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Yuxin Wang wears white coat, gloves and goggles while working in a lab

Up, up and away: WVU engineer uses microwaves to ‘upcycle’ a super-powered plastic

Polypropylene is a superhero that can do and be anything – or almost anything. It’s a plastic resin that keeps us healthy, transforming into medical sutures, prostheses, and surgical masks. It keeps us safe, contributing to the manufacture of impact-resistant car bumpers and hard hats. It keeps us entertained and energized. It’s a popular material for children’s toys, sports equipment like rackets and moisture-wicking performance apparel. And it keeps us comfortable. It’s in the rugs that cushion our footsteps – even in the insoles that support our aching arches.

Graphic illustration on blue and creme background with cutout image of Zahra Ronaghi on left and text on right that reads 'Alumni Who Inspire: Zahra Ronaghi''

Alumni Who Inspire: Zahra Ronaghi

Our Alumni Who Inspire series is a program created to honor the alumni community of the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources here at West Virginia University. This month we’re honored to feature electrical engineering alumna Zahra Ronaghi and highlight her legacy.