Thermoplastics

Engineers upgrade polymer proppants to safely boost fracturing flow, quickly cut wear, and improve thermal yields for commercial oil wells.

Inspired by the porous bones of birds, these porous materials offer a new design framework for aircraft wings.

Shape memory polymers expand massively to eliminate aneurysm recurrence. Engineers utilize entropic recovery to optimize endovascular devices.

Researchers developed a promising solution to prevent flame retardant migration in Polyamide 66 (PA66) while increasing durability.

PVDF separators improve lithium-ion battery safety, electrolyte uptake, and thermal stability for EV and grid energy storage.

Engineers use machine learning algorithms to map polymer degradation, replacing physical trials with precise predictive models for industrial extrusion pipelines.

4D-printed shape-memory PEEK replaces heavy mechanical hinges, enabling lightweight, self-deploying smart structures for next-gen space applications.

As an additive in polylactide (PLA) biocomposite films, spent coffee grounds (SCG) can improve flexibility and toughness while preventing combustion.

Recycled plastics can expand in building products only when circularity meets the same requirements that govern conventional construction materials.

Engineers automate the manufacturing of artificial muscles by printing electroactive PVC gels and thermomechanical shape-memory polymers.

Material substitution in polymer engineering now depends on total system cost, linking processability, performance, and lifecycle economics.

Shrinkage is a natural result of cooling and solidification in injection molding, but material structure and process conditions strongly affect its magnitude.