polymers

A few years ago I stood on an amazingly picturesque hill in Costa Rica overlooking Lake Arenal. I closed my eyes, taking in the warmth of the sun. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain. I looked down to see a virtual onslaught of red fire ants…

MIT and Duke University chemists discovered a novel way to strengthen polymers—throw a few weaker bonds into the material. For polyacrylate elastomers, researchers increased materials' resistance to tearing by 10x just by using a weaker…

Most new methods of developing materials created in the lab are not suited for industrial-scale use. Researchers at The Institute of Industrial Science at The University of Tokyo developed a cheap and straightforward method of bonding…

Lightwave Logic just announced breakthrough photostability on its electro-optic polymer modulators compatible with high-volume silicon foundry processes. Photostability is key for polymer modulators to achieve operational stability and…

A new two-dimensional polymer is doing something once thought impossible; self-assembling into sheets. The material has potential as a lightweight, durable coating for car parts or cell phones, or as a building material for bridges or other…

Polymer insulators can be lightweight, flexible, and corrosion-resistant alternatives to traditional metal heat conductors. Applications ranging from heat-dissipating materials in laptops and cellphones, to cooling elements in cars and…