Journal of Polymer Science最新文献

Eco-friendly polyhydroxyurethane-graft-polycaprolactone (PHU-PCL) was synthesized from carbonated soybean oil in two distinct molecular weights. These polymers, functionalized with chemically bonded quaternary ammonium groups, were processed into nanofibrous mats via electrospinning. By optimizing polymer composition and electrospinning parameters, mats with tailored architecture achieved 85% porosity and 2 μm pore size, ideal for wound dressings that balance bacterial barrier properties with metabolic gas exchange. The amphiphilic nature of the mats ensured effective moisture retention at wound sites, as validated by fluid handling capacity tests. Mechanically robust, the dressings exhibited ~6 MPa tensile strength in dry conditions and retained structural integrity when hydrated, critical for durable wound protection. Quaternary ammonium groups provided moderate intrinsic antibacterial activity, which surged against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus following ion-exchange with monoanionic curcumin. Curcumin modification further imparts potent antioxidant properties, addressing oxidative stress in healing wounds. Combining cytocompatibility, tunable morphology, and dual-functionality (antibacterial/antioxidant), these sustainable PHU-PCL mats represent a promising advancement in eco-conscious wound care.

Despite numerous application domains, the disposal of conventional thermoset polyurethanes (PUs) poses a significant challenge to achieving sustainable development in the next generation. Designing multifunctional polymeric elastomers with self-healing and anti-corrosive capabilities is essential for extending service life in demanding environments. In this study, we report the development of a novel hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based self-healing polyurethane elastomer (SHPUE) that incorporates dynamic covalent and supramolecular interactions to achieve robust mechanical strength, excellent flexibility, transparency, anticorrosion properties, and autonomous healing at ambient temperatures. The SHPU network was synthesized using the pre-polymer method at a slightly higher stoichiometric NCO/OH of 1.05, employing HTPB as macrodiol, isophorone diisocyanate as curing agent, with 2-hydroxyethyl disulfide (HEDS) as chain extender, trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) as a crosslinker, and ZnCl₂ solution to form a metal coordination bond. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy confirmed successful polymerization to yield urethane linkages and integration of thiourethane, disulfide, and Zn²⁺N/Zn²⁺O linkages. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed Zn²⁺–N coordination at 400.2 eV. Thiourethane linkages, disulfide reshuffling, and reversible Zn²⁺ coordination enable efficient self-repair under ambient conditions. Mechanical tests demonstrated greater than 90% healing after 24 h. Stress relaxation showed delayed topology freezing. SHPU-0.40 exhibited enhanced salt spray resistance and greater than 80% transmittance. These results highlight a promising strategy for tunable, sustainable polyurethane coatings with self-healing and protective functions.

Solid polymer electrolytes are considered as key materials in flexible solid-state supercapacitors. In this work, the polyurethane-based solid polymer electrolytes were obtained from polyurethane elastomer prepared from toluene diisocyanate (TDI) based prepolymer PFL100 and 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (MOCA) as polymeric matrix impregnated with lithium tetrafluoroborate LiBF₄ solution in N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). The swelling degree, mechanical properties and ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes were shown to strongly depend on the concentration of LiBF₄ in NMP. The polymer impregnated with the lithium salt solution containing 7 wt.% LiBF₄ (PU-PFL100) has the optimal mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity (nearly 5 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 25°C) and was tested as the solid polymer electrolyte for flexible solid-state supercapacitors with MXene-activated carbon (MXene/AC) composite electrodes. Symmetrical (MXene/AC//PU-PFL100//MXene/AC) and asymmetrical (MXene/AC//PU-PFL100//Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) supercapacitor cells were tested in which PU-PFL100 was used as an electrolyte-separator. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanic charge–discharge (GCD) experiments showed that the supercapacitor cells can deliver a specific capacitance about 40 F g⁻¹ at room temperature and PU-PFL100 can be successfully used in the flexible solid-state supercapacitors.

