Article
Thermodynamics
Yunrui Long, Yuwen Wang, Qian Xing, Xia Dong
Summary: Both PPC and TMBH were used to modify the crystallization behavior and stiffness-toughness balance of PLA. A sea-island phase structure was observed in PLA/PPC blends, which gradually transformed into a bi-continuous structure with increasing PPC concentration. The addition of PPC had little nucleating effect on PLA, resulting in a decrease in tensile properties. On the other hand, the addition of TMBH effectively enhanced the crystallization ability of PLA. The dimension of PPC domains and PLA crystals in ternary blends was smaller than their binary counterparts due to the presence of TMBH, leading to improved tensile toughness and brittle-ductile transition.
THERMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Siyu Pan, Zhiguo Jiang, Zhaobin Qiu
Summary: This research investigated the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the crystallization behavior, crystalline morphology, and crystal structure of Poly(ethylene succinate-co-1,2-propylene succinate) (PEPS). The results showed that CNC enhanced the crystallization rate of PEPS and acted as a heterogeneous nucleating agent. The induction of CNC played an important role in the nucleation mechanism of PEPS.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Xincheng Guo, Yao Chen, Jianbing Guo, Jun Qin, Honglin Lian, Zongcheng Lu, Xiaolang Chen
Summary: This study investigates the regulation of PP/EVA/LDH composites with a beta nucleating agent through annealing treatment, which results in improved toughness. The enhancement of energy dissipation behavior under impact loading is attributed to the debonding of the phase interface and the enhancement of cavitation, as well as the rearrangement of crystalline structures.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rui Guo, Qiang Zhang, Youshen Wu, Hongbing Chen, Yanghe Liu, Jingjing Wang, Xianglong Duan, Quan Chen, Zhishen Ge, Yanfeng Zhang
Summary: This study presents a polyurethane elastomer with unprecedented mechanical properties for in vivo application as hernia patches. The elastomer, obtained by solvent-free reaction, exhibits extremely high strength and toughness. Abundant and hierarchical hydrogen-bonding interactions hinder crystallization and promote the formation of uniformly distributed hard phase microdomains, resulting in high fracture strength, true stress, elongation-at-break, and fracture energy. 3D printed hernia patches made from this elastomer show outstanding mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. These robust and biodegradable elastomers have great potential for in vivo applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Weiyuan Lin, Yuta Hikima, Masahiro Ohshima
Summary: Styrene-isobutylene-styrene copolymer (SIBS) is a thermoplastic elastomer with excellent chemical stability, biocompatibility, and low gas permeability. By introducing polypropylene (PP) in foam injection molding processes, the foamability can be improved and the shrinkage of SIBS foams can be impeded.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Min Xu, Yu Han, Xiangyang Li, Jianjun Ding, Kang Zheng, Yongxing Lin, Lin Chen, Xingyou Tian
Summary: Adding a moderate amount of WBG-II into the iPP/PB-1 blends can greatly promote the formation of form I' and improve the thermostability by rapidly recrystallizing into form II upon heating.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xincheng Guo, Yao Chen, Jianbing Guo, Jun Qin, Honglin Lian, Zongcheng Lu, Xiaolang Chen
Summary: The content ratio of layered double hydroxide (LDH) and beta-nucleating agent (CaHA), mechanical properties, and crystallization behaviors of PP/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/LDH ternary composites are investigated. The highest notched impact strength is achieved in the 6PEL2 sample with CaHA of 0.03 phr and LDH of 5.70 phr, which is about 100% higher than that of pure PP. This is attributed to the highest relative content of beta-crystals in 6PEL2 and the formation of a large number of cavities absorbing the impact energy.
