https://phys.org/chemistry-news/polymers/ en-us The latest science news on polymers Danqing Liu from Eindhoven University of Technology explores how interactions with digital systems can be improved through the sense of touch. To achieve this, she develops advanced liquid crystal polymers that respond to light. Her work has recently been published in two scientific journals, Science Advances and Matter & Light. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-artificial-human-gestures-memory-written.html Polymers Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:40:03 EDT news702897186 Ever wondered where your plastics end up? A PET bottle can be washed, shredded, melted and given a second life. But most everyday items—toys, mattresses, car seats—are made from different plastics that refuse to mix when melted, producing unusable, contaminated material. Sorting is difficult and expensive, so most mixed plastic waste ends up burned or buried, and the materials are lost for good. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-catalyst-plastic-recyclable-chemical.html Polymers Thu, 09 Jul 2026 18:00:06 EDT news702801769 Natural rubber is widely used in tires, transport, construction, health care and industrial products because of its elasticity, resilience and durability. To improve performance, rubber manufacturers often add silica fillers and processing oils. These oils help reduce viscosity, improve processing and support filler dispersion. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-palm-oil-greener-aid-natural.html Polymers Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:40:01 EDT news702822096 Researchers have developed a new 3D printing technique that allows the printing of whole objects while controlling the temperature of the chemical reaction to stabilize the process. Academics in the University of Nottingham's Faculty of Engineering, in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley, have developed an enhancement for a type of 3D printing called Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (VAM), which can create whole objects in seconds to minutes. The research has been published in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-technique-3d.html Polymers Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:30:01 EDT news702815674 Pineapple leaf fiber has long been valued in parts of Southeast Asia for traditional uses, including basketry in Malaysia and Thailand and textile applications in the Philippines. Its high cellulose content and ready availability as an agricultural residue have also made it attractive as a reinforcement for polymer composites. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-simple-treatment-pineapple-leaf-fibers.html Polymers Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:40:01 EDT news702724416 Controlling light within microscopic spaces is crucial for next-generation optical devices such as photonic integrated circuits and localized sensors. Microspheres formed of luminescent π-conjugated polymers act as optical resonators that confine and amplify light via whispering gallery modes (WGMs), and they are promising candidates for microscale organic lasers and photonic applications. However, conventional microsphere resonators are geometrically isotropic and emit isotropic light, making directional control of emissions challenging. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-saturn-laser-emission-chiral-polymeric.html Polymers Tue, 07 Jul 2026 20:20:01 EDT news702638907 Testing how quickly a biodegradable plastic actually breaks down in the environment can take months, sometimes years, of lab work. A new study from the Agricultural University of Athens, offers a faster alternative: a machine-learning tool that predicts biodegradation outcomes for a widely used bioplastic almost instantly. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-machine-fast-biodegradable-plastics-nature.html Biochemistry Tue, 07 Jul 2026 10:40:04 EDT news702627865 The research group of Professor Kotohiro Nomura, Tokyo Metropolitan University, in cooperation with the research groups of Senior Researcher Hiroshi Hirano and Director Seiji Higashi of the Osaka Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, and Associate Professor Hiroki Takeshita of The University of Shiga Prefecture, has developed biobased poly(ester amide)s from inedible biorenewables that can be easily chemically recycled and exhibit better mechanical (tensile) properties in film than commodity plastics. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-biobased-polymers-excellent-tensile-properties.html Polymers Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:02 EDT news702538064 In the world of market competition, having the best and brightest package could send company sales into the millions. On the other hand, the amount of colored plastic waste increases, adding to the growing challenge of recycling it. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-plastic-recycling-downgrading.html Polymers Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:30:04 EDT news702230521 An Ehime University research team directed by H. Shimomoto and E. Ihara has developed a new molecular design strategy that imparts degradability to carbon–carbon (C–C) backbone polymers. The study, published in Macromolecules, demonstrates that incorporating alkoxycarbonylmethylene (ACM) units into polymer backbones creates specific sites that enable backbone cleavage under basic conditions while maintaining desirable material properties. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-polymer-everyday-plastics-easier.html Polymers Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:00:05 EDT news702210444 Metallic effects on plastic surfaces have become standard in many industries, from automotive interiors and exteriors to toys and household appliances. However, injection-molded parts with metallic effects suffer from a well-known drawback: visible flow lines that appear as streaks and compromise the premium look. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-metallic-effect-pigments-significantly-line.html Polymers Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:17 EDT news702210234 Shock-absorbing sneaker soles are likely made of polyurethane, a highly elastic and tough polymer. The ability of these elastomers to absorb impact without breaking is extremely important for practical applications. While multiple strategies exist for enhancing elastomer toughness, each has its limitations. However, achieving synergistic toughening by integrating all three mechanisms within a single material remains challenging. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-polymer-network-reconfigures-sequence-elastomers.html Polymers Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:00:07 EDT news701967241 Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategy to predict and assess the fire resistance of epoxy resins, one of the most widely used polymers in industry. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ai-tool-reliably-flame-resistance.html Polymers Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:00:04 EDT news701961301 Scientists around the world have been searching food, water and other environmental media for microplastics and for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). But microfluoroplastics (MFPs), the intersection between these two fields, have received much less attention. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-faster-reveal-fluoropolymer-microplastics-rarely.html Polymers Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:30:01 EDT news701968561 A new electrochemical system simultaneously converts plant-derived materials and nitrate pollutants into valuable industrial chemicals. Developed by Tohoku University researchers, the system provides a more sustainable way to manufacture chemicals while helping address wastewater pollution. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-electrocatalyst-polluted-fertilizer-polymers.html Polymers Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:00:09 EDT news701603162 Ice formation can damage biological samples, tissues and materials during freezing and thawing. In nature, specialized molecules known as ice-binding proteins prevent ice crystals from growing too large, helping organisms survive in extreme cold. Scientists have long tried to replicate this behavior using synthetic materials, but most designs have focused on how molecules interact with ice at their surface. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-ice-crystal-growth-polymer-nanoparticles.html Polymers Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:50:01 EDT news701448841 Polystyrene—common in packing peanuts and box inserts—is manufactured from fossil fuels. To develop a sustainable alternative, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Polymer Materials tested an unconventional starting material: sawdust. Their prototype foams incorporated cellulose binders and other additives to form rigid or flexible materials, and some versions matched polystyrene's strength and impact resistance. A simple beeswax coating made them water-resistant, producing biobased foams with potential for packaging and building materials. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-sawdust-cellulose-binders-beeswax-combine.html Polymers Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:40:07 EDT news701434441 Contact lenses are a great vision correction option for many, but if one of them gets damaged, there is little to do other than throw it away. A team reporting in ACS Applied Polymer Materials has a solution: special polymer hydrogels and UV light. Scratches on lenses made from their new material were easily repaired with an hour of UV light exposure. This demonstration is a first step toward the next generation of contact lenses. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-contact-lenses-hour-uv-exposure.html Polymers Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:20:06 EDT news701426641 University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers have demonstrated a possible new avenue for developing flame-retardant and generally low-conductivity (low-heat-transfer) plastics that retain the benefits of being strong and flexible by limiting the accessibility of heat-carrying vibrational channels in the material. This new design framework has promising applications, including lightweight thermal insulation materials for spacesuits, thermal protection components for spacecraft, and advanced building materials that reduce heating and cooling losses. The study is published in the journal Materials Horizons. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-chaotic-polymer-vibrations-stronger-flexible.html Polymers Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:30:01 EDT news701365982 A new gel-based material developed by University of Florida chemical engineers filters PFAS forever chemicals from water more efficiently than many widely used commercial options. The advance offers a potential new path to filtering out PFAS, which has been linked to health effects including birth defects and some cancers. Importantly, the new material doesn't itself use fluorine to trap PFAS, helping reduce fluorinated chemicals in the filtration supply chain. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-molecular-velcro-gel-pfas-fluorinated.html Polymers Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:30:02 EDT news701363042 Researchers at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), a partner in the ANIPH project, published a study that helps predict how quickly biodegradable bioplastics break down in the environment. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-fast-bioplastic-ai-tool.html Polymers Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:00:06 EDT news701339702 Compostable plastics could be part of a solution to the world's plastic waste problem. But currently these materials need industrial composting facilities to break down. In a step toward making a home-compostable plastic, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have augmented polylactide (PLA)—a widely used biobased and compostable polymer—with a small amount of an additive. Tests show it helps the material degrade substantially faster without sacrificing critical qualities like strength or transparency. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-additive-faster-bioplastic-biodegradation-transparency.html Biochemistry Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:10:01 EDT news701016961 Coatings are everywhere. A thin protective layer, often barely visible. They keep out moisture, sunlight and rust, helping products last longer. Think of laminate on kitchen cabinets, automotive body coatings or the outer layer of a soda can or chip bag. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-electron-tougher-faster-coatings-packaging.html Polymers Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:00:03 EDT news700760702 Most people have seen nylon listed as a material on their clothing tags, but nylon is used in an array of other products, too, including automotive parts, wire insulation and medical supplies. Unfortunately, one of the building blocks of nylon, adipic acid, is produced from petroleum-derived benzene through energy-intensive processes and has a rather high carbon footprint. However, there may be a better way to produce this ubiquitous polymer. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-years-overlooked-material-poised-reshape.html Biochemistry Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:40:01 EDT news700402907 Scientists have long known that sunlight helps break down plastic. So, why do plastic products linger for decades and even centuries in rivers, lakes, and oceans—even when bathed in direct sunlight? Northwestern University engineers have uncovered an unexpected answer. The surprising culprit is the water itself. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-plastic-lingers-chemistry-nature-cleanup.html Polymers Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:00:06 EDT news700217521 Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute and the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP-CSIC) have developed an innovative biodegradable multilayer film capable of protecting and controlling the release of anthocyanins inside the body. Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, this innovation opens the door to more effective functional foods and supplements for intestinal health. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-pectin-chitosan-bioactive-compounds-foods.html Biochemistry Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:05 EDT news700231917 Could wound healing dressings adhere better, and could drug delivery patches become more sophisticated? A KAIST research team has developed a technology that leverages natural ingredients derived from plants to increase the strength of a seaweed-based hydrogel (a gel material that contains a large amount of water while maintaining its shape) by more than fivefold, while also controlling its adhesiveness and degradation rate. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-tea-compound-boosts-seaweed-hydrogel.html Polymers Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:00:03 EDT news700229281 Colors brighten our lives and help define countless items we use daily—from the vibrant clothes we wear to decorative paper and packaging materials. What adds different colors to these things? Dyes, which bind themselves to the structure of the material they are coloring. For example, methylene blue (MB) is a dye used to color paper, leather products, silk and wool, and is also employed as a diagnostic agent and in the rubber and cosmetic industries. But what happens after these dyes have served their purpose? https://phys.org/news/2026-06-super-sponge-toxic-dyes-industrial.html Polymers Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:40:02 EDT news700145283 Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a new method to recycle mixed plastic packaging without using harmful chemical solvents—an approach that could make one of the world's most difficult waste streams significantly easier to handle. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-cleaner-recycling-method-reusable-plastics.html Polymers Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:20:07 EDT news699711488 With help from a novel cross-linking molecule, MIT chemists have shown they can substantially improve the ballistic impact resistance of common polymers, including polystyrene and a type of rubber used to make shoe soles. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-common-plastics-ballistic-impacts-linking.html Polymers Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:00:12 EDT news699694921