Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129657
Xiaopei Li , Wenjuan Li , Mengwei Tian , Lu Li , Xiaowen Zhang , Zhengyang Hou , Jie Zhang , Lantao Liu , Dongdong Zhang
The one-pot organotellurium-mediated living radical polymerization (TERP) using diphenylditelluride (TePh)2 and 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) or 2,2'-(diazene-1,2-diyl) bis (2,4-di methyl -pentanenitrile) (V65) was reported synthesis of polyacrylates under photo condition. The polymerization achieved over 90 % monomer conversion while maintaining well control over molecular weight (Mn) and molecular weight distribution (Đ). High molecular weight (>30000) polymers were successfully synthesized, including homopolymer, diblock copolymers and triblock copolymers (first time by using one-pot TERP) with controlled molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The polymerization process was firstly investigated and it notes that this method enables high efficiency (>92 %) in situ generation of chain transfer agents (CTA) of TERP from ditelluride and azo compounds. The regulation of polymer molecular weight dispersity can be achieved by adjusting the azo/(TePh)2 ratio, a critical feature for meeting specific polymer design requirements.
{"title":"Evidence for one-pot organotellurium-mediated living radical polymerization by ditelluride and azo initiating system","authors":"Xiaopei Li , Wenjuan Li , Mengwei Tian , Lu Li , Xiaowen Zhang , Zhengyang Hou , Jie Zhang , Lantao Liu , Dongdong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The one-pot organotellurium-mediated living radical polymerization (TERP) using diphenylditelluride (TePh)<sub>2</sub> and 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) or 2,2'-(diazene-1,2-diyl) bis (2,4-di methyl -pentanenitrile) (V65) was reported synthesis of polyacrylates under photo condition. The polymerization achieved over 90 % monomer conversion while maintaining well control over molecular weight (<em>M</em><sub>n</sub>) and molecular weight distribution (<em>Đ</em>). High molecular weight (>30000) polymers were successfully synthesized, including homopolymer, diblock copolymers and triblock copolymers (first time by using one-pot TERP) with controlled molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The polymerization process was firstly investigated and it notes that this method enables high efficiency (>92 %) in situ generation of chain transfer agents (CTA) of TERP from ditelluride and azo compounds. The regulation of polymer molecular weight dispersity can be achieved by adjusting the azo/(TePh)<sub>2</sub> ratio, a critical feature for meeting specific polymer design requirements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129657"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129656
Hongbo Lu , Yaodong Feng , Yue Zhao , Hao Bai , Lei Chen , Miao Xu
Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) show great application potential in the areas of smart windows and displays. However, the driving voltage and peel strength still need further improvement. This study systematically examined how siloxane-functionalized acrylate monomers influence the electro-optical and mechanical properties of PDLC by analyzing the electro-optical behavior, micro morphology, and mechanical characteristics. The results indicate that the migration of siloxane-functionalized acrylate monomers at the interface can lower the driving voltage and increase the peel strength of the PDLC film. For a 20 μm-thick film, compared to a sample without added siloxane-functionalized acrylate monomer, the saturation voltage (Vsat) decreased by about 37.3 % to 27.1 V. At the same time, the peel strength increased by approximately 60.2 % to 28.2 N/m. Furthermore, the peel strength was further increased to 35.1 N/m after UV-ozone modification of the substrate. This study is anticipated to provide a new approach to optimizing the performance of PDLC films for practical applications.
