New tool to predict polymer properties

An interdisciplinary team of researchers has developed a powerful mathematical modelling tool that will allow researchers to predict the properties of polymer networks before they are even created. Polymers networks are made up of long chains of molecules, like a string of pearls or spaghetti. This new model predicts the connections between the spaghetti-like strands.

Polymer networks had many applications including rubbers, coatings, adhesives, and cosmetics. For the first time, this is a predictive tool for material properties of networks – from the smallest building block of the molecule up to how hard is the material, is it impact resistant or is it just a soft blob.

Researchers developed the model using advanced mathematics and molecular simulations, bringing together researchers from computational modelling, synthetic chemistry and materials science. Recent chemistry developments have included unconventional properties such as self-healing, conductivity and stimuli-responsiveness in polymer networks, giving them a large potential in advanced applications such as recycling, drug delivery, tissue engineering scaffolds, gas storage, catalysis and electronic materials.

Read more at Queensland University of Technology

Image Credit: Queensland University of Technology

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