Search Results - Polymers

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Toward Wet Wipes that Turn into Toilet Paper when Flushed

Project ID: TECH-2023-20 Background Wet wipes have been shown to clog pipes and pumps in wastewater collection and treatment systems. Additionally, wet wipes contain microplastics that contribute to water pollution. Some governments are proposing restrictions or complete bans on wet wipe products. Therefore, there is a need for a truly flushable...

Multifunctional Coatings And Tie Layers For Recyclable And Active Barrier Films

Project ID: D2022-11 Background Multilayer packaging consists of thin layers of materials adhered on top of one another. The composition of layers is chosen based on performance needs, such as protection from moisture, oxygen, light, odor, flavor, or abrasion. Although these varying material properties contribute to performance advantages, they also...

Selective recovery of polypropylene (and polyethylene) from mixed plastic wastes

Project ID: D2021-43 Background Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer used in packaging materials, consumer goods, automotive components, and medical devices. It is difficult to recover PP from mixed plastic waste streams; PP has a similar density to polyethylene (PE) and cannot be selectively separated from PE via the sink-float methods...

Novel Class of Materials for Boron Extraction

Project ID: D2009-11 Background Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) has gained widespread acceptance and use in laboratories due to the fact that it is a solvent-less extraction technique, its mode of operation is relatively simple, easy to automate, and sampling and sample preparation are combined into one step. Until now, methods that coat SPME...

Functionally graded graphene transient electronics

Project ID: D2018-22Background It is estimated that electronics account for 42 million tons of waste per year worldwide. As a result, electronic manufacturers have become interested in transient electronics. They contain environmentally benign components that can be degraded over time in a natural environment. Transient electronics can be used to better...

Enhanced Anti-Fouling Properties of Novel Composite Material

Project ID: D2013-31 Novelty: Development of a novel electromagnetic polymer composite material for enhanced anti-fouling effects. Background: Biofouling (bacterial attachment to solid surfaces and colonization) is the main source of bacterial infection and poses potentially harmful impacts on human health. Medical devices, food packaging, and drinking...

Pyrrole-Based Composites for Metal Extraction and Analysis

Project ID#: D2018-57Invention DescriptionThe researchers at the University of Toledo have developed a chelating polypyrrole powder that can be used for filtration by directly mixing with samples and passing the sample through a filter. Desorption is then accomplished by simply dropping the pH. Applications• Selective microextraction devices•...

Charge mosaic membranes for desalination of brackish water

Project #D2019-22Background Reverse osmosis is a common technique used in desalination; it utilizes high pressure to separate water from salt. Although this separation technique is widely used for desalination, it would be advantageous to use a membrane that allows for selective transport of salt relative to water. Charge mosaic (CM) membranes...

Pressure sensitive polymer films with reversible porosity

Project ID: D2018-23BackgroundPressure sensing is used in the automobile, packaging, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Commercially available pressure-sensing films rely on a reaction created when microcapsules burst upon applied pressure. However, these films only function in a limited temperature range and do not work in wet or oily environments....

Cross-linked anion exchange membrane

Project ID: D2018-55 Background Increasing population drives increasing energy demand. Fuel cells and electrochemical devices are under investigation for use as an energy supply. However, the devices may not being reaching their commercialization potential; Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs) are limited by the use of platinum catalysts, fuel crossover,...

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