Article
Polymer Science
Yilong Liao, Li Pan, Zhe Ma, Dario Cavallo, Guoming Liu, Dujin Wang, Alejandro J. Mueller
Summary: The influence of a novel comonomer ODPA on the crystallization and self-nucleation behavior of isotactic polypropylene copolymers was studied. The results showed that ODPA incorporation significantly slowed down the crystallization kinetics and led to a sharp increase in nucleation density, resulting in smaller spherulitic superstructures. Moreover, ODPA induced a strong melt memory effect that persisted even above the equilibrium melting temperature for certain ODPA content ranges.
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Fu-Ting Yang, Yu-Ming Chen, Syang-Peng Rwei
Summary: A series of novel controllable shape-memory polymers composed of PET and PCL were synthesized using the one-pot method and spun using the melt spinning process. The copolymers exhibited good thermal and mechanical properties, as well as shape-memory behavior. The incorporation of a flexible PCL segment achieved random copolymers, resulting in high thermal stability and lower melting point. The strength of the spun fibers was affected by the PCL content.
FIBERS AND POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yingjie Huang, Zhen Shi, Hongli Wang, Jirong Wang, Zhigang Xue
Summary: This study presents a polyurethane-based solid polymer electrolyte with shape-memory performance and readily healable ability, which can control shape with the help of soft segments and is suitable for assembling flexible batteries.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2022)
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
Cell Biology
Matthias X. T. Santschi, Stephanie Huber, Jan Bujalka, Nouara Imhof, Michael Leunig, Stephen J. Ferguson
Summary: This study characterized the structure and tensile mechanical properties of melt-electrowritten polycaprolactone scaffolds and assessed their compatibility with labrum cells. The scaffolds were able to support primary labrum cell growth, with optimized fiber spacing and structure improving cell distribution and growth, although further development is needed to enhance both mechanical and biological compatibility.
Article
Crystallography
Cong Chen, Xue-Wen Zhang, Hai-Mu Ye
Summary: The introduction of 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) units as end groups in interacting telechelic poly(butylene succinate) (PBS-UPy) oligomers has been shown to increase primary nucleation density and promote nucleation, while reducing spherulite growth rate. The impact of UPy stacks on nucleation ability changes from inhibition to promotion with respect to molecular weight (M(n)), leading to a significant increase in nucleation density even under an initial inhibition of nucleation ability. The change in the impact of UPy stacks on nucleation ability is speculated to originate from the memory expression feasibility of ordered conformation in the melt during crystallization.
Article
Polymer Science
I. Razquin, A. Iregui, M. Cobos, J. Latasa, A. Eceiza, K. Gonzales, L. Martin, A. J. Muller, A. Gonzalez, L. Irusta
Summary: Epoxy/polycaprolactone (PCL) blends with cationic photo-initiator were prepared by solution and melt blending, and processed using various techniques including solvent casting, solution electrospinning, melt electrowriting, and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. The shape memory properties varied depending on the processing technique, with electrospun fibers showing optimal fixity and recovery ratios. AFM images revealed different morphologies for different processing techniques, with electrospun mats exhibiting Shish-Kebab-type crystalline morphology and superior solvent resistance properties. The electrospun mats also showed high affinity towards chloroform, suggesting potential applications as chloroform sensors.
