Article
Polymer Science
Simeng Liu, Guoqiang Han, Mengmeng Zhang, Bijin Xiong, Jiangping Xu, Jintao Zhu
Summary: Grafting polymer ligands onto gold nanoparticles through gold-sulfur bonds is a common and easy way to produce gold-polymer hybrid nanoparticles. The bonding effects of sulfur-containing end groups on gold nanoparticles were investigated, and it was found that weak bonding between thiolactone-terminated polymers and gold nanoparticles resulted in unstable conjugates. By optimizing the assembly parameters, a superlattice film of gold-polymer conjugates could be constructed.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Jan Sher Khan, Rizwan Akram, Mozaffar Hussain, Saima Rafique, Farrukh Bashir Kayani, Anis Ur Rehman
Summary: Composite fibers of bismuth telluride with polyaniline and polyvinylpyrrolidone were synthesized via electrospinning. The morphology and surface morphology of the fibers were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the increase in crystalline phase and revealed the influence of functional groups. The thermogravimetric analysis and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed the thermal stability and decreased bandgap of the composite fibers.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Phuong Pham, Susan Oliver, Duong Thanh Nguyen, Cyrille Boyer
Summary: Antimicrobial polymers (AMPs) are a promising approach to combat drug-resistant pathogens. By adding neutral hydrophilic monomers to binary polymers, ternary polymers can be enhanced in terms of biocompatibility. The balance of cationic groups is crucial in determining the antibacterial activity and selectivity of the polymers. The study reveals that polymers with a specific ratio of cationic groups and an appropriate neutral hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance exhibit the highest selectivity towards mammalian cells.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Characterization & Testing
Chunrui Lu, Wenlong Ma, Shuhong Ba, Dongxing Zhang
Summary: This study introduced a method for calculating resin content using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for carbon fiber/ poly (ether ether ketone) (CF/PEEK) composites. The TGA curves and DTG curves were divided into four stages, and the resin content was accurately obtained from the transitional stage and stable stage. Results compared with other methods showed that the TGA method was suitable for resin fraction calculation with slight difference.
Article
Polymer Science
Ibrahim Dubdub
Summary: In this study, thermal cracking of plastic wastes, including polystyrene (PS), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP), was investigated using thermal analysis technique thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to predict the weight fraction of mixed polymers, and the results showed good agreement between the actual and predicted values, indicating the high efficiency of the model in simulating new data.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrei Nikolaev, Zhipeng Lu, Arunavo Chakraborty, Lior Sepunaru, Javier Read De Alaniz
Summary: This study demonstrates the on-demand interconversion between living radical and cationic polymerization using a dual responsive catalyst, which allows for controlled polymer synthesis with a broader substrate scope. By alternately applying photochemical and electrochemical stimuli, the incorporation of acrylates and vinyl ethers can be achieved without compromising the polymer's end-group fidelity or dispersity. The results provide a proof-of-concept for extending the substrate scope for block copolymer synthesis under mild, metal-free conditions using a single, dual reactive catalyst.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Karen Barrios Tarazona, Gilberto Ramos-Rivera, David Suleiman
Summary: This study focuses on the synthesis of sulfonated amine block copolymers and their impact on the morphology and transport properties of polymeric membranes for chemical protective clothing (CPC). The copolymers were prepared using specific monomers and sulfonated by chemical grafting. Various characterization techniques were used to analyze the changes in the membranes. The results show that the synthesized copolymers lacked phase segregation due to low sulfonation, leading to a low water/DMMP selectivity. Blended membranes with sulfonated poly(styrene-isobutylene-styrene) (SIBS) improved breathability and achieved the desired water vapor transport rate limit.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wladyslaw Janusz, Ewa Skwarek, Dariusz Sternik, Stanislaw Pikus
Summary: Yttrium citrate was synthesized in aqueous environment through hydrothermal treatment. The product is crystalline yttrium citrate dihydrate, which undergoes thermal decomposition in synthetic air, releasing water and carbon dioxide.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ibrahim Dubdub, Mohammed Al-Yaari
Summary: An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to predict the pyrolysis of mixed plastics efficiently, showing excellent agreement with experimental data. A sensitivity analysis revealed that temperature was the most sensitive input parameter in the model.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Xiuju Lin, Hao Pang, Daidong Wei, Bing Liao
Summary: In this study, crosslinked polycarboxylate superplasticizers were synthesized using different crosslinking agents, and their performance was characterized. It was found that superplasticizers containing ester groups exhibited better dispersibility, fluidity retention, and adsorption capacity than those containing amide groups. Additionally, the ester-based superplasticizers promoted cement hydration to a greater degree than their amide-based counterparts.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
