Pre-Eminence of U.S. in New Materials May Be Challenged
Amid the collective hand-wringing over America losing its competitive edge, one happy fact is often overlooked: The United States has long been the world’s leader in coming up with valuable new materials, such as glass ceramics, synthetic diamonds, magnetic materials and metal matrix composites.
Just this fall, in a potentially revolutionary breakthrough, University of Michigan scientists said they have learned to convert sand into the basic building blocks for new materials that can conduct electricity and resist fire--and perhaps replace petroleum-based products.
But America is in danger of losing its lead in developing new materials that are stronger, lighter weight, more heat resistant or better able to conduct electricity--innovations that have contributed to better airplanes, bridges, wheelchairs, even golf clubs and fishing rods.
The nation’s materials scientists fear that the Japanese and Europeans are quickly catching up, especially in the search for new materials to improve electronics products. And here, as in earlier cases where U.S. technological superiority slipped away, the big problem is the slowness of American companies to take advantage of their opportunities.
BACKGROUND: “We’re under intense competitive pressure from foreign producers--and it’s becoming more pronounced,” says James C. Williams, general manager of General Electric’s materials technology laboratories. “Our research accomplishments have not been matched by commercialization records.”
One major problem is the average of 10 to 15 years that it takes from conception of an idea to full-scale production of a new material.
One reason for the delay is that new materials, with their idiosyncratic characteristics, tend to require manufacturers to modify designs and production procedures.
The resistance to change on the part of industries, in turn, serves as a powerful disincentive to researchers, who tend to be a conservative lot to begin with, says Williams.
Scientists, he notes, rarely set out to develop a new material until the need for it becomes clear. “It’s very hard to find innovative thinkers,” laments Williams.
Ironically, when manufacturers finally become convinced of the benefits of a new material, their appetite often becomes instantly insatiable, far outstripping the supply.
One solution, according to materials scientists and policy-makers, is to encourage “closer coupling” between materials producers and users. That could lead to standardized specifications and testing methods, thus expediting commercialization.
They also hope to see closer ties between industry and academia, where manufacturing and process-engineers historically have been accorded rather low status.
And they would like to see greater cooperation between industry and government, such as encouraging the national laboratories to develop and coordinate specific missions in materials research and development.
OUTLOOK: Material scientists are heartened by the growing number of consortiums being formed to expedite development and commercialization of new materials, such as the Automobile Composite Consortium, made up of the Big Three car makers. The group is supposed to come up with new materials for car parts, including an effective ceramic engine, which would significantly increase fuel efficiency, in part, by eliminating the need for cooling systems.
Rep. Robert G. Torricelli (D-N.J.), a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, observes: “The development of new materials and technologies will determine our future.”
Given greater coherence and overall direction, research and development of new materials is on the verge of “entering a tremendously exciting and productive period,” predicts Karl Erb, assistant director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
