plastics
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Chemistry
Polymers with defective fillers increase the heat transfer of plastics, studies reveal
These illustrations show polymers (long tubes) filled with complete (top, graphite) or incomplete (bottom, graphite oxide) filler. Credit: Yijie Zhou, Umass Amherst In an exploration of the next generation of materials for modern devices, Amherst has made discoveries to design what is better at radiating the heat – a team of researchers led by Amherst at the University of Massachusetts.…
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Chemistry
Polymer editing allows waste to be upcycled into higher-performance plastics
To upcycle discarded plastic polymers, chemists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have invented a method to produce new polymers with more valuable properties than the starting materials. Credit: Adam Malin/ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy Chemists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a way to create new polymers with more valuable properties than the starting materials…
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Chemistry
Stretchable, flexible and recyclable: 3D printing creates amazing plastics
Unlike similar materials that require complex processing, plastic can be created with a 3D printer. Credit: Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy Princeton engineers have developed an easily scalable 3D printing technology to produce soft plastics with programmed stretch and flexibility. The technology is also recyclable and inexpensive, with qualities not typically combined with commercially manufactured materials. In an article in the journal…
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Nanotechnology
Designing better water filters: Fabric-like filters that remove microscopic plastics and lead from drinking water
Diagram showing the electrospinning process carried out in this study. PVA, polyvinyl alcohol. Source: Journal of Applied Polymer Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/app.55428 While water filters currently on the market can remove some contaminants, they are not designed to capture microplastics. In fact, some water filters can even introduce tiny plastic particles into your drinking water during the filtration process. Even…
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