Le plastique - Entrée en matière

21/02/11

When polymers conduct electricity

The now-famous diode, used in many screens, is one of the numerous applications connected to the development of conductive polymers. But how can a simple piece of plastic conduct electricity when this same material is used to insulate metal wires carrying electricity?
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22/11/10

MASDAR, A GREEN OASIS IN THE COUNTRY OF BLACK GOLD

Imagine a city of 50,000 inhabitants, with no cars, carbon dioxide or waste… in short, an ecological city of the future. Now imagine this city in a desert in the Persian Gulf, where temperatures can reach 50°C in summer and the air-conditioning has to be switched-on all the time. This city is called Masdar, which means “source” in Arabic.
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30/08/10

Plastics + Sun = transport of the future

Whilst the aircraft Solar Impulse, propelled solely by solar energy, successfully made its first night flight on 07 July, the catamaran PlanetSolar is preparing for its first world tour on solar energy. Two giants, two dreams that have become a reality thanks to the tenacity and determination of two men; two projects on a world scale and one common point: the development of new technologies in the fields of energy and the use of plastic composite materials*.
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• Part I : Solar Impulse, the bird of the future
• Part II : PlanetSolar: the biggest sun-powered boat in the world

29/04/10

Intelligent textiles

As an old industry gets a new lease on life, flirting with nanotechnology, biochemistry and state-of-the-art electronics, it gains new power to transform the way we work, live, travel and care for our bodies and our planet.
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24/09/09

SOLAR IMPULSE: FLYING TO THE FUTURE

Since the first oil shock of 1973, inhabitants of the blue planet have become aware of their addiction to fossil fuels and they have been consistently seeking the means to kick the habit. To date, the avenues explored have led to scarse successes, and early enthusiasm has given way to a dull resignation. Except for a few visionary individuals who have made a foolish bet. And who are about to win.
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