Article
Engineering, Chemical
Abby N. Harders, Erin R. Sturd, Julia E. Vallier, David R. Corbin, Whitney R. White, Christopher P. Junk, Mark B. Shiflett
Summary: This study investigates the use of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and CyclAFlor(TM) for the separation of R-410A, indicating high selectivity of HFC-32 over HFC-125. Permeability measurements and stability studies show promising results for the efficient separation of HFC refrigerant mixtures using membranes.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yanchi Liu, Shanfeng Zhu, Jinchen Fan, Wenyao Guo, Yulin Min, Xuesong Jiang, Jin Li
Summary: Efficient dispersion of nanoparticles (NPs) in coatings, inks, and related materials is a crucial challenge. Physical adsorption and chemical modification are common methods, but suffer from desorption and limited versatility. To address these issues, we developed a novel photo-cross-linked polymeric dispersant, bPEA, which forms a dense and stable shell on the surface of pigment NPs through physical adsorption and subsequent chemical photo-cross-linking. These dispersants show high stability and compatibility with various printing methods, providing uniformity, color fastness, and less color shading in ornamental products.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Ryota Shibata, Tsutomu Ishihara, Tadashi Tsukamoto, Yoshiyuki Oishi, Atsuhiro Fujimori, Yuji Shibasaki
Summary: In this study, Tetraazacalix[2]arene[2]triazine dichloride was polymerized with PDMS via solution polycondensation to give azacalixarene-containing polymers, which were successfully fabricated into tough films. The ACAT-PDMS films exhibited high tensile strength, large elongation at break, and non-cytotoxicity to HeLa and IMR-90 cells.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael T. Kelly, Zhan Chen, Thomas P. Russell, Bin Zhao
Summary: By combining the characteristics of molecular bottlebrushes and stimuli-responsive polymers, researchers have developed efficient and robust pH-responsive emulsifiers. The emulsions formed at pH 4.0 and disrupted at pH 10.0, with reversible behavior over multiple cycles. The high stability of the emulsions is attributed to the large size and Janus architecture of the molecular bottlebrushes at the interface.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wahyu Kamal Setiawan, Kung-Yuh Chiang
Summary: In this study, biogenic silica (BSi) was extracted from rice husks and functionalized using three different molecular structure amine groups. The functionalized silica was combined with Pebax-1657 to form mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which showed significantly improved CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity compared to Robeson's upper bound 2008. Among them, Pebax/BSi-MAPS-10 was the most reliable membrane. These findings suggest that amine functionalized BSi has great potential for CO2/N2 separation in industrial applications.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Shuai Yang, Yang He, Yanju Liu, Jinsong Leng
Summary: This study constructed light-responsive poly(aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) hybrid structures with enhanced strength and wavelength-selective responses. These structures exhibited programmable multistage deformations under light irradiations of different wavelengths. Additionally, man and flower smart structures were designed to demonstrate wavelength-selective responsive motions, which could be tuned by manipulating the arrangement of photosensitive components and light irradiation wavelengths. The wavelength-selective shape memory hybrid structures have potential applications in the fields of soft robots, smart actuators, and deformed devices.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jin Li, Xiaodong Ma, Zhilong Su, Jie Yin, Xuesong Jiang
Summary: The study developed a simple method for preparing amphiphilic hybrid graphene nanosheets in aqueous solution via ball milling, providing a stable and well-dispersed product in organic solvents. This approach holds promise for large-scale production of graphene nanosheets with superior performance.
POLYMER INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jingwei Jiang, Zengxu Qian, Yunlong Sun, Heran Nie, Qiliang Yuan, Zhichao Wang, Zhipeng Wang, Guangyuan Zhou
Summary: A series of poly(aryl ether sulfone) with different amino group contents (ABPFx) were synthesized by nucleophilic polycondensation reaction. The ABPFx exhibits excellent thermal resistance, with a Tg of 277 degrees C, as well as maintaining good mechanical and film-forming properties. In particular, the ABPF10 membrane shows high gas permeability (P(H2) = 22.24 Bar) and gas selectivity (α(H2/N2) = 63.5). As a result, the ABPFx membranes have potential application value in the field of hydrogen separation for gas separation.