{"title":"Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals with low driving voltage and high peel strength based on siloxane-functionalized acrylates","authors":"Hongbo Lu , Yaodong Feng , Yue Zhao , Hao Bai , Lei Chen , Miao Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) show great application potential in the areas of smart windows and displays. However, the driving voltage and peel strength still need further improvement. This study systematically examined how siloxane-functionalized acrylate monomers influence the electro-optical and mechanical properties of PDLC by analyzing the electro-optical behavior, micro morphology, and mechanical characteristics. The results indicate that the migration of siloxane-functionalized acrylate monomers at the interface can lower the driving voltage and increase the peel strength of the PDLC film. For a 20 μm-thick film, compared to a sample without added siloxane-functionalized acrylate monomer, the saturation voltage (<em>V</em><sub>sat</sub>) decreased by about 37.3 % to 27.1 V. At the same time, the peel strength increased by approximately 60.2 % to 28.2 N/m. Furthermore, the peel strength was further increased to 35.1 N/m after UV-ozone modification of the substrate. This study is anticipated to provide a new approach to optimizing the performance of PDLC films for practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129656"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129658
Huong Thi Mai Lai , Anh Thi Kieu Vo , Vuong Duy Nguyen , Son Thi Nguyen , Ngoc Thi Bich Vu , Thu Hong Anh Ngo
Thin-film composite polyamide (TFC/PA) membranes are widely applied in water treatment but remain limited by fouling, biofouling, and chlorine-induced degradation. To address the above disadvantages, this work modified TFC/PA membranes via redox-initiated graft polymerisation of hydrophilic Ascorbic acid (AsA) combined with antibacterial zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). Structural and surface characterisation using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements confirmed the successful incorporation of AsA and ZnONPs. These analyses demonstrated a significant increase in surface hydrophilicity, as evidenced by the decrease in WCA from 49.5° to 35.8° and 33.6°. Filtration experiments demonstrated that the grafted membranes maintained stable sodium chloride retention (95.5 %), exhibited a higher flux ratio, and showed a lower irreversible fouling factor than the TFC/PA membrane. Importantly, the ZnONPs/AsA-grafted membrane displayed strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, sustaining filtration performance even after 4 days of bacterial exposure. Thus, the antifouling and anti-biofouling properties of the grafted membrane were enhanced. Moreover, the grafted membrane maintained its separation performance after immersion in NaClO solutions up to 15,000 ppm h, indicating superior chlorine resistance compared with the TFC/PA membrane. Overall, this work introduces a novel approach using AsA and ZnONPs to enhance antifouling, anti-biofouling, and chlorine resistance, offering promising potential for TFC/PA membranes in water treatment applications.
{"title":"Enhancing the durability and chlorine-resistance of thin-film composite polyamide membrane via redox-initiated graft polymerisation with ascorbic acid and antibacterial ZnO nanoparticles","authors":"Huong Thi Mai Lai , Anh Thi Kieu Vo , Vuong Duy Nguyen , Son Thi Nguyen , Ngoc Thi Bich Vu , Thu Hong Anh Ngo","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thin-film composite polyamide (TFC/PA) membranes are widely applied in water treatment but remain limited by fouling, biofouling, and chlorine-induced degradation. To address the above disadvantages, this work modified TFC/PA membranes via redox-initiated graft polymerisation of hydrophilic Ascorbic acid (AsA) combined with antibacterial zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). Structural and surface characterisation using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements confirmed the successful incorporation of AsA and ZnONPs. These analyses demonstrated a significant increase in surface hydrophilicity, as evidenced by the decrease in WCA from 49.5° to 35.8° and 33.6°. Filtration experiments demonstrated that the grafted membranes maintained stable sodium chloride retention (95.5 %), exhibited a higher flux ratio, and showed a lower irreversible fouling factor than the TFC/PA membrane. Importantly, the ZnONPs/AsA-grafted membrane displayed strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, sustaining filtration performance even after 4 days of bacterial exposure. Thus, the antifouling and anti-biofouling properties of the grafted membrane were enhanced. Moreover, the grafted membrane maintained its separation performance after immersion in NaClO solutions up to 15,000 ppm h, indicating superior chlorine resistance compared with the TFC/PA membrane. Overall, this work introduces a novel approach using AsA and ZnONPs to enhance antifouling, anti-biofouling, and chlorine resistance, offering promising potential for TFC/PA membranes in water treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129658"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047946","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129663
Xiaoyu Guan , Chunyan Lou , Heng Zhang , Xiaochun Zhu , Guoqian Lu , Xue Liang , Weiyi Xie , Mingjie Hu , Puzhen He , Zhengfeng Dong , Zihan Wang , Jie Diao , Rui Wang
Designing high-performance shape memory nanofibers remains challenging because most existing studies emphasize polymer chemistry while overlooking the decisive role of microstructural architecture in regulating energy storage and release. Here, we fabricate electrospun nanofibers composed of shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with three distinct architectures: side-by-side coupled fibers, core–shell fibers, and independently electrospun mixed-fiber networks, enabling direct comparison of microstructure-dependent shape-memory behavior. Thermomechanical experiments and finite element simulations reveal that fiber-level architecture governs stiffness, shape fixity, recovery efficiency, and actuation force in a stress-dependent manner. Core–shell fibers provide strong circumferential confinement, leading to the highest modulus and recovery-induced actuation stress, whereas side-by-side fibers promote cooperative axial deformation and exhibit superior shape fixity under small programming stress. In contrast, independently mixed fibers show inferior performance due to discontinuous stress transfer. These results demonstrate that microstructural architecture, rather than polymer composition alone, defines distinct shape-memory regimes across different deformation conditions. This work establishes microstructure engineering at the single-fiber level as a clear and generalizable strategy for designing shape-memory nanofibers with predictable and tunable performance, offering important guidance for soft actuators, adaptive textiles, and multifunctional polymer systems.
