To commemorate Polymer Solutions Incorporated’s 25 years in business, we’ve collected the top 25 innovations using polymers and plastics that are making the world a better — and cooler — place. The first 13 appeared in a post on Jan. 29. Here is the last batch of 12. Are there other innovations that you’d like [...]
Common Plastics in Environment Absorb Contaminants
January 30, 2013 By 2 Comments
A California study shows that the most commonly produced plastics that are littered in the environment are also the ones that absorb the most chemicals, a finding that poses a greater risk for marine animals and those that eat them. The absorption ability of these plastics continued for longer periods of time than previously thought. [...]
Top 25 Innovations Made With Polymers, Part 1
January 29, 2013 By 1 Comment
To commemorate Polymer Solutions Incorporated’s 25 years in business, we’ve collected the top 25 innovations using polymers and plastics that are making the world a better — and cooler — place. Here are the first 13. Are there other innovations that you’d like to suggest? Stopping internal bleeding — The Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced [...]
Polymer Hydrogel Zaps Microbes
January 28, 2013 By 1 Comment
Research scientists and computer experts have developed a polymer anti-microbial hydrogel that not only can clean surfaces and protect against infection in medical devices, but also be injected into the body to treat tough infections. The collaborators from the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore and IBM claim that the innovation is first-ever biodegradable, [...]
Polymer Gel Transforms at Different Temperatures
January 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
We’ve all made Jell-O, right? If it’s been too long since you have and you can’t remember how, here’s a refresher: You mix the Jell-O powder into a pot of water. Then you heat it. Then when it cools, it hardens up. Jell-O is a polymer. The key ingredient in the gelatin in the Jell-O [...]
FDA Rules on Metal Hip Implants
January 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip implants will need to prove that their medical devices are safe and effective before they could continue selling existing models or obtain approvals to sell new all-metal devices, according to a proposed rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA’s action is intended to close a loophole in [...]
Polymer Ability to Separate Gases Improving
January 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Polymers are being more selective these days about what gases can pass through them, thanks to some U.K. scientists. The standard for polymer membranes was either to allow gases through slowly because of their low permeability or not be very selective by not stopping one gas as another passes through. This lack of utility means [...]
Medical Device Tax Could Suppress Innovation
January 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The new medical device tax will stifle technological innovation, say equipment lobbyists. The new health care law imposes a 2.3% tax on medical devices, requiring that manufacturers of the devices pay for the tax added to the sales price, reports Diagnostic Imaging. Some worry that the new cost will trickle down to providers and hinder [...]
Plastic Cup Reduces Paper Waste at Landfills
January 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A major retailer is offering reusable plastic as a way to reduce paper waste. Starbucks, the large coffee chain, now has reusable plastic cups that customers can purchase along with their grande half-caf, double pump soy latte. Made out of 100% virgin polypropylene (PP), the plastic cups — in 12- and 16-oz sizes (tall and [...]
Free Radicals Could Help Regenerate Human Tissue
January 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Remember when you were a kid and scraped your knee? Your mother probably poured hydrogen peroxide on the cut to clean it out. Well, now scientists have found that hydrogen peroxide may be responsible for regenerating tissue. Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered that the molecule — a reactive oxygen species (ROS) — [...]
