METAL – THE NEXT BIG FUEL?

According to a new report from researchers at McGill University, powdered metal fuels could be an effective replacement for the fossil fuels we currently rely on: coal, oil and natural gas. As well as providing an alternative energy source, powdered metals would significantly slash carbon emissions and environmental damage.

Not only do grains of powdered metal contain more energy per liter than any conventional fuel, but the fuel may be recyclable in some cases. By grinding the metal, the ratio between the surface area and volume of the grains is vastly increased – making a ‘better’ burning product.

However, it is important to note that the powder would not be a primary energy source like petroleum, but rather a storage medium for energy sources such as nuclear or hydroelectric power.

Whilst this technology may seem promising, there are considerable downsides in that: this method is currently not cost-competitive, and the investment in heavy mining equipment to obtain these metals would likely off-set any carbon saved in the actual burning of the metal. Additionally, developments in battery capacity and efficiency still lag behind, making it difficult for powdered metals to be used effectively as an alternative fuel source.

Despite this, the rapid pace of development and modern technology may mean that we see powdered metal as a viable energy alternative in the not-so-distant future!

Image: Stabilized flames of different metal powders burning with air, compared to a methane-air flame (Credit: Alternative Fuels Laboratory/McGill University)

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GO GREEN WITH SOLAR PANEL!

Nowadays, pollution is getting worse and worse. It can be one of the biggest killers, affecting more than 100 million worldwide. You don’t want to die fast, right? Let’s save the world and be green with solar panel!

Pollution is one of the biggest issues that every nation faces right now. Every nation only competes to be the number one in economic development and sometimes ignore about environmental condition. The fact is every nation should attain sustainable development, which is balance between economy, environment, and social community.

Energy which is very important for economic development of nations is getting fewer. Every nation exploits energy in order to achieve rapid economic growth. Total energy needs in the world currently reach 10 Terra Watt and this number will increase until 30 Terra Watt in 2030. The increasing number of total energy needs collide with the sustainable concept that human needs to pay attention to. Solar panel as alternative energy source can solve this problem.

Solar panel is a panel designed to absorb the sun’s rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating. Solar energy is actually the most promising energy sources because it is unlimited and sustainable. The sun is expected to address future energy needs problem because most of energy sources are limited and not environmental friendly.

Solar panel work using p-n junction principle, which is the junction between p-type and n-type semiconductor. This semiconductor consists of bonds in which atoms are electrons as the basic constituent. N-type semiconductors have an excess of electrons (negative charge) while the p-type semiconductor has excess holes (positive charge) in the structure of the atom. The role of p-n junction is to form an electric field so that electrons (and holes) can be extracted by contact material to produce electricity. When the p-type semiconductor and n-type contacted, then the excess electrons will move from the n-type semiconductor to the p-type to form a positive pole on the n-type semiconductor, and conversely the negative pole to the p-type semiconductor. As a result of the flow of electrons and holes is to formed electric field which when the sun light on the composition of the p-n junction will push electrons move from the semiconductor toward the contact negative, which in turn is used as electricity, and vice versa hole moves toward the positive contact waited electrons come.

Solar panel consist of substrate/metal backing, semiconductor materiel, contacts metal/contact grid, antireflective coating, and encapsulation/cover glass. Substrate/metal backing is material that sustains all components of solar cells and it must have a good electrical conductivity. It can be made by metal material such as aluminum.

There’s a lots of advantage using solar panel, especially solar panel doesn’t cause any pollution and it’s free energy! You can be go green, save the world, and less money! So, you still doubt to save the world with solar panel? We, Shanghai Metal Corporation can provide you good quality of aluminum that can support your solar panel! 

As a representative of the metal industry, Shanghai Metal is one of the leading businesses in the manufacturing of metalworking industry. We can produce and export the best quality of aluminum, other metal products, shipping containers, and service. We prioritize the efficient of manufacturing and environmental sustainability.

Want to know more about our company? Please visit our website and you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Feel free to download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

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Source: Teknologisurya, Technologystudent, Wikipedia, Esdm.go.id

Ardelia Sassie/SMC Editor

SM(ART) RECYCLING : JAPANESE ARTIST TRANSFORMS ALUMINUM BEER CANS TO POP ART

How would you react if you knew someone who drinks beer, takes the aluminum cans then transforms it into art ?

Well this japanese artist, MACAON is the kind of person who does this kind of thing. From basic and used aluminum materials he imitates well known characters like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Gundam robots, Pikachu and even a cool mask of Dark Vader !

