Polymer International最新文献

Establishing a reliable workflow of inverse design by data-driven machine learning (ML) models offers significant potential to accelerate molecular design of polymeric materials. Nevertheless, there exist scarcity issues of training datasets in current data-driven models for polymers. In this contribution, we integrate the ML method with a data augmentation strategy to build upon a workflow of inverse design of polymeric materials with targeted glass transition temperature T_g. Results show that the data-augmented ML model significantly enhances the prediction accuracy of T_g in spite of a small training dataset. Furthermore, the data augmentation strategy has the capability of generating the monomers of homopolymers with higher novelty and uniqueness, whose T_g values are validated by the simulations of all-atomic molecular dynamics. The ML-assisted inverse design workflow offers significant advantages in establishing structure–property relationships and also provides an accelerated pathway for the targeted design of polymer systems. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study explores the development and comprehensive evaluation of titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-doped, thermally crosslinked sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend membranes for microbial fuel cell (MFC) applications. The membranes were synthesized with varying TiO₂ concentrations and characterized through analyses of water content, ion exchange capacity, swelling behavior, mechanical strength, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Incorporation of TiO₂ significantly enhanced proton conductivity and reduced water-induced mass loss compared to undoped membranes. Among the various compositions, the membrane containing 5 wt% TiO₂ (SPEEK/PVA-5T) demonstrated the highest proton conductivity of 0.4346 S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C, indicating superior performance. The membranes were tested in a cylindrical H-type MFC setup. The SPEEK/PVA-5T membrane achieved a maximum voltage output of 560.610 mV and a power density of 62.856 μW m⁻², in comparison to a commercial Nafion 117 membrane, which delivered 777.740 mV and 120.975 μW m⁻². These findings underscore the potential of the SPEEK/PVA-5T membrane as an effective and sustainable alternative for MFC applications, offering enhanced ion transport and contributing to the advancement of carbon-neutral energy technologies. This work represents a meaningful step toward the development of high-performance, eco-friendly membrane materials for renewable energy systems. © 2025 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Water-in-oil Pickering high internal phase emulsion (Pickering-HIPE) of dicylopentadiene (DCPD) was prepared by using block copolymer surface-modified calcite (mCalcite) particles. To evaluate the contribution of mCalcite particles comparatively, a neat polyHIPE was first synthesized from a conventional DCPD-based water-in-oil HIPE. SEM analysis demonstrated that polymerization of DCPD-based HIPE and Pickering-HIPE yielded open-porous supporting materials. Mechanical tests showed that mCalcite incorporation significantly improved the compressive modulus of the obtained material compared to the neat support. Tetradecanoic acid (TDA) was used as phase change material (PCM) and was successfully incorporated into the synthesized supporting foams via a solvent-assisted vacuum process. TDA presence in the composite PCM foams, named polyDCPD/TDA and polyDCPD/mCalcite/TDA, was examined based on Brunauer–Emmett–Teller-specific surface area measurement and SEM imaging. The latent heat storage properties and thermal stabilities of the resulting composite PCMs were evaluated by DSC and TGA measurements. The melting temperature and latent heat of melting of the composite PCMs were respectively detected as 52.4 °C and 68.2 J g⁻¹ for polyDCPD/mCalcite/TDA and 52.6 °C and 50.1 J g⁻¹ for polyDCPD/TDA, from DSC thermograms. It was demonstrated that the leak-resistive polyDCPD/mCalcite/TDA exhibited higher thermal stability in comparison with polyDCPD/TDA. Finally, it was concluded that Pickering-polyHIPE supported composite PCM can be efficiently used for low-temperature passive thermal management applications such as solar energy storage, thermal protection of electronic devices etc. © 2025 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

This study investigates the acoustic impedance, adiabatic compressibility, intermolecular free length, relaxation time, ultrasonic absorption and Rao's constant of binary mixtures comprising poly(vinyl chloride) and dimethylformamide at varying concentrations and temperatures. These acoustical parameters are calculated by using experimental values of density, viscosity and ultrasonic velocity. The experiments are conducted using an ultrasonic apparatus operating at a frequency of 1 MHz. Density, viscosity and ultrasonic velocity are measured at different concentrations from 0 to 1 (m/v) at different temperature ranges from 303.15 to 338.15 K. The obtained results are compared with the results presented in the literature. The comprehensive analysis of these parameters reveals intriguing insights into the nature of interactions between the solute and solvent. This study also provides a deep insight into the nature, type and strength of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. The behaviour of the solution is discussed in terms of its acoustical parameters with concentration and temperature. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

