The Semiconductor Industry Association, representing American leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, recently presented its 2012 University Researcher Awards to Stanford University professors Krishna Saraswat and Bruce Wooley in recognition of their outstanding contributions to semiconductor research.

Saraswat's research interests include new and innovative materials, structures, and process technology of silicon. He pioneered the technologies for aluminum/titanium layered interconnects, CVD of tungsten silicide MOS gates, CVD tungsten MOS gates and tunable work function SiGe MOS gates.

Saraswat has graduated 70 doctoral students and has authored or co-authored over 620 technical papers, six of which have received Best Paper Awards from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

"This is a richly deserved honor for Professor Saraswat and Professor Wooley," Larry Sumney, president and CEO of the Semiconductor Research Corporation, stated in a press release. "By continuously working to discover the next big breakthrough, these researchers are ensuring that the semiconductor industry remains the backbone of American innovation."

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Now, the founders of Metalysis, a small British firm, hope to do much the same with tantalum, titanium and a host of other recherché and expensive metallic elements including neodymium, tungsten and vanadium.

I know a slightly embarrassing amount about this company. It can be used to produce scandium metal and they wanted to know whether this was a good idea: no, sadly not being the answer. The global market for Sc metal (as opposed to oxide) might be 5 kg a year which isn’t going to build anyone’s fortune.

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What annoys in this article is that they do indeed have something potentially very interesting indeed. Just not all the various things the article says they do.

What they’ve got is a quite possibly cheaper way of converting certain metallic oxides into the relevant metals. But that is all they’ve got:

The effect could be profound. Tantalum is an ingredient of the best electronic capacitors. At the moment it is so expensive ($500-2,000 a kilogram) that it is worth using only in things where size and weight matter a lot, such as mobile phones. Drop that price and it could be deployed more widely. Neodymium is used in the magnets of motors in electric cars. Vanadium and tungsten give strength to steel, but at great expense. And the strength, lightness, high melting point and ability to resist corrosion of titanium make it an ideal material for building aircraft parts, supercars and medical implants—but it can cost 50 times as much as steel.

Titanium, I agree. The oxide is very cheap indeed and the metal expensive. So a cheaper way of processing the one into the other would be very welcome indeed.

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A tungsten wedding bands retailer, has added many new tungsten rings to the website in styles and widths that will accommodate their women customers. This change has been happening over the past two years, slowly adding thinner, more feminine widths to the bestselling ring styles so they can be worn as both engagement and wedding bands for couples. Women want rings that can be worn every day that is similar to their husbands whether it is to be worn as a wedding band or a fashion ring worn on the right hand. It is anticipated that over the next year all the rings will come in multiple widths so that customers can have options better suited to their style.

Specific tungsten collections that have already added the new complimenting women styles consist of the Celtic collection, Abalone shell inlays and the wood inlay collection. Many unique styles across the classic wedding band collection have also added thinner widths as well. The Sales Staff at Forever Metals mentioned the change has been great for business and orders for couples rings have increased.

Forever Metals encourages buyers to shop with confidence when choosing tungsten carbide. The metal is strong, durable and extremely scratch resistant in the polished form. The company offers a competitive exchange and return policy along with a Lifetime warranty.

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Some men might be M.I.A. when it comes to planning the big day, but they certainly take the time when it comes to choosing the ring that will grace the finger of their betrothed.

Between choosing the stone, cut, setting and metal, the options become endless, and today’s bride wants something unique that is a reflection of her own style and the love between her and her future husband.

“People like things that are kind of unusual and unique,” said Tami Reichert, owner of G & T Reichert’s Fine Jewelry. “We do a lot of custom work. A lot of guys come in with something very specific in mind.”

A gentleman can bring in a photo or drawing of what he wants the ring to look like. Reichert then works with him to create a custom creation that is sure to wow his sweetheart when he is on bended knee. “It’s fun,” said Reichert. “It’s really special for the bride, because it was created by her fiancé, and that’s a pretty priceless thing.”

“A lot of guys like to surprise the girl, and I think that’s a great idea because there’s nothing more amazing than the moment when you’re presented with an engagement ring; it’s just something you’ll never forget your whole life,” she added.

But in the past five years, she’s seen a growing number couples create the ring together, as well. The prospective groom can choose something simple for the proposal, a solitaire with a simple band, and then the couple will design an accompanying band, or remove the stone altogether and incorporate it into the wedding band. “So they’re both involved in it. She still gets to pick out her part, and he still gets to surprise her,” she said.

A popular design is still a halo of small diamonds fit around a princess or round cut stone. “The halo design gives it a bigger look,” she said.

A continuous row of diamonds around the band is also popular because it represents unity, she said.

White gold is still more popular than yellow gold. And platinum is also a favorite, but carries a heftier price tag.

In a new trend, Reichert said she’s seeing more rose gold, which is a softer colored gold. It has a slightly pink hue that compliments white gold or platinum, so that they can be used together for a unique look. “It was popular years and years and years ago. Probably in the early 1900s.”

Vintage styles are still in high demand, she added. Over the course of a lifetime it will maintain its classic appeal.

For those who want something a little more unique than the traditional diamond ring, Reichert said, “Your not just limited to diamonds. The colored stones are popular. Sapphires, aquamarines.” And choosing a stone other than diamond can help save some money.

Former First Lady and style icon Jackie Kennedy sported an engagement ring from President Jack Kennedy with a sizable emerald alongside a diamond of equal size.

Engraving the inside of the band is another way to personalize the ring. Reichert said that dates are a popular choice, as well as little secrets shared between the couple. “I’ll have rings come in many years down the road, and they’ll have engraving inside of them from their grandparents. It’s like a little picture into the past.”

Men’s styles have remained decidedly simple, designed for comfort more than anything else. But some are straying from the traditional yellow gold band. “Durable metals are important,” said Reichert. “We deal with a lot of tungsten and titanium and carbide steel. Those are not only popular because of price point, but because they are a little bit more modern looking.”

Few men care for stones, but bands that combine a couple different metals are becoming a little more popular. A titanium ring with a band of onyx running along the center is an option.

For a man that isn’t used to wearing jewelry, a lightweight titanium ring is a good choice. And with prices starting at $88, he can spend more money on his future wife’s wedding ring.

Reichart said that her customers usually spend about $1,500 to $2,000 on a wedding set. “Everybody has a budget. The three-month rule was put into the public by the diamond promotion service years ago. It’s just whatever the person feels they can afford. We have wedding sets starting at about $500 up to about $10,000.”

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