Plastic materials are prone to degradation by atmospheric oxygen. These auto-oxidation reactions occur at ambient temperature but become especially relevant during melt processing. Adding antioxidants to the polymers results in a pronounced slowing-down of the oxidation processes. Only in this way, the production of plastic parts by injection molding, for example, is possible.

In a study published in the journal National Science Review and led by Dr. Zhao-Yang Li (School of Material Science and Engineering, Nankai University) and Prof. Masahiro Yamashita (Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University), a photoisomerizable ligand was used to synthesize two VT coordination polymers, which display VT and photoconversion behavior.

Chemistry researchers at Flinders University have 'struck gold' by discovering a new way to make 'green' polymers from low-cost building blocks with just a small amount of electricity.

A group of researchers from universities in Thailand and Malaysia have collaborated to develop a unique film that is good for the environment and can decompose naturally. They made this film using leftover pineapple stems, which helps reduce the use of harmful plastic films. This new film has the potential to be used as packaging…