Review
Polymer Science
Leire Sangroniz, Bao Wang, Yunlan Su, Guoming Liu, Dario Cavallo, Dujin Wang, Alejandro J. Muller
Summary: This study investigates fractionated crystallization, where multiple separated crystallization events are observed in semicrystalline polymers when the number of microdomains is significantly higher than the available number of heterogeneities. The origins of fractionated crystallization effects and their impact on nucleation and crystallization kinetics are discussed.
PROGRESS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pengwu Xu, Qian Wang, Manman Yu, Weijun Yang, Yunxuan Weng, Weifu Dong, Mingqing Chen, Yang Wang, Piming Ma
Summary: By utilizing high melting point poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) as a nucleating agent and controlling the processing temperature and PHB content, the crystallization rate and crystal nucleus density of PHBH can be significantly increased, while secondary crystallization is inhibited, improving its mechanical performance and storage stability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ce Mi, Yufei Dong, Shaojuan Wang, Huihui Li, Lei Zhu, Xiaoli Sun, Shouke Yan
Summary: A simple heating-cooling procedure is used to fabricate pure polar gamma-PVDF thin films. The pure gamma crystals are induced by controlling the relaxation state of the crystals, through self-seeding and self-nucleation mechanisms within 30 minutes. This methodology provides a new pathway for the application of PVDF homopolymers in flexible ferroelectric devices.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Maria E. Taverna, Abdullah S. Altorbaq, Sanat K. Kumar, Jorge L. Olmedo-Martinez, Carlos A. Busatto, Manuela Zubitur, Agurtzane Mugica, Veronica V. Nicolau, Diana A. Estenoz, Alejandro J. Muller
Summary: This study examines the influence of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) on the crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The results show that the incorporation of LNPs exponentially increases nucleation density, but decreases the spherulitic growth rate. Overall, the nanocomposites exhibit faster crystallization rates compared to neat PEO, suggesting that the supernucleation effect of LNPs dominates over the decrease in growth rates.
Article
Polymer Science
Xiangning Wen, Yunlan Su, Shaofan Li, Weilong Ju, Dujin Wang
Summary: The study demonstrated that PEG-g-SiO2 can significantly increase the crystallinity and crystallization temperature of PEO matrix, affecting the crystalline morphology and rate of PEO. The good dispersion of PEG-g-SiO2 in the PEO matrix contributes to enhancing the primary nucleation rate.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Zhang, Hongbin Zhang, Liping Yang, Yi Tang, Ping Tang
Summary: Incorporating zeolites into Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) can improve its low crystallization rate and long molding cycle. Among the PET/zeolite nanocomposites, PET/MCM-22P exhibits significantly improved crystallization behavior, thermal stability, and oxygen barrier properties, attributed to the layered morphology of MCM-22P and hydrogen bond interactions between MCM-22P and PET.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Xiang Liu, Wen-Zhi Cui, Wei Yu
Summary: The presence of silica nanoparticles in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) leads to significant melt memory effects during slow isothermal crystallization, as demonstrated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) measurements. The magnitude of the melt memory effects increases with the addition of silica nanoparticles, but the relationship is non-monotonic depending on the type of nanoparticles and their loadings. The influence of silica on nucleation and crystal growth is influenced by the spatial inhomogeneity of chain entanglements in the silica-filled PCL system.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Wei-Tao Huang, Guang-Jian He, Wen-Dong Tang, Xin-Liang Zou, Xiao-Chun Yin
Summary: A synergic strategy combining chemical nucleation with chain extension was employed to enhance the crystallization and mechanical properties of PET composites. Sodium linoleate as a nucleating agent effectively promoted the crystallization behavior of PET, while the ultraviolet-induced chain extension method helped maintain the molecular weight of PET.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuaishuai Yuan, Xiuxia Sun, Yong Shen, Zhibo Li
Summary: This study developed a new bioactive wound dressing by incorporating PEG and ZnO nanoparticles into the P4HB matrix. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the bioactive P4HB/PEG/ZnO dressings have synergistic hemostatic and antibacterial effects, making them potential candidates for clinical applications.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wei Gao, Yufeng Li, Jitao Zhao, Weiwei Tang, Zhe Zhang, Jun Wang, Zhenyu Wu, Minggang Li
Summary: PET/graphene oxide (GO) composites were synthesized to overcome the low crystallization rate and long molding time of PET. The influence of GO on the crystallization performance of PET was investigated, and it was found that GO raised the crystallization temperature and rate of PET. The mechanism of PET nucleation induced by GO was studied, and the addition of GO improved the thermal stability of PET.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Dimitrios G. Papageorgiou, Irini Tsetsou, Raphael O. Ioannidis, George N. Nikolaidis, Stylianos Exarhopoulos, Nejib Kasmi, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris, Dimitris S. Achilias, George Z. Papageorgiou
Summary: This study investigated the structure, thermal properties, and miscibility of PET/PEF blends, finding that the miscibility varied at different blend compositions and exploring reactive blending as a potential method to improve miscibility.