You Shu, Qionglin Luo, Mingliang Wang, Yuejun Ouyang, Hongwei Lin, Liping Sheng, Shengpei Su
Summary: This study demonstrated that the introduction of L-PVAc into PLA can significantly improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. Furthermore, at a L-PVAc content of 20.0 wt%, the impact strength, elongation at break, glass transition temperature, melting temperature, and degree of crystallinity of the composites were significantly increased compared to pure PLA.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Farzin Azimpour-Shishevan, M. A. Mohtadi-Bonab, Hamit Akbulut
Summary: This study investigates the effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene platelets (GPLs) on the characteristics of carbon/basalt fiber reinforced intra-ply hybrid composites. The results show that the addition of carbon-based nanoparticles improves the properties of the composites, and the response of the composites is directly proportional to the addition ratio of the carbon-based nanoparticles.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Ahmet Akar, Nilgun Kizilcan, Yusuf Yivlik, Derya Onen
Summary: Cyclohexanone-formaldehyde resin and acetophenone-formaldehyde resin were modified in situ with sodium alendronate and nanocomposites containing sepiolite and montmorillonite were successfully produced. The modified resins and their nanocomposites were used to produce reactive non-toxic fire retardant rigid polyurethane foam, with good flame retardant properties and self-extinguishing characteristics observed in testing. The study demonstrated the potential for using alendronic acid-modified resins and nanoclays for developing flame retardant polyurethane materials.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Maximilian Scherger, Hans Joachim Raeder, Lutz Nuhn
Summary: The study combines reversible degradable disulfide conjugates with self-immolative linkers to introduce the concept of self-immolative RAFT-polymer end group modifications. Quantitative end group modification is confirmed using H-1 NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and mass spectrometry, and successful reversible release of attached compounds is monitored under physiological reductive conditions.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
F. L. Zhu, X. Li, Q. Q. Feng
Summary: The study investigated the pyrolysis kinetic mechanism of regenerated cellulosic fiber and composite RCF containing silicon/nitrogen flame retardants, showing that FR treated RCF exhibits enhanced activation energy.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Mohamed Naguib, Kate L. Nixon, Daniel J. Keddie
Summary: This study reports the synthesis of two novel trithiocarbonate RAFT agents for bottlebrush synthesis via ROMP grafting-through polymerization. The correlation between the monomer type, degree of polymerization, and RAFT agent structure has been investigated. The results reveal that the properties of the resulting polymers are influenced by the monomer type, degree of polymerization, and RAFT agent structure.
Review
Polymer Science
Graeme Moad
Summary: This paper discusses the development of the term 'reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP)' and highlights the significance of the paper that introduced this term.
POLYMER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Basel Abu Sharkh, Ahmad A. Al-Amoudi, Mohammed Farooque, Christopher M. Fellows, Seungwon Ihm, Sangho Lee, Sheng Li, Nikolay Voutchkov
Summary: The ocean is considered a sustainable source of important materials for civilization. The expansion of seawater desalination brings the dream of utilizing commercially viable products from the ocean closer to reality. The economic use of desalination plant concentrate relies on the development of more economic separation and concentration technologies. Commercial development of non-NaCl components of desalination brine may depend on the market demand for NaCl.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christopher M. Fellows, Richard G. Jones, Daniel J. Keddie, Christine K. Luscombe, John B. Matson, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Jan Merna, Graeme Moad, Tamaki Nakano, Stanislaw Penczek, Gregory T. Russell, Paul D. Topham
Summary: Chain polymerizations are a type of reaction where monomers and active sites on polymer chains react in propagation steps. Different forms of chain polymerization can be distinguished based on the mechanism of the propagation step, the presence or absence of termination steps, the involvement of transfer steps, and the type of chain carrier or active site.
PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Harriet R. Fowler, Dara M. O'Brien, Daniel J. Keddie, Cameron Alexander, Derek J. Irvine, Robert A. Stockman, Steven M. Howdle, Vincenzo Taresco
Summary: Polyols and polyacrylates are widely used in polymer synthesis and can be used as monomers, initiators, or building blocks. Finding bio-based/renewable sources for these compounds is crucial due to the increasing need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. By functionalizing the alkene moieties of common terpenes through oxidation, the toolbox of bio-based diols and triols is expanded. These polyols can be easily converted into terpene-derived diacrylates under mild conditions. As demonstrated, these monomers can be used in aza-Michael polymerizations to form new (bio)degradable poly-beta-amino esters.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Charles H. J. Johnson, Thomas H. Spurling, Graeme Moad
Summary: The proposed method utilizes partial moments to accurately simulate the evolution of polymer composition and molar mass, allowing for rigorous evaluation of different chain lengths and reducing the complexity of the system.
