I just found this photo of one of the most disgusting preparations of my entire training… PU foam!

First, a highly branched polyester was synthesized from adipic acid, oleic acid, and phthalic anhydride with 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)propane using PTSA as an acid catalyst. The polycondensation ran for many hours at ~190 °C under nitrogen and vacuum while water was continuously removed as a by-product.

During the reaction, the acid number (determined by titration, mg KOH/g) was monitored until it dropped below 10, with a target around 5. The resulting viscous polyester polyol was then reacted with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate to produce rigid polyurethane foam.

Chemically interesting.
Visually and olfactorily… slightly traumatic. 🧪😵

#chemistry #organicchemistry #polymerchemistry #polyurethane #polymer #lablife #chemistrylab #chemstudent #polyester #synthesis
One Sailing Pulley To Rule Them All

When thinking of humanity’s ability to harness wind energy, many people will conjure images of windmills from places like The Netherlands or Persia. But people have been using wind energy for…

Hackaday

@kimlockhartga 🧵 a #polymer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer Polymers are large compounds of macromolecules, therefore great to "build" something. We have natural and artificial polymers: Your DNA or coton fibres are made from polymer as well as a plastic bottle.

We mostly built stuff with artificial polymers because they were cheap and very easy to engineer since the 1950s. With the problem of plastic waste, engineering seeks more and more for natural polymers.
The Chitin in mycelium works like a glue

Polymer - Wikipedia

🫗 The perfect polymer? Plant-based plastic is fully saltwater degradable and leaves behind zero microplastics

https://phys.org/news/2025-12-polymer-based-plastic-fully-saltwater.html

#plastics #materials #chemistry #waste #polymer

The perfect polymer? Plant-based plastic is fully saltwater degradable and leaves behind zero microplastics

Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan have one-upped themselves in their quest to solve our microplastic problem.

Phys.org
Polymer Skins That Change Color And Texture When Exposed To Water

Researchers at Stanford University recently came up with an interesting way (Phys.org summary) to create patterns and colors that emerge when a polymer is exposed to water. Although the paper itsel…

Hackaday
An improved existing technology by integrating a flexible, #phosphorescent #polymer layer and transparent #electrodes made from MXene nanomaterial. The result is an #OLED that can be stretched to 1.6 times its original size, while maintaining most of its #luminescence
#Technology #Nanotechnology #MaterialScience #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/01/tech01142601.html
A Nanomaterial Flex — MXene Electrodes Help OLED Display Technology Shine, While Bending and Stretching

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that could improve mobile technology displays and enable wearable technology.

#Epoxy resin is a clear, robust #polymer that is widely used – especially as part of fiber-reinforced materials in aviation, the automotive industry, and more. Until now, however, it has not been possible to recycle it
#MolecularScience #Chemistry #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/01/mols01132601.html
More sustainable epoxy thanks to phosphorus

Most people are aware that plastic waste is a problem. Almost all types of plastics that we use in our everyday lives are derived from fossil sources

(This post is being modified)