Pub Date : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129732
Luca Liu , Guido Raos
Understanding the mechanical behavior of polymer chains at the molecular level is essential for predicting also their bulk properties, including fracture. Here we investigate the tensile elasticity and failure of single polyethylene (PE) chains using both molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum chemical calculations. Simulations were performed on a long PE chain (C202H406) to assess the differences between four reactive force fields (AIREBO, MEAM, ci-ReaxFF and ReaxFF), while a shorter chain (C16H34) was used for direct comparison of the force fields with density functional theory (DFT). Our results indicate that ReaxFF and ci-ReaxFF closely replicate the DFT predictions and approach the available experimental data for the work of fracture of long hydrocarbon chain. AIREBO consistently overestimates failure forces in both molecular dynamics and energy minimization, while the MEAM predictions depend on the computational method: it underestimates failure forces in molecular dynamics simulations but significantly overestimates them in minimization calculations. These findings suggest that ReaxFF and ci-ReaxFF are reliable choices for simulating the scission of polymer chains, and may be used as starting point for more extensive simulations of polymer mechanics and fracture.
{"title":"Assessment of reactive force fields for the failure of hydrocarbon chains: Insights from molecular dynamics and density functional theory","authors":"Luca Liu , Guido Raos","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129732","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the mechanical behavior of polymer chains at the molecular level is essential for predicting also their bulk properties, including fracture. Here we investigate the tensile elasticity and failure of single polyethylene (PE) chains using both molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum chemical calculations. Simulations were performed on a long PE chain (C<sub>202</sub>H<sub>406</sub>) to assess the differences between four reactive force fields (AIREBO, MEAM, ci-ReaxFF and ReaxFF), while a shorter chain (C<sub>16</sub>H<sub>34</sub>) was used for direct comparison of the force fields with density functional theory (DFT). Our results indicate that ReaxFF and ci-ReaxFF closely replicate the DFT predictions and approach the available experimental data for the work of fracture of long hydrocarbon chain. AIREBO consistently overestimates failure forces in both molecular dynamics and energy minimization, while the MEAM predictions depend on the computational method: it underestimates failure forces in molecular dynamics simulations but significantly overestimates them in minimization calculations. These findings suggest that ReaxFF and ci-ReaxFF are reliable choices for simulating the scission of polymer chains, and may be used as starting point for more extensive simulations of polymer mechanics and fracture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129732"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153220","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 : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129740
Xianfeng Yang , Tao Tong , Jiajie Ye , Jianhui Wang , Xinling Wang
Polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) is nowadays widely used as an eco-friendly material in vehicles, construction equipment, and agricultural machinery, which attracts growing attendance in the global market. Herein, we report the application of a kind of modified polyoxomolybdate catalysts in the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) to manufacture PDCPD products. These modified molybdenum-based catalysts perform significantly higher catalytic activity than their unmodified counterparts. As a result, the PDCPD materials produced by using modified molybdenum-based catalysts exhibit better mechanical properties and higher Tg values than those prepared using traditional polyoxomolybdate catalysts. The industrial trial of the two-component DCPD resin system based on the modified hexamolybdate salt which we reported in this work has also been successfully carried out. The research results outlined in this paper have great potential for industrial applications in the manufacture of PDCPD parts using reaction injection molding (RIM) process.