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Jiahang Zhang, Dongsheng Li, Weijun Zhu, Yong Li
Summary: This paper proposes an in situ 3D printing technology of poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK)/poly-ether-imide (PEI) hierarchical cellular foam. The foam is lightweight and has a functionalized hierarchical cellular structure in the micrometer scale. The in situ foaming mechanism and optimal process parameters were studied. The foam exhibits low reflectivity and absorption-dominant electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties in the X-band. The lightweight nanocomposite foam manufactured by this technology has great potential in aerospace, high-power instrument protection, and 5G communication products.
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zahra Mossayebi, Vianna F. Jafari, Paul A. Gurr, Ranya Simons, Greg G. Qiao
Summary: Ice build-up on solid surfaces can cause economic losses for industries. Developing coatings with low ice adhesion strength, such as the amphiphilic poly(ionic liquid) (PIL)-based surfaces, can be a solution. This study designed well-defined triblock copolymers with PIL segments that have anti-icing properties. The coatings showed a low ice adhesion strength, and the mechanisms for deicing were studied. This work provides a new approach for exploring PIL-based icephobic coatings.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Qianyu Lin, Chen Chuan Lim, Cally Owh, Joey Hui Min Wong, Valerie Ow, Belynn Sim, Yi Jian Boo, Michelle P. Y. Yew, Yi Hao Leow, Liangfeng Guo, Jason Y. C. Lim, Xian Jun Loh
Summary: Thermogels are a type of supramolecular hydrogels that undergo reversible sol-gel phase transitions and their unique properties depend on the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the constituent polymers. Most thermogelling polymers use polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the hydrophilic segment, but this study introduces PEG-free amphiphilic polymers comprising only polyethylenimine (PEI) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) as the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, respectively. These polymers can self-assemble into micelles and supramolecular gel matrices. By modifying the PEI-PPG copolymers with benzyl groups, the resulting thermogel properties can be conveniently modulated. The hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance of the copolymers can also be adjusted to tune the critical gelation concentrations, gelation temperatures, and gel viscoelastic properties. In addition, the PEI segment exhibits pH-responsiveness, allowing for further alteration of thermogel viscoelasticity through pH adjustment. The convenience of postsynthetic functionalization, new material properties, and dual stimuli-responsiveness of these polycationic PEI-PPG thermogels can potentially offer a vast material design space for many unique applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Xingxing Yan, Lu Bai, Bingwei Feng, Junping Zheng
Summary: By incorporating silyl ether linkages into the polymer networks, we have successfully developed PDMS elastomers with high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and reprocessability. These materials have adjustable tensile strength, can undergo network topology rearrangement at elevated temperature, and exhibit good adhesion to various metals, showing great potential for applications.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Katharina Breul, Sebastian Seiffert
Summary: The rational design of transiently crosslinked polymer gels requires a deep understanding of how molecular and topological factors affect material properties, with distinct differences observed between random PUs and alternating PUs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Saeed Khoshhal Salestan, Kasra Pirzadeh, Ahmad Rahimpour, Reza Abedini
Summary: In this study, tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) was successfully grafted onto MIL-101 (Cr) metal organic framework (MOF) using a post-synthesis modification method. The thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane incorporating amine grafted MIL-101(Cr) showed significantly improved CO2 permeability and selectivity compared to the neat Pebax membrane. The results demonstrate the great potential of TFN membranes in CO2 separation at low pressure.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
A. Guennec, L. Brelle, E. Balnois, I Linossier, E. Renard, V Langlois, F. Fay, G. Q. Chen, C. Simon-Colin, K. Vallee-Rehel
Summary: The study focuses on developing alternative amphiphilic systems with good anti-adhesion properties by substituting the petrochemical origin PDMS matrix with biopolymers and additives. Ultimately, the PHBHV/PHBHHx-b-PEG system was found to have practical anti-adhesion activity, offering a promising eco-friendly strategy.