{"title":"From microstructure to function: Cooperative deformation in high-performance shape memory fibers","authors":"Xiaoyu Guan , Chunyan Lou , Heng Zhang , Xiaochun Zhu , Guoqian Lu , Xue Liang , Weiyi Xie , Mingjie Hu , Puzhen He , Zhengfeng Dong , Zihan Wang , Jie Diao , Rui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Designing high-performance shape memory nanofibers remains challenging because most existing studies emphasize polymer chemistry while overlooking the decisive role of microstructural architecture in regulating energy storage and release. Here, we fabricate electrospun nanofibers composed of shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with three distinct architectures: side-by-side coupled fibers, core–shell fibers, and independently electrospun mixed-fiber networks, enabling direct comparison of microstructure-dependent shape-memory behavior. Thermomechanical experiments and finite element simulations reveal that fiber-level architecture governs stiffness, shape fixity, recovery efficiency, and actuation force in a stress-dependent manner. Core–shell fibers provide strong circumferential confinement, leading to the highest modulus and recovery-induced actuation stress, whereas side-by-side fibers promote cooperative axial deformation and exhibit superior shape fixity under small programming stress. In contrast, independently mixed fibers show inferior performance due to discontinuous stress transfer. These results demonstrate that microstructural architecture, rather than polymer composition alone, defines distinct shape-memory regimes across different deformation conditions. This work establishes microstructure engineering at the single-fiber level as a clear and generalizable strategy for designing shape-memory nanofibers with predictable and tunable performance, offering important guidance for soft actuators, adaptive textiles, and multifunctional polymer systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129663"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146070483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129661
Yanjun Zhao , Yuhu Shang , Bo Lu , Kun Dai , Zhaoyuan Jiang , Liwei Mi , Guoqiang Zheng , Chuntai Liu , Changyu Shen
The demand for micro/nano patterns is increasingly high because of the rapid-growing of bioinspired devices, energy-related electronics, chemical/physical transducers and so on. Unfortunately, it is still a challenge to fabricate larger-area micro/nano patterns with high aspect-ratio based on low-cost thermoplastics. Herein, large-area thermoplastics surface featuring micro/nano pillars were efficiently fabricated by a reusable mold. Aspect-ratio of the as-prepared pillars is as high as 53, which is the record high in the available literatures concerning micro/nano pillars based on thermoplastics. It is well documented that yield and higher dissipated energy are crucial for the successful fabrication of high aspect-ratio micro/nano pillars. Such micro/nano pillar array reveals interesting properties in terms of superhydrophobicity and lower adhesive force. Considering the reusable micro-cavity mold made by pico-second laser ablation, inexpensive thermoplastic polymer as well as the facile polymer processing method widely used for industrial purpose, this study is a representative case of “functionalized processing for thermoplastic polymers” toward micro/nano patterns.