{"title":"Modified polyoxomolybdate (Ⅵ) catalysts for high-performance ring-opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene","authors":"Xianfeng Yang , Tao Tong , Jiajie Ye , Jianhui Wang , Xinling Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) is nowadays widely used as an eco-friendly material in vehicles, construction equipment, and agricultural machinery, which attracts growing attendance in the global market. Herein, we report the application of a kind of modified polyoxomolybdate catalysts in the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) to manufacture PDCPD products. These modified molybdenum-based catalysts perform significantly higher catalytic activity than their unmodified counterparts. As a result, the PDCPD materials produced by using modified molybdenum-based catalysts exhibit better mechanical properties and higher <em>Tg</em> values than those prepared using traditional polyoxomolybdate catalysts. The industrial trial of the two-component DCPD resin system based on the modified hexamolybdate salt which we reported in this work has also been successfully carried out. The research results outlined in this paper have great potential for industrial applications in the manufacture of PDCPD parts using reaction injection molding (RIM) process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129740"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187586","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 : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129677
Fang Zhang , Shaoyu Chen , Ting Ye , Wentao Gong , Hongkun Zhu , Chaoxia Wang
Developing high-performance bio-based poly(lactic acid)-polyurethane (PLA-PU) elastomers is important for achieving carbon neutrality and a sustainable future. Conventional PLA-PU systems suffer from mechanical and functional limitations. Herein, we develop lignin-modified PLA-PU thermoplastic elastomer (LPT) films through a facile solution polymerization strategy in which the covalence of lignin in the PLA-PU networks simultaneously enhanced mechanical performance and provided multifunction. The mechanical toughness of the optimized LPT films reached 349.09 MJ/m3 with a tensile strength of 41.12 MPa and an elongation break of 1649.51%. Besides, the presence of chromophores and aromatic structures in the lignin endows the modified films with intrinsic brown color and remarkable UV resistance performance. The absorptions of UVB/UVC and UVA are higher than 99.51% and 88.14%, respectively. Notably, the LPT films maintain 71.57% tensile strength and 78.05% elongation after three recycling cycles via dissolution in DMF, while achieving complete degradation under mild alkaline conditions, demonstrating their sustainable feature. This work establishes a new pathway for developing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based elastomers with combined mechanical robustness and multifunctions.
{"title":"Recyclable lignin-modified polylactic acid-polyurethane elastomer with high strength and UV resistance","authors":"Fang Zhang , Shaoyu Chen , Ting Ye , Wentao Gong , Hongkun Zhu , Chaoxia Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing high-performance bio-based poly(lactic acid)-polyurethane (PLA-PU) elastomers is important for achieving carbon neutrality and a sustainable future. Conventional PLA-PU systems suffer from mechanical and functional limitations. Herein, we develop lignin-modified PLA-PU thermoplastic elastomer (LPT) films through a facile solution polymerization strategy in which the covalence of lignin in the PLA-PU networks simultaneously enhanced mechanical performance and provided multifunction. The mechanical toughness of the optimized LPT films reached 349.09 MJ/m<sup>3</sup> with a tensile strength of 41.12 MPa and an elongation break of 1649.51%. Besides, the presence of chromophores and aromatic structures in the lignin endows the modified films with intrinsic brown color and remarkable UV resistance performance. The absorptions of UVB/UVC and UVA are higher than 99.51% and 88.14%, respectively. Notably, the LPT films maintain 71.57% tensile strength and 78.05% elongation after three recycling cycles via dissolution in DMF, while achieving complete degradation under mild alkaline conditions, demonstrating their sustainable feature. This work establishes a new pathway for developing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based elastomers with combined mechanical robustness and multifunctions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129677"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122091","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}
Noise pollution has long been a critical challenge affecting daily life and industrial activities. Porous materials, such as melamine foam, are widely used for noise reduction due to their excellent sound absorption, low density, and facile processability. However, their sound absorption properties are often limited by the control of thickness or quality in practical applications. This study presents a polydopamine (PDA) mediated surface modification approach, in which zeolitic imidazolate framework 67 (ZIF67) are grew on melamine foam (MF) to enhance its acoustic and mechanical properties. The ZIF67/PDA/MF composite (ZPM) possesses outstanding acoustic performance with a best noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.64, while maintaining sound transmission loss (STL) values exceeding 15 dB above 500 Hz and reaching a maximum of 30.95 dB at 6400 Hz. And it attains a maximum modulus of 35.1 kPa at 60% strain. These improvements stem from the optimized foam skeleton structure, micropores formed via ZIF67 deposition, and increased surface roughness that reinforces the interfacial friction damping effect. This simple yet versatile strategy can be extended to other porous materials, demonstrating significant potential for noise control in industrial, architectural, and transportation applications.
