Team Led by Lawrence Sita Named 2024 Invention of the Year Finalist
Lawrence Sita, Danyon Fischbach (Ph.D. ’23, chemistry) and Charlotte Wentz (Ph.D. ’22, chemistry) developed a new method using specialized tools to modify a type of plastic called Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP).
The University of Maryland celebrates innovative campus research annually by recognizing Inventions of the Year. Since 1987, 116 inventions have been awarded the high distinction, selected for their technical merit, improvements to existing technology, commercial potential and overall benefit to society.
The 2024 winners were announced on April 29, 2024, as part of Innovate Maryland—an annual celebration of UMD researchers’ creativity in translating cutting-edge research into practical, impactful solutions to address global challenges.
“Each of tonight’s nominees for Invention of the Year started with that spark of an idea that was allowed to grow and evolve with the help of our robust research enterprise, which we all contribute to and improve on a daily basis,” Vice President for Research Gregory F. Ball said of this year’s 12 finalists. “I firmly believe that no grand challenge is too daunting for our world-class researchers to confront head-on and work toward a solution.”
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry invention “Novel Synthesis Process for Production of New Grade Polymers” was named a Physical Science Invention of the Year Finalist.
Lawrence Sita, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Danyon Fischbach (Ph.D. ’23, chemistry) and Charlotte Wentz (Ph.D. ’22, chemistry) developed a new method using specialized tools to modify a type of plastic called Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP). This method helps alter the structure of PMP, allowing for the creation of new forms of the material with adjustable properties like how they transition from solid to liquid states. Some mixtures of metal compounds produce a blend of PMP with varying structures, making it more flexible and changing the temperatures at which it melts. Another mixture produces a specific type of PMP that doesn't form crystals, making it easier to work with. The researchers have also developed a process that can control the level of errors in the structure of the PMP, which enables PMP with different melting temperatures ranging from 135°C (275°F) to 226°C (428°F), while still maintaining specific characteristics like its glass transition temperature. These new types of PMP can be used to make products that can be recycled alongside regular plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene. They can also be used to improve existing products, like making them less likely to break or crack. In short, this invention makes it possible to recycle PMP alongside other common plastics and opens up new possibilities for creating stronger and more versatile products.
