Sometimes, the best things come in the smallest packages, so the saying goes. Today’s Throwback Thursday is going to prove this statement true by shining a light on nanotechnology. Although nanotechnology has a small history, spanning a little way back on humanity’s timeline (puns intended), it’s still had a major impact. Got a little time? We’ll stop with the puns. Let’s learn more…
Otherwise known as Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3), Alumina is a white, nearly colourless crystalline substance. It’s produced by refining Bauxite, an ore mined from topsoil in certain tropical and subtropical regions. The Bayer process, discovered in 1887, is the primary method by which Alumina is extracted from Bauxite.
Without realising it, you’ve probably used a product with Polycarbonate in it today. You almost definitely will have used one in your lifetime! Polycarbonate (PC) is practically everywhere, used in multiple applications. It’s a naturally transparent amorphous thermoplastic with many desirable qualities and a unique combination of properties that make it a popular choice.
It can be said that the discovery of antibiotics was a real turning point in human history. For the first time, doctors could stop deadly infectious diseases in their tracks! This edition of Throwback Thursday takes a look at not just any antibiotic, but the original antibiotic. That’s right, we’re learning all about penicillin!
Discovered in 1863 by German chemists Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Richter, Indium is an element on the periodic table. The name comes from the Latin ‘indicum’, which means violet or indigo. In nature, it’s quite rare and often found as a trace element in Zinc, Lead, Iron and Copper Sulfide ores.
The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) can technically be traced back as far as the 1300s, although the idea wouldn’t be brought to life for centuries still. On this week’s special extended edition of Throwback Thursday, we’re looking at the history of artificial intelligence and what took it from a theoretical framework to something fully embedded into modern society. Intrigued? Wanting to learn more?
From cookware to electronics, Teflon is a widely used synthetic polymer that most of us have contact with every day. It’s a fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and arguably the most famous fluoropolymer there is! The material, which is actually called Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is most commonly known by its brand name, Teflon. So, where exactly did this wonder material come from and how did it come to be synonymous with its brand name?
This transparent or white plastic is often called PET, PETP or Polyester. The latter often causes confusion, as other materials are also given this name. For example, the chemically similar Polybutylene Terephthalate® (PBT), a thermoplastic polyester, is often called just ‘Polyester’. So is the most common resin system used in glass-reinforced plastic, as it’s referred to as a Polyester system.