{"title":"Enhanced noise reduction of melamine foam through surface roughness induced by ZIF67 loading","authors":"Weizhen Huang , Jieyu Xue , Qiyue Xiao , Ruohan Zhao , Yuanrong Ding , Jianxun Zhang , Zhou Chen , Yong Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129697","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129697","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Noise pollution has long been a critical challenge affecting daily life and industrial activities. Porous materials, such as melamine foam, are widely used for noise reduction due to their excellent sound absorption, low density, and facile processability. However, their sound absorption properties are often limited by the control of thickness or quality in practical applications. This study presents a polydopamine (PDA) mediated surface modification approach, in which zeolitic imidazolate framework 67 (ZIF67) are grew on melamine foam (MF) to enhance its acoustic and mechanical properties. The ZIF67/PDA/MF composite (ZPM) possesses outstanding acoustic performance with a best noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of 0.64, while maintaining sound transmission loss (STL) values exceeding 15 dB above 500 Hz and reaching a maximum of 30.95 dB at 6400 Hz. And it attains a maximum modulus of 35.1 kPa at 60% strain. These improvements stem from the optimized foam skeleton structure, micropores formed via ZIF67 deposition, and increased surface roughness that reinforces the interfacial friction damping effect. This simple yet versatile strategy can be extended to other porous materials, demonstrating significant potential for noise control in industrial, architectural, and transportation applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129697"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135337","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 : 2026-03-19DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129853
Ziyu Wang, Yuxing Zhang, Zhongbao Jian, Xiaoqiang Hu
This study reports the design and synthesis of a series of hybrid steric α-diimine Ni(II) catalysts bearing synergistic rigid and flexible substituents, developed for the directly producing thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (POEs) via ethylene homopolymerization. The designed catalysts (Ni1-Ni5) demonstrated good thermal stability and high polymerization activity, exceeding 106 g·mol-1·h-1 across a broad temperature range (30-90 °C). Precise tuning of steric effects allowed for effective suppression of chain transfer and tunable chain walking, resulting in polyethylene with adjustable branching densities (31-78 / 1000C) and high molecular weights (up to 1.26 × 106 g·mol-1). The resulting branched polyethylenes possessed excellent mechanical properties characteristic of thermoplastic elastomers, including high strain-at-break (up to 1462%) and superior strain recovery (up to 83%). This work demonstrates the effectiveness of hybrid α-diimine nickel catalysts with combined rigid and flexible substituents for the direct synthesis of high-performance POEs from ethylene, offering a promising strategy for advanced polyolefin design without requiring α-olefin comonomers.
{"title":"Direct Synthesis of Polyolefin Elastomers via Hybrid Steric α-Diimine Nickel Catalysts Featuring Synergistic Rigid and Flexible Substituents","authors":"Ziyu Wang, Yuxing Zhang, Zhongbao Jian, Xiaoqiang Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129853","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129853","url":null,"abstract":"This study reports the design and synthesis of a series of hybrid steric α-diimine Ni(II) catalysts bearing synergistic rigid and flexible substituents, developed for the directly producing thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (POEs) via ethylene homopolymerization. The designed catalysts (<strong>Ni1</strong>-<strong>Ni5</strong>) demonstrated good thermal stability and high polymerization activity, exceeding 10<sup>6</sup> g·mol<sup>-1</sup>·h<sup>-1</sup> across a broad temperature range (30-90 °C). Precise tuning of steric effects allowed for effective suppression of chain transfer and tunable chain walking, resulting in polyethylene with adjustable branching densities (31-78 / 1000C) and high molecular weights (up to 1.26 × 10<sup>6</sup> g·mol<sup>-1</sup>). The resulting branched polyethylenes possessed excellent mechanical properties characteristic of thermoplastic elastomers, including high strain-at-break (up to 1462%) and superior strain recovery (up to 83%). This work demonstrates the effectiveness of hybrid α-diimine nickel catalysts with combined rigid and flexible substituents for the direct synthesis of high-performance POEs from ethylene, offering a promising strategy for advanced polyolefin design without requiring α-olefin comonomers.","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147478431","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 : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129724
Xiao-Liang Peng, Cong Deng, Ze-Yong Zhao, Yu-Zhong Wang
Given the profound environmental implications of climate change, the plastics industry necessitates transitioning from petroleum-derived resources to sustainable bio-based alternatives, particularly polyamides, due to the substantial carbon footprint associated with conventional production. Achieving this transition requires not only renewable feedstocks and environmentally benign synthesis, but also whether the resulting polyamide demonstrates well-rounded properties to ensure viability as a replacement for existing petroleum-based counterparts. Instead of developing novel bio-based compounds via new reaction pathways for subsequent polymerization, a more efficient strategy involves designing polymers directly from established bio-based feedstocks. In this study, a spider silk–inspired structural motif was incorporated into polyamides, yielding a biomimetic high-performance polyamide derived from established industrial bio-based feedstocks. Additionally, an efficient, catalyst-free melt polycondensation approach was developed, further enhancing the environmental sustainability of the synthesis. The resultant material demonstrates superior overall performance relative to PA12, a petroleum-based polyamide renowned for its balanced properties, positioning this material as a viable bio-based alternative to conventional petroleum-derived polyamides. This study proposes a viable approach for designing and synthesizing environmentally sustainable polyamides directly from commercially available bio-based feedstocks and provides insights for advancing low-carbon development of polyamide materials.
