Polymers and soft materials news, May 2011

Biodegradable plastics: from product to end-of-life

Korean researchers investigate degradation of commercial materials in soil and seawater

New hydrogel gelatin patches that improve wound management

Dopamine-containing tissue adhesive gelatin hydrogels for wound management

Silica particles take a crack at rubber fatigue

Using a new, multiscale approach, researchers have increased the resistance to crack growth of particle-reinforced rubber.

MAXimising the lubricity of shape-memory polymers

Addition of titanium carbide-based materials significantly reduces friction and wear

Singlet oxygen evolution from layered transition metal oxide cathode materials and its implications for lithium-ion batteries