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Polymers news
Using light to create bioelectronics inside living organisms
Bioelectronics research and development of implants made of electrically conductive materials for disease treatment is advancing rapidly. However, bioelectronic treatment is not without complications. Researchers at Lund ...
Biochemistry
Nov 22, 2024
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Durable supramolecular plastic is fully ocean-degradable and doesn't generate microplastics
Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) have developed a new durable plastic that won't pollute our oceans. The new material is as strong as conventional plastics and biodegradable, ...
Polymers
Nov 21, 2024
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Decontaminating toxic tires: Researchers show ability to remove toxic particles from end-of-life tires
Tires are an indispensable part of daily life. Without them, our vehicles would just be a bunch of assembled parts—convenient to sit in, but not effective for getting where you are going.
Polymers
Nov 20, 2024
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Self-assembling proteins can be used for higher performance, more sustainable skincare products
If you have a meticulous skincare routine, you know that personal skincare products (PSCPs) are a big business. The PSCP industry will reach $74.12 billion USD by 2027, with an annual growth rate of 8.64%. With such competition, ...
Biochemistry
Nov 20, 2024
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Transforming marine waste and carbonated water into hydrogels via CO₂ release behavior
Hydrogels, which are soft materials made of water-filled, crosslinked polymer networks, have a wide range of uses, from wound dressings to enhancing soil moisture for plant growth. They are formed through a process called ...
Polymers
Nov 18, 2024
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Addressing key challenges of photoresponsive, visible light 3D printing
Vat photopolymerization, a light-based 3D printing technique, conventionally relies on UV light to rapidly transform liquid resins into intricate solid objects. However, the use of visible light as an alternative approach ...
Polymers
Nov 18, 2024
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Simple table salt enhances new adhesive polymer technology
Adhesives are everywhere, from the tape used in households to the bonding materials in vehicles and electronics. The search for stronger, more adaptable adhesives is ongoing and may come down to adding a dash of salt to two ...
Polymers
Nov 15, 2024
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Biofouling release technology to protect ship hulls
How do you stop marine organisms from colonizing a tanker? Creative answers are needed to solve this problem, such as from the field of chemistry.
Biochemistry
Nov 15, 2024
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Scientists develop a phase-transformable membrane for efficient gas separation
Industrial gas separation, essential for clean energy and environmental protection, demands efficiency and adaptability. Current materials, however, lack the flexibility to selectively separate gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) ...
Polymers
Nov 13, 2024
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Fine-tuning ion exchange membranes for better energy storage
Researchers at Imperial College London, supported by colleagues at a range of other institutions, have published a study in Nature that will help fine-tune a new class of ion exchange membranes. The results should make it ...
Polymers
Nov 13, 2024
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Q&A: Emission and odor optimization in plastics and recyclates
The odor of recycled plastics is a major challenge for their recycling and requires customized solutions. Recyclates can have undesirable odors that come from various sources, such as microbiological degradation or residues ...
Biochemistry
Nov 12, 2024
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Plastic that dissolves in water could combat global pollution crisis
At a time when synthetic plastic has polluted nearly every corner of the globe and appeared in food and in the human body, Northeastern University researchers have developed a new plastic that dissolves in water.
Biochemistry
Nov 12, 2024
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Iron electrocatalysis breaks down polystyrene and delivers green hydrogen
The vast amounts of plastic garbage heaped in landfills and in the environment are as problematic as the plastics are useful. In an article published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, a German research ...
Polymers
Nov 11, 2024
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Microbial-based plastic shows potential for replacing PET bottles
Currently, the world is suffering from environmental problems caused by plastic waste. A KAIST research team has succeeded in producing a microbial-based plastic that is biodegradable and can replace existing PET bottles.
Biochemistry
Nov 11, 2024
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Transforming polyethylene: From functionalization to antibacterial properties for sustainable applications
Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most widely used and versatile plastic materials globally, prized for its cost-effectiveness, lightweight properties and ease of formability. These characteristics make PE indispensable across ...
Additional tests demonstrate chalk-coated textiles' cooling effect in urban environments
As air temperatures stay elevated through fall months, people may still want clothes that cool them down while outside, especially if they live in cities that stay warmer than rural landscapes. Researchers who previously ...
Polymers
Nov 8, 2024
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Catalysts show potential for breaking down microplastics to create usable fuel
Microplastics, plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, are littered across the world, contributing to global warming, disrupting food chains, and harming ecosystems with toxic chemicals. This is why Dr. Manish Shetty is working ...
Polymers
Nov 7, 2024
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New PFAS removal process aims to stamp out pollution ahead of semiconductor industry growth
A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study is the first to describe an electrochemical strategy to capture, concentrate and destroy mixtures of diverse chemicals known as PFAS—including the increasingly prevalent ultra-short-chain ...
Polymers
Nov 7, 2024
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Bioinspired hydrogels harness sunlight: A step closer to artificial photosynthesis
Mimicking how plants convert sunlight into energy has long been a dream for scientists aiming to create renewable energy solutions. Artificial photosynthesis is a process that seeks to replicate nature's method, using sunlight ...
Polymers
Nov 6, 2024
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New process enhances thermoplastic blends with polylactic acid
Bio-based thermoplastics are produced from renewable organic materials and can be recycled after use. Their resilience can be improved by blending bio-based thermoplastics with other thermoplastics. However, the interface ...
Polymers
Nov 4, 2024
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