Article
Materials Science, Composites
Dong An, Yiwen Cui, Rizheng He, Jiaqi Chen, Xiaoyuan Duan, Jiaxiong Li, Yaqing Liu, Yanli Liu, Huitao Yu, Chingping Wong
Summary: With the development of transportation system, the safety and reliability of green tires are crucial in modern transportation. However, challenges such as poor dispersion ability of reinforced filler and weak interfacial interactions with polymer matrix hindered its application in the field of green tires. In this study, water-soluble 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole (MMI) functionalized graphene oxide (GO-MMI) was prepared through a simple hydrothermal method. Modified GO-MMI/natural rubber composites (GO-MMI/NR) were obtained and showed improved properties compared to GO/natural rubber composites, indicating potential for industrial-scale green tires.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Tiwen Xu, Yuanni Xin, Yueqiong Wang, Lusheng Liao, Haifeng Li, Jianfeng Ban, Ying Yang
Summary: The addition of crude beta-dextranase in raw natural rubber/halloysite nanotube composites can improve curing time, elastic modulus, and tensile strength, resulting in minimal hysteresis loss at high temperatures. The findings suggest beta-dextranase as a potential novel interfacial modifier in NR composites.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Yilong Li, Cong Nie, Danyang Song, Yujie Liu, Yunchao Jia, Hongjuan Zheng
Summary: In this study, immiscible poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(lactic acid) (PVDF/PLA) blends filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were prepared using a simple solution flocculation method. A co-continuous structure was observed in the 50v/50v blend ratio. The electrical percolation threshold of porous composites was lower than compact composites, and the porous composites showed higher electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) due to the presence of a porous structure and densely packed MWCNT on the PVDF surface.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Hongyu Jiang, Hong Zhang, Yaqing Wen, Liyun Tan, Xingzhong Fang, Guofei Chen
Summary: Mixed-BPADA was synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution and CoPEIs were prepared from it. CoPEIs exhibited high Tg, low elongation, good solubility, and good mechanical properties. Compared to traditional PEIs, CoPEIs had lower melt viscosities and good melt processibility.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lin Sun, Miguel A. L. Marques, Silvana Botti
Summary: The lack of systematic first-principles methods to predict energetics and electronic properties of reconstructed interfaces in heterogeneous materials is a major challenge. This study introduces an efficient computational scheme and demonstrates the power of the method by extracting structure-property relations in a large family of boundaries in polycrystalline silicon. The relation between bonding patterns and electrically active grain boundary states is unveiled and discussed.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Suzanne Morsch, Stuart B. Lyon, Simon Gibbon, Mark Irwin
Summary: The internal nanostructure of epoxy resins has negligible effect on the extent and kinetics of moisture sorption, despite being able to be varied through careful optimization of the cure schedule.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Yuhang Ren, Hongguang Wang, Gang Wu, Zhongzhi Guan, Long Yuan
Summary: This paper investigates the anchorage performance of basalt and glass hybrid fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) anchors in corroding environments through experimental and numerical simulation studies. Factors such as hole diameter, anchorage length, and mortar strength were found to affect the anchor's performance and durability. The results showed that the best anchorage performance was achieved under specific conditions, but degradation occurred with increasing corrosion time.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Woo Young Kim, Ji-un Jang, Hun Su Lee, Seong Yun Kim
Summary: The study showed that the electrical conductivity of the composite with 25 wt% CWF post-treated by ICP was 71 S/m, higher than that of CB-filled composite. The estimated production cost of ICP treated CWF was lower than that of commercial CB, making CWF an effective, economical, and eco-friendly conductive filler for polymer composites.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Haoxuan Wang, Jingwen Yang, Syed Umer, Ning Zhu, Guang Yang, Yafang Li, Jing Yan
