ADVANCED MATERIALS AND RESEARCH FOR THE GREEN FUTURE

Abstract

Environmental concerns, such as pollution, greenhouse-gas emissions, sustainability, global warming and climate change, are the biggest challenges of our times. In this respect, the more efficient use of energy and materials combined with technology optimization and innovation are playing a key role in the quest to become a green society with green industry. Multiple environmental and economic benefits can mostly be achieved through novel, lightweight energy-efficient designs. In order to develop and properly use new materials and new designs, complete understanding and information on their properties must be obtained. It is also vital to know how these properties are affected by the conditions of a specific application. Furthermore, as the design of components is pushed towards the limits, unsuitable and outdated measuring methods, measuring uncertainty and deviations from the defined material properties can lead to unexpected premature failure of the component and environmental problems. For the green future, it is extremely important to develop new, advanced materials. However, it is often the changes of the production technology and to the surface of an already-existing material that can achieve great benefits to performance as well as the environment. It is all about modifying the material to perform better, last longer, be biocompatible and achieve different functionalities. Finally, besides high-tech equipment and research facilities, close cooperation between universities, research institutes and industry is needed to develop technologies, functional materials and solutions that can effectively support the journey of our society into a green future