Materials and technologies – August 2024

AI-driven polymer discovery
Georgia Tech researchers are using AI to revolutionise polymer discovery. Their work demonstrates AI's potential to design polymers including recyclable packaging materials. By predicting polymer properties and guiding lab synthesis, their AI-driven approach accelerates materials innovation, with industry adoption through the startup Matmerize further supporting its impact. One of the studies is published in Nature Communications (2.46 MB), another is published in Nature Reviews Materials (abstract).

Advances in biodegradable plastics
Corniek Post, researcher in the research group of NHL Stenden University and the University of Groningen has developed a biodegradable, biobased plastic from BHMF, derived from sugars. The polymer can be used to make a biodegradable coating that leaves no harmful residues behind, for example.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a biodegradable "barley plastic" made from barley starch and sugar beet waste. As a part of the Trace project, the scientists are collaborating with companies to develop prototypes for food packaging and other uses, with commercial production expected within one to five years.
BRIN researchers have developed biodegradable plastics by engineering yeast metabolism to produce polylactic acid (PLA) from biobased raw materials like industrial waste.

Novel packaging materials
Purdue University researchers have developed biodegradable superabsorbent materials from hemp-derived cellulose as an alternative to the standard synthetic polymers. The refined cellulose from hemp enhances water retention, making it suitable for applications like food packaging. The project is funded by the agSEED program and the team is now working on scaling the technology for industrial use.
Glassy gels, developed by NC State scientists, is a new material class that is hard like glassy polymers but can stretch up to five times its original length. Glassy gels are highly adhesive and easy to produce, with potential for diverse applications including packaging. The study (5.02 MB) is published in Nature.

Innovations in polymer manufacturing
Researchers from Argonne and Ames National Laboratories have discovered a faster, more energy-efficient method to convert propane into propylene, a key ingredient in polypropylene production. The process operates at lower temperatures and has enhanced reaction rates. The study (abstract) is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
In a Nature Synthesis paper (abstract), Scripps Research chemists describe the development of a nickel-catalysed reaction to create unique molecular building blocks for polymers with customisable properties. This innovation allows for the creation of polymers with previously unexplored structures, impacting fields like packaging.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a new method for synthesising polymers like polystyrene using a Tesla coil's remote spark discharge. This technique eliminates the need for traditional catalysts and initiators, enabling high-purity polymer synthesis. The study (2.71 MB) is published in Next Materials.
 

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