https://phys.org/chemistry-news/polymers en-us The latest science news on polymers Collaborative research that combined experiments at Yale University and molecular dynamics simulations at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides new insights into solving a major technical obstacle to efficient and sustainable industrial operations. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-scientists-reveal-molecular-mysteries-silica.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:28:36 EST news628950514 Researchers at University of Tsukuba have synthesized a helical, magnetically active conductive polymer with exceptionally high optical activity using cyclosporine A as a helix-inducing agent. This polymer exhibits distinct absorption of circularly polarized light, corresponding to the orientation of an applied magnetic field. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-successful-synthesis-helical-polymers-circular.html Polymers Mon, 04 Mar 2024 11:50:43 EST news628775441 University of Texas at Dallas researchers and their collaborators are developing a quick-drying polymeric desiccant that could dehumidify buildings using at least 30% less energy than conventional air-conditioning systems. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-quick-drying-polymer-key-energy.html Polymers Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:10:03 EST news627829800 A research team at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) has succeeded in developing a self-healing material that is also capable of emitting a high amount of fluorescence when absorbing light. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could lead the way to the creation of new materials such as organic solar cells that are more durable than current types. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-bright-tough-material.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:51:31 EST news627817888 One doesn't need to be reminded that plastic production, and plastic pollution, have steadily increased over the years—the evidence is all around us. What if we were able to recycle plastic in a way that is truly sustainable? https://phys.org/news/2024-02-polymer-science-team-additive-upcycle.html Polymers Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:39:32 EST news627817169 Research published in the journal Science China Chemistry is expected to serve as comprehensive background knowledge and to provide researchers with insight into the recent developments of solar-driven green synthesis of epoxides. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-solar-driven-green-synthesis-epoxides.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:55:02 EST news627760501 New forms of the light-emitting materials called phosphors, with enhanced versatility relative to existing options, are being developed by researchers at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan, with colleagues at Tokyo University of Science and Hokkaido University. Their work is published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-polymer-crystals-generation-sources-industry.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:00:03 EST news627670801 Polystyrene is a widespread plastic that is essentially not recyclable when mixed with other materials and is not biodegradable. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a German research team has introduced a biohybrid catalyst that oxidizes polystyrene microparticles to facilitate their subsequent degradation. The catalyst consists of a specially constructed "anchor peptide" that adheres to polystyrene surfaces and a cobalt complex that oxidizes polystyrene. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-plastic-recycling-peptide-cobalt-complex.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:16:42 EST news627646598 Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials conquering an increasing number of biomedical areas. Consisting of water-swollen molecular networks that can be tailored to mimic the mechanical and chemical features of various organs and tissues, they can interface within the body and on its outer surfaces without causing any damage to even the most delicate parts of the human anatomy. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-scientists-method-bond-hydrogels-polymeric.html Biochemistry Polymers Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:00:01 EST news627557665 A research group led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a coral-tentacle-inspired antifouling membrane spacer through the sequential growth of functional polymer brushes on the spacer surface. The study was published in AIChE Journal. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-coral-tentacle-antifouling-membrane-spacer.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 19 Feb 2024 11:29:02 EST news627564541 Bananas are one of the most popular and widely consumed fruits in the world. They are also the fourth most grown crop in the world, trailing only rice, wheat and corn. What could this tropical fruit have to do with fighting the ongoing plastic waste crisis? https://phys.org/news/2024-02-bananas-plastic-crisis.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:59:33 EST news627299970 Amid growing global concern over climate change and plastic pollution, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University are making great strides in the sustainable production of fumaric acid—a component of biodegradable plastics such as polybutylene succinate, which is commonly used for food packaging. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-advanced-artificial-photosynthesis-catalyst-co8322.html Polymers Materials Science Fri, 16 Feb 2024 09:55:02 EST news627299701 In supramolecular chemistry, the self-assembly state of molecules plays a significant role in determining their tangible properties. Controlling the self-assembled state has garnered significant attention as it can be exploited to design materials with desired properties like charge transport capability and fluorescence wavelength. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-exploring-effect-fluorescence-supramolecular-polymers.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:33:01 EST news627042781 Scientists have combined laser 3D printing technology and an alternate soaking process to construct complex 3D structures that mimic bone microstructure. This is the first demonstration of this fabrication method, and it will lead to the development of 3D cell culture systems that can support bone grafts or create artificial bone marrow. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-team-fabrication-method-3d-mimic.html Biochemistry Polymers Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:20:04 EST news626977201 Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, and University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment researchers are leading the charge with an innovative solution. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-eco-friendly-magnet-microplastics.