Polymer Craziness: Polymer-based materials are utilized widely in air and space applications. Polymer-grafted nanoparticles, shown here, combine the processability and durability of polymers with the additional functionality of metallic, oxide or magnetic nanoparticles. Crazing is one of the main plasticity mechanisms in polymer materials, and crazes absorb significant energy in the failure process, leading to improved toughness. Polymer grafted nanoparticles in this case get pulled into the craze, providing a bridging mechanism and preventing premature failure of multifunctional thin films, coatings and structures, for future air and space systems in harsh environments. Contributors: Lawrence F. Drummy, Richard A. Vaia