What the **** is the difference between a dent and a broken tooth on a car? If you answered that both are annoying nuisances that need to be "fixed," you might be right. But in the interlocking world of 3M innovation, the answer goes much deeper.
The story begins with a 3M team that was developing a product for auto body stores. They noticed that the mixing process for the filler used to repair body dents hadn't improved in more than 50 years. The filler was still hand-mixed, wasteful, buggy, and just plain messy -- and that's not an exaggeration.
Then they realized that it wasn't for nothing that auto store workers mixed the filler by hand. Accomplishing the required 50:1 automated mix was technically a major challenge. Further research also found that standard static mixing systems could not meet the need. In a static mixing system, mixing a 50:1 ratio of filler material creates "back pressure" that can overwhelm the entire system, ultimately causing the machine to stop.
The 3M technical team finally achieved a breakthrough by going to an unexpected source -- the scientists at 3M Dental Products, whom they consulted. A dentist's job and automotive repair may seem a million miles apart, yet the basic concepts and technology behind 3M's innovations were able to solve the problem by linking two seemingly completely different worlds.The 3M dental scientists and the automotive repair team saw the potential of the 3M ESPE Pentamix?Automated Mixing System, a key product that helps dentists more efficiently mix putty-like dental impression materials. This putty-like substance is commonly used to make crowns and bridges, and the Pentamix? system solves similar problems of high waste and low quality experienced by auto mechanics.
The two 3M teams then worked together to discover how Pentamix?dental solutions could be used to help automotive repair teams innovate and overcome technical barriers to develop a practical system for mixing body fillings. But the chain reaction of creativity has only just begun. Automated (dynamic) mixing is all well and good, but batch-processed bench-top mixing systems can still be wasteful.
The 3M Automotive team wanted to develop a continuous, portable process, so they turned to 3M filter technology, along with specialized spray heads and nozzles, to engineer a solution. Now, the mixing process is not only done dynamically, but it can be portable, with raw materials sprayed directly from the nozzle onto the body of the car: no waste at all, and no back-and-forth for workers. The 3M Dynamic Mixing System thus developed allows auto body stores to mix body fillers exactly as they are needed, avoiding the mess and waste associated with hand mixing.
So, from 3M's perspective, whether you go to the dentist or the auto body store, the goal is really the same: to solve a problem. That's where innovation sprouts from. All it takes is imagination and the persistence to find answers in unexpected places. Who knows what the powerful energy of 3M's collaborative innovation will "mix" next? From clean electronics to giant squid
Imagine playing a video on your computer or making a phone call on your cell phone while it is submerged in a wonderful liquid that looks no different from water ...... Or feel free to submerge old family photos that you can't get back if you lose them in this mysterious liquid. mysterious liquid. Miraculously, computers, cell phones and photos are safe and sound. That's because the scientists at 3M have invented a unique chemical -- 3M Novec?Brand Liquid -- that won't harm electronic devices or cherished memorabilia.
In fact, the fluid is often used to protect them. This isn't a trick: It's 3M's innovative invention at work. This magical liquid causes no damage to electronic devices and is able to evaporate completely, leaving no vapor or residue behind. So, not surprisingly, Novec fluid was used to safely extinguish fires in places that housed what Americans considered to be treasures - places like the Alamo Labs, the Library of Congress, and the like. The fluid has also been used to protect the Franklin Library, and the dedicated Bible used by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to take the oath of office.
Besides museums and archives, 3M's Novec fluid is actually in your everyday life. This chemical allows us to get up close and personal with our electronic devices. It's used to clean electronic devices and minimize the heat generated by our computers and cell phones.
But innovations come in all sizes, so this miracle liquid can be used on a small device in your pocket, or on something "big" - as big as a giant squid.
If you visit the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., you're likely to see awe-struck children and parents standing in front of a 24-foot-long specimen of a giant squid displayed in a giant tank, preserved in perfect condition by Novec. It was the magic of the innovation that allowed museum visitors to get a good look at the giant specimen because Novec fluid, unlike alcohol, does not yellow or discolor the specimen. The magical journey of 3M Novec fluid from electronics manufacturing to firefighting continues. In fact, the fluid is even being used in the manufacture of plastic surgery transplant tissue. We know a number of people who have relatives who walk around on hips made of titanium who have had transplants. Manufacturers of orthopedic transplant devices often use Novec Liquid to clean them because Novec Liquid performs precision cleaning without residue.
