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Nuclear power is emerging as a viable energy generation option that does not release greenhouse gases in contrast to fossil fuel energy sources. While the nuclear power industry has come under scrutiny due to past issues with specific plants, overall, the industry practices excellent safety protocols and nuclear power plants operate in a very safe manner. Currently, nuclear power contributes about 10 percent of global electricity production behind coal, gas, and hydro, according to a 2019 study by the International Energy Agency (IEA). There is interest in bringing on additional nuclear power capacity to assist with reducing greenhouse gas emissions attributed to power generation. This episode includes a discussion with a representative from the nuclear power industry to get an update on whether adding more nuclear power plants is under consideration as an energy generating option. This podcast focuses on the growing interest in using small modular reactors (SMRs), which are downsized versions of existing nuclear power plants that can be designed for operation in specific locations that may be remote or have a specific power requirement that cannot be handled by existing power generation options. Prefabrication of the components used in SMRs is discussed, as this is an advantage in reducing the cost of manufacturing nuclear reactors. Components can be shipped to the location where the SMR will be placed and installed at that point in a similar manner to using Lego bricks. 

Contributors: Dr. Neil Canter, STLE Advisor, Technical Programs and Services, Robin Manley, Vice President, New Nuclear Power Development, Ontario Power Generation 

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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As the move towards sustainability continues, attention needs to be paid to sourcing raw materials that can be designated as sustainable. Since all raw materials used in formulating lubricants are chemical substances, this leads to a discussion about green chemistry and how it can be used as a way to produce sustainable lubricants. This episode features a conversation with Dr. David Constable, Science Director for the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute® to gain a better perspective on this topic. Among the subjects explored with Dr. Constable includes the relationship between green chemistry and sustainability, life cycle analysis, a review of the Sustainability Development Goals, in general, and the specific goal focused on “affordable and clean energy and the future of green chemistry/sustainability.”

Contributors: Dr. Neil Canter, STLE Advisor, Technical Programs and Services, Dr. David Constable, Science Director, The American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute® 

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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Global plastic waste generation has doubled over the past 20 years with two-thirds of the waste having been produced over the past 5 years. Microplastics, smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 inch), is a growing concern in our air and water. Plastics now account for 3.4% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling has been ongoing for some time but only 9% of all plastics used globally are recycled. This podcast explores the potential for converting waste plastic into fuels and lubricants in a process known as upcycling. Representatives from two different groups working on this challenge provide an update on what they are doing to upcycle waste plastic and share insights on how soon commercial applications will be available to help reduce plastic waste and enable plastics to contribute sustainably to our growing global circular economy. 

Contributors: Dr. Neil Canter, STLE Advisor, Technical Programs and Services, Dr. Dionisios (Dion) G. Vlachos, Unidel Dan Rich Chair in Energy Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Dr. Massimiliano (Max) Delferro, Chemist, Group Leader, Dr. Ryan Hackler, Postdoctoral Researcher, Dr. Robert Kennedy, Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemical Sciences & Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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The automotive industry is moving away from automobiles powered by internal combustion engines to battery electric vehicles to reduce emissions and improve sustainability. But internal combustion engine-powered vehicles will not be going away any time soon. Steps being taken currently to improve the sustainability of the internal combustion engine will be discussed in this podcast. A focus point of the discussion will be the race car industry which is innovating to a high degree. The hope is that these innovations will become available soon in consumer-driven vehicles.

Contributors: Dr. Neil Canter, STLE Advisor, Technical Programs and Services, Lake Speed, Jr., Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Total Seal Piston Rings

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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Nanotribology is a growing field within tribology that studies the interactions of materials at the nanoscale which is an extremely small domain. In an effort to reduce friction and wear, improve efficiency and reduce emissions, a better understanding of how friction and wear can be minimized at the nanoscale is very important. This podcast discusses nanotribology with two experts in the field. 

Contributors: Dr. Neil Canter, STLE Advisor, Technical Programs and Services, Dr. Steven Thrush, Tribologist, U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, and Dr. Marina Ruths, Professor of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is growing in the manufacturing sector because it provides an approach for making complex parts without generating waste. This technique is working well for plastic resins, but 3D printing metal alloys has been more challenging. In this episode, we speak with two experts conducting research on the 3D printing of metal alloys to gain their perspective on how the technology is progressing, as we continue on the path to sustainability.

Contributors: Dr. Neil Canter, STLE Advisor, Technical Programs and Services, Dr. Anthony Rollett, U.S. Steel Professor of Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science and Faculty Co-Director, Next Manufacturing Center on Additive Manufacturing, Carnegie Mellon University, and Dr. Wojtek Misiolek, Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Director of The Loewy Institute, Lehigh University

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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One approach for perfecting motion through the reduction of friction and wear is to examine the potential benefits of tribochemistry. This growing field gives researchers the opportunity to design a machinery system that takes advantage of the interaction of a specific lubricant with a particular metal surface under its operating conditions. The resulting products of the interaction act to maximize the efficiency of the machinery, leading us further down the road to perfecting motion. Discussions are held with two leading researchers, Drs. Kuldeep Mistry (The Timken Company) and Nicolas Argibay (Sandia National Laboratories), to provide their viewpoints on the current and future potential for tribochemistry. 

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].  

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As the world faces challenges due to the threat of global warming, regulatory pressure has been applied to find ways to reduce the generation of carbon dioxide and other emissions. The transportation sector is under increasing scrutiny because it contributes the highest level of emissions in the U.S. at 28.2% according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

The automotive industry has responded by moving to electric vehicles in place of internal combustion-powered vehicles as a way to reduce carbon dioxide, attain carbon neutrality and move towards sustainability. Tribology, or the study of lubrication, provides approaches for reducing emissions, improving efficiency, and, as a result, accelerating the move to perfecting motion, which will lead to achieving sustainability. 

This podcast introduces a new series that will discuss a series of technology developments showing how tribology and lubrication can promote the movement towards sustainability. 

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].