The most common chemical bond in the living world — that between carbon and hydrogen — has long resisted attempts by chemists to crack it open, thwarting efforts to add new bells and whistles to old carbon-based molecules. Now, after nearly 25 years of work by chemists at the University of California, Berkeley, those hydrocarbon bonds — two-thirds of all the chemical bonds in petroleum and plastics — have fully yielded, opening the door to the synthesis of a large range of novel organic molecules, including drugs based on natural compounds. lire plus…

Seeing inside someone’s heart. Stretching the mind. These aren’t just turns of phrase but something that researchers can physically do with help from polymer science and microscopy. Massachusetts Institute of Technology chemical engineer Kwanghun Chung has found a way to turn organs into flexible, transparent hydrogels (Nat. Methods 2020, DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0823-y). lire plus…

In daily life we are surrounded by fossil raw materials, from products in our cars, insulations in buildings to kitchenware, like pan handles. Society needs to find new ways to unlock the hidden potential of renewable raw materials. Lignin, a basic component of almost any plant that grows, is a promising resource to make the shift in Europe’s manufacturing industry happen. lire plus…

Thomas Heine, professor of theoretical chemistry at TU Dresden, together with his team, first predicted a topological 2-D polymer in 2019. Only one year later, an international team led by Italian researchers was able to synthesize these materials and experimentally prove their topological properties. For the renowned journal Nature Materials, this was the occasion to invite Thomas Heine to a News and Views article, which was published this week. Under the title « Making 2-D Topological Polymers a reality, » Prof. Heine describes how his theory became a reality. lire plus…

A research team from the Fraunhofer Institute (ICT) has succeeded in manufacturing a camshaft module from fiber-reinforced thermoset polymers. This lightweight design element helps lower engine weight and reduces assembly costs. It is currently available as a functional demonstrator. Researchers are supporting the automotive industry in its efforts with a newly developed camshaft module made of thermosetting composite materials. This lightweight camshaft module was realized in cooperation with the MAHLE Group and associated partners Daimler AG, SBHPP/Vyncolit NV and Georges Pernoud. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has been funding the project. lire plus…

ASTM International’s rubber committee has formed a new subcommittee that will focus on alternative sources of natural rubber and natural rubber latex. Polymer experts, as well as representatives from regulatory bodies, are encouraged to join in developing new standards within this subcommittee. According to ASTM International member and former board chair Tom Marsh, who will lead the subcommittee, products made from sources covered by the subcommittee include medical devices and personal protective equipment. lire plus…

A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Tokyo have created a self-healing polymer that is laced with carbon nanotubes capable of conducting current, called the Self-Healing UI. The researchers have developed this material for self-repairing computers, controllers, and even robot arms. The invention can be sliced apart, then stuck back together again, which has major implications for building flexible, durable electronics for our bodies and environments. lire plus…

Chemical Recycling Makes Useful Product From Waste Bioplastic. A faster, more efficient way of recycling plant-based “bioplastics” has been developed by a team of scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Bath. The team has shown how their chemical recycling method not only speeds up the process, it can also be converted into a new product — a biodegradable solvent — which can be sold for use in a wide variety of industries including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. lire plus…