Innovation is so powerful that a simple idea can affect your life in many ways and to a great extent. Finding the right application - it's all about chemistry. A chain reaction of micro-replicating technologies - from safe roads to painless injections
From highway signs to microneedles, micro-replicating technologies have sparked a chain reaction of amazing new product developments.
Overview
Micro-replication technology gave rise to microneedles, which are used in the latest 3M products to help dermatologists pre-treat a patient's skin before administering a treatment.3M's work to develop new applications for microneedles in the healthcare industry continues.
How can you be more afraid of vaccines than car accidents? Admit it, hearing about hypodermic injections -- whether it's to immunize yourself or your children -- can make even the bravest of us wince. But what if it's a virtually painless injection? And what if it's even more so, and the needle is virtually invisible?
You might think that's impossible, but the brilliant scientists at 3M thought otherwise. They came up with a way to insert hundreds of tiny "microneedles" into an area the size of a 10-cent coin. Their inspiration came from a cutting-edge technology in an unexpected field -- a technology developed by 3M that was originally developed for use on highways.
The technology, called microreplication, was introduced in the early 1960s and is used to apply layers of precisely molded, interlocking shapes to surfaces like plastic sheeting. Scientists have found that these sophisticated miniature pyramids can alter the physical, chemical, and optical properties of plastic surfaces, often with surprising results.
Fantastic research had been achieved by the 1980s, when 3M applied the technology to highway signs and road surfaces. Thousands of microscopic prisms reflected light from automobile headlights, and road and construction zone signs and markings were illuminated exponentially, helping motorists see the road and drive safely.
3M's accomplishments don't stop there. Micro-replication technology has produced friction-reducing films that help increase the speed of ships and the efficiency of airplanes; brighten computer displays and extend the use of laptop batteries; and protect mobile devices from prying eyes through the use of ultra-fine blinds; and now, micro-replication technology has produced a tool for dermatologists to use prior to implementing treatments or when patients return for follow-up appointments.
The 3M?Microchannel Skin System contains a tiny disposable plastic adhesive tape with more than 300 solid microneedles that dermatologists can use to poke tiny holes in the skin.
Building on this initial application, 3M scientists have developed microneedle tape that can be used to administer vaccines and other important medications, allowing patients to apply it for 10 minutes or even 10 seconds. These tapes are so easy to use that patients can even apply them themselves. These tapes may well make painful, and sometimes tearful, injections that hurt you a thing of the past.
Creating new applications
Kris Hansen, manager of technical and product development for MTS in 3M's Medication Control Systems product group, explains that the development of this application began 12 years ago with the idea that microneedles could be used to draw tiny amounts of blood or body fluids from diabetic patients, helping them to monitor their own blood glucose without having to stab themselves with a needle. A few years later, scientists in the Drug Controlled Release Systems product group built on that technology to try to be able to use it to inject drugs into the body in addition to extracting body fluids.
"The microneedle was made possible because we combined several incredible inventions within the 3M group of companies, focusing on the drug delivery business expertise to create this completely new product." Kris Hansen said.
Hansen says products made with this technology could go a long way toward improving people's lives: "The change this product brings could free people with serious chronic conditions from dependence on their disease -- a change that could allow an entire nation's population to from the spread of infectious disease in a much faster and more effective way than is currently possible."
"With microneedles, we believe we can get drugs into patients in a better way, making the actual treatment more effective. This potential to help people is what makes our microneedle tip technology most appealing." She added.
Like other products developed for the healthcare industry, this product has a somewhat longer lead time than other 3M products.
"Opportunities for microneedles to contribute to a variety of products in the healthcare industry will abound as we make strides to upgrade our microneedle technology. We are always in touch with our other business units, bouncing ideas off each other and trying to find the most appropriate applications." Hansen said. "The ultimate ultimate vision for microneedles will never be limited to just drug injections."
Developing a product with such novelty and application potential is work that pays off.
"Being one step ahead of the curve and on the crest of the tide of research and development, manufacturing and regulations is very exciting and very satisfying." Hansen said. "But it also means hard work, lots of risk. It's much easier to follow the lead than to navigate, yet we've never been followers, have we?"
3M has always believed that the "little things" often matter. If the story of the microneedle is any indication, it's that the "smaller" a 3M invention seems, the bigger the impact it can have.
