What if we could invent materials that can repair themselves when damaged? Polymer molecules in various states – solid, melt, solution – are susceptible to covalent bond changes in response to ...

Polymer chemistry is central to the development of new technologies and substances. Materials based upon natural and synthetic organic macromolecules, polymers, and hybrid derivatives have enormous ...

Scientists are keen to develop new materials for lightweight, flexible, and affordable wearable electronics so that, one day, dropping our smartphones won’t result in irreparable damage. One team at ...

What if a complex material could reshape itself in response to a simple chemical signal? A team of physicists from the University of Vienna and the University of Edinburgh has shown that even small ...

Katherine Harry receives funding from RePLACE (Redesigning Polymers to Leverage a Circular Economy) funded by the Office of Science of the US Department of Energy. Emma Rettner receives funding from ...

Scientists often seek new materials derived from polymers. Rather than starting a polymer search from scratch, they save time and money by blending existing polymers to achieve desired properties.

Traditional polyesters are obtained via ring-opening polymerization (ROP), but significant research is currently directed at designing new biodegradable vinyl polymers with esters groups in the ...

Using novel theoretical and modeling tools such as finite element analysis can greatly accelerate widespread applications in many areas of nanotechnology. Polymer reinforcement using fillers is a ...

Polymer materials are employed in a huge array of applications across the various facets of contemporary society, from packaging materials to aerospace engineering. Virtually every application demands ...