Light makes pores bigger: Photo-growth of pores in a polymer gel network
Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - 08:31
in Physics & Chemistry
(Phys.org)—Irradiation with light is an established method for initiating polymerization or crosslinking (curing) in the production of plastics. American researchers are now using light to retroactively increase the size of the pores within a polymer network. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, this new approach allows for the production of polymer gels with tailored mechanical properties.