{"title":"Design and synthesis of a spider silk-inspired bio-based polyamide with exceptional integrated properties","authors":"Xiao-Liang Peng, Cong Deng, Ze-Yong Zhao, Yu-Zhong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129724","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129724","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Given the profound environmental implications of climate change, the plastics industry necessitates transitioning from petroleum-derived resources to sustainable bio-based alternatives, particularly polyamides, due to the substantial carbon footprint associated with conventional production. Achieving this transition requires not only renewable feedstocks and environmentally benign synthesis, but also whether the resulting polyamide demonstrates well-rounded properties to ensure viability as a replacement for existing petroleum-based counterparts. Instead of developing novel bio-based compounds via new reaction pathways for subsequent polymerization, a more efficient strategy involves designing polymers directly from established bio-based feedstocks. In this study, a spider silk–inspired structural motif was incorporated into polyamides, yielding a biomimetic high-performance polyamide derived from established industrial bio-based feedstocks. Additionally, an efficient, catalyst-free melt polycondensation approach was developed, further enhancing the environmental sustainability of the synthesis. The resultant material demonstrates superior overall performance relative to PA12, a petroleum-based polyamide renowned for its balanced properties, positioning this material as a viable bio-based alternative to conventional petroleum-derived polyamides. This study proposes a viable approach for designing and synthesizing environmentally sustainable polyamides directly from commercially available bio-based feedstocks and provides insights for advancing low-carbon development of polyamide materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129724"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146436","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 : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129680
Qisong Hu , Steven Brockötter , Jean-Paul Lange , M. Pilar Ruiz , Christian Struck , Frederik R. Wurm
The heavy fraction of liquefied wood (LW) serves as a promising renewable precursor for polymeric coatings. Owing to its inherent brittleness and relatively low molecular weight, LW requires crosslinking to form durable films. Previous work demonstrates that LW is curable with bio-based glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE), yielding wood coatings with favorable properties and recyclability. In this study, we systematically studied two additional, structurally distinct epoxides: bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BDE), the widely used commercial aromatic standard, and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PDE), which contains long, flexible aliphatic ethers. These chemical differences enable a rigorous investigation of how epoxide structure influences curing behavior, material properties, and circularity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry confirm successful crosslinking. Analysis of gel content, thermal stability, and nanoindentation reveals dramatic structural effects: BDE produces rigid, dense networks, increasing the glass transition temperature (Tg) up to 83 °C (vs. LW at ∼31 °C) and maintaining approximately 50% gloss retention after 2.5 months of accelerated weathering. In contrast, PDE leads to soft films exhibiting substantial hydrogel-like swelling, with water uptake reaching 207 wt%. Recycling studies via liquefaction verify that both LW–BDE and LW–GDE coatings are chemically recyclable. The LW–PDE system, due to its low crosslink density (gel content below 12 wt%), remains soluble and is easily recovered in solution form. These results collectively demonstrate that the choice of epoxide allows for tuning the property profile of LW-based renewable coatings while fully preserving their end-of-life circularity.
