New experimental polymers could deliver cheaper, lighter,
stronger and recyclable materials ideal for electronics, aerospace, airline and
automotive industries
Researchers used a novel ‘computational chemistry’ hybrid
approach to accelerate the materials discovery process that couples lab
experimentation with the use of high-performance computing
Scientists from IBM Research (NYSE: IBM) have successfully
discovered a new class of polymer materials that can potentially transform
manufacturing and fabrication in the fields of transportation, aerospace, and
microelectronics. Through the unique approach of combining high performance
computing with synthetic polymer chemistry, these new materials are the first
to demonstrate resistance to cracking, strength higher than bone, the ability
to reform to their original shape (self-heal), all while being completely
recyclable back to their starting material. Also, these materials can be
transformed into new polymer structures to further bolster their strength by
50% - making them ultra strong and lightweight. This research was published
today in the peer-reviewed journal, Science, with collaborators including UC
Berkeley, Eindhoven University of Technology and King Abdulaziz City for
Science and Technology (KACST.), Saudi Arabia.