By introducing weaker molecular bonds, known as mechanophores, into common plastics and rubbers, chemists can substantially increase the materials' ability to absorb energy and resist sudden, destructive impacts.
#PolymerChemistry #MaterialsScience #MechanicalEngineering #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/06/chm06032601.html

MOPEG gels are a novel class of porous polymer gels that selectively recognize specific target molecules and convert these invisible, microscopic interactions into visible, macroscale deformations such as changes in color, shape, and physical stiffness.
#MaterialsScience #SupramolecularChemistry #PolymerChemistry #sflorg
https://www.sflorg.com/2026/05/ms05222601.html

Another photo from my training, this time captured during the analysis of a polymer sample under the light microscope ✨🔬

The material is based on a polycondensation reaction of 4,4´-dihydroxybiphenyl with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid chloride. Using an aqueous phase with sodium hydroxide and a phase transfer catalyst results in a polymer whose structure and properties strongly depend on the ordering of its molecular chains.

It becomes especially interesting when looking at the thermal and optical properties. In differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the material shows two endothermic transitions. This means that the ordered structure is not lost all at once, but stepwise via a liquid crystalline phase into a fully isotropic state.

Under the polarizing microscope, this order becomes directly visible. The sample exhibits birefringence, meaning direction-dependent refraction of light. This only occurs when regions within the material are organized on a scale comparable to the wavelength of light. These structures are exactly what create the fascinating patterns and colors in the image.

In short, a small window into the world of liquid crystals, somewhere between ordered structure and thermally driven disorder.

I love these moments when chemistry is not only measurable, but also visible.

#chemistry #polymer #polymerchemistry #liquidcrystals #microscopy #polarizedlight #birefringence #materials #materialscience #lablife #science #research #stem #scicomm

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

rPEG as a new type of #PolyethyleneGlycol: random chains offer multiple advantages for medical application / As a platform technology, biocompatible #rPEGs can be used in a wide range of applications / #PolymerChemistry #medicine #pharmaceutics @uni_mainz
https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2024/06/27/rpeg-as-a-new-type-of-polyethylene-glycol-random-chains-offer-multiple-advantages-for-medical-application

rPEG as a new type of #PolyethyleneGlycol: random chains offer multiple advantages for medical application / As a platform technology, biocompatible #rPEGs can be used in a wide range of applications / #PolymerChemistry #medicine #pharmaceutics @uni_mainz
https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2024/06/27/rpeg-as-a-new-type-of-polyethylene-glycol-random-chains-offer-multiple-advantages-for-medical-application