Article
Polymer Science
Binglun Gao, Lianwei Sun, Xin Chen, Xiaobo Zhai, Junchi Zheng, Xin Ye, Jianmin Lu, Anchao Feng, Liqun Zhang
Summary: This paper reports the quantitative synthesis of bis-epoxy end functionalized polyisoprene (BETPI) macromonomers using anionic polymerization and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting BETPI has a molecular weight of 600-1000 Da and over 75% epoxy end capping rate.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Timo Aaritalo, Teija Tirri, Melanie Aubert, Carl -Eric Wilen
Summary: A series of innovative flame retardants containing N-Si and N-O-Si bonds were synthesized, whose thermal and hydrolytic stabilities were adjusted by fine tuning their silylamine (N-Si) and siloxyamine (N-O-Si) skeletons. These compounds showed fireproofing effects in various polymers. When combined with a conventional phosphorous flame retardant, a synergistic effect was observed, enhancing the fire resistance of the polymers.
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Ning Yu, Hui Jiang, Zhengwei Luo, Wenhua Geng, Jianliang Zhu
Summary: This study synthesized a boron adsorbent based on polypropylene (PP) melt-blown fiber using UV-induced grafting and epoxy ring-opening reaction. Characterization of the adsorbent (PP-g-GMA-NMDG) was done using various techniques. The adsorption process was analyzed and found to follow the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, with the impact of both extra- and intra-membrane diffusion. The prepared adsorbent showed high adsorption capacity, selectivity, reproducibility, and easy recovery, making it promising for boron separation from water.
Article
Polymer Science
Xin Zheng, Lina He, Guipeng Yu, Yongjin Li
Summary: Tea polyphenols (C) can promote the grafting of GMA onto PP chains, but also lead to degradation of the PP backbone. Co-grafting of GMA and tea polyphenols (C) improves the properties of the PP matrix.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chong Yang, Xinyu Jiang, Xue Gao, Haiyang Wang, Lei Li, Naveed Hussain, Jiawang Xie, Zekun Cheng, Ziwei Li, Jianfeng Yan, Minlin Zhong, Lihao Zhao, Hui Wu
Summary: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in nondegradable plastic waste due to the production of a large number of facemasks. The core material for facemasks is melt-blown polypropylene (PP) fiber, with each disposable facemask consuming around 0.7 g of PP fibers. This results in annual global consumption and disposal of over 1,150,000 tons of PP fibers. A laser-assisted melt-blown (LAMB) technique was developed to manufacture PP nanofibers with a quality factor of 0.17 Pa-1 and significantly reduce the filter's weight. By using only 0.13 g of PP nanofibers, a standard surgical facemask can be made, saving approximately 80% of the PP materials used in commercial facemasks.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Pablo Andres Riveros Munoz, Sebastiao Vicente Canevarolo, Silvia Helena Prado Bettini
Summary: This study proposed a new reactive mechanism for PP-graft-MA, involving the use of nanoreactors to control PP degradation and promote MA homopolymerization. Experimental results showed that the presence of organic clay inhibited the formation of oligo (MA) and reduced degradation of the PP chain.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Agostino Pietrangelo, Adam B. Burns, Ryan T. Charlton, Matthew T. DeRocco, Manesh Gopinadhan, Thomas Sun, Lesheng Wang, Pamela J. Wright, Spencer T. Stober, Quanpeng Yang, Ashlie Martini
Summary: This paper describes a method for the acyclic diene metathesis polymerization of semiaromatic amides using second-generation Grubbs' catalyst and N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP), a high boiling polar solvent. The addition of methanol to the reaction increases polymer molar mass, although the role of the alcohol is not yet understood. Hydrogenation with hydrogen gas and Wilkinson's catalyst results in near-quantitative saturation. All polymers synthesized exhibit a hierarchical semicrystalline morphology driven by ordering of aromatic amide groups, and the melting points can be tuned over a >100 degrees C range by precise substitution at one backbone position on each mer (<5% of the total).
