Plastics and polymers

Conserving Barbie from degradation

Although she is a cultural icon, conserving Barbie has its challenges: as with most plastic toys and dolls, she was not made to last. Rachel Brazil investigates how conservation scientists are approaching this sticky problem

Editing polymer backbones

By James Mitchell Crow

Changing the chemical makeup of a polymer backbone could revolutionise how we make, use and even recycle plastics. James Mitchell Crow reports

The wonderful wizards of wood

By Kit Chapman

Clever chemistry can turn humble timber into a sustainable material with many uses, Kit Chapman finds

Better skiing through chemistry

By Aisha Al-Janabi

While elite sports have been improved by materials science, for disabled athletes the developments can be life-changing. Aisha Al-Janabi reports

A test of strength for artificial muscles

By Clare Sansom

Scientists trying to copy natural muscles have several problems to overcome, Clare Sansom finds

The rise of ferrofluids

By Hayley Bennett

Magnetic liquids are taking off, Hayley Bennett reports, but not as their inventor once imagined

Polymers

Foaming bioplastic breaks down in seawater four times faster than paper

Highly porous cellulose diacetate polymer could be a packaging alternative

Directing group facilitates catalytic breakdown of high-performance polymer

Polymer maintains strength during regular use but selectively breaks down when exposed to a nickel catalyst

Adnoc to buy Covestro, continuing expansion into polymers

€15 billion deal sees Gulf oil producer looking to future growth beyond fuels

Chloride ions tunnel free from PVC

Computational clues uncover quantum escape route from common plastic

California sues ExxonMobil over misleading plastic recycling claims

Suit claims firm used false claims to justify producing vast amounts of single-use plastics

PFAS

PFAS analysis: improving efficiency by using LC-MS systems with System Monitoring software

The scale of the problem of replacing ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS

From clothes and cookware to cosmetics and healthcare we look at eight major classes of consumer goods PFAS are in

PFAS-free synthesis of fluorinated drugs and pesticides

Flow chemistry introduces trifluoromethyl group onto a range of compounds using just caesium fluoride as the fluorine source

A quarter of lubricants and 12% of condoms have organic fluorine levels above 10ppm

Analysis by consumer watchdog site concludes industry may have a manufacturing contamination problem

PFAS from rechargeable batteries pose environmental threat

Electrolyte material used in lithium-ion batteries is highly mobile and potentially toxic

Plastic recycling

Directing group facilitates catalytic breakdown of high-performance polymer

Polymer maintains strength during regular use but selectively breaks down when exposed to a nickel catalyst

California sues ExxonMobil over misleading plastic recycling claims

Suit claims firm used false claims to justify producing vast amounts of single-use plastics

Mechanochemistry adds fluorine to discarded polystyrene

Proof-of-concept trifluoromethylation study attempts post-consumer plastic waste challenge

Plastic recycling studies need reliable polymer data. This database is ready to inform them

Database set to support recycling research by detailing the chemical composition and physical properties of 59 polymers from common commercial vendors