SMRTR Science & EngineeringFeb 8, 2026Interesting Engineering

‘Impossible’ material: Researchers create glass-plastic hybrid that defies physics theory

SMRTR summary

Researchers at Wageningen University have created a revolutionary "compleximer" material that combines plastic's impact resistance with glass's moldability, defying the long-held physics principle that easily processed materials must be brittle. The breakthrough uses charged molecular chains that attract like magnets rather than permanent chemical bonds, creating "breathing room" that allows self-healing properties through simple heating.

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