Radical Departure: Polymerization Does More With Less

At its most basic level, a polymer is a molecule consisting of a long, repeating chain of smaller monomers typically four to ten atoms in size. Polymers can be straight chains of regular repeating monomers, chains of varying length, or chains that branch in multiple directions. With these different chains come different forms: hard plastics, like plumbing pipe, for example, or flexible plastics, like a grocery bag. Polymers can be molded into auto bodies, added to paint to change its properties, or foamed, as with polystyrene and urethane. Polymers, in short, are most useful. Now a team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University has discovered a way to make the process of polymerization even better, with potential environmental benefits.