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UrduResearchers have discovered a new way to help liquid flow in only one direction, but without using the flaps that engines and our circulatory system rely upon to prevent fluid backup.
Tag: Polymer
Researchers demystify polymer binders to pave way for better sulfide solid-state electrolyte membranes
Using a polymer to make a strong yet springy thin film, scientists led by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are speeding the arrival of next-generation solid-state batteries. This effort advances the development of electric vehicle power enabled by flexible, durable sheets of solid-state electrolytes.
Turning bacteria into bioplastic factories
Biologists find new ways to encourage the plastic-producing power of purple microbes.
New Research Challenges Conventional Widsom on Wet-Surface Adhesion
The research team discovered that water can unexpectedly enhance adhesion under controlled conditions. The study involved measuring the adhesion of a soft elastomer to precisely engineered rough surfaces, revealing a complex interplay between water, surface roughness, and adhesion dynamics.
Sustainable and reversible 3D printing method uses minimal ingredients and steps
A new 3D printing method developed by UC San Diego engineers is so simple that it uses a polymer ink and salt water solution to create solid structures. The work has the potential to make materials manufacturing more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Polymeric coating improved piezoelectric properties of composites for drug delivery
Scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University found out that polymeric coating enables to improve the structure and properties of magnetoelectric composites, that are used in medicine for drug delivery and also in creation of implants and tissues. Thus, modification with polymer helps equal distribution of composite’s components, and also enhances its piezoelectric properties by 40%.
Chameleons inspire new multicolor 3D-printing technology
Inspired by the color-changing ability of chameleons, researchers developed a sustainable technique to 3D-print multiple, dynamic colors from a single ink. “By designing new chemistries and printing processes, we can modulate structural color on the fly to produce color gradients…
Electrons screen against conductivity-killer in organic semiconductors
Scientists uncover the physics driving dopant and polymer interactions that boost conductivity in organic materials.
New process allows full recovery of starting materials from tough polymer composites
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 and later recovering all of its starting materials.
Making materials more durable through science
A team at Sandia National Laboratories developed a molecule that helps change the way some materials react to temperature fluctuations, which makes them more durable. It’s an application that could be used in everything from plastic phone cases to missiles.
Breakthrough Polymer Research Promises to Revolutionize Recycling
A team of researchers led by Brent Sumerlin, of the University of Florida, has made a breakthrough with the potential for a new method for recycling plastic that promises to lower the energy requirement without sacrificing the quality of the plastic.
New ‘stealth’ polymer a promising alternative for delivering drugs around the body
Researchers have developed a novel synthetic substance that has the potential to be a more effective and safer way of delivering drugs around the body.
Electric Vehicle Batteries Could Get Big Boost With New Polymer Coating
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a polymer coating that could enable longer lasting, more powerful lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The advance opens up a new approach to developing EV batteries that are more affordable and yet easy to manufacture.
Q&A: Making Earth-friendly electronics
April 21, 2022 The very components that make electronics fast and easy to use also make their disposal an environmental nightmare. Components of smartphones, computers and even kitchen appliances contain heavy metals and other compounds that are toxic to us…
3D Nano-inks Push Industry Boundaries
A new, 3D-printable polymer nanocomposite ink has incredible properties — and many applications in aerospace, medicine and electronics.
Carbon Fibers Electrical Measurements Pave Way for Lightning Strike Protection Technologies
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite structures are important in several industries, yet the electrical behavior of a composite is challenging to measure or predict because of the electrical conductivity of constituent carbon fibers and the composite’s complex hierarchical microstructure. In Journal of Applied Physics, researchers report the first direct measurement of the transverse electrical resistivity of a single carbon fiber. The researchers combined a precise sample preparation with a technique called the van der Pauw method to accomplish this challenging measurement.
Cao receives Young Investigator Award from American Chemical Society
Pengfei Cao, a polymer chemist at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been chosen to receive a 2021 Young Investigator Award from the Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering Division of the American Chemical Society.
With this new science, plastics could see a second life as biodegradable surfactants
Scientists at the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP) have discovered a chemical process that provides biodegradable chemicals, which are used as surfactants and detergents in a range of applications, from discarded plastics.
Polystyrene waste is everywhere; scientists just found a way to break it down
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and their partners from Clemson University have discovered a green, low-energy process to break down polystyrene, a type of plastic that is widely used in foam packaging materials, disposable food containers, cutlery, and many other applications.
Chula Patented Nutrition Technology of the Future “Biorobots Delivering Thai Herbs”
Chula Veterinary Science lecturer develops biorobots, made from safe and effective materials, to deliver time-released nutrients to the body, adding value to Thai herbs.
