Tuesday, December 21, 2010

U.S. Department of Energy Report

The U.S. Department of Energy's report entitled "Critical Materials Strategy" published December 2010, is online.


If you are involved in materials science or energy, find the full report at
http://www.energy.gov/news/documents/criticalmaterialsstrategy.pdf

Table of Contents of the full text DOE report includes:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..6
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION..10
CHAPTER 2. USE OF KEY MATERIALS IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES..14
CHAPTER 3. HISTORICAL SUPPLY, DEMAND AND PRICES FOR THE KEY MATERIALS..27
CHAPTER 4. CURRENT DOE PROGRAMS..53
CHAPTER 5. OTHER U.S. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS..58
CHAPTER 6. MATERIALS STRATEGIES FROM OTHER NATIONS..61
CHAPTER 7. SUPPLY AND DEMAND PROJECTIONS..69
CHAPTER 8. CRITICALITY ASSESSMENT..95
CHAPTER 9. PROGRAM AND POLICY DIRECTIONS..100
APPENDIX A: CRITICALITY ASSESSMENTS BY ELEMENT..111
APPENDIX B: MARKET SHARE ASSUMPTIONS AND MATERIAL CONTENT CALCULATION..127
APPENDIX C: 111TH CONGRESS RARE EARTHS AND CRITICAL MATERIALS LEGISLATION ..133
APPENDIX D: TREM CONFERENCE 2010 ADDRESS – ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVID SANDALOW..140
APPENDIX E: U.S.–JAPAN ROUNDTABLE ON RARE EARTH ELEMENTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AGENDA..146
APPENDIX F: TRANS-ATLANTIC WORKSHOP ON RARE EARTH ELEMENTS AND OTHER CRITICAL MATERIALS FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE..149
APPENDIX G: ARPA-E WORKSHOP AGENDA

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Research

Fascinating new discovery while studying nature's models in regard to de-icing!

If you have any interest in de-icers or coatings read:

Harvard University's work on new de-icing methods based on nature:


"Breaking the ice before it begins."



There is no end to what a seemingly simple yet most complex, Lotus plant, having a superhydrophobic structure capable of repelling water droplets can teach us!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Publications from Rosa S. Raskin & Associates

I love the cover of the October 2010 issue of PPCJ:
Polymers Paint Colour Journal.

PPCJ and a companion journal, APCJ, include vivid color pictures and exquisite graphics. A beautiful photograph of trees and the title of the issue, "Natural world: Creative colours measure up", reflect the beauty of fall's color palate.

"Eye catching" is the subheading in PPCJ's Table of Contents where one can read the reference to my article entitled "Living Colour: Functional Pigments". The term "living" was so much on my mind when I wrote the article on pigment qualities as I had immediate family in the hospital. Survival, "living" was the issue of the day.

My family has done remarkably well. We had the best Thanksgiving ever. The world looks more colorful.

Thanks PPCJ, you are more than an "eye catching, informative, trade" journal to me --

You reflect life itself!