We have engineered a bacterium to directly synthesize Nylon diad precursors from renewable feedstocks. These diad products offer process advantages compared to separate biosynthesis of diacids and diamines, as well as improved polymerization to high-molecular-weight Nylons.
This invention uses a very small amount of a biodegradable, water-based polymer to help loose fibers stay together as a sheet while the sheet is moved, cut, stored, and placed into a mold. The binder acts like a temporary, lightweight tack between fibers. It is designed to keep the sheet flexible and open enough for
We report a composition and associated protocol which entails mechanochemical processing of a rubber matrix and the subsequent reaction of the masticated feedstock with a new class of rubber additive. Robust polymer networks are formed from the reaction of commodity rubber with the crosslinker, without needing sulfur, organic peroxides, accelerators or activators that are usually
The rising supply-chain vulnerability of natural graphite requires imminent transcendence to cost-effective and sustainable synthesis of artificial graphite, as well as disentanglement from the energy-intensive and time-consuming Acheson process, used to graphitize non-renewable petroleum coke at 3000 degrees C. An emerging method proven able to satisfy these demands involves the cathodic polarization of carbons in
We have previously described amide synthetases that can be used to synthesize amide oligomers for production of commercial polyamides. In this work, we engineered an amide synthetase to efficiently produce the nylon-6,6 diad, composed of adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine linked by a single amide bond. This product can readily be polymerized to high-molecular-weight nylon-6,6.
FLOVA is an automated materials-engineering framework that connects microstructure characterization with predicted material performance. The platform analyzes material images to measure features such as porosity, fiber orientation, fiber length, and spatial distribution, while addressing complex microstructures that can be difficult to evaluate consistently. By organizing these measurements with relevant manufacturing and material data, FLOVA supports
Separating neighboring lanthanides is challenging because these elements have very similar chemical and physical properties. ORNL has developed a solid-liquid separation process that uses a coordinated two-component chemistry to selectively separate adjacent heavy lanthanides in a single step. The approach is designed to improve separation performance where conventional extraction materials are less effective, with potential
Gallium and germanium are critical materials used in advanced technologies but recovering them from domestic mining feedstocks is challenging because feedstock compositions can vary widely and contain diverse impurities. These materials can also be recovered from electronic waste, including fiber optics. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) technology provides a membrane-based solvent extraction approach for
Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to many advanced technologies, but complex mining-based and electronic waste feedstocks can make their separation and purification challenging. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing a membrane solvent extraction process designed to separate critical REEs from other rare earth elements in domestic mining feedstocks and electronic waste, including scrap
This technology integrates a fusion neutron source with a surrounding pebble-bed fission blanket to increase usable thermal output while addressing fuel availability and long-lived nuclear waste. The modular blanket uses replaceable engineered pebbles and gas cooling to support power production, fuel conversion, and actinide/long lived isotopes transmutation. The concept is intended to improve the economic
A continuous manufacturing process converts amorphous carbon particles into graphitized carbon materials for advanced industrial applications. Traditional graphitization methods often rely on batch processing and energy-intensive thermal treatments that can limit throughput and scalability. This technology uses an electrochemical approach within a continuous reactor system to produce graphitized carbon particles more efficiently, enabling streamlined production
Structural adhesives are widely used across manufacturing industries, but achieving strong, durable bonds while maintaining ease of handling and storage remains a challenge. This technology improves adhesive performance through a novel approach to managing adhesive composition and surface interactions during processing. The result is stronger bonded metal joints, simplified application, and improved usability without compromising