Article
Polymer Science
Pratick Samanta, V Thangapandian, Rajiv Srivastava, Bhanu Nandan
Summary: This study investigates the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of confined polymer in electrospun nanofibers. The results indicate that the Avarmi and Jeziorny models successfully predict the nucleation nature and growth behavior of PEO chains, while the Ozawa model is not suitable for the confined system. The Mo's method effectively describes the non-isothermal crystallization behavior of PEO in confined domains. The Kissinger and Takhor methods demonstrate that the activation energy for crystallization of PEO chains increases with reduction of PEO weight fraction in the nanofibers.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Chunfeng Jia, Shanshan Zhou, Zhanghua Xie, Lukai Wang, Yubin Yang, Xiaoyu Sun, Yuhong Xie, Jinjun Yang
Summary: The P- and Zn-containing organic/inorganic hybrid layered metal phosphonate (PPZn) acted as a biocompatible nucleator in biodegradable poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) polyester, significantly enhancing its crystallization rate and thermal stability. The nucleation was mainly attributed to good crystal lattice matching between PES and PPZn, which facilitated uniform dispersion.
POLYMER INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Ramin Hosseinabad, Jesse Kuebler, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester
Summary: The melt-crystallization of conjugated polymers is a potential environmentally-friendly solution processing alternative. However, the specific role of molecular attributes and control strategies are not well understood. This study shows that the effects of chain length on crystallization depend on the amount of chain defects. Melt self-seeding can manipulate the crystallization temperature, especially for longer and more defective chains. Overall, controlling and reporting regioregularity and molecular weight are crucial.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shaofan Li, Weilong Ju, Wen-hua Sun, Yunlan Su, Alejandro J. Muller, Dujin Wang
Summary: The synthesis of polymer-grafted nanoparticles is crucial for the development of polymer nanocomposites. However, the synthesis of polyethylene-grafted SiO2 nanoparticles remains challenging. In this study, PE-g-SiO2 NPs with different grafting densities and molecular weights were successfully synthesized, and their crystallization behavior was investigated.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ying Zheng, Navin Kafle, Derek Schwarz, James M. Eagan, Shigetaka Hayano, Yuki Nakama, Pengju Pan, Toshikazu Miyoshi
Summary: This study investigates the molecular dynamics and phase structure of a cocrystal consisting of fixed and mobile polymer crystals using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It is found that the mobile component undergoes large amplitude motions associated with crystal-crystal transition, while the fixed component remains rigid in the cocrystal. Asymmetric molecular dynamics leads to nanosegregations of mobile- and fixed-rich domains in the cocrystal, similar to phase separation in miscible polymer blends, but limited to two dimensions due to the packing and connectivity in the cocrystal.
Article
Polymer Science
Lingling Ni, Shanshan Xu, Chenxuan Sun, Yanan Qin, Ying Zheng, Jian Zhou, Chengtao Yu, Pengju Pan
Summary: This study focuses on the role of chain entanglement in polymorphic crystallization and crystal phase transition of polymers. By preparing samples with different entanglement degrees, it is found that chain disentangling can suppress the crystallization kinetics but promote the phase transition rate and degree. This work advances the understanding of the formation and transition mechanisms of polymorphic polymer crystals at the molecular level.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenhua Yuan, Chengtao Yu, Shanshan Xu, Lingling Ni, Wenqing Xu, Guorong Shan, Yongzhong Bao, Pengju Pan
Summary: This paper introduces a new principle for achieving self-evolution through programmable crystal transition, proposing a method for developing self-evolving materials. These materials can encode information through crystal phase transition without relying on hydrogels, exhibiting autonomous characteristics.
