, it is made of very long polymer chains (hence the high molecular weight), and it produces fibers with high degree of crystallinity and order, resulting in materials with exceptional physical properties, such as tensile strength, durability, and stress resistance. Significantly exceeding steel in strength, it is nevertheless highly transparent to electromagnetic radiation, such as UV, IR and radar, and translucent in visible light. The material is abrasion-, weather- and UV-resistant and easy to process, while the only apparent limitation is its relatively low melting temperature, around 150C.
UHMWPE is currently used to make personal and vehicle armor, radar domes, suitcases, air cargo containers, water pipes, ropes and water-resistant fabrics. It is widely used for medical implants, such as in knee and hip replacements. Basically it can be used for any application where there is a need for a stable, inert, tough, and flexible plastic. Here is how an ideation challenge from Innocentive.com describes it:
Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMWPE) Polyethylene materials have unique properties like high impact resistance, durability, high thermal conductivity and low dielectric constant. The Seeker makes an UHMWPE into a tape form, available as tape itself or as woven tape fabric. These are used currently in such applications as armor and radar domes (radomes). The Seeker is soliciting ideas for new applications for the tape form (in woven form and as tape itself) of this material. The Seeker is also interested in potential partners for these applications.
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