Inventing a New Africa through Discovery and Innovations in Computational Material Science

Researchers are increasingly relying on computational technologies to help in simulation of properties of new materials and some areas in materials science has enjoyed some level of success which ranges from composites, to polymer science and to advanced ceramics. This review paper discuss certain developments in the area of computational Materials and how Africa can leverage on this technology to develop their emerging Industries, while dwelling more on application of computational material science in energy sector, since energy has been most pressing challenges in Africa which could be addressed by advanced materials. Also, we summarize part of our research work on galvanic corrosion of mild steel bolt in a magnesium alloy (AZ91D) plate simulation using comsol Multiphysics and 2k factorial experiments on factors that influence the recovery of gold during the upgrade of Ilesha-Itagunmodi, Nigeria gold ore through Froth flotation using Anova software. Attempt have been made to identify existing computational method, challenges of computational materials science deployment in Africa, and how material development can be accelerated through the power of computational material science. With this work, we were able to establish that the strength of computational materials science is in making a connection between the experiment and theories of complex phenomena

Inventing a New Africa through Discovery and Innovations in Computational Material Science

Researchers are increasingly relying on computational technologies to help in simulation of properties of new materials and some areas in materials science has enjoyed some level of success which ranges from composites, to polymer science and to advanced ceramics. This review paper discuss certain developments in the area of computational Materials and how Africa can leverage on this technology to develop their emerging Industries, while dwelling more on application of computational material science in energy sector, since energy has been most pressing challenges in Africa which could be addressed by advanced materials. Also, we summarize part of our research work on galvanic corrosion of mild steel bolt in a magnesium alloy (AZ91D) plate simulation using comsol Multiphysics and 2k factorial experiments on factors that influence the recovery of gold during the upgrade of Ilesha-Itagunmodi, Nigeria gold ore through Froth flotation using Anova software. Attempt have been made to identify existing computational method, challenges of computational materials science deployment in Africa, and how material development can be accelerated through the power of computational material science. With this work, we were able to establish that the strength of computational materials science is in making a connection between the experiment and theories of complex phenomena

Modern trends in recycling waste thermoplastics and their prospective applications: a review

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two major classes of polymers in that have recently become materials that are indispensable for humankind. Regarding the three basic needs of human beings—food, shelter, and clothing—polymers and polymer-based materials have gained pre-eminence. Polymers are used in food production, beginning with farming applications, and in the health sector for the development of various biomaterials, as well as in shelter and clothing for a variety of applications. Polymers are the material of choice for all modern-day applications (transportation, sporting, military/defence, electronics, packaging, and many more). Their widespread applications have created many negative challenges, mainly in the area of environmental pollution. While thermoplastics can be easily reprocessed to obtain new products, thermosetting plastics cannot; thus, this review focuses more on the use of waste from thermoplastics with less emphasis on thermosetting plastics. Hence, the review presents a concise summary of the availability of waste thermoplastics as raw materials for product development and the anticipated benefits. The prospects for waste thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, the possibility of cleaning the environment, and the uncovering of opportunities for further research and development are presented. The limitations of the current methods of waste polymer recycling are highlighted with possible future prospects from newly introduced methods. With zero tolerance for polymer waste in our environments, potential uses for recycled thermosetting plastics are described. Waste polymers should be seen as potential raw materials for research and development as well as major materials for new products. Recycled polymers are expected to be processed for use in advanced materials applications in the future due to their availability. This review shows that the major source of environmental pollution from polymers is the packaging, hence the need to modify products for these applications by ensuring that most of them are biodegradable