The structure of semi-crystalline polymers largely depends on how strongly their molecular chains are entangled. Following numerous experiments, researchers developed a new model to predict the ...

Researchers have developed a new method to image polymerization catalysis reactions one monomer at a time. Synthetic polymers are everywhere in our society -- from nylon and polyester clothing to ...

The structure of polymers was first hypothesized around a century ago, but researchers had not directly seen what they look like in an actual material. Recent work from Northwestern Engineering has ...

Conducting polymers have emerged as a pivotal class of materials for advanced optoelectronic applications owing to their tunable molecular structure, ...

Polymers are an integral part of many industries and are used in conjunction with other materials and components to make a vast array of the world’s products. There are also many different types of ...

Designing plastics that can be broken down easily after their use phase have often required a trade-off between stability and ...

From water bottles and food containers to toys and tubing, many modern materials are made of plastics. And while we produce about 110 million tons per year of synthetic polymers like polyethylene and ...

Responsive polymers and smart materials adapt to stimuli, providing solutions to drug delivery, tissue engineering, and even innovative 4D printing technologies. Here, we explain what exactly they are ...

Polymers are macromolecules composed of simpler repeating structural units linked together by covalent bonds. Natural polymers exist in nature as biomolecules and compounds that make up the body of ...