Article
Polymer Science
W. H. Leung, E. M. Leitao, C. J. R. Verbeek
Summary: A random copolymer between PET and PCL was formed through catalytic transesterification in the melt, which could replace PBAT at a lower cost and manage waste PET. The transesterification process was achieved by using titanium alkoxide catalysts containing acidic metal ions and small linear ligands, with an insertion-coordination mechanism. The results demonstrate the feasibility of repurposing waste PET on extrusion scales and the creation of other biodegradable polyester materials.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yubo Shi, Lei Wang, Liguo Sun, Zhennan Qiu, Xiaoli Qu, Jingyi Dang, Zhao Zhang, Jiankang He, Hongbin Fan
Summary: Melt electrospinning writing (MEW) is a promising 3D printing technology for scaffold fabrication. This study investigated the use of NaOH treatment to enhance the cytocompatibility and osteoinductive properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. The NaOH-treated PCL scaffold exhibited nanopits and nanogrooves on the surface, which increased surface roughness and wettability, leading to improved cell proliferation and adhesion. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the NaOH-treated surface could induce osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via the integrin alpha 2/beta 1-PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Animal studies showed that the NaOH-treated PCL scaffold promoted new bone formation. The study concluded that NaOH treatment is a simple and effective method to enhance the cellular affinity and osteoinductive property of MEW PCL scaffolds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOPRINTING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Skoura, Peter Bohac, Martin Barlog, Helena Palkova, Martin Danko, Juraj Surka, Andreas Mautner, Juraj Bujdak
Summary: This study developed a strategy for forming composite thin films on the surface of a polymer matrix, achieving the connection between modified Sap and polymer through fusion of molten polymer chains into the Sap film. The results provide directions for future research aimed at developing composite materials with photosensitizing, photodisinfection, and antimicrobial surfaces.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Dong Lyu, Ran Chen, Ying Lu, Yongfeng Men
Summary: Beta alpha recrystallization refers to the melting of beta crystallites followed by recrystallization into alpha phase in iPP. This phenomenon is typically observed after cooling down beta-nucleated iPP from the crystallization temperature to below 100 degrees C before heating. The study investigated this recrystallization process in beta-iPP with different molecular weights during heating starting at the crystallization temperature. It was found that beta-iPP12K, with a molar mass of about 12 kg/mol, exhibited beta alpha recrystallization during slow heating, which gradually reduced with an increase in the Tc of beta-iPP12K. As for beta-iPP with high molar mass, the temperature at which amorphous self-nuclei were induced was already beyond the appropriate temperature for alpha growth.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Luojia Zhang, Evgeny Zhuravlev, Jun Yi, Qijie Zhai, Christoph Schick, Yulai Gao, Bingge Zhao
Summary: Crystal nucleation is a crucial step in the crystallization of metallic glasses. However, the nucleation kinetics can deviate from the classical nucleation theory as the undercooling increases. This study examines the nucleation kinetics in glass and undercooled melt using nanocalorimetry. By varying the cooling rate, the processes of crystallization, homogeneous nucleation, and heterogeneous nucleation are distinguished. The critical cooling rates for suppressing crystallization and nucleation are estimated, and a well-identified amorphous phase is produced for nucleation studies. The underlying kinetic mechanism is revealed through the analysis of crystallization heat and overall heat using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami method.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Sherry Ashour, Huaizhong Xu
Summary: An experimental study is conducted to investigate the jet dynamics of melt electrowriting. High-definition images of jet piling up to 15 layers are recorded. The most notable finding is that the jet diameter remains constant at the landing point despite variations along the spinline. Accurate deduction of jet speeds along the spinline from the jet diameter facilitates high-precision printing of melt electrowriting.
POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Johnson H. Y. Chung, Sepidar Sayyar, Gordon G. Wallace
Summary: Melt-electrowriting is an emerging method for fabricating micron-scale structures suitable for tissue engineering. This study demonstrated that the addition of graphene can significantly improve the processability of polycaprolactone and enhance the resolution of the fabricated scaffolds. Moreover, graphene can tailor the degradation process and prevent damage to the internal matrix of the polymer.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kentaro Atsukawa, Shuntaro Amari, Hiroshi Takiyama
Summary: The study introduced the original concept of SDMC for dispersing a target material in a matrix, and investigated the effects of cooling, agitation, and aeration on dissolution rate. The experimental results showed that these operations enhanced the dissolution rate by increasing the nucleation rate based on the SDMC concept.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Brahim Bessif, Barbara Heck, Thomas Pfohl, Cuong Minh Quoc Le, Abraham Chemtob, Valentina Pirela, Justine Elgoyhen, Radmila Tomovska, Alejandro J. Mueller, Guenter Reiter
Summary: We investigated the crystallization and melting behavior of an alternating copolymer synthesized by photopolymerization. Two melting processes were observed upon increasing temperature, which were related to the formation and disappearance of two crystalline polymorphs. Crystals grew in a radial direction within molten spherulites, suggesting a memory effect of polymer chains. This memory assisted nucleation and enabled the formation of a high-Tm polymorph.
