Polymers and soft materials news, December 2018

Natural spider silk gives up some of its secrets

By patterning and then shrinking a polymer scaffold, researchers have come up with a way to fabricate nanoscale, 3D objects of nearly any shape.

Oscillating loads at certain frequencies can lead to several-fold increases in the strength of composites that contain a molecular layer of ‘nanoglue’.

Researchers have modified two enzymes so that they self-assemble to form a stable catalytic biomaterial that can be used in industrial production.

Scientists have developed a blend of two polymers, one conducting and one insulating, that can conduct electricity at temperatures up to 220°C.

Engineers have developed a method for making atom-flat sensors from 2D materials and then transferring them to curved surfaces.

Congratulations to Prof M Stanley Whittingham.

Inspired by animal chirps, engineers have devised a faster and more accurate rheological technique for measuring the properties of soft materials.

Scientists have used magnetic fields to create liquid crystal elastomers that can move in any direction in response to multiple types of stimuli.

Scientists have developed a liquid crystal elastomer with auxetic properties, meaning it gets thicker when stretched.

Echolocation for soft materials

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