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Polymers news
Machine learning enables customized plastics that could reduce environmental impact
About 100 million metric tons of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the world's most commonly used plastics, are produced annually, using more than 15 times the energy needed to power New York City for a year and adding ...
Polymers
16 hours ago
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Upgrading keratin to make a biodegradable plastic
A team of materials scientists from Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, the University of Milano-Bicocca, and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia via Morego, all in Italy, has found a way to use keratin to make a type of biodegradable ...
Molecular motors in action: Visualizing α-cyclodextrin movement along polymer chains
Imagine a microscopic locomotive moving back and forth along a track, propelling itself without any external force. At the molecular level, this concept forms the foundation of molecular motors—intricate systems that could ...
Polymers
Mar 11, 2025
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Pure porous polymers promise cleaner air and energy solutions
A group of researchers from Tohoku University developed a method for synthesizing a special type of polymer that has applications for reducing greenhouse gas emissions—a major concern amidst a period of rapid climate change.
Polymers
Mar 7, 2025
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Entangled polymers and nanosheets create skin-like, self-healing hydrogel
We all encounter gels in daily life—from the soft, sticky substances you put in your hair to the jelly-like components in various foodstuffs. While human skin shares gel-like characteristics, it has unique qualities that ...
Polymers
Mar 7, 2025
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Sustainable smart polymers change color and self-repair when damaged
Plastics, which are polymeric materials composed of long chains of small molecules called monomers, are widely used in everyday life and industry due to their lightweight, good strength and flexibility. However, with approximately ...
Polymers
Mar 6, 2025
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Beetle exoskeleton and conductive polymer create novel light-modulating material
Some beetles, such as Anomala albopilosa, strongly reflect left circularly polarized light (electromagnetic waves that oscillate leftward relative to the direction of light reception). This property originates from the formation ...
Polymers
Mar 5, 2025
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Iron-based catalyst achieves near-perfect efficiency for water oxidation, offering sustainable hydrogen production
A newly developed pentanuclear iron complex (Fe5-PCz(ClO4)3) can offer an efficient, stable, and cost-effective solution for water oxidation. By electrochemically polymerizing the complex, researchers from the Institute of ...
Polymers
Mar 5, 2025
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Butterfly-inspired 4D printing of smart hydrogels enables precise micro-nano deformation
A Chinese research team has developed a single-step femtosecond laser 4D printing technology that enables rapid and precise micro-scale deformation of smart hydrogels. This innovation, inspired by the hierarchical structure ...
Polymers
Mar 5, 2025
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Chiral liquid crystals improve solar cell efficiency and stability by 50 times
A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign describes a breakthrough in the field of organic solar cells (OSCs), bringing the technology one step closer to commercial viability.
Polymers
Mar 5, 2025
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Researchers develop highly robust, reconfigurable, and mechanochromic cellulose photonic hydrogels
Inspired by the natural Bouligand structure, researchers have been developing advanced materials for applications in impact-resistant bioplastics, ceramic armor, and biomimetic alloy composites. Most existing materials are ...
Biochemistry
Mar 4, 2025
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Anion–π interactions: The secret to stronger synthetic polymers
A research team, led by Professor Dong Woog Lee from the Department of Chemistry at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Byeong-Su Kim from the Department of Chemistry at Yonsei University, has discovered that the synergistic ...
Polymers
Mar 4, 2025
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Sacrificial scaffolding helps new hydrogels heal quickly
Researchers at Hokkaido University and Duke University have developed a hydrogel that heals and strengthens itself as it is overloaded and damaged. The proof-of-concept demonstration could lead to improved performance for ...
Polymers
Feb 26, 2025
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Making clean water more accessible: New membrane filter enhances desalination speed and cost-effectiveness
When you drink a nice refreshing glass of water, do you ever think, "Gee, I'm glad that polymeric desalination membrane did its job!" Probably not, but maybe you should.
Polymers
Feb 26, 2025
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Microwave reactor can recycle aramid fibers found in bulletproof vests
Twaron and Kevlar are brand names for aramid fibers, which are strong as steel yet much lighter. They are used to make bulletproof vests, strong ropes, and high-performance car tires, for example. These extremely tough materials ...
Polymers
Feb 26, 2025
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From scraps to sips: Biomass-based hydrogel pulls drinking water from thin air
Discarded food scraps, stray branches, seashells and many other natural materials are key ingredients in a new system that can pull drinkable water out of thin air developed by researchers from The University of Texas at ...
Polymers
Feb 25, 2025
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Light-triggered process breaks down polymers into monomers for easier recycling
A team of materials scientists and engineers at ETH Zurich has developed a light-triggered chemical process for breaking down certain polymers into their constituent monomers. The paper is published in the journal Science.
Polyurethane with shape memory change from foil to foam when heated
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have developed a foil that changes into polyurethane foam (PU foam) when heated—entirely without health risks. The foil allows for isocyanate-free ...
Polymers
Feb 20, 2025
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Thermophilic bacterium achieves high conversion rate for plastic recycling
A research team has introduced an innovative solution for the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This solution utilizes an engineered whole-cell biocatalyst based on the thermophilic bacterium Clostridium ...
Biochemistry
Feb 19, 2025
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Plastic bottles easier to recycle with new degradable glue
A new type of adhesive that can be cleanly removed from plastic bottles and packaging before disposal could lead to better-quality recycled plastic, a new study has shown.
Polymers
Feb 18, 2025
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