Article
Polymer Science
Anna Malafronte, Miriam Scoti, Maria Rosaria Caputo, Bo Li, Rachel K. O' Reilly, Andrew P. Dove, Alejandro J. Mueller, Claudio De Rosa
Summary: The crystal structure of poly-(7-heptalactone) (PHL) is determined using various techniques including X-ray powder diffraction and electron diffraction patterns. PHL is synthesized through ring-opening polymerization of eta-heptalactone and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization with diphenyl phosphate as a catalyst. The refined crystal structure reveals that the chains of PHL adopt a trans planar conformation and are packed in an orthorhombic unit cell with dimensions a = 7.37 Å, b = 5.05 Å, and c = 10.07 Å, symmetry P2(1).
Article
Polymer Science
Nicholas F. Mendez, Deboleena Dhara, Qingteng Zhang, Suresh Narayanan, Linda S. Schadler, Alejandro J. J. Muller, Sanat K. Kumar
Summary: X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements were used to analyze the dynamics of bare and bimodal grafted silica nanoparticles mixed with PEO melts. The results showed diffusive behavior of the nanoparticles in dilute polymer nanocomposite samples, taking into account the adsorbed PEO polymer layer. The dynamics of grafted nanoparticles were found to be influenced by morphology and grafting parameters at larger scales.
Article
Polymer Science
Ruth N. Schmarsow, Ulises Casado, Marcelo Ceolin, Ileana A. Zucchi, Alejandro J. Mueller, Walter F. Schroeder
Summary: There is increasing interest in the study of supramolecular networks formed by self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules due to their responsive behavior to external stimuli. Embedding these networks into polymer matrices can lead to functional polymers with various applications. This study investigates the behavior of supramolecular networks in a rubbery polymer matrix and reveals the influence of diffusional and topological limitations on the dynamics and crystallization within the network. Mechanical tests show that the deformation capacity of these materials can be precisely tuned by programming the temperature within the melting range of the supramolecular network.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Eleonora Tassara, Boaz Orel, Micha Ilan, Dario Cavallo, Andrea Dodero, Maila Castellano, Silvia Vicini, Marco Giovine, Marina Pozzolini
Summary: This study investigates the molecular and chemical-physical properties of collagen extracted from Chondrosia reniformis sponges collected in different seasons to evaluate the potential impact of sea temperature. The results show that collagen fibrils extracted from samples at 17 degrees C have lower lysyl-hydroxylation level, thermal stability, and protein glycosylation level compared to those extracted from samples at 27 degrees C. Membranes made from 17 degrees C fibrils exhibit higher stiffness than those made from 27 degrees C fibrils. The differences in collagen properties are important in guiding the use of the biomaterial.
Article
Polymer Science
Enrico Carmeli, Seif Eddine Fenni, Katarzyna Dziza, Konrad Gebauer, Markus Gahleitner, Dario Cavallo
Summary: This study proposes a novel method to study nucleating additives in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) by observing the fractionated crystallization when blending HDPE with polystyrene (PS). It is found that various nucleating additives affect the fractionated crystallization behavior of the blend, resulting in droplets that crystallize at higher temperatures than neat HDPE/PS.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Leire Sangroniz, Yoon-Jung Jang, Marc A. Hillmyer, Alejandro J. Muller
Summary: The performance of sustainable polymers can be modified and enhanced by incorporating functional groups in the backbone of the polymer chain that increases intermolecular interactions, thus impacting the thermal properties of the material. This study investigates the role of intermolecular interactions on the crystallization of these polymers and proposes a systematic strategy to modify the thermal properties and crystallization kinetics by incorporating functional groups. The results show that the thermal transitions and crystallization kinetics of PEs can be independently tuned by varying their chemical structure.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Leire Sangroniz, Maryam Safari, Antxon Martinez de Ilarduya, Haritz Sardon, Dario Cavallo, Alejandro J. Mueller
Summary: This study investigates the effect of incorporating a second comonomer unit in the crystalline unit cell on the melt memory effect of a major component in a random isodimorphic copolymer. It is found that even small amounts of the second comonomer unit significantly reduce the melt memory effect of the copolymers. This reduction is attributed to the disruption of intermolecular interactions and the reduction in self-nucleation capacity caused by the incorporation of the second comonomer unit in the polymer chain.
Article
Polymer Science
Yilong Liao, Ricardo A. Perez-Camargo, Haritz Sardon, Antxon Martinez de Ilarduya, Wenxian Hu, Guoming Liu, Dujin Wang, Alejandro J. Muller
Summary: In this study, poly(hexamethylene-ran-octamethylene carbonate) copolycarbonates were synthesized and found to exhibit higher crystallinities than the parent components. A new crystalline phase different from the homopolymers was also discovered. Through experimental and structural characterization, the unique thermal behavior of the copolymers was confirmed. This finding challenges the concept of isodimorphism.