{"title":"Facile fabricating high aspect-ratio micro/nano pillars: mechanical mechanism and superhydrophobicity","authors":"Yanjun Zhao , Yuhu Shang , Bo Lu , Kun Dai , Zhaoyuan Jiang , Liwei Mi , Guoqiang Zheng , Chuntai Liu , Changyu Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The demand for micro/nano patterns is increasingly high because of the rapid-growing of bioinspired devices, energy-related electronics, chemical/physical transducers and so on. Unfortunately, it is still a challenge to fabricate larger-area micro/nano patterns with high aspect-ratio based on low-cost thermoplastics. Herein, large-area thermoplastics surface featuring micro/nano pillars were efficiently fabricated by a reusable mold. Aspect-ratio of the as-prepared pillars is as high as 53, which is the record high in the available literatures concerning micro/nano pillars based on thermoplastics. It is well documented that yield and higher dissipated energy are crucial for the successful fabrication of high aspect-ratio micro/nano pillars. Such micro/nano pillar array reveals interesting properties in terms of superhydrophobicity and lower adhesive force. Considering the reusable micro-cavity mold made by pico-second laser ablation, inexpensive thermoplastic polymer as well as the facile polymer processing method widely used for industrial purpose, this study is a representative case of “functionalized processing for thermoplastic polymers” toward micro/nano patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129661"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129666
Xueshen Liu , Binbin Li , Dong Guo , Xincong Zhou
Water-lubricated bearing materials for ships suffer severe wear under low-speed operation and heavy load conditions. Integrating graphene oxide (GO) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) can improve its tribological properties. However, the cooperative modification mechanism governing these enhancements has not yet been elucidated. This report describes the preparation of a series of composites, i.e., UHMWPE/GO, UHMWPE/MWCNTs, and UHMWPE/GO-MWCNTs (GCNTs), which were fabricated by incorporating GO, MWCNTs, and GCNTs, respectively, into the UHMWPE matrix. The frictional and wear properties of these materials are investigated experimentally and through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results show that the wear rates of UHMWPE/GO, UHMWPE/MWCNTs, and UHMWPE/GCNTs are all reduced relative to that of pure UHMWPE. In particular, the friction coefficient and wear rate of UHMWPE/GCNTs are the lowest under a heavy load (40 N), with reductions of 63.5 % and 56.7 %, respectively, compared with pure UHMWPE. Additionally, UHMWPE/GCNTs have lower molecular mobility. The “GO-MWCNTs-GO” sandwich structure formed by GO and MWCNTs on the surface of the UHMWPE provides more effective lubrication, which reduces the friction coefficient and wear of UHMWPE/GCNTs, thus improving the overall frictional properties of the material.
{"title":"The mechanism of synergistic enhancement of the tribology properties of UHMWPE by graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes under water lubrication condition","authors":"Xueshen Liu , Binbin Li , Dong Guo , Xincong Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water-lubricated bearing materials for ships suffer severe wear under low-speed operation and heavy load conditions. Integrating graphene oxide (GO) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) can improve its tribological properties. However, the cooperative modification mechanism governing these enhancements has not yet been elucidated. This report describes the preparation of a series of composites, i.e., UHMWPE/GO, UHMWPE/MWCNTs, and UHMWPE/GO-MWCNTs (GCNTs), which were fabricated by incorporating GO, MWCNTs, and GCNTs, respectively, into the UHMWPE matrix. The frictional and wear properties of these materials are investigated experimentally and through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results show that the wear rates of UHMWPE/GO, UHMWPE/MWCNTs, and UHMWPE/GCNTs are all reduced relative to that of pure UHMWPE. In particular, the friction coefficient and wear rate of UHMWPE/GCNTs are the lowest under a heavy load (40 N), with reductions of 63.5 % and 56.7 %, respectively, compared with pure UHMWPE. Additionally, UHMWPE/GCNTs have lower molecular mobility. The “GO-MWCNTs-GO” sandwich structure formed by GO and MWCNTs on the surface of the UHMWPE provides more effective lubrication, which reduces the friction coefficient and wear of UHMWPE/GCNTs, thus improving the overall frictional properties of the material.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129666"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129659
Yi Yu , Dandan Liu , Meng Zhu , Jianyong Yu , Xueli Wang , Ruchao Yuan
The recycling of PET/PA6/cotton blended fabrics remains a significant challenge due to the lack of efficient and scalable separation strategies. In this study, the structural responses of PA6, PET and cotton fabrics in DMSO at various temperatures were systematically investigated, enabling the development of an efficient, non-destructive sequential separation method for these complex blends. For PA6 fabrics, pronounced DMSO penetration occurred at 110 °C, leading to a decrease in glass transition temperature (Tg) and a γ-to-α crystalline phase transition. Dissolution proceeded in two distinct regimes (115–124 °C and 125–135 °C), yielding corresponding apparent activation energies of Ea1 = 103 kJ mol−1 and Ea2 = 26 kJ mol−1. PET fabrics exhibited minimal swelling prior to dissolution, with two kinetic regimes (145–149 °C and 150–160 °C) characterized by Ea1 = 257 kJ mol−1 and Ea2 = 56 kJ mol−1. In contrast, cotton fabrics retained their structural integrity across the entire temperature range (25–160 °C), remaining insoluble in DMSO. Sequential separation of the blends was achieved at 125 °C for PA6 fabrics and 150 °C for PET fabrics, without cross-contamination, demonstrating the feasibility of an efficient, non-destructive and scalable solvent-based system for fiber-to-fiber recycling of complex blended textiles.