The fun thing about this artist is that most of his works are imitations of already famous characters which allows a wider understanding and appreciation from the public’s point of view. Although each of this figure doesn’t represent a deep meaning, the message that Macaon transmits, directly or indirectly, is to wake up the collective consciousness of recycling ; as the world consumes more, it is in our best interest to stop wasting basic materials and start thinking new strategies as to reusing them better. We live in world where beer cans can be transformed into your favorite cartoon, movie or animated character.

Totoro figure by Macaon

As you can see, aluminum beer cans here are reused in a sophistic way and are not wasted. Without basic and flexible material like aluminum, consuming society like ours would have difficulties to satisfy our needs. Simple gestures like recycling aluminum cans can lead to a better future and that is what Macaon’s creativeness can influence to later generations.

It’s amazing how a common material like aluminum can have different types of uses. That is exactly what Shanghai Metal Corporation can provide you !

As representatives of the metal industry, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading businesses in the manufacturing of metal quality products in the global field. As a major producer of aluminum, stainless steel, copper, shipping containers and other metal products and service, we essentially are committed to the universal use that metal can offer by delivering overseas and promoting environmental sustainability.

To know more about our company please visit our website. Also follow us on Twitter,Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

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#AddingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Maria // SMC Editor

RIDE WITH STYLE WITH RETRO BICYCLES !

DITCH THE CAR AND TAKE A BICYCLE WITH YOU INSTEAD !

Bicycles are a BIG MUST if you live in a big city. Why ? Well first of all, riding a bicycle allows you to have a physical exercise while doing your normal routine ; going to work, run some errands, visit friends, etc. WHICH is good for your health and body !

Second reason is that bicycles reduce pollution. Preserving our planet is one of our top priorities ! So again, invest on buying good bicycle then on other vehicles like bikes or cars. Plus nowadays, there are a lots of types of bicycle that would suit your own needs and your own aesthetics.

For those who are striving for sexy retro bicycles, check out our list :

• TOKYO BIKE: 

Approximate price : 400$

• BRILLIANT BICYCLE CO.

  

  Approximate price : 399$ 

• LEKKER SPORTIEF.

Approximate price: 598$

• SIDDHARTE.

Approximate price: 299$

• ERENPREISS ORIGINAL.

Approximate price: 800$

• BIANCHI PISTA.

Approximate price: 1000$

The thing about retro bikes is that they fascinate many people with their stylish and classical style. Some of these bicycles brands know how to capture your nostalgia self reminiscing the old days or the present itself. Retro bikes are timeless and that is what gives them their eternal charm. Once you have one of these bikes, you don’t need to pretend to be someone else because these bikes alone give you automatically an original and fresh look of your whole being.

Bicycles are made of special elements like metal. It’s amazing how a common material like metal can contribute to create wonders like these ! That is what Shanghai Metal Corporation can provide you !

As representatives of the metal industry, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading businesses in the manufacturing of metal quality products in the global field. As a major producer of stainless steel, copper, aluminium, shipping containers and other metal products and service, we essentially are committed to the universal use that metal can offer by delivering overseas and promoting environmental sustainability.

To know more about our company please visit our website. Also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

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#AddingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Maria // SMC Editor

VERTICAL FARMS: ECO SOLUTION FOR URBAN CONSOMMATION

As the world population continues to expand everyday, one of the main question of today’s researchers is to find new ecological and sustainable solutions to feed everyone.

In big cities, most of the food come generally from the outskirts of their territory. Having little space or even none at all, urban zones cannot produce their own food and rely their food stock on productions outside of their active territory. Therefore, the system is mostly based on peripheral to central relation that consists mainly on feeding the large number of population concentrated in the central or in the city itself.

DICKSON DESPOMMIER, an american professor of microbiology and public health, has proposed a solution concerning this matter : THE VERTICAL FARM CONCEPT.

 

So what exactly is it ? 

The Vertical Farm consists of cultivating plants mainly for human consumption such as vegetables within a skyscraper or on a vertically inclined surface, hence the name. The concept is almost similar to glass houses which captures the optimal natural sunlight. The use of artificial lightning is also possible to accelerate the growth of the plants and to modify their properties according to different dietary preferences.

The idea of this concept is a possible answer to some of the urban issues we mention before :

1. Vertical surfaces are more suited for the lack of space in urban cities.

2. Producing food IN the urban zone reduces pollution related to transportation, food waste, etc.

3. Vertical Farms permit to produce various types of food in a small surface and therefore can satisfy different needs of the population.

Various models of Vertical Farms :

Singapore’s and world’s first commercial vertical farm

Spanish architect Javier Ponce reveals his plans for a vertical farm in Tai Po

Completely constructed from glass and steel, this model is just one of Despommier’s designs of a vertical farm

Tell us your opinion about this farm of the future ! Brilliant ideas like this one is important in times like ours where the main goal is keeping up with the population growth by maintaining a good environmental level. Shanghai Metal Corporation shares this vision and wants you to spread innovations like Vertical farming and sustainability.