The present work aims to improve the sustainability of polymers and may pave the way for the development through 3D technologies of innovative composites useful for many industries. It highlights the preparation of lignin-based composites by adding lignin to an acrylate epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) resin using a liquid crystal display (LCD) 3D printer. The formulations were obtained by adding tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate (THFA) as reactive diluent to the AESO matrix as the starting reference system. Then, lignin-based composites were obtained by dispersing lignin at different concentrations within the AESO-THFA resin. The viscosity and printability of the photocurable formulations were first studied because they play a key role in a vat photopolymerization process. Several 3D printed parts were successfully realized via LCD exhibiting high resolution and accuracy and well-detailed geometries. SEM analyses revealed that lignin particles were homogeneously dispersed within the crosslinked AESO-based network. The thermal and mechanical properties of the photocured lignin-based composites were tested by TGA, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and tensile tests, underlining that the presence of lignin led to a decrease of the elastic modulus and tensile strength, and a slight increase of the glass transition temperature, leaving the thermal stability unchanged. The incorporation of lignin into an AESO polymer network can significantly improve the sustainability of polymers designing and printing innovative lignin-based composites useful for many industrial fields. © 2025 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The urgent need to mitigate climate change has intensified interest in direct air capture (DAC) technology, which targets extracting carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the atmosphere. Among the various sorbents used in DAC, polymers have emerged as a promising solution, either as active sorbents or as structural supports for active DAC materials, due to their customizable properties, scalability and low cost. This mini-review investigates the latest trends in polymer-based materials for DAC and identifies critical research gaps, such as the need for thorough lifecycle assessments and in-depth studies on the degradation of polymeric materials. It also outlines future directions, emphasizing the importance of developing cost-effective, scalable and durable polymers that can perform efficiently across diverse climatic conditions, including the unique challenges presented by cold weather regions abundant in renewable energy. This mini-review aims to inform ongoing efforts in the design and utilization of polymeric sorbents, providing insights that could guide the development of economically viable and environmentally sustainable DAC technologies. © 2025 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of polymer type on polymeric microparticle blends designed for controlled drug delivery. Microparticle blends containing a single drug (propranolol HCl [Pro] or carbamazepine [CBZ]) and blends with drugs of differing solubilities (Pro and CBZ) were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. The first emulsion and second oil phase were prepared by the water-in-oil-in-water and oil-in-water methods. The three different first emulsions were a solution of ethyl cellulose (EC), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) in dichloromethane (7.5% w/v). The three different second oil phases were 7.5% w/v solution of EC, PLGA and PCL in dichloromethane. The first Pro emulsion (water-in-oil) and second Pro emulsion (water-in-oil) were dispersed in an external aqueous phase (for the same drug), while the first Pro emulsion (water-in-oil) and second CBZ oil phase (for different drugs) were dispersed in an external aqueous phase, with a dispersion time interval (DTI) of 0 and 60 min for the same and different drugs. The morphology of the microparticle blends was characterized by SEM. The mean particle size was measured with a particle size analyzer. The encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) were also investigated. Microparticle blends containing a single drug exhibited slower release rates of Pro compared to conventional microparticles and microparticle blends (DTI of 0 min). Conversely, blends with different solubilities showed similar release rates for both Pro and CBZ (DTI of 60 min). In vitro drug release studies after 28 days showed that the Pro release from EC microparticle blends with DTI 60 min (61%) was slower than from EC microparticle blends with DTI 0 min (83%); the Pro release from PCL microparticle blends with DTI 60 min (48%) was slower than from PCL microparticle blends with DTI 0 min (75%); and the Pro release from PLGA microparticle blends with DTI 60 min (74%) was slower than from PLGA microparticle blends with DTI 0 min (88%). The size of the microparticle blend prepared as a water-in-oil-in-water (Pro) and oil-in-water (CBZ) system with DTI of 60 min and stirring time 4 h was larger than those prepared with a DTI of 0 min. In vitro drug release studies from EC microparticle blends after 28 days revealed that the CBZ release (69%) was faster than Pro release (53.5%). Drug release from PLGA microparticle blends after 28 days revealed that the CBZ release (92.5%) was faster than Pro release (81%). Drug release from PCL microparticle blends after 28 days revealed that the CBZ release (60%) was faster than Pro release (33%). This observation may be attributed to interactions between the secondary emulsion or oil phase and the solidified microparticles from the primary emulsion, wherein the secondary emulsion or oil phase blocked and coated pores on the surface of the solidified micropar

This review explores the advancements in polymer-based sensors for blood analysis, emphasizing the online detection of key blood components such as uric acid, creatinine, urea, bilirubin, cholesterol, total proteins, amino acids and hormones. It categorizes polymer sensors into electrochemical, optical and molecularly imprinted polymers, providing insights into their working mechanisms and advantages in biomarker identification. Recent innovations are highlighted to evaluate the current state of sensor technology in terms of selectivity, sensitivity and real-time monitoring capabilities. Challenges such as stability issues, biofouling and compliance are also addressed. The review underscores the transformative potential of these sensors in blood diagnostics, emphasizing their role in enhancing patient care through convenient point-of-care healthcare testing. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Siloxane-containing polymers with their exceptional thermal stability, low temperature flexibility, low surface energy and non-toxicity have become extremely valuable materials for a plethora of diverse technology areas such as biomedical engineering, soft electronics, optics, coatings etc. This review discusses some recent advances in the synthesis, processing and applications of these versatile materials, highlighting their unique properties and potential. It also highlights some new manufacturing methods and innovations, which enable complex designs and applications, the production of novel intricate structures with enhanced material properties, and further enhancement of versatility of the siloxane-containing polymers. Finally, the environmental sustainability of these materials emerges as a critical focus, with efforts directed towards ‘green’ synthetic routes, improved recyclability and safety concerns, highlighting the importance of ongoing research on their long-term effects on human, animal and environmental health. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.