A Purdue University technology that can help predict failures to the integrity of a tire, hose or other mechanical and medical equipment could help increase automotive safety, improve patient care and reduce liability costs. The technology, developed by a team lead by Gary W. Krutz, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, uses a sensor that can predict when a tire or hose is compromised and in danger of breaking up to two weeks in a...

  Carbon fibers derived from a sustainable source, a type of wild mushroom, and modified with nanoparticles have been shown to outperform conventional graphite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Researchers at Purdue University have created electrodes from a species of wild fungus called Tyromyces fissilis.

A technology that is easy to manufacture and uses commercially available materials makes it possible to continuously remove oils and other pollutants from water, representing a potential tool for environmental cleanup. The material is shown to be superhydrophobic and superoleophilic, meaning it rejects water while absorbing oils. It is made using melamine sponges, an ultra-low-weight, porous material found in various products including household ...

Pollens, the bane of allergy sufferers, could represent a boon for battery makers: Recent research has suggested their potential use as anodes in li-ion batteries. Batteries have two electrodes, called an anode and a cathode. The anodes in most of today's li-ion batteries are made of graphite. Li-ions are contained in a liquid called an electrolyte and these ions are stored in the anode during recharging.

Researchers from Purdue University are developing a smart capsule which could deliver medications directly to the large intestines to target certain conditions. Findings are detailed in a research paper authored by graduate students Wuyang Yu, Rahim Rahimi and Manuel Ochoa; Rodolfo Pinal, associate professor of industrial and physical pharmacy; and Babak Ziaie, professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Researchers at Purdue University, Indiana, have shown how to convert waste packing peanuts into high-performance carbon electrodes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that outperform conventional graphite electrodes, representing an environmentally friendly approach to waste disposal.