Correction
Polymer Science
Anna Malafronte, Miriam Scoti, Maria Rosaria Caputo, Bo Li, Rachel K. O' Reilly, Andrew P. Dove, Alejandro J. Muller, Claudio De Rosa
Article
Polymer Science
Magdalena Gora, Sebastian Coba-Daza, Enrico Carmeli, Davide Tranchida, Andreas Albrecht, Alejandro J. Muller, Dario Cavallo
Summary: In blends of polyethylene (PE) as the minor component dispersed in a polypropylene (PP) matrix, increasing the crystallization temperature of the PP matrix enhances the crystallization rate of PE by promoting epitaxial nucleation at the interface. This study investigates the behavior of different industrially produced PE grades in immiscible blends with PP as the matrix.
Article
Polymer Science
Yilong Liao, Li Pan, Zhe Ma, Dario Cavallo, Guoming Liu, Dujin Wang, Alejandro J. Mueller
Summary: The influence of a novel comonomer ODPA on the crystallization and self-nucleation behavior of isotactic polypropylene copolymers was studied. The results showed that ODPA incorporation significantly slowed down the crystallization kinetics and led to a sharp increase in nucleation density, resulting in smaller spherulitic superstructures. Moreover, ODPA induced a strong melt memory effect that persisted even above the equilibrium melting temperature for certain ODPA content ranges.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pietro Marchi, Wei Wang, Cristian Puig, Ander Martin, Tullio Crovetto, Jalel Labidi, Renata Riva, Dario Cavallo, Lisa Moni
Summary: An efficient and smart synthesis of bis-alpha-ketoamides using biobased aldehydes, acetic acid, and bis-isocyanides has been presented. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their effect on the crystallization behavior of PLLA. Only a few compounds showed significant enhancement in PLLA nucleation, suggesting the potential of the proposed combinatorial synthetic approach for the discovery of new efficient biobased polymer additives.
Article
Polymer Science
Mustafa Kalay, Abidin Esidir, Mahmut Ruzi, N. Burak Kiremitler, Mustafa Serdar Onses
Summary: This study proposes stable and addressable polymer PUFs, utilizing a cross-linkable polymer system, which demonstrates high stochastic characteristics and low-cost production. The performance of the polymer features is evaluated through various analyses, and direct image authentication is achieved using feature matching algorithms.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Jingyu Jin, Guoqiang Lu, Jun Nie, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: Photopolymerization technology is limited in the fields of food packaging and biomedicine due to the high migration of small molecules from photoinitiators. In this study, a polymerizable 2-vinyl thioxanthone (ETX) was synthesized to improve the migration stability of photoinitiators. Macromolecular photoinitiators (PPI1, PPI2) were also prepared to further reduce migration. The results showed that the ETX/TEOA system had higher initiation performance and PPI2 displayed favorable initiation ability. Additionally, the migration of ETX, PPI1, and PPI2 in photocured film was significantly reduced. These low-migration photoinitiators have potential applications in the fields of food packaging and biological materials.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Weijie Li, Jun Nie, Yingying Zhao, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: This study focuses on the development of high-performance, low-migration photoinitiators. A polymerizable photoinitiator (VBP) was synthesized by introducing an ethylene group into benzophenone, and three different molecular weight single-component photoinitiators (PVBN1-3) were synthesized based on VBP. The results show that these new photoinitiators have stronger absorption ability compared to benzophenone and significantly reduce the migration of initiators and co-initiators, addressing the safety concerns caused by migration.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Seira Morimune-Moriya, Yuki Iwahashi, Mitsuru Nakamura, Daisuke Ogawa, Keiji Nakamura
Summary: This study investigates the effect of plasma treatment on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the structure/properties of polyimide (PI) nanocomposites with ultra-low content of CNTs. The results show that plasma treatment introduces isocyanate groups on the surface of CNTs and enhances the interfacial interaction between PI and treated CNTs. This leads to a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, with even a small addition of treated CNTs showing a substantial increase in Young's modulus, tensile strength and toughness.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuanlong Li, Chaojie Chen, Guoqing Cui, Li Liu, Chao Zhou, Guangfeng Wu
