Article
Food Science & Technology
Jie Liu, Liru Zhang, Chang Liu, Xuejing Zheng, Keyong Tang
Summary: Crosslinking gelatin edible films with oxidized polysaccharides, such as pullulan dialdehyde (PDA), can significantly alter the structure and properties of the films. The molecular weight of PDA plays a crucial role in affecting the network structure and properties of the gelatin films. Overall, PDA crosslinking is a potential alternative for tuning the structure and properties of gelatin edible films.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Dejin Jiao, Zhengqun Li, Jia Yu Hu, Xin Ning Zhang, Jiaqi Guo, Qiang Zheng, Zi Liang Wu
Summary: This study reports water resistant nanocomposites composed of sustainable chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that are physically cross-linked by tannic acid (TA) to enhance and stabilize wet mechanical properties. The formation of polymer-coated core/shell nanofibrils at the intermediate stage is crucial for the well-defined nanopaper structures. With the increase in the amount of conjugated TA, the swollen nanocomposites show superior mechanical properties compared to existing water-borne nanofibils/polymer nanocomposites.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yueyue Xia, Chao Gao, Yue Li, Fanrong Meng, Shoujuan Wang, Fangong Kong
Summary: The pollution caused by petroleum plastics on the environment is increasing. To address this issue, a biodegradable composite film was developed using corn starch carbamate, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and lignosulfonate. The composite film showed improved mechanical properties, UV resistance, water resistance, and thermal stability when the degree of substitution (DS) of starch carbamate was increased. The resulting composite film with DS=0.14 exhibited better performance compared to other DS composite films, highlighting its potential as a degradable packaging material.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liming Zhang, Kangning Li, Dawei Yu, Joe M. Regenstein, Junli Dong, Wanwen Chen, Wenshui Xia
Summary: Chitosan and zein were used to develop bilayer films with a one-way water barrier. The effects of mass ratios on the microstructure and properties of the films were investigated. The results showed that the C:Z = 1:3 film had better performance, especially in water vapor and oxygen permeability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Shengdu Yang, Yushun He, Junhua Zhang
Summary: A simple and feasible method is demonstrated to prepare a series of naphthalene-type photocurable enhancement resin with excellent thermal/mechanical properties and low dielectric traits. The effect of succinic acid (SA) chain-extending segments on the thermal and mechanical properties of SA chain-extending NDE (S-NDE) resin is systematically investigated and an optimized synthesized route is presented. The optimized UV-curing S-NDE thin film exhibits robust tensile strength, excellent heat resistance, high stretchability, and desired dielectric constant.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiangnan Feng, Xiaomeng Hu, Jie Yu, Min Zhao, Fan Yang, Xinrui Wang, Caili Zhang, Yunxuan Weng, Jingbin Han
Summary: In this study, a two-phase mixture (HTLc) of hydrotalcite and its oxide was used to enhance the barrier properties, UV resistance, and antimicrobial activity of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) for liquid milk packaging. CaZnAl-CO3-LDHs with a two-dimensional layered structure were synthesized as precursors and characterized. PET/HTLc composite films were prepared and characterized, revealing a possible mechanism. The addition of 1.5 wt% HTLc in the PET composite film resulted in significant improvements in barrier properties, antimicrobial efficacy, and UV resistance.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Rui Wang, Zexu Zhang, Xuqiu Bai, Zhichun Xu, Jun Zheng, Fei Pan, Caideng Yuan
Summary: In this study, UV/AZ-WPUA emulsion was prepared by introducing a trifunctional aziridine crosslinking agent. The optimal Sac-100 content was determined to be 4 wt%, which significantly enhanced the performance, mechanical properties, and water resistance of the coating films.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Son Van Nguyen, Bong-Kee Lee
Summary: Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was used to enhance the water resistance and water vapor barrier properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. The addition of 10% AKD significantly reduced water absorption and solubility of the PVA/AKD film, while also decreasing the water vapor transmission rate.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Natalia Prorokova, Svetlana Vavilova
Summary: This paper presents an original method for forming a stable coating on a polypropylene yarn, providing it with barrier antimicrobial properties, reducing electrical resistance, increasing strength, and achieving high chemical resistance. The method involves forming an ultrathin, continuous, and uniform coating on the surface of each filament at the melt-spinning stage of the yarn.