{"title":"Structural evolution of PET, PA6 and cotton fabrics in DMSO at different temperatures and their sequential separation from complex blends","authors":"Yi Yu , Dandan Liu , Meng Zhu , Jianyong Yu , Xueli Wang , Ruchao Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recycling of PET/PA6/cotton blended fabrics remains a significant challenge due to the lack of efficient and scalable separation strategies. In this study, the structural responses of PA6, PET and cotton fabrics in DMSO at various temperatures were systematically investigated, enabling the development of an efficient, non-destructive sequential separation method for these complex blends. For PA6 fabrics, pronounced DMSO penetration occurred at 110 °C, leading to a decrease in glass transition temperature (<em>T</em><sub>g</sub>) and a <em>γ</em>-to-<em>α</em> crystalline phase transition. Dissolution proceeded in two distinct regimes (115–124 °C and 125–135 °C), yielding corresponding apparent activation energies of <em>E</em><sub>a1</sub> = 103 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup> and <em>E</em><sub>a2</sub> = 26 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>. PET fabrics exhibited minimal swelling prior to dissolution, with two kinetic regimes (145–149 °C and 150–160 °C) characterized by <em>E</em><sub>a1</sub> = 257 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup> and <em>E</em><sub>a2</sub> = 56 kJ mol<sup>−1</sup>. In contrast, cotton fabrics retained their structural integrity across the entire temperature range (25–160 °C), remaining insoluble in DMSO. Sequential separation of the blends was achieved at 125 °C for PA6 fabrics and 150 °C for PET fabrics, without cross-contamination, demonstrating the feasibility of an efficient, non-destructive and scalable solvent-based system for fiber-to-fiber recycling of complex blended textiles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129659"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129626
Juan Chen , Zheng Zhang , Seeram Ramakrishna , Zhonglin Xiang , Changhai Xu , Jinmei Du
Meta aromatic polyamide (PMIA) has high rigidity and low flexibility due to the rigid molecular structure and highly oriented hydrogen bonding interactions, which will make the stress concentration and damage of PMIA by force. It is necessary to improve flexibility while maintaining mechanical strength. The influence of different aromatic ether structure on properties of PMIA and the evolution mechanism of molecular chain conformation in flexible PMIA fibers during the drawing process are not clear. This work obtained two flexible PMIA fibers (PMAB-PMIA and ODA-PMIA) by introducing 1,3-bis (4-aminophenoxy) benzene (PMAB) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) into molecular chain. The properties of PMIA with different aromatic ether structures and microscale analysis during drawing were explored. The flexible PMIA maintained excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability, and flame retardancy. The tensile strength of pristine PMIA, PMAB-PMIA and ODA-PMIA was 2.68, 2.55 and 2.64 cN/dtex, respectively, meaning that flexible PMIA fibers kept high tensile strength. Compared with pristine PMIA, the elongation at break of PMAB-PMIA and ODA-PMIA increased by 30.1 % and 16.4 %. Their maximum number of twists also increased from 177 to 237 and 258 twists/10 cm. The increased elongation at break and torsional resistance proved that flexibility of modified PMIA elevated. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that the molecular chains of aromatic-ether PMIA had more folded conformations, thus offering superior flexibility and stress dissipation capabilities at microstructural level. This work systematically explored high-strength and flexible PMIA fibers based on aromatic ether, which is expected to guide the material design of future functional fibers.