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:41:39 EST news626956897 In a win for chemistry, inventors at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed a closed-loop path for synthesizing an exceptionally tough carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, or CFRP, and later recovering all of its starting materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-full-recovery-materials-tough-polymer.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 08 Feb 2024 15:10:07 EST news626627401 A team of molecular engineers have developed a type of plastic that can be shape-shifted using tempering. In their paper published in the journal Science the team, from the University of Chicago, with a colleagues from the US DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, the National Institutes of Standards and Technology and the NASA Glenn Research Center, describe how they made their plastic and how well it was able to shape shift when they applied various types of tempering. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-plastic-shifted-tempering.html Polymers Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:12:43 EST news626091160 In a study published in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) have unveiled a breakthrough in the detection of hydrogen peroxide H2O2, a vital biomarker in biological processes, with the development of dual-functional portable sensors based on Pt-Ni hydrogels. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-portable-sensors-hydrogen-peroxide.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:56:38 EST news626025396 A pioneering development enables the targeted replication of the chemical structure of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a plastic that has been difficult to imitate until now, and shows great potential for sustainable alternatives in the plastics industry. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-scientists-loop-recycling-widely-plastics.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Wed, 31 Jan 2024 11:09:08 EST news625921746 Straws are one of the most common plastic waste products found on coastlines. As more and more plastic products are being produced, consumed, and disposed of, scientists and manufacturers are developing alternative materials that work equally as well, and don't contribute to persistent plastic pollution in the environment. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-plastic-straws-degrade-quickly.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:12:31 EST news625842746 Scientists at King's College London have developed an innovative solution for recycling single-use bioplastics commonly used in disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-enzyme-laundry-detergent-recycle-plastics.html Biochemistry Polymers Mon, 29 Jan 2024 13:21:38 EST news625756894 Researchers from Thailand have pioneered the conversion of waste HDPE milk bottles into high-stiffness composites, using PALF reinforcement for a 162% increase in flexural strength and 204% in modulus. This eco-friendly upcycling boosts mechanical properties while sequestering carbon, presenting a promising path for sustainable materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-revolutionizing-plastics-upcycling-agricultural-boosts.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:43:03 EST news625491781 The water in the air originates from both natural and forced evaporation, with condensation being the final and crucial step in water harvesting. Condensation involves nucleation, growth, and shedding of water droplets, which are then collected. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-bioinspired-hydrogel-pattern-atmospheric-harvesting.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:59:03 EST news625485541 The anti-anxiety drug diazepam causes side effects: drowsiness, confusion, and nausea. The same applies to the antidepressant amitriptyline. A possible solution to the problem could be a new compound, GML-3. It simultaneously exhibits the anti-anxiety activity of diazepam and the antidepressant activity of amitriptyline. At the same time, it is devoid of most of their side effects. However, it is not used in pharmaceuticals since it is poorly soluble in water; this is a necessary condition to create convenient dosage forms based on the drug. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-scientists-solubility-effective-antidepressant-factor.html Biochemistry Polymers Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:33:03 EST news625156381 Plumber's nightmare structure presents itself as an assemblage where all exits seem to converge inward—a plumber's nightmare but an anticipated uniqueness for researchers, suggesting distinctive traits divergent from traditional materials. Nonetheless, this intricate configuration was deemed unattainable, bordering on the realm of the impossible. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-scientists-block-copolymer-conundrum-polymer.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:47:03 EST news625142821 For the past three years, Ph.D. candidate Sophie van Lange has been dedicated to one clear goal: producing plastic that is both hard and sustainable. The plastics we use today are either recyclable or strong and hard—not both. Van Lange stepped away from traditional chemical approaches to produce plastic and developed a completely new method to create durable and reusable plastic in a completely new way. The trick? Physical forces. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-sustainable-plastic-physics.html Polymers Materials Science Fri, 19 Jan 2024 12:05:04 EST news624888302 Engineering structures made of concrete, steel, or other materials are subject to vibrations and stress. Because of this, small cracks appear, which grow and eventually lead to destruction. This phenomenon is called "fatigue failure." https://phys.org/news/2024-01-concrete-stronger-durable-resin.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:22:03 EST news624633722 Hydrogels inevitably undergo dehydration, structural collapse, and shrinkage deformation due to the uninterrupted evaporation in the atmosphere, thereby losing their flexibility, slipperyness, and manufacturing precision. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-scientists-door-high-precision-slippery.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:30:50 EST news624630647 Synthetic, non-biodegradable plastics are major sources of environmental pollution and have prompted rising interest in sustainable, biodegradable alternatives derived from natural polymers. "Tara gum," derived from the seeds of the tara tree (Caesalpinia spinosa), stands out as a promising solution. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-plastic-tara-gum-green-polymer.html Polymers Mon, 15 Jan 2024 13:37:37 EST news624548255 Environmental pollution and affordable clean energy are the two major sustainable development goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. All countries set their goals for decarbonization by the year 2050 and increasing the use of green hydrogen to reduce the load of electricity consumption per year. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-food-grade-encapsulated-photocatalyst-materials.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:59:43 EST news624531576