Microplastic Sizes in Hudson-Raritan Estuary and Coastal Ocean Revealed
Rutgers scientists for the first time have pinpointed the sizes of microplastics from a highly urbanized estuarine and coastal system with numerous sources of fresh water, including the Hudson River and Raritan River. Their study of tiny pieces of plastic in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary in New Jersey and New York indicates that stormwater could be an important source of the plastic pollution that plagues oceans, bays, rivers and other waters and threatens aquatic and other life.
Story tips: Volcanic microbes, unbreakable bonds and flood mapping
ORNL story tips: Volcanic microbes, unbreakable bonds and flood mapping
NUS engineers create ‘smart’ aerogel that turns air into drinking water
Researchers from NUS Engineering have developed a new aerogel that autonomously absorbs water from the atmosphere and then releases it effortlessly without any external power source. This invention is a promising solution for sustainable, freshwater production.
ElastiDry Wins DOE National Pitch Competition
A panel of five judges from the Bay Area and Silicon Valley investment community chose the PNNL innovation from 10 product pitches.
Researchers discover new way to deliver DNA-based therapies for diseases
University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have created a new polymer to deliver DNA and RNA-based therapies for diseases. For the first time in the industry, the researchers were able to see exactly how polymers interact with human cells when delivering medicines into the body. This discovery opens the door for more widespread use of polymers in applications like gene therapy and vaccine development.
Seeking the Most Effective Polymers for Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment, like face masks and gowns, is generally made of polymers. But not much attention is typically given to the selection of polymers used beyond their physical properties. To help with the identification of materials that will bind to a virus and speed its inactivation for use in PPE, researchers have developed a high-throughput approach for analyzing the interactions between materials and viruslike particles. They report their method in the journal Biointerphases.
Inducing Plasma in Biomass Could Make Biogas Easier to Produce
Producing biogas from the bacterial breakdown of biomass presents options for a greener energy future, but the complex composition of biomass comes with challenges. Cellulose and woody lignocellulose are especially hard for bacteria to digest but pretreatment can make it easier. Researchers are testing plasma formation in biomass and finding a promising method: A plasma-liquid interaction forms reactive species that help break down the biomass and decrease the viscosity of the biomass material.
Polymers Prevent Potentially Hazardous Mist During Dentist Visit
If the mist in a dentist’s office — sent flying into the air by spinning, vibrating tools — contains a virus or some other pathogen, it is a health hazard for dentists and patients. So researchers in Illinois studied the viscoelastic properties of food-grade polymers and discovered that the forces of a vibrating tool or dentist’s drill are no match for them. Not only did a small admixture of polymers completely eliminate aerosolization, but it did so with ease.
U.S. Army commits up to $11 million for polymer research
A new five-year agreement awards $5.4 million (with the potential for up to $11 million) to a team led by Case Western Reserve, and includes a subcontract to PolymerPlus LLC, a Cleveland-based polymeric development company founded at the university in 2010, to lead production scale-up.
Ultrafast lasers probe elusive chemistry at the liquid-liquid interface
Real-time measurements captured by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory provide missing insight into chemical separations to recover cobalt, a critical raw material used to make batteries and magnets for modern technologies.
Membrane Technology Could Cut Emissions and Energy Use in Oil Refining
New membrane technology developed by a team of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, and ExxonMobil could help reduce carbon emissions and energy intensity associated with refining crude oil. Laboratory testing suggests that this polymer membrane technology could replace some conventional heat-based distillation processes in the future.
Research: Key Detergent Polymers Pose Low Risk to Surface Waters
Newly published research indicates that an important ingredient used in detergents and cleaning products pose a low ecological risk to waterways. The study, “Environmental risk assessment of polycarboxylate polymers used in cleaning products in the United States,” is published in Chemosphere and is now available via open access. The research was conducted by American Cleaning Institute (ACI), Integral Consulting, Inc. and The Procter and Gamble Company.
New Technology Extends Therapeutic Effects of Medical Cannabis
Israeli researchers have developed an innovative drug delivery system that releases medical cannabis slowly to provide tailored treatment with a long-lasting effect. It could be tailored to specific treatment targets, such as seizures.
Creating Miracles with Polymeric Fibers
Mohan Edirisinghe leads a team at University College London studying the fabrication of polymeric nanofibers and microfibers — very thin fibers made up of polymers. The fibers can be woven into textilelike structures but depending on the use, different fiber thicknesses may be necessary. To study the effects of various parameters on fiber fabrication, the researchers compared the characteristics of fibers created in different ways. The group describes the work in Applied Physics Reviews.
Hydrogel Offers Double Punch Against Orthopedic Bone Infections
Surgery prompted by automobile accidents, combat wounds, cancer treatment and other conditions can lead to bone infections that are difficult to treat and can delay healing until they are resolved. Now, researchers have a developed a double-duty hydrogel that both…