polymers

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee (UT),

Glassy polymers are those whose chains become immobilized below their glass transition temperature. The immobilized chains make them hard and stiff but also brittle, causing them to fracture when stretched. One promising strategy for overcoming this trade-off is to incorporate ionic groups whose reversible electrostatic attractions form physical crosslinks that improve toughness while maintaining…

LANXESS AG (Cologne, Germany) is further expanding its business with materials for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The specialty chemicals company has opened a new battery laboratory at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site, where it tests and develops battery materials based on iron oxide and iron phosphate. The laboratory enables LANXESS to test the material properties of […] The post Lanxess open…

My collaborators and I recently posted a preprint Exact mapping from short-ranged harmonic elastic models of spin crossover materials to Ising models with interactions at all length scales Nadeem Natt, Gian Ruzzi, Jace Cruddas, Ross H. McKenzie, Ben J. Powell Spin crossover (SCO) materials are reversible molecular switches found in a wide range of transition metal complexes and metal organic fram…

IntroductionThe sustainable design of jewelry materials has become a critical focus in the pursuit of environmental conservation and responsible manufacturing practices. Traditional approaches to jewelry grade polymer development often prioritize aesthetic and structural qualities while neglecting environmental considerations, leading to significant ecological footprints and limited adaptability …

Nature Communications, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77564-3 The authors propose a molecular stacking strategy regulated by hydrogen bonding to enhance the high-temperature capacitive energy storage performance of polymer dielectrics. This special structural design achieves an energy density of 7.34 J/cm3 and an efficiency of 90% at 200 °C.

Syensqo S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) is investing in a new compounding line for high-performance aromatic polymers at its Panoli site in India, strengthening its ability to serve customers in one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive markets. Planned to be operational by the first quarter of 2028, the new line will double Syensqo’s current compounding capacity at […] The post Syensqo to invest in…

Trelleborg AB (Trelleborg, Sweden) has signed agreements to acquire two companies in separate transactions: M+R Dichtungstechnik GmbH (Seligenstadt, Germany), a manufacturer of customized rubber profiles and molded components for the construction and renewable energy industries, through its Trelleborg Industrial Solutions business area; and Cascade Gasket and Manufacturing Company Inc. (Auburn, W…

September 2026 | This month, SPECIFIC POLYMERS highlights Poly(MTFSILi) – SP-4P-6-004, a high-molecular-weight lithium single-ion conducting polymer. The post Poly(MTFSILi) appeared first on specific polymers .

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £12 million for collaborative industrial research to speed the translation of advanced materials innovations in three prioritised high growth themes and one strategic opportunity theme. Innovate UK

Polyblend has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the conversion of an existing production line at its site in Bad Sobernheim, Germany. This €4 million investment will expand the production of compounds incorporating mechanically recycled materials, in line with the Company’s ambition ...

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis' McKelvey School of Engineering are about to find out, thanks to a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop materials that incorporate soft robotics and nontoxic polymers to fight biofouling, or the buildup of aquatic organisms in wet environments.

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis' McKelvey School of Engineering are about to find out, thanks to a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop materials that incorporate soft robotics and nontoxic polymers to fight biofouling, or the buildup of aquatic organisms in wet environments.

A good adhesive is unequivocally sticky. A great adhesive is sticky until you don't want it to be sticky anymore -- a label on cardboard until it's time to recycle it. Medical tape on a cut until the wound heals. A GWAR poster on a bedroom wall until your parents kick you out. Virginia Tech chemists are going for great by building degradation into the design.

Nature Chemistry, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41557-026-02232-4 Chemical recycling of polymers has largely relied on thermally unstable tailor-made materials or highly diluted depolymerization conditions. Now, a bulk main-chain scission pathway enables the rapid, low-temperature depolymerization of polymethacrylates. This methodology can be applied to commercial polymers wit…

Nature Communications, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-76622-0 Skin interfaced devices require strong attachment, though adhesives lack mechanism for on-demand adhesion. Here the authors design a thermally triggered shape memory polymer for reversible adhesion for onskin devices.

Nature Communications, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74391-4 Low-platinum fuel cells need catalyst layers that move protons and oxygen efficiently, but uneven ionomer placement limits performance. Here, the authors report a cobalt single-atom dipole coating which guides the ionomer, protects platinum surfaces and boosts power and durability.

Welding plastic is a critically important part of everyday engineering—especially for preventing leaks in underground water and gas pipes. For decades, engineers have understood that a properly welded joint in polyethylene pipe can be just as strong as the pipe itself, if not stronger. However, the reason for this strength has remained a mystery. Through […]

Unlike conventional liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries, gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are immobilized within a polymer network, which reduces leakage risks, thereby improving mechanical and thermal stability. However, current methods for GPE fabrication result only in two-dimensional planar films, which can make their application into different battery geometries complex and cost…