Reinforced Plastics
Articles tagged with Reinforced Plastics
Hybrid ‘super foam’: tunable, lightweight and ultra-durable
Researchers at Texas A&M University and DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory developed a hybrid foam with a 3D-printed plastic skeleton, offering tunable, lightweight and ultra-durable properties. The composite combines ordinary foam with plastic struts, allowing it to absorb more energy and withstand greater forces.
The hidden dangers of nanoplastics
Researchers have found that nanoplastics interact with environmental microbes, strengthening bacteria and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. This can lead to challenges for water treatment and distribution systems. More research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions.
Seashells inspire a better way to recycle plastic
The Georgia Tech researchers created a material inspired by seashells to improve the recycling of plastics, reducing variability in mechanical properties and maintaining performance. The new approach has potential savings of hundreds of millions of dollars and could keep more plastic out of landfills.
Breakthrough smart plastic: Self-healing, shape-shifting, and stronger than steel
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a smart plastic that can self-heal and adapt to extreme conditions, making it ideal for aerospace and automotive applications. The material's unique properties allow it to restore its shape after deformation, improve vehicle safety, and reduce environmental waste.
Paper outlines catalytic process to make eco-friendly plastics from natural polymer
A new study by Colorado State University outlines a path to creating advanced, recyclable plastics using natural poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB). The breakthrough method involves stereodivergent catalysis, which enables the production of enantiopure PHAs with improved properties for various applications.
Plastics in agriculture and food production: uses, properties, and impacts Results of the INRAE-CNRS collective scientific assessment
The use of plastics in agriculture and food production has grown significantly, with 20% of all plastics used in France in 2023. Plastics are used to package, transport, and preserve food products, but their composition is often complex and diverse.
Trash talk: As plastic use soars, researchers examine biodegradable solutions
Researchers highlight biodegradable plastics as a promising solution to single-use plastic waste, with the packaging segment accounting for half of single-use plastic production. The market is expected to reach $105 billion by 2024, driven by consumer awareness and corporate response.
Biodegradable ‘living plastic’ houses bacterial spores that help it break down
Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a biodegradable form of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) filled with bacterial spores from Bacillus subtilis. The material breaks down in compost environments within five months, even without additional microbes.
A microbial plastic factory for high-quality green plastic
Kobe University researchers develop a bacterial plastic factory that produces highly transparent, biodegradable plastics with improved properties. By blending polylactic acid with ultra-high molecular weight LAHB, they create a material that exhibits all the desired properties.
Scientists caution against a reliance on mechanical devices to clear water bodies of plastic
A team of international scientists cautions that reliance on mechanical cleanup devices to address plastic pollution is ineffective and may even harm marine life. They argue that reducing plastic production and consumption is the most cost-effective way to prevent further pollution.
New epoxy resin resists flames and reduces waste
Researchers from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a fully recyclable, flame-retardant epoxy resin-based plastic. The new material retains excellent thermomechanical properties while being reshaped like a thermoplast due to the addition of a special phosphonate ester molecule.
Plastic pollution in ocean may harbor novel antibiotics, study shows
A recent study has found that ocean plastic may be a source of novel antibiotics, with researchers isolating five antibiotic-producing bacteria from plastic debris. The isolated bacteria showed promise against commonly used and resistant bacterial strains, providing hope for an alternative solution to the growing antibiotic crisis.
Cars could get a ‘flashy’ upgrade
Researchers turn mixed plastic waste from F-150 trucks into graphene, then reuse it to create enhanced polyurethane foam with increased tensile strength and noise absorption. The circular recycling process has potential to reduce weight and increase fuel economy in the automotive industry.
New rubber material’s impact resistance surpasses that of glass-fiber reinforced plastic
Researchers at Nagoya University and Zeon Corporation have developed a new thermoplastic rubber material, i-SIS, with an extremely high tensile toughness of 480 MJ/m³. The material's impact resistance surpasses that of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP), making it suitable for use in automotive and other industries.
simple thermoset plastic recycling using a peptide solution
A new recycling system has been developed to decompose epoxy resins in an aqueous solution of glutathione, allowing for the recovery of recyclable materials. The system shows promise for promoting the reuse of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and reducing environmental pollution.
Unbreakable glass inspired by seashells
McGill University scientists created a new glass and acrylic composite material mimicking nacre for exceptional strength and durability. The material is three times stronger and five times more fracture-resistant than regular glass, with potential applications in phone screens and other industries.
Achieving strong structures with carbon fiber reinforced plastics
A new unbonded carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) method for strengthening steel structures has been developed by researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology. This approach enhances buckling performance without the need for surface treatments, resulting in cost savings and improved structural integrity.
After 40 years in limbo: Styrene is probably carcinogenic
A recent study by Aarhus University found a fivefold risk of nasal cancer following styrene exposure. The researchers also discovered that styrene doubles the risk of acute myeloid leukemia in workers exposed to high levels of styrene. These findings, combined with animal evidence and epidemiological studies, led WHO to classify styren...
A new kind of blast-resistant glass
Engineers have created a quarter-inch-thick, lightweight, and colorless blast-resistant glass that can withstand explosions and severe weather. The new design features long glass fibers soaked in liquid plastic, providing a significant reinforcing effect to the polymer matrix.
Smart Materials Provide For Self-Adjusting Satellite Antennas
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed adjustable satellite antennas using smart materials that can change shape to improve signal quality. The new design reduces the need for constant reorientation of satellites, increasing their efficiency and range.