The ripple effect led to the creation of the 3M MicrochannelSkin System
The spread of 3M's micro-replicating technology has resulted in groundbreaking innovations in virtually every area of 3M's business. 3M's patented micro-replicating technology has directly spawned the development of reflective materials, industrial abrasives, optical films, consumer products, adhesives, electronics, skin care products, and other products, adhesives, electronics, dermal delivery systems, and now microneedles.
Today, 3M is planning to advance the application of this technology to create tools that can form the miniature grooves, patterns, and more complex features that are the hallmarks of micro-replicated products, as well as to the latest molding technologies to improve the shape and alignment of these features. Multilayer Innovation: From Bright Displays to Transparent Credit Cards
3M's expertise in optics and multilayer optical film development creates a link between seemingly unrelated products
Overview: Multilayer technology enables a wide range of applications -- from brighter electronic displays to the first transparent, readable credit cards. credit card.
Whether you're watching TV, surfing the Web or browsing for information on your smartphone, one thing is certain: nothing makes sense without a bright, clear screen. People have long taken this for granted in their daily lives, but clear screens and the energy efficiency of these devices are largely dependent on one key area of research: optics.
Making an Impact
3M has been making an impact in this field of innovation for nearly a century, creating high-performance, energy-efficient products that people use every day in their hands.
In the electronics industry, 3M makes displays look brighter with micro-replica films and films containing hundreds of sub-microscopic layers, known as nanolayers.
3M?Brightness Enhancement Films have microscopic prisms that recycle light lost at oblique angles and direct it back into the eyes of the display's user. 3M?s multilayered optical films are the thickness of a Post-it? (Post-it? Note), but has 10 times the light reflective strength of a conventional mirror.
Our film, called a reflective polarizer, saves energy by sending light deflected in the wrong direction back so that it penetrates the LCD rather than scattering it. The first product in the series - 3M? Dual Brightness Enhancement Film - is already being used in everything from notebook computers and handheld mobile electronics to automotive and aerospace displays. in everything from laptop computers to handheld mobile devices to automotive and aerospace displays.
The two films (brightness-enhancing and reflective polarizing) can be used in combination to increase the energy efficiency of TV screens and computer monitors by up to 70 percent.
Other 3M products, such as 3M tablet films, help extend the battery life of flat-panel electronic devices. They reduce thickness and weight without sacrificing brightness or quality.
Using a combination of four 3M tablet films - APF-V3, an ultra-thin, high-brightness reflective polarizing film; LBR-160, a high-efficiency back-reflective film; and the thin, high-brightness brightening films BEF4-GMv2 and BEF4-FT - can increase the brightness of displays.
The idea of films covered in layers goes back many years, but in 1991, an interesting conversation laid the conceptual cornerstone for 3M's multilayer optical film technology.
Jim Jonza, a full-time scientist in Corporate Research and Development - now recognized as one of the inventors of multilayer optical films - happened to be attending the annual Technology Forum along with Andy Ouderkirk, a scientist in the Materials Business Unit of the Electronics Marketplace. The two men had booths next to each other at the annual Technology Forum. They talked about film manufacturing, and within minutes they had laid the conceptual groundwork for 3M's multilayer optical film technology.
Broadening product applications
After learning how light bounces, reflects and illuminates, the 3M scientists began working on interesting materials, exploring the unforeseen paths of innovation.
"Multilayer technology has many promising applications, and 3M is continually broadening its application development. Producing and applying multilayer films requires a lot of know-how and resources. Nonetheless, the rewards will be great." Jonza said. "Understanding the science better, continually improving process design and developing new applications has been a fun and rewarding part of many 3Mers' careers. Research within this field inevitably leads to another interesting idea."
Today, 3M's expertise in optical film technology has led to the development of a variety of products: 3M Autostereoscopic Enhancement Films, which make eye-catching 3D images possible; 3M?Sun Control Window Films Prestige Exterior Series, which which saves energy, protects windows from fading, and protects against UV rays; and 3M? Cool Mirror Film, which helps increase the efficiency of solar cells.
Developing one-of-a-kind, customized solutions
The benefits are clear ...... but the curious nature of 3M scientists won't be satisfied with the fact that this interaction is limited to the optical realm. The quest for endless possibilities led the inventors to a seemingly unrelated destination: our wallets.
A well-known credit card company approached 3M about the possibility of using 3M films in credit card designs to make their cards different from those of their competitors, and 3M scientists put their know-how of making electronic displays brighter and more energy efficient to work. Optical films are not only multilayered, but offer multiple opportunities, including the development of new credit cards that can be transparent and stylish -- something that was never possible in the past.