As representatives of the metal industry, Shanghai Metal Corporation is one of the leading businesses in the manufacturing of metal quality products in the global field. As a major producer of metal related products and reliable services, our most important value is to promote environmental sustainability.

To know more about our company please visit our website. Also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can also download our new mobile application by scanning the QR code below.

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Maria // SMC Editor

#AddingValueAcrossTheGlobe

Maria // SMC Editor

Iron-air batteries: a cheap and eco-friendly solution for energy storage

After more than 40 after preparing the first prototype of a cheap , rechargeable, high energy density iron-air battery, researchers at the University of Southern California are now finishing the job of the patent-pending design of the battery.

The technical characteristics of the batteries look particularly well-suited to the kind of large-scale energy storage that could accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Back in the 70’s, researchers were already working on environmentally friendly rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and only recent advances in materials technology have made this technology into one of the most common, high-performing solutions for today’s portable electronics.

Iron compared to other materials has a few advantages: it’s durable, it has a great capacity to pack energy (per unit of mass), it’s recyclable but most importantly it’s cheap with costs around US$1/kg (2.2 lb).

Iron-air batteries were first expected to be used for electric vehicles and military applications after the 1973 oil crisis. However, research stopped abruptly only years later, when scientists realized that iron-air batteries presented a serious  limitation: whenever the battery was being charged, a wasteful process of hydrolysis drained away about half of the battery’s energy.

With today’s technology and advanced research, University of Southern California found a solution to this  problem. They learned that adding a small amount of bismuth sulfide into the battery shut down the harmful reaction and reduced the waste of energy more than tenfold, from 50 down to just 4% .

The other good characteristic cost-effective design of its iron electrode. The researchers combined iron powder with a polyethylene binder, heating the mix to obtain a “pressed-plate” electrode that is simple to make and has high specific energy.

The iron-air battery is exhibiting very promising durability, with a target life of 5,000 charge-discharge cycles. Even more importantly, the batteries seem to retain good performance when they are being drained quickly: at a two-hour rate of discharge, the batteries are showing a twenty-fold increase in capacity compared to commercially available electrodes.

Shanghai Metal Corporation encourages the development and innovation of new technologies. You can visit the company’s website , contact us and follow us on twitter and facebook for more information and news on metal.

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Houria // SMC Editor

Use of Solar mirrors to Melt Metal, an efficient metal processing Method

As manufacturing plants are being under pressure to reduce their energy spending, many countries and companies are trying to make progress in innovating. some researchers from Germany and South Africa have proposed a technique to reduce the emission in metal processing factories. and will use South Africa’s large aluminium processing industry as a test bed.

In addition to powering electricity-generating turbines , the large mirrors can also melt metals thanks to their ability to concentrate solar rays. The process helps reducing  carbon footprint of the metal processing industry.

The preliminary concept is going to be tested first in Germany at the Aerospace Centre’s (DLR) by the Institute of Solar Research in Julich before  launching it in South Africa.

According to these researchers, solar mirrors would focus sun rays reaching 700°C to a rotary solar kiln which will be able to melt aluminum ore but also recycled aluminum objects. In addition the research team will develop a logistics plan to transport  the molten aluminium from the central solar melting plant to the production facilities where liquid metal will be processed.

“The aim of the project is to develop an energy and cost effective method that can be implemented across a variety of system sizes, depending on the requirements,” said Martina Neises-von Puttkamer, project manager at DLR.

South Africa is a particularly interesting place to start the project because the country’s metal processing facilities rely mostly on electric energy coming from coal-fired power plants which brought them to become the 15th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. Also Metal processing is the country’s largest industry.

source: eandt.theiet.org

Shanghai Metal Corporation is specialized in manufacturing a wide variety of metal products and understand the importance of a green environment and efficient manufacturing. For more information, you can visit the company’s website or contact us for any inquiry.

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Houria // SMC Editor

ALUMINIUM – THE BATTERY OF THE FUTURE

Why do we like so much aluminium at Shanghai Metal Corporation? This is a very easy question. Because aluminium is a very versatile material that can be employed for a wide range of purpose. For instance, according to some specialized websites in the near future aluminum may be used in the production of various electronic devices batteries. The researchers of the University of California at Stanford have announced the development of aluminum-based batteries promising better performance and a lower impact on the environment compared to current models made of lithium.

