New heat-resistant plastic can be recycled endlessly without loss

Researchers at Texas A&M University, in collaboration with the University of Tulsa and supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, have developed a new high-strength plastic called Aromatic Thermosetting Copolyester (ATSP) that can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. This innovative material is heat-resistant, ultra-durable, and capable of self-healing and shape recovery after damage, making it highly suitable for demanding industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and electronics manufacturing. When reinforced with carbon fibers, ATSP becomes several times stronger than steel while remaining lighter than aluminum, offering a combination of strength and lightness critical for high-performance applications. The research team conducted extensive testing, including cyclical creep and deep-cycle bending fatigue tests, demonstrating that ATSP can endure repeated stress and heat cycles while maintaining or even improving its durability. The material’s unique bond exchanges enable on-demand self-healing at elevated temperatures (around 160 °C to 280 °