Summary: In order to achieve sustainable wearable applications, a flexible triboelectric nanogenerator was proposed using thermoplastic polyurethane film with a porous structure and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The design not only possesses flexibility, durability, and biocompatibility, but also enhances the output performance and allows for integration and wearing convenience. Experimental results show that the output voltage and current are significantly improved under certain concentrations of TPU and MWCNT, and the harvested electrical energy is sufficient to power a certain number of LEDs or for charging purposes.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Ilhem Charfeddine, Jean-Charles Majeste, Christian Carrot, Olivier Lhost
Summary: This paper focuses on calculating the interfacial tension of two systems: low-density polyethylene with isotactic polypropylene and high-density polyethylene with syndiotactic polypropylene. Three methods are compared: Palierne's model, Gramespacher and Meissner's model, and ab-initio calculation, showing the effectiveness of the latter model for the studied systems.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Deep J. Kalita, Ihor Tarnavchyk, Harjyoti Kalita, Bret J. Chisholm, Dean C. Webster
Summary: A novel vinyl ether monomer from eugenol was copolymerized with cyclohexyl vinyl ether via carbocationic polymerization, and the resulting copolymers were epoxidized to obtain epoxy resins. The cured coatings and films from the epoxidized copolymers showed comparable hardness to coatings from petroleum-based resin, but exhibited better flexibility and higher base resistance. These partially biobased epoxy resins have the potential to compete with petroleum-based resins in coatings applications.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Theany To, Alexandra A. K. R. K. Olsen, Bodil A. Hansen, Katrine M. Enevoldsen, Victor Lutken, Lars R. Jensen, Randall E. Youngman, Morten M. Smedskjaer
Summary: The role of Ga2O3 in oxide glasses is not well understood compared to other network forming oxides, so this study investigates the structure and mechanical properties of sodium gallioborate glasses and compares them to sodium aluminoborate glasses. The results show that the substitution of Ga2O3 for B2O3 increases the fraction of tetrahedral Ga units and decreases the fraction of tetrahedral B units. However, unlike in aluminoborate glasses, higher-coordinated polyhedra are not observed even in the pergallic region.
JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Bernhard Ungerer, Ulrich Mueller, Maximilian Pramreiter, Enrique Herrero Acero, Stefan Veigel
Summary: This study found that the crimp of yarns had a significant impact on the strength properties of composite specimens, with a higher crimp ratio leading to decreased performance. Applying prestress to crimped yarns was proven to be an effective way to achieve straight alignment in the loading direction.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Deep J. Kalita, Ihor Tarnavchyk, Bret J. Chisholm, Dean C. Webster
Summary: A novel vinyl ether monomer from eugenol was synthesized and used to produce a variety of epoxidized polymeric epoxy resins. The study showed that these partially biobased epoxy resins have the potential to compete with petroleum-based DGEBA resins in coatings applications.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
T. Inoue, T. Hara, K. Nakazato, S. Oka
Summary: The hierarchical tissue structure of the coconut crab provides important insights for the development of biologically inspired materials. The exoskeleton of the coconut crab exhibits unique mechanical properties and superior abrasion resistance compared to other arthropods and engineering polymers, even rivaling the hardest metallic alloys. The composition, thickness, and mineralization level of the exoskeleton vary significantly by body part, with the claw and walking legs showing thicker and more mineralized structures than the cephalothorax and abdomen.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kai Li, Caitlyn M. Clarkson, Lu Wang, Yu Liu, Meghan Lamm, Zhenqian Pang, Yubing Zhou, Ji Qian, Mehdi Tajvidi, Douglas J. Gardner, Halil Tekinalp, Liangbing Hu, Teng Li, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Jeffrey P. Youngblood, Soydan Ozcan
Summary: Cellulose nanofibers form hierarchical structures and the alignment of these fibers significantly influences the performance of materials. Reviews on cellulose nanofibers alignment are limited, but offer opportunities for future research and development.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meghan E. Lamm, Kai Li, Ji Qian, Lu Wang, Nathalie Lavoine, Reagan Newman, Douglas J. Gardner, Teng Li, Liangbing Hu, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Halil Tekinalp, Vlastimil Kunc, Soydan Ozcan
