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PODCAST

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast

Taylor Sparks and Andrew Falkowski

In this podcast, Taylor and Andrew investigate the past, present, and future of materials science and engineering. Topic areas ranging from cutting edge materials technology, the history of different materials, the commercialization of new materials, and exciting advances in processing and characterization are all covered in detail. Our episodes include things like the unlikely discovery of superglue or teflon, the fascinating backstories about modern biomaterials like dialysis filters, and updates

science chemistry

All Episodes

00:49:34

Episode 101: All About Biomatter

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2025/02/26

How do we turn plants into plastics and polymers? Find out in this episode as Taylor leaves Utah and ventures to Washington to sit down with Eleftheria Roumeli, an assistant professor at the University of Washington and researcher in the field of biomatter. Learn all about how a fish tank full of "gross" bacteria can be used to create complex and surprisingly strong shapes or about how Eleftheria's research group forages around local shores for seaweed to get the necessary biological

en-US

00:33:54

Episode 100: Materials for Bikes

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2025/02/04

From antelope skin chains to full beryllium frames its safe to say bikes and the materials that make them have a fascinating history. Join us as we celebrate episode 100 and dive into the materials science behind this beloved mode of transportation. Starting at the invention of the first bike due to a massive volcanic eruption to the specialty bikes more expensive than a car. We break down the materials of the past that have been used to make bikes, such as wood, steel, aluminum, and even bamboo. As

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00:53:35

Episode 99: Bulk Metallic Glasses

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2025/01/10

How does a metal become a glass? By cooling on the order of 10^6 K/s. We sit down with Jan Schroers, a professor of engineering at Yale to discuss the exciting world of bulk metallic glasses. With over 20 million different combinations these materials are incredibly versatile and have strength numbers on par with ceramics. Also their thermoplastic forming enables metals to be formed into shapes previously thought impossible. These materials truly are a game changer and are definitely worth learning

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00:52:12

Episode 98: Accelerating Catalyst Research with Meta

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/12/11

What brings a social media company into materials science? In this episode, we talk with Larry Zitnick of Meta's Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) and Aaike van Vught from VSParticle about building OCx24, an open catalysis materials database. We discuss the challenges of creating an experimental database from scratch and how autonomous spark ablation devices made it possible. We cap things off with a discussion about how machine learning tools can leverage this database to help us discover new

en-US

00:39:33

Episode 97: Titanium

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/11/18

What do a Mach-3 aircraft and a hip replacement have in common? They are both made of titanium. In this episode we dive into this incredible material from its name rooted in Greek mythology to the unique variants of commercial titanium. Learn about the interesting challenges facing titanium's use in the SR-71 to the new variants being actively researched to help bring this material up to superalloy standards.This episode of the Materialism Podcast is sponsored by Cal Nano, leading experts in spark

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00:47:05

Episode 96: Spark Ablation with VSParticle

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/10/31

At temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun (>20,000K), a revolutionary physics-based process is creating the future of nanomaterials - no chemicals required. We talk to Aaike van Vugt co-founder of VSParticle and an expert in the field of spark ablation. He walks us through the process of coating materials in nanoparticles as well as its various uses. We explore what materials are suitable for the method and their pivot into nanoporous films.The Materialism Podcast is sponsored by

en-US

00:56:27

Episode 95: You Don't Know Anything About Steel

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/10/09

You probably think you know a lot about steel, you couldn’t be more wrong. In this episode we sit down with Caelan Kennedy from the Steel Founders’ Society of America to discuss the intricacies of steel. From tuning properties by using different elements in the alloy to the confusing naming conventions. This episode will help expand your knowledge about a material you thought was pretty simple.The Materialism Podcast is sponsored by American Elements, a leading manufacturer and supplier of

en-US

00:48:40

Episode 94: An Introduction to Quantum Materials

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/09/26

Quantum isn't just a buzzword used in the movies. In this episode we are joined by Jason Khoury, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University, he helps explain the key concepts necessary to understand the basics of quantum materials. We discuss the origin of quantum behavior including interactions between charge, spin, orbit and lattice. From the serendipitous discovery of high-temperature superconductors to the theoretical predictions of exotic quantum behaviors. This conversation will provide

en-US

00:46:03

Episode 93: An Introduction to Pyrometallurgy

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/09/10

Pyrometallurgy is one of the oldest branches of materials science, yet it is constantly evolving. Join us as we take a broad look at the process of transforming ore into the metals we use every day. From ancient techniques for checking counterfeit coins to cutting-edge innovations like battery recycling, we cover every step of the current process and discuss where the future of pyrometallurgy is headed.The Materialism Podcast is sponsored by American Elements, a leading manufacturer and supplier of

