Latest news with #EMPA
Fox News
06-08-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Ultra-thin sound blocker cuts traffic noise dramatically
If you live near a busy street, this new breakthrough from Switzerland could offer some long-awaited relief. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed an ultra-thin traffic noise absorber that significantly reduces sound levels while occupying just a fraction of the space required by traditional materials. The new absorber is only about 2.1 inches thick, yet it performs on par with much bulkier products, such as rock wool. Even more impressively, it can be customized to target specific types of noise, making it ideal for a variety of indoor and outdoor settings. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my The innovation lies in the material's composition: a multi-layered mineral foam made from gypsum or cement. Each layer contains pores of different sizes, designed to force air particles to travel in longer, more winding paths. That extended journey helps dissipate sound waves more efficiently than flat or uniform insulation. EMPA researchers also use numerical modeling to simulate how sound will move through the material. By adjusting pore sizes, perforation patterns, and layer thickness, they can fine-tune the acoustic performance for a specific space or type of noise. This kind of control makes the absorber suitable for locations ranging from quiet stairwells to bustling office environments. To test the material in a real-world setting, the EMPA team installed a prototype in a driveway in Zurich. They covered roughly 130 square feet of wall space with panels just over 2 inches thick. One end of the driveway opens onto a busy street, while the other leads into a quieter courtyard. The results were immediate and measurable. Traffic noise dropped by as much as 4 decibels. The sound reduction was most noticeable when cars entered or exited the driveway, since the panels caused the noise to bounce multiple times before reaching the courtyard. For context, a 4-decibel reduction is sufficient to noticeably reduce the irritation caused by street noise, especially in densely populated urban areas. One of the best features of this sound absorber is how little space it requires. Traditional insulation materials tend to eat up valuable inches, limiting where they can be used. This thin, dense material offers more freedom for architects, interior designers, and developers to include noise protection in areas where every inch matters. The panels can also withstand outdoor elements. They are weather-resistant, fireproof, and made of recyclable materials, making them both durable and environmentally responsible. Because they do not release harmful particles, they are also safe for indoor use in places like schools, offices, and apartment buildings. While the design and performance are promising, the current production method poses challenges. The panel perforation is still done manually, which makes it time-consuming and difficult to scale. However, EMPA is already working with Swiss manufacturer De Cavis to streamline production and prepare for broader commercial use. Once automated, this material could become a standard feature in construction projects where noise control and space efficiency are both top priorities. If you're dealing with constant background noise from traffic, nearby businesses, or shared walls, a product like this could be a game-changer. A thinner absorber means you can finally enjoy peace and quiet without sacrificing living or workspace space. Whether you're a homeowner looking to quiet a bedroom wall, a property manager renovating an apartment complex, or an architect designing a new office building, this material opens up possibilities that simply didn't exist with traditional insulation. Noise pollution doesn't just interrupt your day; it affects your health, mood, and productivity. That's why a versatile, slim, and powerful sound absorber like this is more than just a material upgrade. It's a lifestyle upgrade. While it's not yet widely available, the work being done to bring this technology to market suggests that quieter cities, homes, and workplaces may be within reach much sooner than expected. If you could cut the traffic noise outside your window in half using panels thinner than a paperback book, would you do it? Let us know by writing to us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Artificial muscles for robots brought closer to reality with 3D-printed actuators
Swedish researchers have developed a breakthrough 3D printing method to create soft actuators. These dielectric elastic actuators (DEA) are made from silicone-based materials, combining conductive electrodes with non-conductive dielectrics in interlocking layers. According to the team at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), the innovation enables the efficient production of complex, flexible components, advancing soft robotics and smart materials. "One day, these could be used in medicine or robotics – and anywhere else where things need to move at the touch of a button, said researchers in a statement. Artificial muscles could one day assist workers, aid mobility, or replace damaged tissue. However, replicating real muscle function remains a challenge. To match biological muscles, artificial versions must be powerful, elastic, and soft. They are fundamentally dependent on actuators, which are parts that translate electrical information into motion. Although actuators are frequently found in automobile engines, industrial systems, and residences, their conventional designs are stiff and lack the flexibility of actual muscles. To bridge this gap and bring artificial muscles closer to practical uses in robotics, prosthetics, and assistive technologies, researchers say new materials and manufacturing processes are needed to produce actuators that move naturally. An important advancement has been made by researchers at Empa's Laboratory for Functional Polymers, who have created a technique for 3D printing soft actuators. According to the team, these DEAs are composed of interlocking layers of two silicone-based materials: a conductive electrode and a non-conductive dielectric. When voltage is applied, the actuator contracts like a muscle and relaxes when the voltage is removed. Printing such structures is complex, as the materials must remain distinct yet adhere together. They must also be soft enough for electrical activation while meeting 3D printing requirements—liquefying under pressure for extrusion but solidifying quickly to maintain shape, balancing conflicting properties. Researchers from EMPA, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, developed a breakthrough method for 3D printing soft actuators, overcoming many conflicting material properties. Using specially formulated inks and a custom-designed nozzle, they successfully created functional artificial muscles. The effort is a component of the Manufhaptics project, which intends to create a glove that simulates resistance while gripping to enable users to feel virtual things. These soft actuators have several uses outside of virtual reality. They are a possible substitute for conventional actuators in automobiles, industrial machinery, and robots since they are small, quiet, and incredibly flexible in shape. According to the team, their adaptability and customization create opportunities for medical applications like prosthetics or assistive technology. The recently created method increases the possibility of soft, responsive materials by printing long, elastic threads in addition to intricate structures. These developments may eventually result in actuators that closely resemble the way muscles work naturally, which would advance wearable technologies, robotics, and medical treatments. "If we manage to make them just a little thinner, we can get pretty close to how real muscle fibers work," said Dorina Opris, who leads the research group Functional Polymeric Materials at Empa, in a statement. The possibility of printing an entire heart from these fibers may one day become a reality, but significant challenges remain.