Review
Polymer Science
Prabaharan Graceraj Ponnusamy, Sudhagar Mani
Summary: The use of plastics in packaging manufacturing has raised concerns about environmental pollution. Natural polymers extracted from renewable resources are being explored as alternatives to plastics due to their biodegradable and non-toxic properties. However, the brittleness and hydrophilic nature of natural polymers limit their suitability for packaging applications. The addition of plasticizers, crosslinkers, and reinforcement agents can improve their mechanical and water vapor resistance properties. Nanocellulose can strengthen the natural polymer-based packaging films by enhancing their tensile strength and water vapor barrier properties.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Haishun Du, Mahesh Parit, Kun Liu, Miaomiao Zhang, Zhihua Jiang, Tung-Shi Huang, Xinyu Zhang, Chuanling Si
Summary: This study demonstrated a simple and efficient method to functionalize cellulose nanopaper with water resistance, high transparency, excellent antibacterial, and barrier properties, expanding its potential applications. By impregnating chitosan and conducting halogenation, the functionalized CNP showed significant enhancements in strength, transmittance, optical haze, and antibacterial performance.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Lei Chen, Bin Cao, Xuewen Guo, Yiwu Quan, Shanzhi Yan
Summary: This study investigates the effects of phase separation in PP/POE blends on their thermal and tensile properties as well as UV resistance. The results show that the type of POE hardly affects the melt flow rate and crystallization behavior of modified PP samples. The introduction of POE with smaller dispersed phase size improves low-temperature elongation, while blends with a larger microdomain exhibit better high-temperature tensile strength.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jin-Woo Kim, Joseph Batta-Mpouma, Gurshagan Kandhola, Joshua Sakon
Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can be crosslinked to form nanoparticle-based hydrogels with tunable physicochemical properties, which improves the instability issue of CNCs in moist environments. The strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonding can be controlled by the type and concentration of crosslinkers as well as the CNC concentration. By changing the crosslinking conditions, the surface chemistry of CNCs can be transformed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, and the topology and aqueous stability of self-assembled structures can be tuned.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhanjian Liu, Congyuan Zhang, Xiguang Zhang, Chijia Wang, Fatang Liu, Ruixia Yuan, Huaiyuan Wang
Summary: A robust superhydrophobic PVDF/FEVE/GO@TiO2 composite coating with high water contact angle and low sliding angle was successfully fabricated, showing excellent mechanical durability and chemical stability. The coating can maintain stability under strong acidic and alkaline conditions and inhibit the formation of CaCO3 scale.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jiaxiu Wang, Yu Cao, Bea Jaquet, Christoph Gerhard, Wei Li, Xiaodong Xia, Judith E. Rauschendorfer, Philipp Vana, Kai Zhang
Summary: This study reports the fabrication of novel self-compounded nanocomposite membranes from a single polymer, cellulose cinnamate, exhibiting outstanding properties such as tensile strength and water vapor permeability. Additionally, these membranes demonstrate UV shielding and photothermal conversion properties, and are applied as food packaging materials, indicating promising applications for nanocomposites with multiple superior properties.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chaozheng Liu, Weimin Chen, Shu Hong, Mingzhu Pan, Min Jiang, Qinglin Wu, Changtong Mei
Article
Polymer Science
Jun Jiang, Changtong Mei, Mingzhu Pan, Jinzhen Cao
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chunxiao Zheng, Yiying Yue, Lu Gan, Xinwu Xu, Changtong Mei, Jingquan Han
Article
Polymer Science
Jun Jiang, Yupeng Chen, Jinzhen Cao, Changtong Mei
Article
Polymer Science
Lu Gan, Aobo Geng, Ying Wu, Linjie Wang, Xingyu Fang, Lijie Xu, Changtong Mei
Article
Polymer Science
Li Xu, Ying Li, Shiyu Gao, Yue Niu, Huaxuan Liu, Changtong Mei, Jiabin Cai, Changyan Xu
Article
Polymer Science
Yanping Huang, Shuai Zhang, He Chen, Chunxiang Ding, Yan Xuan, Mingzhu Pan, Changtong Mei
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yingji Wu, Haoran Ye, Guiyang Zheng, Changtong Mei, Liping Cai, Quyet Van Le, Changlei Xia
Summary: In this study, a quadruple-layering approach was used to fabricate multilayered materials, and it was found that increasing the number of layers can enhance the mechanical properties of the materials. However, the issue of non-uniform layer thickness restricts the improvement of properties.
Editorial Material
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jun Jiang, Jingjing Du, Huixian Li, Changtong Mei, Xuemei Gong
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Guoqiang Zhou, Mei-Chun Li, Chaozheng Liu, Weimin Chen, Gaomin Yu, Daotong Zhang, Zhenglin Li, Changtong Mei
Summary: In order to achieve sustainable development of portable electronic devices, there is an urgent need to develop safe and wearable energy storage devices from natural resources. A flexible Zn-ion hybrid capacitor (ZIHC) is developed using oil palm wood derived hierarchical porous carbon (PC) as the cathode and cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based hydrogel as the electrolyte. The PC has a high surface area and hierarchical porous structure, allowing for abundant active sites and rapid diffusion of electrolyte ions. The hydrogel electrolyte with high ionic conductivity is successfully produced. The ZIHC based on the PC and hydrogel electrolyte exhibits favorable specific capacity, large energy density, and remarkable cycling stability.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Tongtong Ma, Qianqian Zhou, Chaozheng Liu, Liping Li, Chuigen Guo, Changtong Mei
Summary: In this study, a multifunctional biofilm with early fire-warning capabilities was developed, which also exhibited strong weather resistance and flame resistance. The biofilm showed an ultrasensitive fire-response signal and a long-term warning time, and it also possessed superhydrophobic, antifouling, self-cleaning, and anti-ultraviolet capabilities.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue Jiao, Ke Xu, Huining Xiao, Changtong Mei, Jian Li
Summary: The ORR and OER are important electrochemical reactions in energy conversion and storage technologies, and noble-metal-based catalysts are typically used to enhance their kinetics. However, the high cost of noble metals limits their practical applications. Carbon-based catalysts, especially biomass-derived carbon aerogels, have emerged as a promising alternative with their affordability and excellent properties. This review focuses on various nanostructured materials based on biomass-derived carbon aerogels as ORR/OER catalysts, including metal atoms, metal compounds, and alloys.