{"title":"Renewable coatings from liquefied wood: Linking epoxide structure to material properties and chemical recyclability","authors":"Qisong Hu , Steven Brockötter , Jean-Paul Lange , M. Pilar Ruiz , Christian Struck , Frederik R. Wurm","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129680","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129680","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The heavy fraction of liquefied wood (LW) serves as a promising renewable precursor for polymeric coatings. Owing to its inherent brittleness and relatively low molecular weight, LW requires crosslinking to form durable films. Previous work demonstrates that LW is curable with bio-based glycerol diglycidyl ether (GDE), yielding wood coatings with favorable properties and recyclability. In this study, we systematically studied two additional, structurally distinct epoxides: bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BDE), the widely used commercial aromatic standard, and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PDE), which contains long, flexible aliphatic ethers. These chemical differences enable a rigorous investigation of how epoxide structure influences curing behavior, material properties, and circularity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry confirm successful crosslinking. Analysis of gel content, thermal stability, and nanoindentation reveals dramatic structural effects: BDE produces rigid, dense networks, increasing the glass transition temperature (<em>T</em>g) up to 83 °C (vs. LW at ∼31 °C) and maintaining approximately 50% gloss retention after 2.5 months of accelerated weathering. In contrast, PDE leads to soft films exhibiting substantial hydrogel-like swelling, with water uptake reaching 207 wt%. Recycling studies via liquefaction verify that both LW–BDE and LW–GDE coatings are chemically recyclable. The LW–PDE system, due to its low crosslink density (gel content below 12 wt%), remains soluble and is easily recovered in solution form. These results collectively demonstrate that the choice of epoxide allows for tuning the property profile of LW-based renewable coatings while fully preserving their end-of-life circularity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129680"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095658","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 : 2026-03-19DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129854
You Zhang, Wenzhong Ma, Jing Zhong, Yu Qiao, Zihao Jiang, Ning Xu, Longgui Zhang
Recent advances in mechanophores have enabled novel strategies for designing pressure-sensitive devices and force-responsive materials. In particular, mechanophores based on a molecular ring have garnered significant attention for their high reversibility and low activation energy. However, the impact of conformational changes of these mechanophores within polymer networks on the material’s mechanosensitivity remains poorly understood. We designed two fluorescent macrocycles with distinct sizes and integrated them into polycaprolactone (PCL) cross-linked networks, enabling systematic investigation of how macrocycle dimensions govern the materials’ mechanochromic response. We find that PCL networks with fluorescence macrocycles of distinct sizes exhibited different strain-dependent fluorescence quenching and that this response remained highly reversible across multiple cycles. Furthermore, introducing smaller macrocycles increased polymer chain rigidity, resulting in significantly longer fluorescence lifetimes in the fabricated samples. This work demonstrates that tuning the size of mechanochromic macrocycles can optimize the force-optical response of materials, providing a new strategy for designing highly sensitive mechanochromic systems.
{"title":"Controlling Mechanically Induced Luminescence in Polycaprolactone via Precision Circular Mechanophore Size Design","authors":"You Zhang, Wenzhong Ma, Jing Zhong, Yu Qiao, Zihao Jiang, Ning Xu, Longgui Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129854","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129854","url":null,"abstract":"Recent advances in mechanophores have enabled novel strategies for designing pressure-sensitive devices and force-responsive materials. In particular, mechanophores based on a molecular ring have garnered significant attention for their high reversibility and low activation energy. However, the impact of conformational changes of these mechanophores within polymer networks on the material’s mechanosensitivity remains poorly understood. We designed two fluorescent macrocycles with distinct sizes and integrated them into polycaprolactone (PCL) cross-linked networks, enabling systematic investigation of how macrocycle dimensions govern the materials’ mechanochromic response. We find that PCL networks with fluorescence macrocycles of distinct sizes exhibited different strain-dependent fluorescence quenching and that this response remained highly reversible across multiple cycles. Furthermore, introducing smaller macrocycles increased polymer chain rigidity, resulting in significantly longer fluorescence lifetimes in the fabricated samples. This work demonstrates that tuning the size of mechanochromic macrocycles can optimize the force-optical response of materials, providing a new strategy for designing highly sensitive mechanochromic systems.","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147478432","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 : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129718
Xin Zhang , Jiawei Li , Hongyan Wang , Tianzi Meng , Xiaojian Zhou , Liangjun Xiao , Hui Wang
The application of bio-based materials is considered an effective way to address the pollution caused by non-biodegradable petroleum-based products. However, the poor water resistance of bio-based products is still a barrier hindering their application due to the hydrophilicity of biomass raw materials. In this work, a simple enhancement strategy was developed to prepare a bio-based film with excellent hydrophobicity. A grafted copolymerization was achieved under a redox system between using konjac flour (KF) and dialdehyde starch (DAS) as the raw film-forming substances, and silicon dioxide (SiO2) was employed as an enhancing component to improve the water resistance of the resulting film. The results indicated that the performance and hydrophobicity of the prepared films were directly related to the amount of DAS and the effect of SiO2, the best tensile strength was 42.26 MPa with a water contact angle of 153°. When used as a preservative film for bananas, the weight loss in a 7-day experiment was only 7.18%. Additionally, the biodegradation rate of the film exceeded 80% over a 30-day experimental period.
