Polymers – Page 18
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NewsUK to ban plastic microbeads in cosmetics
Fears for health of marine ecosystems mean ban is expected by end of 2017
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NewsMPs call on UK government to ban microbeads in cosmetic products
Call to action follows recent bans in US and Canada
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ResearchMembranes promise to slash energy needed to separate hydrocarbons
ExxonMobil-backed study allows reverse osmosis of hard-to-distinguish para-xylene and ortho-xylene
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ResearchMineral hydrogel points to new recyclable plastics
Calcium carbonate hydrogel can be moulded, hardened and recycled – just add water
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ResearchShape-shifting hydrogel can heal itself
New material returns to its original shape even when cut into pieces
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ResearchHoneycomb spheres trap harmful iodine gas
Specially designed polymers could help clean up radioactive iodine
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ResearchOld CDs recycled into valuable plastic
One pot technique can turn polycarbonates into polymer used in specialist engineering and medical roles
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ResearchOrigami tubes curl up with water
Nanostructured material folding mimics touch-sensitive plant and technology might find its way into artificial muscles
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ResearchLight and heat flip compound between phases
UV light and heat induce reversible switch between ionic liquid and coordination polymer
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OpinionPlastic not so fantastic
The world has a big problem with small plastics and the time to act is now
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NewsUK open to microbead ban if EU fails to act
Government may act unilaterally amid growing evidence of environmental problems
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OpinionTowards a new plastics economy
Global change is needed to avert disaster, says the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
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FeaturePlastic problems
Tiny pieces of plastic may be doing as much harm in our oceans and waterways as the big stuff, finds Nina Notman
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ResearchColour-changing polymer adapts camouflage to vegetation and desert
Fabric flips from green to brown when a voltage is applied
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ResearchPolymer repairs itself at body temperature
New material could enable self-healing wound dressings
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ResearchMouldable thermosets get a makeover
Dynamic epoxy resin gives rise to reusable thermoset fibre-reinforced polymer composites
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ResearchSquid beak insight shifts chitosan composites up the pecking order
Lightweight organic composite with tuneable mechanical properties mimics cephalopod beak
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Research
Best icephobic coating ever created gives ice the slip
Polymer material could protect planes and wind turbines from potentially catastrophic build-ups of ice
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ResearchPenguin feathers’ ice-resistant design revealed
Polymer surface based on feathers might one day lead to coating to protect ship and planes from deadly build-ups of ice
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ResearchPolymer worms hold stem cells in suspended animation
A new hydrogel mimics natural mucins to delay the development of human stem cells and embryos