Korean researchers have developed to strengthen biodegradable plastics using hemp hurd, an agricultural by-product.
A research team led by Professor Boseok Kang of the SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT), Department of Nano Engineering, and Department of Semiconductor Convergence Engineering has raised the doping efficiency of electrically conductive plastics (conducting polymers) to a world-class level by attaching specific molecules to them, and has for the first time elucidated the underlying operating mechanism.
Researchers developed biodegradable films from mango kernel starch and eggshell powder, identifying a formulation that combined tensile strength, flexibility, low moisture content, and improved thermal stability. The selected film lost 36.43% of its mass during a 28-day controlled soil-burial test, although the authors caution that degradation rates may differ under other environmental conditions.
Rough finishes, limited wear resistance, and poor adhesion to protective coatings can restrict polymer use in demanding applications. Researchers have demonstrated that carefully engineered metal and ceramic multilayer coatings can overcome these limitations, giving commonly used polymers tougher, more durable surfaces.
Virginia Tech researchers have put that idea to the test, creating degradable polymers with a new molecular architecture that combines properties that are often difficult to achieve in one material: strength, toughness, flexibility, and the ability to block oxygen.
Master Bond EP55TCFL is a thermally conductive, electrically insulating epoxy system developed for bonding, sealing, coating, and small potting applications. It meets NASA low outgassing specifications and incorporates a filler with small particle sizes, enabling application in thin bond lines to minimize thermal resistance.
Researchers developed isosorbide-based plasticizers that made brittle poly(isosorbide carbonate) more flexible while preserving its ability to undergo ammonolysis after use. The resulting degradation products supported plant growth, including in an edible vegetable, highlighting a new way to design plastics with a useful end-of-life function.
A new type of plastic that turns into a gas when heated and reforms into a solid when cooled has been developed by scientists at the University of Surrey, opening up a new approach to processing and recycling polymers.
Virginia Tech chemist and chemical engineer Guoliang “Greg” Liu and his lab have developed a process that converts the plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into polyalphaolefin, a key component in lubricants such as engine oil.
The review compares phase inversion, film stretching, melt extrusion, sacrificial templating, and electrospinning as routes to PFAS-free waterproof breathable membranes. It finds that no single method maximizes waterproofness, breathability, durability, and scalability, highlighting the need for application-specific design and standardized testing.
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