IBM Discovers New Class of Polymers

Charliemopps (1157495) writes "IBM Research has published a new paper to the journal Science which describes a newly discovered class of Industrial Polymers that promise to revolutionize the fields of transportation, aerospace, and microelectronics. These materials resist cracking, have strength higher than that of bone, the ability to self-heal, and are completely recyclable. 'Codenamed Titan and Hydro, both of which came from the same reaction. One is rigid; it could become part of the next generation of computers. The other is a gel, so it it could be included in water-soluble nail polish.'"

Re:The problem with most recylcing is sorting

[VortexCortex]

Chopping up all the plastics and suspending them in water, oil, etc fluids is how some places separate them. It's a kind of "distillation" I suppose.

Also, eddy currents can be induced in aluminum, tin, etc. other metals to sort them by tossing them around.

Crushed glass can be sorted by optical systems which let pieces fall and puff jets of air at certain pieces.

In Houston (and lots of other places) we don't have to sort our recyclables. Soon we may not even have to separate the recycling from the trash: [houstontx.gov]

One Bin For All (OBFA) is the next evolution of recycling. It will allow
Houston residents to place all trash, recyclables, and compostables
in one bin, providing for a much higher rate of resource recovery.

Since the two polymers "come from the same reaction" I'm guessing there's a way to separate them...

Re:Every few months....

[russotto]

... you hear about a new revolutionary breakthrough in such-and-such a field, but nothing ever comes of it.

True, but off the top of my head IBM has within my lifetime come up with two which have actually worked: GMR hard drives (though not GMR itself), and copper interconnect.