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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 The world is filled with myriad sounds and vibrations—the gentle tones of a piano drifting down the hall, the relaxing purr of a cat laying on your chest, the annoying hum of the office lights. Imagine being able to selectively tune out noises of a certain frequency. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-molecularly-polymer-networks-damping.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:00:04 EST news624211202 NIMS and Nihon L'Oréal K.K. have developed a shape memory polymeric material responsive to humidity. This innovative material, when applied to a person's hair and allowed to dry, serves as an exceptionally moisture-resistant hairstyling agent. The research was published in Advanced Materials Interfaces. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-moisture-resistant-hairstyling-agent-humidity.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:33:02 EST news624191581 A material that could replace current fungicides (i.e., anti-fungal pesticides), increase food security, and help protect wildlife has been discovered. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-eco-friendly-fungicide-alternative.html Biochemistry Polymers Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:11:04 EST news624035462 Chemical recycling of widely used vinyl polymers (VPs) is one of the key technologies required for realizing a sustainable society. In this regard, a team of researchers from Shinshu University have recently reported a new chemical process that facilitates the depolymerization of cyclic styrene-based VPs, resulting in the recovery of a monomer precursor. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-chemical-recycling-vinyl-polymers-cyclic.html Polymers Analytical Chemistry Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:45:03 EST news624026701 The survival strategies employed by one of the most aggressive, territorial and venomous ant species may pave the way to revolutionize robotics, medicine and engineering. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-ant-behavior-autonomous-material.html Polymers Materials Science Fri, 05 Jan 2024 09:11:03 EST news623668261 Global industries focused on carbon neutrality, under the slogan Net-Zero, are gaining increasing attention. In particular, research on the microbial production of polymers, replacing traditional chemical methods with biological approaches, is actively progressing. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-strategies-environmentally-friendly-sustainable-polyamide.html Polymers Materials Science Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:23:31 EST news622891408 Strain-induced crystallization can strengthen, toughen, and facilitate an elastocaloric effect in elastomers. The resulting crystallinity can be induced by mechanical stretching in common elastomers that are typically below 20%, with a stretchability plateau. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-futuristic-elastomer-ultrahigh-strain-induced-crystallization.html Polymers Materials Science Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:10:02 EST news622889202 Shape-memory polymers or shape-shifting materials are smart materials that have gained significant attention within materials science and biomedical engineering in recent years to build smart structures and devices. Digital light processing is a vat photopolymerization–based method with significantly faster technology to print a complete layer in a single step to create smart materials. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-swift-d-shape-memory-polymers.html Polymers Materials Science Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:19:20 EST news622458888 Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a rapidly growing threat to public health. Each year, they account for more than 2.8 million infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Without new antibiotics, even common injuries and infections harbor the potential to become lethal. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-team-polymers-bacteria.html Biochemistry Polymers Fri, 22 Dec 2023 09:10:08 EST news622458601 Princeton researchers have created a new type of hydrogel that is recyclable, yet still tough and stable enough for practical use (and reuse). https://phys.org/news/2023-12-reusable-recyclable-environmentally-friendly-hydrogel.html Polymers Materials Science Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:52:04 EST news622284722 A team of UK scientists has got a step closer to making several different types of plastic much easier to recycle using a method that could be applied to a whole range of difficult-to-recycle polymers, including rubbers, gels, and adhesives. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-scientists-degrade-reform-thermoset-polymers.html Polymers Materials Science Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:26:03 EST news622211161 A new sandwich-structured composite has been developed from the surface layers of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and the interlayer of polylactic acid and cellulose microfibers. The biodegradable cellulose microfibers can be modified chemically with a sol-gel process to improve the compatibility between natural reinforcement and the polymer matrix. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-sandwich-structured-composite-biopolymers-envelope-applications.html Polymers Materials Science Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:10:01 EST news622118010 Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have increased the fatigue threshold of particle-reinforced rubber, developing a new, multiscale approach that allows the material to bear high loads and resist crack growth over repeated use. This approach could not only increase the longevity of rubber products such as tires but also reduce the amount of pollution from rubber particles shed during use. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-rubber-doesnt.html Polymers Materials Science Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:07:55 EST news621839270