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Clement Dezanet, Diana Dragoe, Philippe Marie, Nesrine Harfouche, Sandrine Froissart, Arnaud Fouchet, Jacques Rouden, Jerome Lecourt, Christelle Harnois, Pascal Thebault, Jerome Baudoux, Benedicte Lepoittevin
Summary: In this study, zirconia surfaces were functionalized by polymer grafting using a simple and successful two-step procedure. The efficiency of the two steps, initiator grafting and photopolymerization, was evaluated using various analytical techniques. The results demonstrated the possibility of controlling the surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity by grafting-from polymerizations.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Fangjun Liu, Chenxi Shen, XueLiang Jiang, Feng You, Chu Yao, Yecheng Shangguan
Summary: In this study, high melt strength polypropylene (HMSPP) was successfully fabricated using the melting grafting technique. The introduction of TMPTA improved the melt strength, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and foaming properties of polypropylene.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Ashish Kaushal, Vishal Singh
Summary: In this study, the mechanical, DC conductivity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (CNC) nanocomposites were investigated. The results showed that the combination of CF and MWCNT improved the tensile strength and modulus of the nanocomposites, and the percolation behavior improved the DC electrical conductivity. The CNC nanocomposites exhibited high EMI shielding effectiveness in the X-band for a 2 mm thick sample, and efforts have been made to develop a compatible EMI shielding material using multiple fillers.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Tian-Tian Li, Si-Bo Cheng, Lian-Fang Feng, Xue-Ping Gu, Jin-Tang Duan, Ming-Zhe Jiang, Cai-Liang Zhang
Summary: Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are widely used in various industries due to their balanced mechanical properties, processability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their non-polar and chemically inert nature can sometimes limit their applications. To overcome this, polar and/or functional groups can be grafted onto their backbones using free radical chemistry and reactive extrusion process, which is continuous, solventless, and has a short residence time.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Wangmeng Hou, Zheqi Li, Lu Xu, Yuanchao Li, Yi Shi, Yongming Chen
Summary: The study successfully synthesized well-defined Janus molecular bottlebrushes with high yield using a reversible polymerization technique and a PISA-assisted grafting-from strategy. The approach effectively suppressed radical coupling reactions and achieved the preparation of molecular bottlebrushes at high monomer conversion rates.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
M. T. H. Siddiqui, Humair Ahmed Baloch, Sabzoi Nizamuddin, Sima Kashi, Faisal Amri Tanjung, Nazia Hossain, Shaukat Ali Mazari, N. M. Mubarak, G. J. Griffin, Madapusi Srinivasan
Summary: A novel magnetic bio-nanocomposite was fabricated using polypropylene as the polymer matrix and graphene supported magnetic carbon nanocomposite as filler. The inclusion of waste biomass in the nanocomposite synthesis offers a cost-effective solution and potential application in electromagnetic interference shielding. The composite showed improved conductivity and shielding effectiveness with the incorporation of the magnetic filler.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Rodrigo Patino-Almanza, C. G. Flores-Hernandez, Rey Fernando Garcia-Mendez, A. Almendarez-Camarillo
Summary: A new green nucleating agent has been obtained from industrial waste and used in a polypropylene matrix. By chemically supporting pimelic acid on treated keratin fibers, a successful functionalization was achieved. The functionalized keratin fibers were found to promote the formation of a high percentage of beta crystals in the polypropylene matrix, resulting in improved thermomechanical properties.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dongyou Huang, Hesheng Liu, Tangqing Kuang, Zhong Yu
Summary: The fiber orientation and shear rate distribution in glass fiber reinforced polypropylene during water-assisted injection molding are affected by fiber mass content, water injection delay time, water injection pressure, and melt temperature. The orientation degree of the fiber along the flow direction decreases with increasing fiber mass content, water injection delay time, and melt temperature, but increases with increasing water injection pressure in laminar flow state and decreases in turbulent state. Decreasing fiber mass content, reducing water injection delay time, lower melt temperature, and increasing water injection pressure in laminar flow conditions increase the shear rate and shear rate gradient, while the opposite is observed in turbulent state.
ADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Mattia Bartoli, Muhammad Abid Nasir, Pravin Jagdale, Elisa Passaglia, Roberto Spiniello, Carlo Rosso, Mauro Giorcelli, Massimo Rovere, Alberto Tagliaferro
JOURNAL OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS
(2020)
Article
Polymer Science
Francesca Cicogna, Guido Giachi, Luca Rosi, Elisa Passaglia, Serena Coiai, Roberto Spiniello, Federico Prescimone, Marco Frediani
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elisa Passaglia, Beatrice Campanella, Serena Coiai, Francesca Cicogna, Annalaura Carducci, Marco Verani, Ileana Federigi, Beatrice Casini, Benedetta Tuvo, Emilia Bramanti
Summary: The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted Europe's reliance on raw materials supply from foreign countries and the slow response to the need for high-quality personal protective equipment (PPEs). This study aims to improve the barrier effect of surgical masks by depositing bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, on their external surface, integrating the biorefining of agri-food solid wastes with potential virucidal properties for treating PPEs.
Review
Polymer Science
Serena Coiai, Maria Laura Di Lorenzo, Patrizia Cinelli, Maria Cristina Righetti, Elisa Passaglia
Summary: Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a widely produced biobased, biodegradable and biocompatible polyester. Although it shares similarities with petroleum-based polymers, its high brittleness and low toughness limit its utilization, prompting the blending with other biobased and biodegradable polymers. By incorporating appropriate additives and solid nanoparticles, the toughness and ductility of PLA can be improved, enhancing its mechanical performance, thermal stability and gas/vapor barrier properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Serena Coiai, Elisa Passaglia, Simone Pinna, Stefano Legnaioli, Silvia Borsacchi, Franco Dinelli, Anna Maria Ferretti, Maria Caporali, Manuel Serrano-Ruiz, Maurizio Peruzzini, Francesca Cicogna
Summary: Researchers have reported the preparation of biphasic polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) composites containing few-layer black phosphorus by sonicated-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation, as well as the preparation of block copolymer/black phosphorus composite via in situ reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the stability of black phosphorus structure in both composites.
Article
Polymer Science
Sareh Mahmoudian Moghaddam, Blandine Quelennec, Nicolas Delpouve, Bienvenu Atawa, Laurent Delbreilh, Allisson Saiter-Fourcin, Elisa Passaglia, Stefano Fiori
Summary: A study focused on the glass transition of oligomers with different molecular weights showed that the fragility of the oligomers is dependent on the molecular weight, while variations in cooperativity are subtler. This research combined dielectric and calorimetric results to study molecular mobility over a wide temperature range.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Serena Coiai, Francesca Cicogna, Simone Pinna, Roberto Spiniello, Massimo Onor, Werner Oberhauser, Maria-Beatrice Coltelli, Elisa Passaglia
Summary: Polymer nanocomposites with active and natural compounds dispersed in the polymer matrix offer a tunable way to develop antibacterial packaging materials. By intercalating mono-deprotonated rosmarinic and salicylic acid into nitrate-intercalated MgAl layered double hydroxide, antibacterial host-guest systems were successfully prepared, showing selective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The controlled release of active compounds from the polymer nanocomposites was evidenced by fluorescence spectroscopy, indicating the potential for practical application in food packaging.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Serena Coiai, Francesca Cicogna, Doriana Scittarelli, Stefano Legnaioli, Silvia Borsacchi, Andrea Ienco, Manuel Serrano-Ruiz, Maria Caporali, Maurizio Peruzzini, Franco Dinelli, Randa Ishak, Francesca Signori, Stefano Toffanin, Margherita Bolognesi, Federico Prescimone, Elisa Passaglia
Summary: The research focused on the preparation method of immiscible polymer mixtures and phosphorene, achieving good dispersion of nanoflakes, altering the morphology and topography of the materials, and encouraging their application as an active layer in Organic Field Effect Transistor (OFET) devices.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Francesca Cicogna, Serena Coiai, Stefano Javarone, Massimo Onor, Claudio Bernacchi, Antonella Manariti, Elisa Passaglia
Summary: The study successfully functionalized polypropylene spheres to remove heavy metal ions and toxic dyes from water, potentially serving as a water disinfectant.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Cicogna, Elisa Passaglia, Matilde Benedettini, Werner Oberhauser, Randa Ishak, Francesca Signori, Serena Coiai
Summary: Immobilizing natural antioxidant and biologically active molecules in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) is an excellent method to retain and release these substances in a controlled manner, as well as protect them from thermal and photochemical degradation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Cicogna, Emilia Bramanti, Beatrice Campanella, Stefano Caporali, Luca Panariello, Caterina Cristallini, Randa Ishak, Niccoletta Barbani, Elisa Passaglia, Serena Coiai
Summary: Cold plasma with oxygen was used for surface functionalization of non-woven polypropylene-based fabric (NWF-PP) directly cut from face masks to improve its capability to retain active biomolecules such as polyphenols. The nature and degree of functionalization were evaluated by ATR-FTIR and XPS while the effects on mechanical and morphological characteristics were assessed by stress-strain measurements and SEM analysis. The functionalized NWF-PP demonstrated the ability to firmly anchor polyphenols extracted from cloves, protecting the treated surfaces against thermo-oxidation even after prolonged extraction.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Francesca Cicogna, Elisa Passaglia, Alice Telleschi, Werner Oberhauser, Maria-Beatrice Coltelli, Luca Panariello, Vito Gigante, Serena Coiai
Summary: In this study, innovative polymer nanocomposites were developed by integrating LDH-based nanocarriers modified with functional molecules into a biobased PLA/PBSA matrix. The composites demonstrated sustained and controlled release of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Morphological analysis revealed the presence of macroaggregates and nano-lamellae at the polymer interface, resulting in increased water vapor permeability. The controlled release mechanism was confirmed through migration kinetics of active molecules from thin films. Scaling-up experiments further enhanced dispersion and distribution of nanocarriers, leading to improved mechanical properties.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nicolas Delpouve, Allisson Saiter-Fourcin, Serena Coiai, Francesca Cicogna, Roberto Spiniello, Werner Oberhauser, Stefano Legnaioli, Randa Ishak, Elisa Passaglia