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Characterization & Testing
Sergio Fernandez-Delgado, Alberto Garcia-Penas, Daniel Serrano, Maria L. Cerrada, Jose M. Gomez-Elvira
Summary: Polypropylene-based thermoplastic elastomers are highly sought-after materials in the industry due to their excellent mechanical performance and durability. They play a crucial role in the automotive sector, accounting for up to 32% of the total plastic used in cars. In this study, poly(propylene-co-ethylene-co-norbornene) terpolymers were investigated as potential candidates for a new class of thermoplastic elastomers with tunable properties. However, their thorough characterization has been hindered by the complexity of their 13CNMR spectra. The researchers successfully synthesized and characterized these terpolymers using NMR analysis, providing insights into their microstructure and composition.
Article
Polymer Science
Mingmei Mi, Jing Yu, Xiangyang Li, Min Zhou, Hao Xiu, Hongwei Bai
Summary: Stereocomplex-type polylactide (SC-PLA) is a promising engineering bio-plastic that enhances heat resistance and hydrolytic stability through the crystallization between poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(D-lactide) (PDLA). By using dibenzoylhydrazide compound as a nucleating agent, the SC crystallization of PLLA/PDLA blends is promoted, leading to smaller crystal size.
Article
Polymer Science
Hongwei Zhao, Yancun Yu, Changyu Han, Qingquan Liu, Huan Liu, Guangbin Zhou, Mingzhi Xu
Summary: This study utilized EGA terpolymer to enhance the stereocomplexation and toughness of PLLA/PDLA blends, resulting in increased crystallization rate and improved melt reorganization from HC to SC as EGA mass fraction grew. The addition of EGA also significantly enhanced the toughness of the blend while increasing impact strength.
JOURNAL OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE PART A-PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xiaonan Chen, Ju Yao, Jing Yu, Mingmei Mi, Yichen Xu, Hongwei Bai
Summary: By utilizing EBH as a nucleating agent, the crystallization of PLLA was successfully controlled, leading to the fabrication of highly crystallized and heat-resistant, transparent PLLA materials.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yodthong Baimark, Prasong Srihanam, Yaowalak Srisuwan, Theeraphol Phromsopha
Summary: The stereocomplex polylactide (scPLA) powder showed great potential as an effective nucleating agent for improving the crystallization properties of high-molecular-weight poly(L-lactide) (HMW-PLLA) bioplastic.
Article
Polymer Science
Yue Yin, Yuan Wang, Linghui Meng
Summary: In this study, the similar terephthalate structure between UIO-66 and PET was utilized to improve compatibility, while the exposed Zr4+ by defects of UIO-66 was utilized to enhance the interaction between PET and UIO-66. The PET nanocomposites with different contents of UIO-66 showed significantly increased crystallization rate and tensile strength compared to pure PET, with a higher crystallization temperature in the PET-UIO66-1 nanocomposite.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhexian Shentu, Zhaoming Zhang, Jun Zhao, Chuanshuang Chen, Qian Wu, Lei Wang, Xuzhou Yan
Summary: This study reports two triblock copolymers in ABA and BAB forms, with their hard domains composed of crown ether-based supramolecular polymers. The ABA copolymer features a tight network with a regularly distributed hard domain, while the BAB copolymer shows a hierarchical structure with soft, hard, and secondary hard domains, resulting in a relatively tough network. This work represents progress in modifying the phase structures of block copolymers and could contribute to the development of block copolymers with emergent properties.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yujing Tang, Yaqiao Wang, Shihong Chen, Xiangdong Wang
Summary: In this study, branched PLLA was obtained by mixing linear PLLA with a chain extender, and the crystallization properties were further modified by adding self-assembled nucleating agent. The results showed that TMC-300 was an effective nucleating agent for branched PLLA, and its self-assembled fibers provided numerous nucleation sites for improved crystallinity. An appropriate content of TMC-300 could be self-assembled into a fiber network framework to regulate the crystallization behavior of branched PLLA and increase storage modulus. This study is important for low-density microcellular foaming and the preparation of high-quality microcellular foams.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Shihao Deng, Hongwei Bai, Zhenwei Liu, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Article
Polymer Science
Zhenwei Liu, Meirui Fu, Fangwei Ling, Guopeng Sui, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xu Xie, Cheng Yang, Xiao-dong Qi, Jing-hui Yang, Zuo-wan Zhou, Yong Wang
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fei Xue, Yu Lu, Xiao-dong Qi, Jing-hui Yang, Yong Wang
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2019)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei Li, Mao Wang, Ting Huang, Nan Zhang, Jinghui Yang, Yong Wang
Article
Polymer Science
Zhenwei Liu, Fangwei Ling, Xingyuan Diao, Meirui Fu, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Article
Polymer Science
Xiangli Li, Dongsheng Yang, Youbo Zhao, Xingyuan Diao, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Article
Polymer Science
Dongyu Bai, Huili Liu, Yilong Ju, Shihao Deng, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Huili Liu, Dongyu Bai, Songlin Du, Xia Li, Hongwei Bai, Qiang Fu
Summary: This study presents a promising strategy to improve the transparency and stiffness-toughness performance of PLLA blends toughened with BAMMA core-shell rubber nanoparticles by utilizing SC crystallization. The construction of SC crystallites in the PLLA matrix prevents nanoparticle aggregation and promotes the formation of a network-like structure, leading to enhanced toughening efficiency and transparency.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ju Yao, Zhen Zeng, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Summary: Efficient formation of finely dispersed stereocomplex crystallites can be achieved through a unique melt-mixing procedure, but the introduction of premixed chains may significantly decrease the quantity of SCs particles formed, despite smaller particle size.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Shihao Deng, Ju Yao, Hongwei Bai, Hao Xiu, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Summary: By incorporating trace amounts of ESA into PLLA/PDLA/elastomer blends and conducting direct meltblending at high temperature, the melt memory effect of the SC-PLA matrix can be improved, leading to enhanced fracture toughness and heat resistance.
Article
Polymer Science
Yi-Long Ju, Xiang-Li Li, Xing-Yuan Diao, Hong-Wei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Summary: This research demonstrates a feasible method to enhance the SC crystallizability of Stereocomplex-type polylactide (SC-PLA) by incorporating small amounts of atactic poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) into PLLA/PDLA blends, improving chain mixing and melt stability while promoting SC crystallization. Increasing content and molecular weight of PDLLA lead to predominantly formed SC crystallites, with exclusive SC crystallization achieved in racemic blends with appropriate PDLLA content and molecular weight.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Zeng, Yuanlin Luo, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Summary: Constructing stereocomplex crystallites at the interface of PLLA/elastomer blends can significantly improve the properties of the materials. By manipulating the interfacial structure, the size and packing density of the crystallites can be controlled, leading to improved toughness and crystallization rate of the blends.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Crystallography
Xingyuan Diao, Xiaonan Chen, Shihao Deng, Hongwei Bai
Summary: In this study, trace amounts of epoxy-functionalized small-molecule modifiers were introduced into enantiomeric blends during reactive melt-blending to enhance the formation of stereocomplex-type polylactide (SC-PLA). The results showed that the in situ generation of multi-arm stereo-block PLA copolymers significantly improved SC formation, even with only 0.5 wt% modifiers. The unique copolymers acted as compatibilizers, suppressing the separation of the alternately arranged PLLA/PDLA chain segments in the molten state. Furthermore, the generation of these copolymers did not significantly increase the melt viscosity of the blends, suggesting new opportunities for high-throughput processing of SC-PLA materials.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ju Yao, Zhen Zeng, Hongwei Bai, Qin Zhang, Qiang Fu
Summary: In asymmetric poly(L-lactide)/poly(D-lactide) blends, achieving high-efficient formation of finely dispersed stereocomplex crystallites can be challenging due to competition between stereocomplexation and chain mixing. Pre-mixing PLLA and PDLA chains can lead to decreased formation efficiency of SC particles, despite smaller particle size. Direct mixing at lower temperatures is more effective for constructing SCs with superior nucleation efficiency, compared to common melt-processing conditions.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