Review
Polymer Science
Cyrille Boyer, Masami Kamigaito, Kotaro Satoh, Graeme Moad
Summary: This article surveys the progress in the development of radical-promoted single-unit monomer insertion (SUMI) or reversible deactivation radical addition (RDRA) processes, with a focus on aminoxyl-[nitroxide-] mediated SUMI (NM-SUMI), reversible-addition-fragmentation chain transfer-SUMI (RAFT-SUMI), and atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA). The strategies for achieving selectivity in single unit insertion vs oligomerization and the progress towards discrete oligomer synthesis by consecutive SUMI reactions are discussed. The prospects of using radical-promoted SUMI in the synthesis of sequence-defined polymers are also examined.
PROGRESS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Glenn K. K. Clothier, Thiago R. . Guimaraes, Lisa T. Strover, Per B. Zetterlund, Graeme Moad
Summary: This paper describes the electrochemically initiated emulsion polymerization method with reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (eRAFT) for the formation of well-defined multiblock copolymers with low molar mass dispersity. Using a seeded RAFT emulsion polymerization approach at ambient temperature, the synthesis of low dispersity multiblock copolymers was successfully demonstrated. The method achieved the predicted characteristics of each generation of the multiblocks, including the desired molar mass, low molar mass dispersity, incrementing particle size, and low particle size dispersity.
Article
Water Resources
Mohammed Mahmoodur Rahman, Ali Al-Hamzah, Ali Al-Sahary, Christopher M. Fellows, Ibrahim M. Al-Farsani
Summary: To solve the problem of phosphate hide-out, researchers have found that the use of FFAP can effectively control corrosion and prevent scaling, eliminating the need for carbohydrazide and phosphate. Through the evaluation study, it was demonstrated that FFAP is a good alternative to an oxygen scavenger.
WATER RESOURCES AND INDUSTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali A. Alhamzah, Abdulrahman S. Alofi, Abdulrahman A. Abid, Christopher M. Fellows
Summary: Bromate, a potential carcinogenic disinfection by-product, can be formed from seawater-derived bromide during disinfection in desalination plants. Maintaining compliance with the national standard of no more than 10 ppb bromate in desalinated water has been challenging for the Saline Water Conversion Corporation in Saudi Arabia. This study demonstrates that adding 100-200 ppb ammonia to the desalinated water effectively controls bromate formation in the transmission system supplying inland centers, even when the bromide content is artificially increased.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Glenn K. K. Clothier, Thiago R. Guimaraes, Steven W. Thompson, Julia Y. Rho, Sebastien Perrier, Graeme Moad, Per B. Zetterlund
Summary: A multiblock copolymer is a polymer with multiple segments covalently linked, each made up of a different monomer type. The synthesis of such polymers with precise control of monomer sequence is challenging yet important for fine-tuning the material properties. The field of multiblock copolymer synthesis, especially regarding structure-property relationships, remains relatively unexplored, providing significant opportunities for the design and synthesis of advanced materials. This review focuses on the synthesis of multiblock copolymers using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in aqueous emulsion, which not only allows for advanced synthesis but also provides access to polymeric nanoparticles with specific morphologies. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration between polymer chemists, physicists, and material scientists to maximize the impact of these future materials.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kristoffer Kortsen, Morgan Reynolds-Green, Bradley Hopkins, Alison McLellan, Matthew J. Derry, Paul D. Topham, Jeremy J. Titman, Daniel J. Keddie, Vincenzo Taresco, Steven M. Howdle
Summary: A new and robust methodology is reported for the synthesis of PS-PMMA core-shell particles using seeded dispersion polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide. The core-shell ratio can be predictably controlled by manipulating the reagent stoichiometry. The key development is the iterative addition of the MMA shell monomer to the pre-prepared PS core, resulting in isolated single particle populations with distinct and controllable core-shell morphologies.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Chin Han Chan, Jiun-Tai Chen, Wesley S. Farrell, Christopher M. Fellows, Daniel J. Keddie, Christine K. Luscombe, John B. Matson, Jan Merna, Graeme Moad, Gregory T. Russell, Patrick Theato, Paul D. Topham, Lydia Sosa Vargas
Summary: The terms step-growth polymerization and chain-growth polymerization are commonly used to describe the two main mechanisms of polymer growth. However, these terms are confusing and do not accurately describe the differences between these methods. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has recommended alternative terms, but these also have shortcomings. Additionally, textbooks use a variety of terms to describe polymer synthesis methods, adding to the confusion. The synthesis of polymers one monomer unit at a time also poses a dilemma as it does not fit into either of the traditional growth mechanisms. The IUPAC's mission includes developing tools for clear communication of chemical knowledge, and this paper aims to address concerns with the commonly used terms for classifying polymer synthesis methods, inviting dialogue from the polymer community to resolve these issues.