Biomaterials play a critical role in advancing tissue engineering solutions. Structures with different geometries and architectures are produced with biomaterials, having the purpose to provide support for cells to attach, proliferate and differentiate. This study characterizes scaffolds and discs composed of varying concentrations of agarose and laponite, evaluating their physico-chemical properties. The results demonstrate a maximum swelling ratio of 45.46 $�\; ��\; �\pm ��$ 4.13, and a gel fraction exceeding 90%, being both essential for successful tissue engineering solutions. The scaffolds exhibited stiffness values ranging from 1.84 $�\; ��\; �\pm ��$ 0.42 kPa to 18.85 $�\; ��\; �\pm ��$ 3.66 kPa, which is useful for soft tissue applications, along with a higher storage modulus than loss modulus, indicating a predominantly elastic behavior. Additionally, all blends displayed shear-thinning behavior, advantageous for processing via 3D printing. In terms of degradation, in vitro tests revealed higher degradation rates in samples without laponite. Overall, the evaluated properties show that incorporating laponite nanoparticles into agarose enhances structural support while maintaining key mechanical and physical characteristics. This highlights the potential of agarose–laponite composites as promising alternative biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.

Lubricants can significantly improve the processing properties of ABS. Although ethylene bis-stearamide (EBA) is a commonly used lubricant for ABS resin, its lubricating properties remain inadequate. This limited the application of ABS resins in the field of thin-walled products. In this study, bis-oleic acid amides (EBO) and bis-12-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid amides (EBH) were identified as more efficient lubricants for ABS resins. EBO and EBH were prepared by amidation of ethylenediamine and fatty acids. The melt flow rates (MFRs) of EBH/ABS, EBO/ABS and EBA/ABS increased by 26%, 18.2%, and 14.4%, respectively, compared to pure ABS. The complex viscosity and glass transition temperature of modified ABS satisfied the following order: EBH/ABS < EBO/ABS < EBA/ABS. This indicated that both EBO and EBH exhibited superior lubricating performance compared to EBA, with EBH demonstrating particularly outstanding efficacy. Molecular simulation results revealed that this phenomenon was primarily attributed to the higher binding energy between EBO/EBH and the matrix, which consequently enhanced their compatibility. The hydroxyl group in EBH readily formed hydrogen-bonding interactions with the matrix, effectively enhancing the mean square displacement of polymer chain segments and thereby improving its lubricating efficiency. This work paved the way for the adoption of ABS resin in high-end domains and enabled a better understanding of the lubricant's structure–property correlations.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), a cage silsesquioxane, is a versatile building block for the design of organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Numerous POSS-tethered copolymers have been developed to enhance the properties of commercial polymers. In contrast, homopolymers that incorporate POSS units into their side chains are rare because of the intrinsically high crystallinity of POSS, which often results in brittle and turbid polymer films. In this study, we propose a novel molecular design strategy for obtaining homogeneous and optically transparent POSS-based poly (methacrylate) films. The key structural feature is the introduction of hydrogen bonding (HB) sites such as urethane and urea groups. These intra- and/or inter-molecular HB networks effectively suppress the crystallization of POSS moieties. The thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting materials are significantly influenced by the nature of the HB sites.

Passive radiative cooling, as a zero-energy, environmentally friendly refrigeration technology, holds significant application potential in mitigating global warming and related fields. However, a critical bottleneck persists: the inherent trade-off between its optical cooling performance and mechanical robustness, which severely limits its practical deployment. This paper proposes a one-pot ball milling process that simultaneously refines, mixes, and chemically fuses microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and silica (SiO₂) to fabricate hierarchical MCC/SiO₂ hybrid particles. The engineered fillers are then seamlessly integrated into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, ultimately yielding flexible, mechanically robust, and highly efficient radiative cooling composite MCC/SiO₂/PDMS film for synergistic enhancement of optical and mechanical properties. The optimized film exhibits a record-high solar reflectance of 94.58% and a long-wave infrared emissivity of 95.22%. Notably, it breaks the traditional performance trade-off: the incorporation of MCC/SiO₂ enhances the mechanical strength and toughness of PDMS by 1.6 MPa and 1.02 MJ cm⁻³. Outdoor tests demonstrate an average sub-ambient cooling effect of 8°C under direct sunlight. This work provides a novel paradigm for designing sustainable high-performance materials through microstructural engineering of hybrid fillers.