Summary: The use of cellulose nanofibers in templating shows great promise in controlling the final properties of advanced functional materials, including mechanical strength, porosity, and others.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Jinwu Wang, Lu Wang, Douglas J. Gardner, Stephen M. Shaler, Zhiyong Cai
Summary: The paper discusses the importance of developing a bioeconomy, the potential of using cellulose to replace petroleum-based products, and the competitive relationship between cellulose materials and synthetic materials.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu Wang, Kai Li, Katie Copenhaver, Susan Mackay, Meghan E. Lamm, Xianhui Zhao, Brandon Dixon, Jinwu Wang, Yousoo Han, David Neivandt, Donna A. Johnson, Colleen C. Walker, Soydan Ozcan, Douglas J. Gardner
Summary: The production of CNFs is of significant interest due to their desirable material characteristics, but challenges remain in terms of production cost and material performance. Nonconventional fibrillation methods offer a potential solution by making biomass easier to process and reducing energy requirements for CNF production. Continued research is needed to standardize the characterization of lignocellulosic fibrillation processes and CNF products for specific industrial applications.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Xianhui Zhao, Katie Copenhaver, Lu Wang, Matthew Korey, Douglas J. Gardner, Kai Li, Meghan E. Lamm, Vidya Kishore, Samarthya Bhagia, Mehdi Tajvidi, Halil Tekinalp, Oluwafemi Oyedeji, Sanjita Wasti, Erin Webb, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Hongli Zhu, William H. Peter, Soydan Ozcan
Summary: Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites have sustainable nature, face challenges in recycling and degradation of material properties, but mitigation approaches such as adding functional additives and virgin plastics can help overcome these challenges. Future applications in additive manufacturing and automotive parts are also discussed.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Rafa Tasnim, Lily Calderwood, Brogan Tooley, Lu Wang, Yong-Jiang Zhang
Summary: This study examined the effects of different fertilizers on wild lowbush blueberry and found that foliar fertilizers might benefit plant growth but have limited impact on yield. Moreover, the study revealed that the physiological traits of wild blueberries in the vegetative year are more closely related to crop yield.
Review
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Katie Copenhaver, Kai Li, Lu Wang, Meghan Lamm, Xianhui Zhao, Matthew Korey, David Neivandt, Brandon Dixon, Sabrina Sultana, Peter Kelly, William M. Gramlich, Halil Tekinalp, Douglas J. Gardner, Susan MacKay, Kashif Nawaz, Soydan Ozcan
Summary: Cellulose nanofibrils have gained research interest due to their low cost and abundance. Researchers have investigated various biomass pretreatments to reduce energy requirements, improve fibrillation effectiveness, and add functionality to the resulting nanofibrils.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cong Chen, Wenjing Sun, Lu Wang, Mehdi Tajvidi, Jinwu Wang, Douglas J. Gardner
Summary: This study modified sustainable nanocrystalline cellulose material and successfully produced multifunctional CNC films. These films have good oxygen permeation resistance, high UV absorption properties, water resistance, and oil/grease resistance, making them suitable for transparent food packaging.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
A. Griffin Miller, Lu Wang, Douglas Gardner, Richard A. Venditti, Sunkyu Park
Summary: Acetylation was explored as a technique to improve compatibility between cellulose fibers and a poly(lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) polymer matrix. Different degrees of acetylation were tested, and the fibers were added in various weight loadings. The results showed no improvement in tensile strength, but an increase in modulus for non-acetylated and fully acetylated fibers. Modified fibers also increased the strain at break at low loadings. Acetylated cellulose acted as a nucleation retardant, while unmodified cellulose fibers acted as a nucleating agent. The study emphasized the importance of fiber size, dispersion, and fiber-polymer interactions for final properties. Acetylated fiber reinforcement showed potential for enhancing strain and compatibility of composites, especially in applications like 3D printing.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
J. Elliott Sanders, Lu Wang, Gabriella Brinkley, Douglas J. J. Gardner
