Articles tagged with Polymer Architecture
Researchers at 3M have developed a new type of reflective film made from polyester and other polymers that reflects light with great efficiency from all angles. The mirrors created by Dr. Ouderkirk and his team outperform conventional dielectric mirrors, which have limitations in reflecting light at certain angles.
Researchers developed a novel method to improve polymers by changing their organization using small molecules as additives. The new method creates a gel-like material with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, as well as unique optical properties, including birefringence and wavelength reflection.
The Virginia Tech/Clemson project aims to develop low-cost carbon fiber for automotive use, reducing costs from $8 per pound to less than $5 per pound. The project involves developing a new polymer precursor to reduce production costs and increase the percentage of carbon in the final fiber.
Researchers at Princeton University have created ultrasmall plastic structures using a novel technique called LISA. The discovery has yielded insights into material behavior at nanoscales and has potential applications in computer memory chips, DNA sorting, and more. Refinements of the technique may lead to even smaller structures.
A Virginia Tech research group is studying secondary crystallization in semicrystalline plastics to understand how their properties change over time. They aim to create models that help chemists design new materials with improved long-term properties.
A team of scientists discovered that polymer molecules in ultra-thin films of 14 nanometers retain their shape and size comparable to their bulk counterparts. This finding challenges previous simulations, which suggested minimal changes in molecular structure with decreasing film thickness.
Researchers have discovered a way to describe how molecules self-assemble into cell-wall-like polymers without requiring biochemistry. This understanding could lead to the production of wood-like materials from other plant-derived molecules, such as straw, and help conserve forests.
Researchers at IBM Almaden Research Center and University of California, Santa Cruz, have discovered novel compounds that enable precise control over polymerization reactions. This breakthrough promises to create new materials with complex molecular architectures and specific qualities.
Scientists Nori Yamaguchi and Harry Gibson have developed a reversible process to form supramolecular polymers, which can be used to create fibers or transport target molecules. The polymers are formed through hydrogen bonding and can be undone at the molecular level using heat or pH.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed tiny polymer pellets containing NGF that can regenerate dying cells and improve cognitive function in rats. The system targets specific brain areas and releases NGF molecules over a period of months, offering potential for a one-time treatment for Alzheimer's.
Researchers developed a method to create ultrathin films of polyelectrolytes with a layered architecture, which retains two-dimensional conformations after hydrolysis. This allows for the creation of composite structures with tailored surface properties and chemical reactivity.
University of Delaware professor John F. Rabolt's team created microblock copolymers by combining homopolymers, discovering unexpectedly improved tensile strength and temperature resistance. The technique offers vast possibilities for materials design.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered that even identical polymers can unfold in various ways when exposed to the same conditions. This finding challenges long-standing theories and provides new insights into polymer behavior.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have discovered that polymeric species can be used as structure directing agents for the synthesis of mesostructured ceramic-type materials. This breakthrough opens up a way to create new and interesting materials with fascinating structures.
A recent study at the University of Illinois found that polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating can undergo attractive interactions with proteins, changing its configuration and potentially increasing biocompatibility. The discovery has significant implications for biomedical applications, such as implants and artificial scaffolds.
A series of Weizmann Institute studies discovered that more flexible polymer chains in a mixture settle at the surface. The rate of thickening is controlled by van der Waals forces, leading to extremely slow growth in accordance with a mathematical formula involving approximately the power of 4.
Microgravity researchers Michael Paulaitis and Kathleen Stebe are developing stable suspensions to create polymers in Earth-based labs. Their findings could shape space station materials, fuel pumping systems, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.