Researchers create 'impossible' material that defies physics theory

Researchers at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) have developed a novel material called a “compleximer” that challenges longstanding theories in materials science. This amber-colored substance uniquely combines the toughness and impact resistance of plastic with the malleability and blowability of glass—traits previously thought to be mutually exclusive. Traditionally, glassy materials that melt slowly and are easy to shape tend to be brittle, but the compleximer defies this rule by remaining resilient enough to absorb shocks without shattering. The key to the compleximer’s properties lies in its molecular structure. Unlike conventional plastics, which rely on permanent chemical cross-links to bind molecular chains, compleximers use physical attractive forces between oppositely charged molecular segments. These electrostatic “magnetic” attractions create more space between chains, allowing the material to be reshaped at high temperatures while maintaining toughness. This discovery suggests that charged materials can exhibit fundamentally different behaviors than previously understood, opening new avenues in materials science. Beyond its unique physical properties, the