en-US

00:39:33

Episode 92: The Quest for Pure Uranium

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/08/22

In this episode, we explore the story of Harley Wilhelm, an unsung hero of the Manhattan Project. Discover how the Ames Process revolutionized the production of pure uranium metal, turning a slow and inefficient task into an streamlined operation that played a critical role in ending World War Il. We'll explore the challenges faced, the science of uranium enrichment, and the surprising uses of depleted uranium. Tune in for a deep dive into one of the lesser-known but vital contributions to history's

en-US

00:40:36

Episode 91: High Entropy Alloys

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/07/24

A new class of material doesn't show up often. In this episode, we dive into the revolutionary discovery of high entropy alloys (HEAs) that revitalized the field of metallurgy. We dive into their simultaneous discovery at both Oxford and Tsinghua National University. Learn how they break all the typical rules we know. We explore how their composition gives them exceptional strength, hardness, thermal stability, and their superior resistance to corrosion and wear. Discover why HEAs are transforming

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00:31:49

Episode 90: The Big Dig Incident

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/06/25

Choosing the wrong material can have dire consequences. In this episode of our failure series, we discuss how the incorrect choice of epoxy led to a catastrophic failure and a tragic death. Discover the series of poor decisions that turned a new highway plan into one of the costliest public works projects ever. Join us as we uncover the lessons learned from this devastating event and the changes it inspired.Selected References: The Big Dig: project background [LINK] Control of Epoxy Creep Using

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00:55:06

Episode 89: Special Applications of Microscopy...

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/06/10

Electron microscopy is almost a century old, but it continues to play a role in exciting new developments that extend its use well beyond its original purpose. We sit down with Professor Sergei Kalinin from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to discuss these exciting new applications of this older technology. Learn how electron microscopy, originally developed for imaging, is now used for atom-by-atom materials fabrication. We also explore how combining this technology with machine learning can

en-US

00:36:36

Episode 88: Accelerating Materials Discovery with...

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/05/08

The discovery of new materials is an immense challenge, with a vast design space and numerous success criteria. Microsoft has recently demonstrated an advanced approach to machine learning-assisted material discovery, particularly in the realm of lithium-ion battery electrolytes.They began by exploring all possible structure types, decorating these structures with various atoms, leading to a pool of millions of candidate materials. The screening process went beyond simple stability checks to

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00:36:34

Episode 87: Stories of a Materials Salesman

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/04/25

Designing a great material is only half the battle, now you need to sell it. In this episode we sat down with Dan Wilson from Sintx and took a dive into the surprisingly nuanced world of materials sales and the challenges and pitfalls of marketing materials solutions.Learn more about Sintx and the great materials they are developing by visiting their website at: http://www.sintx.com/ The Materialism Podcast is sponsored by Cal Nano, leading experts in spark plasma sintering and cryomilling

en-US

00:46:40

Episode 86: PHAs and Biodegradable Plastic

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/04/10

The challenge of plastic pollution in our environment will be a defining issue in the coming decades. To address this problem, scientists have developed a host of next generation biodegradable plastics that have the potential to improve the sustainability of single use products. Among these are a class of materials called PHAs which are of particular interest as their microorganism origins are also the means of their decomposition. Join us for a discussion with Nick Sandland as we explore the

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00:45:09

Episode 85: Electron Backscatter Diffraction

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/03/28

There’s more to a material’s microstructure than meets the eye! In this episode of the Materialism Podcast we dive into the world of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) characterization, and discuss some of the important properties you can measure with it including grain size, phase distribution, texture, and more! To help us navigate this topic, we sat down with Stuart Wright and Matt Nowell from AMETEK who lend us decades of experience and intimate knowledge of the technique to provide

en-US

00:47:07

Episode 84: The ICME Method with QuesTek

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/03/13

Meeting the demands of next-generation technologies will require materials to be designed and qualified at faster rates than ever before. The ICME (integrated computational materials engineering) approach is at the forefront of this innovation, blending advanced computational modeling with experimental validation to accelerate the development of new materials and open up the possibility of concurrent design. In this episode, we sit down with Jason Sebastian from QuesTek to learn how they have

en-US

01:05:22

Episode 83: Computed Tomography at Zeiss

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/02/27

Examining the inside of a material is often a destructive process that risks obscuring or deforming critical details. However, advances in computed tomography have opened new opportunities to obtain high resolution, three-dimensional reconstructions of materials in a non-destructive manner. Through this technique materials scientists can now identify cracks and voids in materials without the need for mounting and polishing, observe processes like battery degradation and dendrite growth in real

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00:56:29

Episode 82: Radar Absorbing Materials

Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast ·

2024/02/15

The ability to avoid detection is one of the most useful tricks of modern day combat aviation. In this episode we dive into some of the history of various stealth endeavors ranging from painting ships with fun stripes to creating radioactive fuel additives. All culminating in a discussion of the materials that make a plane stealthy.References: History of Radar [LINK] How do radars work? [LINK] Radar and the kill web [LINK] Review of Radar Absorbing Materials [LINK] Synthesis of radar absorption

en-US

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