Unique polymer can switch from rigid cutlery to an adhesive to malleable plastic

A single polymer feedstock has been used to form distinct plastic products including cutlery and adhesives – something that is impossible with conventional polymers. The US team reversibly tempered the ‘pluripotent’ plastic at different temperatures to create particular physical characteristics on demand.

A plastic’s properties are typically determined by chemical composition and, over the last century, scientists have developed hundreds of different polymers, each suited to a particular application. However, while some materials such as polyethylene can be remoulded, their fundamental characteristics such as hardness, brittleness and elasticity remain fixed, substantially limiting the uses of each polymer.