{"title":"From rigidity to flexibility: High-strength PMIA fibers with aromatic ether structures","authors":"Juan Chen , Zheng Zhang , Seeram Ramakrishna , Zhonglin Xiang , Changhai Xu , Jinmei Du","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Meta aromatic polyamide (PMIA) has high rigidity and low flexibility due to the rigid molecular structure and highly oriented hydrogen bonding interactions, which will make the stress concentration and damage of PMIA by force. It is necessary to improve flexibility while maintaining mechanical strength. The influence of different aromatic ether structure on properties of PMIA and the evolution mechanism of molecular chain conformation in flexible PMIA fibers during the drawing process are not clear. This work obtained two flexible PMIA fibers (PMAB-PMIA and ODA-PMIA) by introducing 1,3-bis (4-aminophenoxy) benzene (PMAB) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) into molecular chain. The properties of PMIA with different aromatic ether structures and microscale analysis during drawing were explored. The flexible PMIA maintained excellent mechanical properties, thermal stability, and flame retardancy. The tensile strength of pristine PMIA, PMAB-PMIA and ODA-PMIA was 2.68, 2.55 and 2.64 cN/dtex, respectively, meaning that flexible PMIA fibers kept high tensile strength. Compared with pristine PMIA, the elongation at break of PMAB-PMIA and ODA-PMIA increased by 30.1 % and 16.4 %. Their maximum number of twists also increased from 177 to 237 and 258 twists/10 cm. The increased elongation at break and torsional resistance proved that flexibility of modified PMIA elevated. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that the molecular chains of aromatic-ether PMIA had more folded conformations, thus offering superior flexibility and stress dissipation capabilities at microstructural level. This work systematically explored high-strength and flexible PMIA fibers based on aromatic ether, which is expected to guide the material design of future functional fibers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129626"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129636
Sauravkumar Patel , Chandan Bodhak , Ram K. Gupta
Polyurethanes (PUs) are ubiquitous amongst versatile polymeric materials that are usually made by the reaction of polyisocyanates with polyols, yielding materials with a wide range of mechanical, chemical, and physical properties. Nowadays, more attention is given to designing PU networks involving the emerging techniques, including structurally modified bio-based polyols, compared to the use of conventional petroleum-based resources. In this context, “thiol-ene” click reactions are one of the most effective techniques for structural modification of unsaturated bio-based resources to prepare the polyols under a sustainable approach. Herein, we have developed an efficient route for the synthesis of limonene and geraniol-based thioether polyols (LME and GME) via the “thiol-ene” click reaction under solvent-free conditions. Thereafter, the prepared thioether polyols were used to fabricate a series of polyurethane thermoset networks under catalyst-free condition with tunable thermal and mechanical properties involving two different diisocyanates (IPDI and CHMDI) for PU formulation. Additionally, the influence of soybean oil polyol (SBPO) on the structural rigidity of the PU networks has also been investigated. All the PU thermosets appear as transparent, rigid, or semi-rigid films and exhibit a high glass transition temperature (Tg) as well as robust mechanical properties. For instance, all the prepared PU thermosets displayed the tunable Tg values ranging from 20.5 to 75.3 °C, and the highest tensile strength of ∼36 MPa and shore D hardness of ∼85 was achieved for the GME-IPDI polyurethane thermoset. The fabricated PU materials exhibit moderate UV resistance and also no significant yellowing phenomenon was observed due to the presence of aliphatic backbone. Briefly, the present work explores the scope of terpene feedstocks for the development of sulfur-functionalized high-performance polyurethane networks with enhanced thermal stability and mechanical strength.
