This week in adhesives news around the web, researchers in France explore more efficient smart materials for energy harvesting.
A group of smart materials known as "electrostrictive polymers" have been explored for years by researchers at the INSA de Lyon for their potential mechanical energy harvesting abilities. As a group of smart materials, electrostrictive polymers can produce field-induced strain when exposed to an applied external electric field. The researchers recently reported that introducing a plasticizer into these materials offers an efficient way to improve their mechanical energy harvesting performance in the journal Applied Physics Letters. This is a significant breakthrough because one of the biggest challenges for the development of mechanical energy harvesting via electrostrictive polymers is being able to improve their performance.
Other stories from around the web:
1) PolySol Polymers Moves to Missouri
2) Trends in Adhesives in Packaging
3) DuPont Researchers Develop a Method to Produce FDME from Fructose
Are you interested in news stories on a particular topic? Send your suggestions to Morgan Laidlaw at laidlawm@bnpmedia.com.