The first transparent, readable credit card is possible because a group of 3M scientists led by Mike Weber, a corporate scientist at the Display and Graphics Thin Film Laboratory, found a way to block out infrared light without blocking out visible light, so that ATMs wouldn't malfunction and eat the card.
Weber said, "Experience tells us that we can block any kind of light -- ultraviolet, green, red, blue, infrared. The question is whether we can block infrared light while making a film that is compatible with the credit card manufacturing process. That's the hardest part."
They succeeded, and this marks the biggest technological breakthrough in bank card manufacturing since the birth of plastic cards.
"This event is significant because not only did 3M solve a technical challenge for its customers, but the company was able to differentiate itself in the marketplace." said Mark Griffin, global business manager for the payments business in the Mobile Interactive Solutions Division.
Reflecting light in ways never before seen breaks the traditional laws of physics that have prevailed for 200 years as Brewster's Law. Transparent credit cards now give credit card makers more surface space to add more design elements to their plastic cards, attracting cardholders with customized imagery and making their brands stand out.
Innovation at 3M really doesn't have clear boundaries. Innovation Inspired by Nature
The lotus flower, with its natural ability to repel water and prevent stains, is now the source of inspiration for 3M China's nanotechnology applications. 3M China's researchers were inspired to develop a new anti-fog cleaning cloth, and the 11th-century Chinese philosopher Zhou Dunyi, in his essay "Lotus Lover's Sayings," called the lotus flower his favorite, extolling the flower's miraculous ability to come out of the mud without being stained and remain beautiful. still have the ability to do the same.
The same character of the lotus flower that Zhou admired hundreds of years ago is today the inspiration for 3M China's advanced technological research. Inspired by the lotus flower's ability to keep out water and dirt, the project team used nanotechnology to develop an anti-fog product for cars that prevents pollutants from sticking to the body.
The lotus leaf has an undulating surface, thus minimizing the contact of dirt with the leaf. These tiny bumps are covered with wax secreted by the plant itself and are thus impervious to water. The combination of these two features allows the lotus flower to "clean itself" when it rains, and dirt will automatically run off with the rain.
Researchers at 3M China, research specialists at 3M China's Corporate Research & Development (R&D) department, explain: "We knew that the lotus leaf's immaculate performance depended on its microstructure and nanostructure. We then set out to see if we could replicate this structure through a simple technological process."
The 3M researchers collaborated in the lab to create nanoparticles with similar self-cleaning abilities. They experimented with a variety of different particle sizes, substrates and coating processes to develop a material that they hoped could be used as a protective coating for buildings and other outdoor constructions.
Eventually, their plans ran aground when tests showed the coating was not durable enough to keep outdoor surfaces clean for long periods of time. Yet despite the setback, the research team immediately began looking for other uses. "In talking to the business unit engineers, we found that there was a demand in the market for a model that made this product in the form of a disposable, consumable product that could be operated by the customer on a DIY basis, and the information ****sharing brought about the result of this product that we are currently commercializing."
New Applications
The first product to come to market that utilizes this new nanotechnology is a cleaning cloth called the "3M?505 Anti-fog Cleaning Cloth," which is designed to prevent fogging of lenses on goggles and protective masks.
Nancy Sun, a senior technical service engineer in 3M's corporate research and development department in China, said, "In hot and humid working environments, lenses tend to fog up and block vision. This cleaning cloth helps solve this problem." In addition to China, this product is also sold to South Korea and South America.
In August 2011, a new version of this cleaning cloth hit the Chinese car care product market. By using the "3M Anti-Fog Wipes PN39060" on the window side of the car, fog caused by weather changes was eliminated.
Fiona Hao, a senior product engineer at 3M China's corporate research and development department, said, "Hazy vision caused by rain outside and humidity inside the car is a serious problem for motorists." Laboratory tests show that the product helps prevent fogging for at least an hour, depending on the condition of the surface to which it is applied.
The anti-fogging cleaning cloths are solvent-free, with environmentally friendly ingredients, and customers report that they are easy to use. "The response from customers has been very positive." Hao said.
For the 3M China developer, the current product reflects only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the potential applications of this new nanotechnology. She said, "We are inspired by the structure of the lotus leaf, but will not be limited by it." She added that the research team is looking at how to improve the coating. For example, 3M China is currently researching applications of the technology in the medical industry. These products are still in development, but reflect promising new applications for the technology.
"In addition to anti-fog, this technology has many useful roles. It opens up huge potential business opportunities for 3M."