Summary: In this study, a novel ion-conducting hydrogel was fabricated using a straightforward approach. The hydrogel showed excellent tensile properties and high toughness due to physical interactions and covalent binding. Additionally, the introduction of hydroxyethyl cellulose and lithium chloride improved the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and frost resistance of the hydrogel, demonstrating its potential for cold climate applications.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Dengwei Yan, Jinxian Yang, Xuejun Pan, Xiaozheng Duan, Lianwei Li, Mo Zhu
Summary: The influence of backbone length on grafting efficiency during the graft-onto reaction process was investigated. It was found that the polydispersity effect of backbone length does not affect the final grafting efficiency, indicating that the local dynamics of chain segments dominate the graft-onto process.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhaoyi Luo, Xianjie Pan, Fanqi Liu, Quanxi Yi, Yanning Zeng, Yunhua Chen, Chaoyang Wang
Summary: This study provides a method to prepare high-performance epoxy materials with good malleability and thermal stability. The materials have self-healing and welding capabilities, thanks to the addition of specific chemical bonds and network structures. They exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial epoxy resins and show great potential for sustainable industrial development.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Chaoji Xiong, Hao Wang, Lihua Deng, Kun Liang, Chunhua Wu, Wei Wu, Qian Chen
Summary: In this study, four polyamides were synthesized and their adsorption performances for Hg2+ in aqueous systems were investigated. The polyamides exhibited high adsorption capacities and excellent reusability, with the involvement of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the chemical adsorption process of Hg2+.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Siim Laanesoo, Olivier Bonjour, Rauno Sedrik, Iris Tamsalu, Patric Jannasch, Lauri Vares
Summary: The insertion of rigid aliphatic or aromatic building blocks in polymer structures is an effective way to synthesize high -Tg polymer materials. In this study, a series of isosorbide-2-aryl carboxylate-5-methacrylate monomers (ArIMAs) were synthesized by functionalizing isosorbide 5-methacrylate with various aromatic lignin-inspired esters. These monomers were polymerized to obtain high molecular-weight poly(aryl carboxylate isosorbide methacrylates) (PArIMAs). The resulting polymers showed high glass transition temperatures and thermal stability, making them suitable for use as high-performance plastics and coatings.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuqian Wu, Weijie Xu, Jianliang Li, Zhangfeng Zhong, Liqing Huang, Shengke Li, Huaping Tan
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of degradation and drug release characteristics of dynamic Schiff base-mediated natural polysaccharide hydrogels using tannic acid (TA), leading to enhanced stability and functionality.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Xi Zhang, Xiangli Kong, Xin Zhou, Yiyan Gao, Yibo Sun, Guanghui Gao, Wei Liu, Kai Shi
Summary: Conductive hydrogels have great development prospects in flexible strain sensors, but long-term direct contact with human skin can cause bacterial infection. A hydrogel with antibacterial, biocompatibility, and toughness was designed and manufactured using a freeze-thaw method. The hydrogel maintains tensile properties and fatigue resistance at low temperatures and is resistant to bacteria. Therefore, hydrogel sensors can be used to monitor human movements.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Wei Zhang, Jiangang Yu, Mingyang Wu, Rui Li, Anqiang Zhang, Yaling Lin
Summary: In this study, polyacrylamide containing quaternary ammonium salts (PAM-X) were synthesized and found to effectively inhibit soil-borne pathogenic fungi while maintaining the balance of microbial population in soil. PAM-X also showed low toxicity to earthworms and fish, providing a new method for the prevention and control of soil-borne fungal diseases.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Jiawen He, Haojie Yu, Li Wang, Jian Yang, Yanhui Zhang, Wenbing Huang, Chenguang Ouyang
Summary: This review discusses the use of polymeric hydrogels for atmospheric water harvesting (AWH), including the mechanism of water sorption, fabrication methods, and strategies for optimizing the structure of hydrogels. The extended applications of hygroscopic photothermal hydrogels, such as agricultural irrigation and dehumidification, are also explored. The challenges and prospects of using polymeric hydrogels for AWH are summarized.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Ying Du, Shuaishuai Lu, Yuanna Sun, Qingshan Li, Xinhai He
Summary: This study introduces a method to improve the performance of hydrogels by incorporating proline, resulting in hydrogels with excellent stretchability, high conductivity, and long-term stability. The hydrogel remains flexible and conductive even at ultra-low temperatures.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)