What is more special about the aluminium batteries is that, not only their life would be significantly higher than conventional batteries (7,500 versus 1,000 cycles), but especially we should be able to fully recharge them in just a minute. Moreover, the aluminium batteries could be applied to a high number of devices such as smartphones, electric cars and laptops.

Since aluminum is very less expensive than lithium, a further advantageous feature of the aluminium battery would be its lower cost of production. Furthermore, aluminum guarantees the total absence of any risk of fire. The environmental benefits are obvious. A smartphone battery  that takes only one minute to charge results in a considerable decrease in energy waste.

 

Source: http://techleaks.in/

Do not  forget that Shanghai Metal Corporation provides you with a great selection metals such as aluminum which can be use for various applications. Check out our aluminium sheet/plate, widely used in the production of automobile, building wall and celings. Feel free to contact us for further information. We have English-speaking staff who will be more than glad to help you.

 

Stefano // SMC Editor

Recreate your recreational areas!

Refresh your mind after a long day and relax in a beautiful, luxurious patio  made from our wood plastic composite deck (WPC deck). At SMC, we  offer a great deal of building systems to suit your needs. Our version of WPC deck is particularly beneficial because it has featured characteristics of both wood and plastic, making it highly durable.

Enjoy a not only lovely looking patio but also, but also reap the benefits of low maintenance work, and less energy towards cleaning. Our wood plastic allows you to just wipe the floor, as opposed to pure wood which needs varnishing.  We save you the trouble!

We offer durable, less hassle flooring solution for your patios, children’s playground,  pool side and other outdoor areas; as well as indoor facilities such as restaurants, halls, etc. WPC decks are great, you don’t have to worry about wood rotting like the natural one would, thus making it more sustainable.

Our WPC deck’s combined features of plastic and wood enables it to have the enhanced look of wood, and gives you liberty to have less worries about varnishing ,or worrying about the wood changing colour or getting damaged  for instance when it rains or children spill liquids on it . Worry not about those spills ruining the floor!

For your more intimate ,indoor events, our WPC deck building system comes handy as a dance floor, for gyms, halls, theatres and other recreational areas that need operational open space.

Compliment your outdoor areas with our WPC deck paired with artificial grass  and flaunt your attractive, soothing and calming environment created from our best suited products. Save water with our artificial grass, and enjoy the eco-friendly features of the WPC deck.  Cut down maintenance costs and save your energy with SMC! Save the planet and have less trees cut down for your lovely floor, at SMC we care about the earth.

Get an inquiry or visit our website for more information.  Scan the QR code below to download our application; and stay clued up with our latest updates, follow us on these social media platforms:

    

Lebogang Seopane//SMC Intern

Credits: SMC website, Google images

The New Building Trend : Green Building

Green building, also known as green construction or sustainable building is a building structure that is “environmentally responsible” and “resource-efficient”. It has the objective to reduce the negative effect of built environment on human health and the natural environment by :

• Efficiently using resources (energy, water, etc.)
• Protecting occupant’s health & improving the employee’s productivity
• Reducing environmental degradation (waste, pollution)

According to a study, green building construction is increasing across the globe as it is more and more viewed as a long-term business opportunity. More and more building owners and developers switch from new building design to a more green building. Green building is hitting the mainstream, therefore, to distinguish themselves, developers focus more and more on designing green building.

Graphic from World Green Building Trends

There are different factors that drive the construction of green building and they vary around the world. Australia, USA and European Countries are mostly influenced by business factors (market & client demand). Singapore, UAE and South Africa are more influenced by regulation (government’s policies) and ethical reasons.

Several green building certification has been established and may attract competitors.  One of the most notable are LEED and BREEAM. Below you can discover some buildings that has been awarded with a green building certification.

Taipei 101, Taiwan

This skycrapper is the tallest and largest building of LEED Platinum certification in the world since 2011.

Abad Nucleus Mall, India

This mall is India’s first LEED certified gold-rated green mall.

The University of Texas, USA

This is the first academic building in Texas to receive LEED Platinum certification.

Shearer’s Foods plant, USA

We have here the first food manufacturing plant to receive LEED Platinum status.

David L. Lawrence Convention Center, USA

This is the first convention center in the world to have received the Gold and Platinum LEED rating.

There exists thousand of other construction that has been awarded as green building and the number keeps increasing. We are getting more and more involved in fighting against environmental degradation. Shanghai Metal Corporation cares about the future and participate in reducing energy consumption. We offer solar panel that can be designed according to your projects and drawings. We also have eco-friendly material for buildings and we can help you with many types of construction projects. Please feel free to contact us if you need further information. Also follow us on social media to have a quick update of our products.

    

Credits to : wikipedia, World Green Building Trends, bdcnetwork
Photos : google image

Ayu P.//SMC editor