Page 52 - Plastics News February 2025
P. 52
PRODUCT NEWS
having to exclude certain plastics at times. “I Collection events can be challenging as well, and
couldn’t take everything that farmers needed to as a result are held infrequently. The most logical
get rid of, just because if I didn’t have a place for time to hold them is in the winter, when farmers
it to go, I didn’t want to risk collecting it and not aren’t busy outside and are eager to get non-
being able to go somewhere with it,” she said. farm tasks completed, she said. But the state’s
cold and snowy weather can impede participa-
“And that’s the thing I struggle with, is if I’m go- tion. Kono is preparing to distribute bags for
ing to have collection events all over, how do I farmers to collect their film, then to deliver when
get the plastic baled?” she said, because “that the weather improves.
takes connections and infrastructure and equip-
ment.” Source – Plastics Recycling Update
Self-Healing Materials: The Future of
Functional Polymers
Vitrimers: Advanced Coating Innovation
Vitrimers are dynamic networks formed by
adaptable covalent bonds, blending the chemi-
cal resilience of traditional epoxy polymers with
self-healing capabilities. Systems such as epoxy-
acid vitrimers, which utilize thermally activated
transesterification reactions, have emerged as
ideal candidates for polymer coatings. These
networks allow surfaces to extend the lifespan
elf-healing polymers are redefining the of components exposed to mechanical and en-
standards of performance in materials. As vironmental stress, significantly reducing main-
Sresearch progresses, these technologies tenance costs. Self-healing polymer coating.
will likely become integral to future innovations Furthermore, their compatibility with scalable
application methods, such as spin coating and
Self-healing polymers are transforming ad- dip coating, makes them suitable for industrial
vanced material design by offering solutions that use. This adaptability ensures vitrimers remain
enhance durability, functionality, and sustainabil- competitive for applications requiring long-term
ity. Among the most promising innovations are performance and sustainability.
vitrimers and supramolecular materials, which
autonomously repair damage while retaining Supramolecular Hydrogels for Energy Applica-
excellent mechanical and functional properties. tions
This review explores their potential applications
and role in shaping materials science’s future. In the field of energy storage, supramolecu-
lar hydrogels like p(NAGA-co-VTZ) represent a
52 PLASTICS NEWS February 2025
