The main challenge in producing silica-CNT composites lies in finding the optimal way to bind the silica aerogel particles to the CNTs, such as to maximize the material’s resistance and potentially enhance other properties. This is a type of problem that can be found in the realm of chemical product engineering that calls for the use of advanced molecular modeling and simulation tools, supported by high performance computing.
The footwear industry is still very dependent on trial-and-error approaches – especially in designing shoe soles – that take too much time and resources. Now, the industry is starting to use computing to optimize and innovate the process and products.
200 thousand molecules were tested using advanced computing. Researchers found two with good capacity to inhibit the virus and covered them with patents. So far, everything indicates that they are effective in combating new variants.