{"title":"Preparation and performance of bio-based composite film with superhydrophobic surface using a simple enhancement strategy, and their applications","authors":"Xin Zhang , Jiawei Li , Hongyan Wang , Tianzi Meng , Xiaojian Zhou , Liangjun Xiao , Hui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of bio-based materials is considered an effective way to address the pollution caused by non-biodegradable petroleum-based products. However, the poor water resistance of bio-based products is still a barrier hindering their application due to the hydrophilicity of biomass raw materials. In this work, a simple enhancement strategy was developed to prepare a bio-based film with excellent hydrophobicity. A grafted copolymerization was achieved under a redox system between using konjac flour (KF) and dialdehyde starch (DAS) as the raw film-forming substances, and silicon dioxide (SiO<sub>2</sub>) was employed as an enhancing component to improve the water resistance of the resulting film. The results indicated that the performance and hydrophobicity of the prepared films were directly related to the amount of DAS and the effect of SiO<sub>2</sub>, the best tensile strength was 42.26 MPa with a water contact angle of 153°. When used as a preservative film for bananas, the weight loss in a 7-day experiment was only 7.18%. Additionally, the biodegradation rate of the film exceeded 80% over a 30-day experimental period.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129718"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135320","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}
The pine nut industry generates a high amount of residues, currently under-valorized in most cases as energy production through incineration. A more effective end-of-life option involves using pine nut shells in polymeric composites, since they represent a source of valuable compounds, such as polysaccharides, lignin, and polyphenols. In the current study, composites were prepared by melt blending pine nut shells with polypropylene and low-density polyethylene. In particular, the composites were loaded with up to 10% and 30% by weight of pine nut shells with respect to polypropylene and polyethylene, respectively. To improve the compatibilization with the hydrophobic matrices, the natural filler was functionalized with stearic acid and added as a compatibilizer. The filler was characterized in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant capability, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Thermal and mechanical properties of the final materials were evaluated through differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing. Some composites were subjected to accelerated UV aging to assess the antioxidant effect of the biowaste loaded. This approach has a high potential as to what concerns the reduction of plastics use, limiting the use of fossil-derived polyolefins, improving their durability with natural fillers while maintaining their thermal and mechanical properties, and avoiding waste dumping.
{"title":"Valorization of pine nut shells in polypropylene and low-density polyethylene composites","authors":"Grazia Totaro, Andrea Corti, Rayan Junges, Raffaele Remorini, Valentina Paganini, Simona Braccini, Antonella Manariti, Dario Puppi","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pine nut industry generates a high amount of residues, currently under-valorized in most cases as energy production through incineration. A more effective end-of-life option involves using pine nut shells in polymeric composites, since they represent a source of valuable compounds, such as polysaccharides, lignin, and polyphenols. In the current study, composites were prepared by melt blending pine nut shells with polypropylene and low-density polyethylene. In particular, the composites were loaded with up to 10% and 30% by weight of pine nut shells with respect to polypropylene and polyethylene, respectively. To improve the compatibilization with the hydrophobic matrices, the natural filler was functionalized with stearic acid and added as a compatibilizer. The filler was characterized in terms of chemical composition, antioxidant capability, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. Thermal and mechanical properties of the final materials were evaluated through differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing. Some composites were subjected to accelerated UV aging to assess the antioxidant effect of the biowaste loaded. This approach has a high potential as to what concerns the reduction of plastics use, limiting the use of fossil-derived polyolefins, improving their durability with natural fillers while maintaining their thermal and mechanical properties, and avoiding waste dumping.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129698"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110995","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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