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Polymers news
Silk made into strong plastic-like materials with 6G potential
Silk threads can be fused into transparent, plastic-like materials that twist terahertz frequencies of light, according to research led by Imperial College London, University of Michigan Engineering and Tufts University. ...
Polymers
May 14, 2026
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Novel technique measures polymer degradation during cathodic overprotection
Oil and natural gas are vital constituents of our energy ecosystem that need to be transported across long distances. Although steel pipelines are the infrastructure used for this purpose, thereby serving as the lifeline ...
Metabolism-inspired hydrogels replicate heartbeat-like motion and photosynthesis
Living organisms sustain themselves through intricate metabolic processes that continuously convert energy and materials into useful functions. Inspired by these biological systems, researchers are now engineering synthetic ...
Polymers
May 12, 2026
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Hidden proton pathways emerge as ultrathin polymer film method splits interface signals
Understanding how protons move at the interface between polymers and electrode materials is essential for improving fuel cells and related energy devices. However, conventional impedance measurements under inert conditions ...
Polymers
May 11, 2026
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Looped polymers unlock stronger, faster molecular binding through entropy, model suggests
Entropy gets a bad rap. Typically associated with randomness and chaos, it can also correlate with freedom and diversity. Cornell researchers have found that, thanks to the latter qualities, entropy can help bind certain ...
Polymers
May 11, 2026
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Old bottles and battery acid can drive production of valuable industrial chemicals
Battery acid from old cars, with a little help from a catalyst, can give plastic waste a new purpose, using it to drive the production of useful chemicals, powered by sunlight alone. A recent study by researchers at the University ...
Harmless viruses trap Salmonella on flexible polymer in portable microfluidic sensor
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have developed a solid polymer coated with harmless viruses to detect the bacteria Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), an advance that could lead to new ways of finding ...
Biochemistry
May 7, 2026
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Polymer 'bristles' could help repel proteins—and germs—from surfaces in medical settings
A non-toxic coating developed by researchers at University of Toronto Engineering prevents proteins from sticking to surfaces—potentially offering a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections.
Polymers
May 5, 2026
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This 'living plastic' activates and self-destructs on command
Many plastic products are designed to be used only once, yet the material itself lasts for years. But a new strategy is addressing this problem by creating products that self-destruct on command, known as living plastics. ...
Polymers
May 3, 2026
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Hemp-based thermoplastic offers a greener alternative to plastic packaging
As the global pollution crisis caused by manufacturing and disposing of single-use plastics continues to grow, researchers have developed a non-toxic plastic alternative derived from the hemp plant—a non-psychoactive type ...
Polymers
Apr 30, 2026
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Natural rubber process boosts tire toughness about tenfold while preserving stiffness
Natural rubber, tapped from trees as latex, is the world's most widely used bio-elastomer. Comprising long molecular chains that make it pliable and stretchy yet highly resistant to cracking and strain, natural rubber is ...
Polymers
Apr 28, 2026
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Time-evolving polymer recreates nature's signature twist
Science has long taken inspiration from the natural world, and few natural designs are as iconic as the helical shape that makes life possible. The best-known example of such a molecule is DNA, a double helix that carries ...
Biochemistry
Apr 27, 2026
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New self-assembling polymers proven to be effective at gene delivery
A collaboration of scientists at the University of Manchester and the University of Birmingham has explored a more effective and less toxic way of delivering genetic material into cells, a challenge central to areas such ...
Polymers
Apr 27, 2026
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Crab shell by-products could help regulate the marine lifetime of biodegradable plastics
Biodegradable plastics hold potential for reducing marine plastic pollution, but degrade too quickly, limiting their practical use. Researchers from Gunma University now show that crab shell by-products can reduce the breakdown ...
Biochemistry
Apr 26, 2026
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Bamboo plastic could help predict how long biodegradable products last in seawater
Biodegradable plastics are usually sought after for their ability to break down quickly. However, this does not tell us how safely a product can be used before it degrades. A research team has developed a strong, biodegradable ...
Polymers
Apr 22, 2026
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Discovery of new polymer class provides compostable alternative to conventional thermoplastics
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have discovered a new class of polymers as part of the work carried out within the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1357 Microplastics. These polymers are characterized by biodegradable ...
Polymers
Apr 22, 2026
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Breakthrough sulfur polymer kills dangerous fungi and bacteria while sparing human and plant cells
Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a global burden in human health and food production, so affordable new materials are needed to overcome this growing problem. To answer the call, a multidisciplinary research team led ...
Polymers
Apr 21, 2026
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Floating biodegradable beads remove oil in 60 minutes and stay easy to recover
Floatable beads made from chitosan and cellulose acetate and enhanced with bentonite have been engineered to effectively clean oil from water. The beads showed good oil adsorption capacity while remaining easy to collect ...
Polymers
Apr 21, 2026
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Heat-loving enzyme reveals how plastic recycling could work near 70 °C
Among the various plastic recycling methods being explored, one promising approach is biological plastic recycling, also known as biorecycling, which utilizes enzymes or microorganisms to break down polymer molecules. One ...
Polymers
Apr 20, 2026
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Hollow-sphere catalyst enables greener production of 99% pure propene at room temperature
The world's appetite for propene (propylene) is growing faster than the chemical industry can keep up. This petrochemical product powers the production of acrylonitrile, propylene oxide, high-velocity fuels, and, most importantly, ...
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