The pace our world is changing at also puts pressure on developing ever more advanced materials to meet the demands of new applications. From clean energy technologies to wear-resistant industrial parts and smart consumer products, performance and sustainability demands are rising. That’s where innovations in material behaviour modification come in.
By fine-tuning how materials respond to their environment, such as resisting extreme temperatures or corrosive conditions, we can develop longer-lasting, more efficient and application-specific solutions. Whether it’s coating a wind turbine blade for sand abrasion or improving a rock crusher’s durability, the ability to adjust composition and microstructure opens the door to a new era in materials science.
What is new in material development?
Here are some innovations that can truly make a difference:
- Sustainable bio-based materials
As the world moves away from fossil-based inputs, bio-based materials offer a regenerative alternative. Inspired by nature and designed with circularity in mind, these materials can be tailored to meet essential performance requirements without replicating every property of traditional options. Imagine a wood-like bio-composite that’s also transparent, combining the familiarity of natural materials with the functionality of modern applications. - Novel soft materials with synthetic biology
Synthetic biology enables the custom design of molecules, allowing the creation of entirely new classes of soft materials. From biodegradable plastics to smart adhesives and alternative food ingredients, these materials can be tuned for specific uses. By combining AI, ICME (Integrated Computational Materials Engineering) and biology, it becomes possible to rapidly explore and optimise these materials. - Novel functional materials
The push for smarter, more capable materials has led to functional materials that respond to stimuli or carry specific magnetic, optical or electrical properties. Material developers can explore new compositions and manufacturing routes, leading to breakthroughs like self-healing coatings or ultra-lightweight conductive materials for flexible electronics. - Next-generation metamaterials
Metamaterials are engineered structures with properties not found in nature. They can redirect light, dampen vibrations or even render objects nearly invisible. Their potential in sensing, optics and robotics is vast. By tailoring their internal architecture, researchers can now create smart materials with dynamic, programmable behaviours.
How do we get there?
These innovations are almost impossible to reach with traditional material development methods. The secret lies in the utilisation and interplay between three transformative approaches:
- Materials Acceleration Platforms (MAPs) bring together multiscale modelling, high-throughput testing, AI and automation into one seamless workflow. They cut development time by up to 90%, enabling the rapid discovery and refinement of new materials.
- Quantum technology offers the power to model atomic interactions in ways previously impossible. With quantum computing, we can simulate even more complex material behaviours at the molecular level, guiding development with precision.
- Generative AI fuels creativity in materials design. By training models on existing materials data, AI can suggest entirely new structures based on desired performance, creating designs that are both novel and achievable.
At VTT, we utilise these capabilities to shape the future of materials. And it’s not a distant future – it’s being built right now.
Materials innovation is entering a new era. Our new white paper introduces how moving from Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) towards Materials Acceleration Platforms (MAPs) is fast-tracking the discovery of high-performance, sustainable materials.
