AZoMaterials

23 hours ago | azom.com | Lexie Corner |Nidhi Dhull

Reviewed by Lexie CornerA recent study published in ChemBioChem explores how ultraviolet-ozone (UVO) pretreatment can enhance the enzymatic breakdown of mixed cotton/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textiles using PETase. The research compares the performance of wild-type PETase (WT) and an improved mutant version (MUT S238F/W159H), and evaluates three pretreatment methods aimed at increasing enzyme accessibility: alkali treatment, UVO exposure, and natural sunlight weathering.

3 days ago | azom.com | Lexie Corner |Muhammad Osama

Reviewed by Lexie CornerA recent study in Nature Communications explores a novel approach to self-healing in polymer glasses—using controlled oscillatory movements to boost molecular mobility and repair cracks. This technique aims to address one of the longstanding challenges in material science: enhancing durability without sacrificing structural integrity. By doing so, it offers a promising pathway for developing tough, sustainable materials suited for a wide range of industrial applications.

3 days ago | azom.com | Lexie Corner |Muhammad Osama

Reviewed by Lexie CornerA recent study published in Advanced Science examines how the structure of linear polymer cathodes affects the performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Focusing on the role of active site density, the researchers synthesized two polymers (TABQ-DHBQ and TAPT-DHBQ) and used a combination of experiments and theoretical modeling to test a key assumption in battery design: that more active sites always translate to better energy storage.

1 week ago | azom.com | Lexie Corner |Owais Ali

Reviewed by Lexie CornerCarbon fiber is known for being incredibly strong, lightweight, and versatile—but how is it actually made? This article breaks down the key stages of carbon fiber manufacturing and shows how different starting materials affect the properties of the final product. Image Credit: Composite_Carbonman/Shutterstock.comWhat is Carbon Fiber?

1 week ago | azom.com | Lexie Corner |Nidhi Dhull

Reviewed by Lexie CornerA recent article published in Small Science introduces fully bioderived, four-dimensional (4D) printable shape memory polymers (SMPs) with linear tunability and remotely controlled actuation capabilities. These polymers are derived from renewable plant-based acrylates, including acrylated rapeseed oil (ARO), isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), and isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA), offering both environmental sustainability and functional adaptability.