Summary: This research introduces the use of electrospray drying to produce dry nano-scale cellulose nanocrystal powder from a water suspension. The electrospray drying mechanism utilizes coulomb repulsion to produce ultra-fine droplets which dehydrate into nano-scale powder. The recovered nano-scale powder CNCs showed improved properties when added to poly-lactic acid (PLA) composite.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
R. M. Oshani Nayanathara, Weiqi Leng, Senal D. Liyanage, Xiang Wang, Lu Wang, Jinwu Wang, Zhenhua Tian, Charles U. Pittman, Steven R. Gwaltney, Xuefeng Zhang
Summary: The inherent hydrophilicity of lignocellulosic materials can be transformed into hydrophobicity by metal-ion-modification (MIM) method, using metal ions such as Fe3+ and Zr4+ to coordinate with pulp fibers' polar groups. This technique enables the production of biodegradable hydrophobic paper and tableware without the need for hydrophobic sizing chemicals. The MIM technique is stable and can be integrated into the existing paper-making process for scalable production of sustainable and biodegradable plastic alternatives.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xianhui Zhao, Samarthya Bhagia, Diego Gomez-Maldonado, Xiaomin Tang, Sanjita Wasti, Shun Lu, Shuyang Zhang, Mahesh Parit, Mitchell L. Rencheck, Matthew Korey, Huixin Jiang, Jiadeng Zhu, Xianzhi Meng, Meghan E. Lamm, Katie Copenhaver, Maria S. Peresin, Lu Wang, Halil Tekinalp, Guang Yang, Vipin Kumar, Gang Chen, Kashif Nawaz, X. Chelsea Chen, Uday Vaidya, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Erin Webb, Douglas J. Gardner, Ping He, Ximin He, Kai Li, Soydan Ozcan
Summary: This article reviews the recent development and applications of bioinspired nanocellulose-based materials, summarizes their functions and applications, discusses bioinspired design templates, strategies, advantages and challenges, and explores the mechanisms and processes of biomimetic design. Finally, future research directions and opportunities of bioinspired nanocellulose-based materials are highlighted.
Review
Polymer Science
Mehmet Ozgur Seydibeyoglu, Alperen Dogru, Jinwu Wang, Mitch Rencheck, Yousoo Han, Lu Wang, Elif Alyamac Seydibeyoglu, Xianhui Zhao, Kimberly Ong, Jo Anne Shatkin, Siamak Shams Es-haghi, Sunil Bhandari, Soydan Ozcan, Douglas J. Gardner
Summary: The use of composite materials in various applications has led to many innovations, including the development of hybrid fibers, sustainable materials, and nanocellulose as reinforcement. This review extensively discusses the applications of hybrid fiber reinforcement, nanocellulose, nanocellulose in hybrid forms, nanocellulose with other nanomaterials, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with their use, including safety issues. The review highlights the potential of using nano- and micron-sized materials together to create value-added products at an industrial scale, and also explores the novel solutions that hybrid structures consisting of two different nano-materials can offer in electronics and sensors applications.
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lu Wang, Peter V. Kelly, Nihan Ozveren, Xuefeng Zhang, Matthew Korey, Cong Chen, Kai Li, Sunil Bhandari, Halil Tekinalp, Xianhui Zhao, Jinwu Wang, M. Ozgur Seydibeyoglu, Elif Alyamac-Seydibeyoglu, William M. Gramlich, Mehdi Tajvidi, Erin Webb, Soydan Ozcan, Douglas J. Gardner
Summary: This review paper explores the multi-functional applications of cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs) in polymer coatings and adhesives. CNMs can enhance mechanical performance, gas barrier properties, flame resistance, corrosion resistance, self-healing, optical regulation, self-cleaning/antifouling, and antimicrobial characteristics of polymer coatings. The addition of CNMs to polymer adhesives offers benefits such as mechanical enhancement, curing promotion, volatile organic compound (VOC) suppression, and electrical conductivity. The paper aims to promote the research and commercial use of CNMs in green and sustainable polymer composite coating and adhesive formulations.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Rafa Tasnim, Lu Wang, Mahesh Parit, Yong-Jiang Zhang
Summary: Nanocellulose has the potential to be used as an adjuvant with foliar-applied pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture. However, the mechanism of how nanocellulose interacts with leaves is still unclear. This study found that the addition of nanocellulose affected the surface properties and water loss of one blueberry species, but not another. It also assisted the dispersion of foliar fertilizers on the leaf surface, potentially resulting in higher fruit yield.
ACS AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
