Amorphous Metals And How They Can Change Future Products

What makes amorphous metals different from other metals is its unusual atomic-scale structure. Most metals exhibit a crystalline state with atoms arranged in a highly-ordered state whereas amorphous metals have disordered arrangement and non-crystalline structure which is almost glass-like.

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The first production of amorphous metals occurred in 1960 at Caltech. The glass-forming alloy was cooled extremely quickly which prevented crystallization. It was first used in wires, foil, and metal ribbons. But by the ‘90s, a method that allowed a much lowered cooling rate enabled amorphous metals to be cast into metallic molds. This made amorphous metals more useful in industrial scenarios.

Commercially, amorphous metal products today include Liquidmetal and is used to manufacture a wide array of items ranging from smartphone covers to watches. What makes amorphous metals useful in these applications are its high tensile strength and superb resistance to corrosion.

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In the future, Liquidmetal can be seen replacing plastic materials in several forms. Currently, tech titan Apple is testing the viability of the material and has already used it in some of its products. One of its goals is to produce covers that retain scratch-free surfaces far longer than the current material being used. Liquidmetal was also used in a recent project in space where it was used on the Genesis space probe as solar wind ion collectors.

John Kang focused on research and investing in commercializing amorphous alloys through Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc. His efforts proved to be fruitful as the company entered into partnerships with large-scale companies such as Apple, Inc. and The Swatch Group, Ltd. For more insights on amorphous metals, visit this blog.

Supplying The Demand: The Importance Of The Manufacturing Industry

For the United States, maintaining a manufacturing base is vital to retain its world leadership in innovation.  The reasoning behind this lies in advanced manufacturing that provides an important institutional foundation for learning and developing capabilities and process skills that are growingly interweaved with central research and development in certain industries that are significant to the country’s economic future.

In the U.S. alone, manufacturing has a rich history.  The industrial revolution of the 19th century transformed the U.S. from being a nation that generated most of its money from farming to a large country that yielded the majority of its economic exports in the shape of manufactured goods.  A huge chunk of America’s prosperity was experienced after World War II, which can be linked to the increased activities in the manufacturing sector. 

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The manufacturing industry is a field that produces jobs, from which a remarkable portion of a country’s wealth is gained.  In the occurrence of a trade surplus, a country exports more than it imports, earning more money than it spends, resulting in greater fortune.

In addition to creating jobs, the industry makes for a great home for the development of new technologies.  As stated by the Business Council of New York State, U.S. manufacturers are responsible for close to two-thirds of private-sector research and development, which totaled more than $120 million in 2002.  The Economic Policy Institute reported that manufacturing industries fostered $1.6 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006, having accounted for more than 12 percent of the total. 

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John Kang has more than 30 years of experience in the business. His expertise is in technology, manufacturing, and distribution businesses. He is also an investor in established companies and startups. For quick updates, follow this Twitter a.