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Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products

Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics. Their study has identified a secure way to attach chemical additives to polyvinyl chloride ...

Bioinspired yarn can harvest water from fog

Scientists have developed a bioinspired yarn capable of harvesting water from fog, providing an innovative solution to water scarcity in arid regions. By imitating the alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic patterns seen ...

Citrus waste converted to biopolymers using cavitation

The citrus industry generates a substantial amount of waste, primarily peels and seeds, which are often underutilized despite their rich cellulose and pectin content. Conventional pectin and cellulose extraction methods are ...

Mussel-inspired adhesive comes unglued on command

Modern integrated microelectronic devices are often poorly repairable and difficult to recycle. Debondable adhesives play a key role in the transition to a circular economy with sustainable resources, less waste, and intelligent ...

Nature-inspired patterns boost polymer toughness

Biological systems are renowned for their ability to create strong yet resilient structures. A sea sponge, for instance, grows in layers, forming unique patterns that integrate minerals with softer regions, creating an ideal ...

Polymer foam aims to transform oil spill cleanup

University of Waterloo researchers have developed a new material that can absorb more than eight times its weight in oil, offering a new solution in preventing groundwater contamination from spills or accidents. The study, ...

Porous gas-adsorbing materials reveal hidden softness

A team of researchers has reshaped our understanding of developing gas storage materials known as porous coordination polymers (PCPs), which is also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

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Polymers
Depolymerization method achieves exclusive chemical recycling of PET from cloth waste and plastic waste mixtures
Polymers
Chemists create gel to prevent leaks and boost lithium-ion battery life
Polymers
Scientists offer strong carbon plastics for aviation
Polymers
Catalytic process vaporizes plastic bags and bottles, yielding gases to make new, recycled plastics
Polymers
Chemical plastics recycling is ready to go: Researchers show that it's all about the stirring
Polymers
Biomass-based polymer can capture and release CO₂ without high pressure or extreme temperatures
Biochemistry
Bioengineers develop a new environmentally friendly adhesive polymer
Biochemistry
Stranded student helps design synthetic polymers to combat fungal infections
Polymers
Machine learning uses X-ray diffraction data from polymers to predict the behavior of new materials
Biochemistry
Living plastics: A new solution for plastic degradation through synthetic biology
Polymers
Materials scientists develop road map for designing responsive gels with unusual properties
Polymers
Chalk-based coating creates a cooling fabric
Polymers
AI accelerates discovery of next-gen polymers
Polymers
New supramolecular polymer shows spontaneous unfolding and aggregation
Polymers
Small molecule organic eutectics show potential for replacing plastics
Biochemistry
New bacteria-derived hydrogel shows promise for muscle tissue regeneration
Polymers
Researchers shed light on how to make photopolymerization much more efficient
Polymers
Researchers discover smarter way to recycle polyurethane
Polymers
Team demonstrates halogen bonding for selective electrochemical separation, a path to sustainable chemical processing
Polymers
Up-cycling petroleum waste into a high-performance yet sustainable triboelectric nanogenerator

Other news

Condensed Matter
Harnessing magnetic relaxation: 'Pac-Man effect' enables precise organization of superparamagnetic beads
Evolution
Study determines when and how pterosaurs went from tiny tree-climbers to towering terrestrial titans
Cell & Microbiology
Dietary zinc inhibits antimicrobial resistance gene transmission in lab tests
Space Exploration
ESA's Hera spacecraft set for asteroid 'crime scene investigation'
Space Exploration
Investigating the possibility of using asteroid material to grow edible biomass for astronauts
Astronomy
The earliest galaxies formed amazingly fast after the Big Bang. Do they break the universe or change its age?
Superconductivity
Direct measurement of a subtle current phase relation shows potential for more stable superconducting qubits
Molecular & Computational biology
Phage cocktail shows promise against drug-resistant bacteria
Social Sciences
Survey experiment reveals celebrities and politicians could be the 'missing link' to mitigate climate change
Materials Science
Innovative method targets removal of PFAS from wastewater
Superconductivity
Niobium-tin magnet could be key to unlocking potential of heavy-ion accelerator
Plants & Animals
Scientists uncover auditory 'sixth sense' in geckos
Space Exploration
Solar flares may cause faint auroras across top of Northern Hemisphere
Earth Sciences
Better monitoring of mining remediation: Selenium isotopes are good gauge of clean-up efforts
Soft Matter
Scientists achieve unprecedented control of active matter
Earth Sciences
Extensive afforestation and reforestation can brake global warming
Archaeology
Archaeologists shed light on the Tartessos culture's sustainable construction skills
Biochemistry
New molecule can mimic the effects of fasting and exercise
Quantum Physics
Quantum communication: Using microwaves to efficiently control diamond qubits
Plants & Animals
Drier winter habitat impacts songbirds' ability to survive migration

Printable, colorful camouflage with polymers

In nature, colors can serve as a form of communication, but they can also hide animals and plants, camouflaging them from sight. Researchers now report in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces that they have developed polymers ...

Material gradients could strengthen polymer components

Combining flexible and stiff materials has bestowed bamboo with a strength-to-weight ratio that rivals steel. Gradually transitioning from a soft to hard substance allows the squishy squid to slice up prey with rigid, scissor-like ...

Porous polymer films with shape memory

Whether for separation processes, photovoltaics, catalysis, or electronics, porous polymer membranes are needed in many fields. Membranes with micropores that switch between different shapes and/or sizes would expand the ...

Collective disentanglement of entangled polymers

LMU researchers have disproven the conventional theory used to explain the dynamics of polymer solutions. They show that for biopolymers collective effects facilitate chain mobility, which is reminiscent of the behavior of ...

Macromolecular order in plastic kingdom

A team of researchers at the Institute of Synthetic Polymer Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MIPT and elsewhere has determined how the regularity of polypropylene molecules and thermal treatment affect the mechanical ...

New molecular muscle responds to visible light

Picture a tiny, makeshift muscle that can curl a 20 milligram suspended weight when exposed to light. Under the right conditions, another mix packs enough power to bench-press a dime.

A new polymer raises the bar for lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries are promising candidates for replacing common lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles since they are cheaper, weigh less, and can store nearly double the energy for the same mass. However, lithium-sulfur ...

Using DNA strands to design new polymer materials

McGill University researchers have chemically imprinted polymer particles with DNA strands - a technique that could lead to new materials for applications ranging from biomedicine to the promising field of "soft robotics."