MATERIALS HORIZONS
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Wenqing Xu, Ying Zheng, Pengju Pan
Summary: This review highlights the significance of self-assembly in fabricating polymer materials as well as the impact of crystallization-driven self-assembly on polymers.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wenhua Yuan, Shanshan Xu, Chengtao Yu, Mengru Ding, Ying Zheng, Jian Zhou, Guorong Shan, Yongzhong Bao, Pengju Pan
Summary: By utilizing photothermal driven polymorph patterns, programmable shape morphing can be achieved in commercial semicrystalline polymers, allowing the transformation from planar sheets to complex 3D structures with concave-convex features. This design strategy can be extended to other polymers with polymorphism and expands the application possibilities of shape-programmable materials.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Liang Zhou, Kan Cheng, Tao Liu, Naiqiang Li, Hui Zhang, Yong He
Summary: Poly (pentamethylene glutaramide) (PA55) has broad application prospects as all the polymeric monomers can be obtained from biomass fermentation. High molecular weight PA55 can be obtained through solid-state polymerization at low temperature, effectively inhibiting the cyclization of glutaric acid.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wenbin Jin, Jingjing Wang, Hai Wan, Yuan Liang, Shuohan Huang, Yuwei Chen, Peng Wei, Qun Shao, Yanping Wang, Yong He, Yumin Xia
Summary: With the rapid development of marine transportation, oil-water separation has become an important research topic. Polyoxymethylene (POM) microfiber is a potential material for oil-water separation due to its excellent chemical stability, hydrophobicity, and lipophilicity. This paper successfully prepared POM microfiber (PMF) using a method inspired by natural bamboo cellulose. PMF showed a maximum oil adsorption capacity of 19.5 times, a water contact angle of 160 degrees in oil, and an oil-water separation efficiency of over 99%. The recyclability and deformability of PMF allowed it to be used in various oil-water separation situations. Moreover, the eco-friendly strategy used in the preparation of PMF had important implications for the development of microfiber materials.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Hai Wan, Yanping Wang, Wenbin Jin, Shuohan Huang, Yimin Wang, Yong He, Peng Wei, Yuwei Chen, Yumin Xia
Summary: Based on the demand for high-performance fibers in high-latitude ocean exploration and development, this study selected representative products of high-performance liquid crystal fibers: thermotropic liquid crystal polymer fibers (TLCP) and poly p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA) fibers. Through freeze-thaw experiments simulating a cold marine environment, the retention of mechanical properties of the fibers was measured. The results showed that compared to TLCP fibers, the mechanical properties of PPTA fibers decreased by approximately 25% after the experiments. The presence of microcracks on the surface of PPTA fibers suggests that moisture absorption and freezing below the freezing point lead to the collapse of the microfibrillar structure, resulting in the loss of mechanical properties. TLCP fibers were found to be more suitable for severe and cold marine environments.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Fredrick Nzioka Mutua, Paul Mwanzia Wambua, Yong He
Summary: In this study, carbon fiber reinforced polyoxamide composites were prepared using an in-situ spray polycondensation technique. The effects of preparation parameters on the mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that the composites prepared under certain conditions exhibited good strength properties and interface adhesion.
JOURNAL OF REINFORCED PLASTICS AND COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yong He, Kuiyong Dong, Yadong Guo, Gang Zhao, Shanshan Tang, Xueli Wang, Bomou Ma
Summary: In this study, crosslinked PLA with high crystallinity and high gel content was prepared by UV irradiation and the addition of specific photoinitiators and curing agents. The crosslinked PLA showed improved thermal properties and remained highly crystallizable.
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Huiyuan Zhang, Hongxing Zhang, Wenchao Zhu, Hailing Xi, Bomou Ma, Yong He
Summary: In this research, strippable films were prepared using solutions of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS) in 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate (EOEMA) via rapid visible-light curing. The films showed high strength and elongation at break, as well as effective decontamination of uranium nitrate on different surfaces. The results demonstrate the potential of these rapid-curing strippable films for large-scale radioactive decontamination.
PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Chenxuan Sun, Xuekuan Ma, Lingling Ni, Mengru Ding, Jianfei Xia, Ying Zheng, Chengtao Yu, Bao Wang, Pengju Pan
Summary: Side substitution is an effective method for the chemical modification of linear polyesters, and the presence of side groups has a profound effect on the crystalline structure and phase transition of semicrystalline polyesters. This study synthesized polyesters with different side groups and investigated the effects of these groups on the crystal polymorph and phase transition of the substituted polyesters.
Article
Polymer Science
Sihao Qian, Shouyan Zhang, Danni Chen, Jun Wang, Wei Wu, Shuhua Zhang, Zhi Geng, Yong He, Bo Zhu
Summary: This study developed an antibody-free and antifouling OECT biosensor for detecting C-reactive protein (CRP) with high specificity and sensitivity. The biosensor features a gate coated with phosphorylcholine-functionalized PEDOT-PC, which prevents biofouling and interacts specifically with CRP in the presence of calcium ions.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Sihao Qian, Hsing-An Lin, Qichao Pan, Shuhua Zhang, Yunhua Zhang, Zhi Geng, Qing Wu, Yong He, Bo Zhu
Summary: Conducting polymers with mixed ionic-electronic conductivity, tunable interfacial barrier, tissue matchable softness, and versatile chemical functionalization are used to bridge the gap between brain tissue and electronic circuits. This review focuses on chemically revised conducting polymers, their superior electrochemical performance, and their applications in fabricating long-term bioelectronic implants. The challenges of chronic immune responses, weak neuron attraction, and long-term electrocommunication instability are addressed, and the promising progress of zwitterionic conducting polymers is highlighted.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
