Although there are many different types of power plants in use today, the basic premise of operation is consistent from plant to plant. Some type of energy source, such as natural gas, nuclear material, or coal, to name a few, is used to produce heat. That heat is then used to boil water and create pressurized steam. The high pressure steam then spins large turbines which utilize magnets and coils to produce electricity via Faraday’s law of induction. Through this process, a single power plant can power an entire city. 

As engineers develop designs that push the boundaries of what’s possible, they search for new materials, or adaptations of materials, that can withstand increasingly extreme environments. Many new designs need materials that can endure extreme temperatures for long stretches of time, like seals and bearings that go into ovens, rockets, and turbines that can see temperatures above 1000°F. These temperatures wreak havoc on most traditional materials, rendering them expensive to replace or dangerous to operate.

Manufacturers have struggled with proper sealing of low viscosity fluids for years. Effectively stopping materials like Freon refrigerants, liquid oxygen, propane, and acetone are vital to production for industry leaders. Luckily, there's now a solution to this (un)impenetrable problem: antimony-impregnated carbon graphite.

Gypsum wallboard is one of the most common materials incorporated in residential and commercial construction. It's used universally by amateurs and professionals alike, and as such, manufacturers are driven to meet high demands by creating consistent, reliable means of production. 

New materials these days can perform under an incredible amount of stress, and many of them perform vital roles in the daily grind of our communities and businesses. The quality of materials has had to improve to keep up with the increasingly complex environments that materials are put through. One of the most taxing elements that would tear down traditional materials is heat. These days, modern mechanical parts perform incredible feats everywhere from rocket ships to ovens. Here are some applications where new high-performance parts have replaced traditional materials, so that when they find themselves in hot water, they’re actually quite at home: