Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hoon Kim, Jaehwan Kim, Kwang-Hyun Ryu, Jiho Lee, Hyun-Joong Kim, Jinho Hyun, Jaseung Koo
Summary: Direct ink writing (DIW) has a direct impact on the microstructure and properties of materials. However, using nanoparticles at high concentrations is limited due to dispersion difficulties and deteriorated physical properties. Research on low-viscosity nanocomposites is lacking, but aligning anisotropic particles at low nanoparticles concentrations enhances the physical properties of the nanocomposite with DIW. Using sepiolite alignment in a photocurable nanocomposite material with silicone oil complexed with fumed silica as the printing matrix is expected to significantly improve mechanical properties compared to conventional digital light processing.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sithara Gopinath, Nayarassery N. Adarsh, P. Radhakrishnan Nair, Suresh Mathew
Summary: This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of a unique thermo-responsive shape memory polyurethane nanocomposites (SMPUNCs) for potential use in polymer-based microvalve actuator systems. The SMPUNCs were prepared by encapsulating a blend of Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) and Poly Tetra Methylene Glycol (PTMG) with nano metal oxides fillers. The addition of these fillers improved the shape memory properties, thermal stability, and mechanical performance of the SMPUNCs. Among the different fillers used, PU-Fe2O3 exhibited the highest tensile modulus and was selected for the microvalve actuator system, resulting in a 10% improvement in efficiency compared to the PU-Neat composite film.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sithara Gopinath, Nayarassery N. Adarsh, Pankajakshan Radhakrishnan Nair, Suresh Mathew
Summary: The study focused on the effect of nano-metallic-oxide fillers on the properties of shape-memory polymer composites, showing that SMPC-Fe2O3 exhibited the best thermal, mechanical, and shape-memory properties. Additionally, a microvalve actuator system was developed using SMPC-Fe2O3, showing promise for microsystem applications.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Chen, Xing Zhao, Yan Li, Zhao-Yuan Jin, Yi Yang, Ming-Bo Yang, Bo Yin
Summary: This study developed a novel multiple-stimulus responsive shape memory polymer with fast light- and magnetic-responsive ability, shape reconfiguration, reversible shape transformation, and excellent self-healing performance. The material has great potential for various fields such as biomedical devices, artificial muscles, smart actuators, and aerospace applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Lazaros Papadopoulos, Panagiotis A. Klonos, Zoi Terzopoulou, Eleni Psochia, Olawale Monsur Sanusi, Nourredine Ait Hocine, Abdelkibir Benelfellah, Dimitrios Giliopoulos, Konstantinos Triantafyllidis, Apostolos Kyritsis, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris
Summary: This article reports the effects of fillers of different geometries and surface chemistry on polylactide (PLA), showing that they can accelerate the crystallization rate of PLA, with mesoporous silicas having a stronger effect. In nanocomposites, although there is a slight deceleration in segmental dynamics, there is an increase in cooperativity. Combined data suggest the best dispersion in the PLA matrix at 1% particle loading.
Review
Materials Science, Composites
Sithara Gopinath, Nayarassery N. Adarsh, P. Radhakrishnan Nair, Suresh Mathew
Summary: Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are stimuli-responsive polymers that can recover their initial shape under external stimuli. They have wide applications in various fields due to their unique features and the integration of nanofillers can further enhance their properties, forming shape-memory polymer nanocomposites (SMPNCs). This review focuses on thermo-responsive SMPs, discussing their design, classifications, and the characteristics of elastomers and polymer blends used. It also discusses the importance of T-g and T-m based SMPs and SMPNCs, various elastomers used, preparation methods, and future applications.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiangling Xiong, Siran Chen, Yongbum Choi, Kazuhiro Matsugi
Summary: PVA-based carbon nanofiber sheets were successfully fabricated with different mass ratios of PVA:VGCF, showing that decreasing the mass ratio of VGCF led to a decrease in porosity and an increase in thermal conductivity, with the optimal PVA:VGCF mass ratio being 1:0.05 for achieving the highest thermal conductivity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Xinghuo Wang, Xueli Yang, Chuanhui Xu, Baofeng Lin, Lihua Fu
Summary: The gradient metal-ligand cross-linking method is used to adjust the distribution of thermoplastic carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)Cu nano-framework in carboxyl styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) matrix, enabling the multiple reprogramming of the material's initial shape. The resulting composite exhibits excellent mechanical properties, thermal-response sensitivity, and solubility resistance, making it a potential candidate for medical materials.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
P. A. Zhukova, F. S. Senatov, M. Yu Zadorozhnyy, N. S. Chmelyuk, V. A. Zaharova
Summary: This study achieved a reduction in the activation initiation temperature and activation energy of shape memory effect (SME) by forming a composite based on PLA containing 10% poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), providing a safe and effective material for temporary self-fitting scaffolds in reconstructive surgery.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Merve Uyan, Melih Soner Celiktas
Summary: The use of bio-based materials in the production of shape memory polymer composite materials (SMPCs) has attracted interest. This study used shape memory polymer containing alkaline lignin as the matrix phase and hemp/cotton fiber as the reinforcement element to produce bio-based SMPCs. Comparison between hemp/cotton fiber reinforced SMPCs and glass fiber reinforced SMPCs revealed their similar properties. The SMPCs produced using alkaline pre-treated hemp/cotton fiber and 1-layer carbon fiber reinforcement showed promising properties as remotely controllable smart materials that can be activated by temperature.
Article
Polymer Science
Polina A. Kovaleva, Igor O. Pariy, Roman V. Chernozem, Mikhail Yu. Zadorozhnyy, Elizaveta S. Permyakova, Evgeniy A. Kolesnikov, Maria A. Surmeneva, Roman A. Surmenev, Fedor S. Senatov
Summary: In this study, the electrospun PLA-PCL scaffolds were extensively characterized to investigate the impact of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) content on morphology, structure, thermal behavior, and shape memory performance. The results showed that the addition of rGO led to changes in the structure and improved mechanical properties of the prepared composites. The electrospun hybrid PLA-PCL scaffolds with rGO exhibited pronounced shape memory effect, making them promising for tissue engineering applications.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Klementina Pusnik Cresnar, Lidija Fras Zemljic, Lazaros Papadopoulos, Zoi Terzopoulou, Alexandra Zamboulis, Panagiotis A. Klonos, Dimitrios N. Bikiaris, Apostolos Kyritsis, Polycarpos Pissis
Summary: In the study of polymer nanocomposites based on polylactide, it was found that the fillers interact with the polymer to form an interfacial rigid amorphous fraction, accelerating chain diffusion and resulting in faster hot crystallization rate and thicker crystal lamellae.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Mir Waqas Alam, Shahidul Islam Bhat, Hassan S. Al Qahtani, Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Nasir Amin, Mohd Farhan, Sara Aldabal, Muhammad Shuaib Khan, Ishtiaq Jeelani, Allah Nawaz, Basma Souayeh
Summary: Polymers are highly molecular weight molecules composed of repeating units, which exhibit unique properties. Polymer-based sensors are widely used in the public health sector and environment control due to their rapid detection, small size, high sensitivity, and suitability in atmospheric conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fatemeh Molaabasi, Yasser Zare, Kyong Yop Rhee
Summary: This article analyzes the tensile modulus of shape memory polymer nanocomposites at ambient temperature. Conventional models fail to estimate the modulus accurately, thus the Kerner-Nielsen and Sato-Furukawa models were simplified and modified to provide simpler calculation models. Experimental results demonstrate good agreement with the predictions of the suggested models, showing high simplicity and accuracy for calculating the modulus at ambient temperature. The modified Kerner-Nielsen model is preferred for approximating the modulus in SMPNs.
NANOTECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Yonglin Zhang, Tianzhen Liu, Xin Lan, Yanju Liu, Jinsong Leng, Liwu Liu
Summary: This paper presents the design, fabrication, evaluation, and application of a compliant robotic grip structure based on shape memory polymer composites, demonstrating its superior performance through DMA, FEA, and experimental verification.
COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
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)