{"title":"Bio-based thioether polyols from limonene and geraniol: Toward sustainable high-performance polyurethane thermosets","authors":"Sauravkumar Patel , Chandan Bodhak , Ram K. Gupta","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyurethanes (PUs) are ubiquitous amongst versatile polymeric materials that are usually made by the reaction of polyisocyanates with polyols, yielding materials with a wide range of mechanical, chemical, and physical properties. Nowadays, more attention is given to designing PU networks involving the emerging techniques, including structurally modified bio-based polyols, compared to the use of conventional petroleum-based resources. In this context, “thiol-ene” click reactions are one of the most effective techniques for structural modification of unsaturated bio-based resources to prepare the polyols under a sustainable approach. Herein, we have developed an efficient route for the synthesis of limonene and geraniol-based thioether polyols (LME and GME) <em>via</em> the “thiol-ene” click reaction under solvent-free conditions. Thereafter, the prepared thioether polyols were used to fabricate a series of polyurethane thermoset networks under catalyst-free condition with tunable thermal and mechanical properties involving two different diisocyanates (IPDI and CHMDI) for PU formulation. Additionally, the influence of soybean oil polyol (SBPO) on the structural rigidity of the PU networks has also been investigated. All the PU thermosets appear as transparent, rigid, or semi-rigid films and exhibit a high glass transition temperature (<em>T</em><sub><em>g</em></sub>) as well as robust mechanical properties. For instance, all the prepared PU thermosets displayed the tunable <em>T</em><sub><em>g</em></sub> values ranging from 20.5 to 75.3 °C, and the highest tensile strength of ∼36 MPa and shore D hardness of ∼85 was achieved for the GME-IPDI polyurethane thermoset. The fabricated PU materials exhibit moderate UV resistance and also no significant yellowing phenomenon was observed due to the presence of aliphatic backbone. Briefly, the present work explores the scope of terpene feedstocks for the development of sulfur-functionalized high-performance polyurethane networks with enhanced thermal stability and mechanical strength.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129636"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129651
Jianwei Deng, Haibao Lu
Thermally activated shape memory polymers (SMPs) are popularly employed in advanced engineering applications, such as soft actuators, soft robotic systems, and active metamaterials. Engineering design of SMP structures underscores the need for robust and fast numerical modeling approaches. However, existing constitutive models, though theoretically comprehensive, often suffer from parameter calibration difficulties and high computational costs. This study develops a novel deep learning methodology based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks for modeling thermo-mechanical shape recovery behaviors of SMPs. An experimentally-validated thermo-visco-hyperelastic constitutive model and finite element simulations are employed to generate the datasets. Subsequently, a series of deep learning models are developed and trained to predict the free and constraint recovery behaviors. The developed deep learning models deliver precise real-time predictions while maintaining good generalization ability. Furthermore, we extend the proposed framework to free recovery behaviors under 3D stress-strain states. The outstanding performance of these deep learning models highlights their significant potential as a real-time and effective alternative for design and analysis of SMPs in comparison with traditionally theoretical and semi-empirical approaches.
{"title":"Deep learning of long short-term memory neural networks in shape memory polymers towards shape memory behaviors","authors":"Jianwei Deng, Haibao Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermally activated shape memory polymers (SMPs) are popularly employed in advanced engineering applications, such as soft actuators, soft robotic systems, and active metamaterials. Engineering design of SMP structures underscores the need for robust and fast numerical modeling approaches. However, existing constitutive models, though theoretically comprehensive, often suffer from parameter calibration difficulties and high computational costs. This study develops a novel deep learning methodology based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks for modeling thermo-mechanical shape recovery behaviors of SMPs. An experimentally-validated thermo-visco-hyperelastic constitutive model and finite element simulations are employed to generate the datasets. Subsequently, a series of deep learning models are developed and trained to predict the free and constraint recovery behaviors. The developed deep learning models deliver precise real-time predictions while maintaining good generalization ability. Furthermore, we extend the proposed framework to free recovery behaviors under 3D stress-strain states. The outstanding performance of these deep learning models highlights their significant potential as a real-time and effective alternative for design and analysis of SMPs in comparison with traditionally theoretical and semi-empirical approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"346 ","pages":"Article 129651"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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