Journal of Polymer Research最新文献

This study investigates the physicochemical properties and surface coating performance of PPTA fibers subjected to synergistic acetone and ethanol surface treatments for functional modification. The XRD, Raman, FTIR, and SEM characterizations are employed to unveil the impact on the treatment on the properties. The surface properties of the treated samples exhibit significant enhancements compared to their pristine counterparts. The XRD results demonstrate that the applied treatment does not adversely affect the crystal quality of the PPTA fabrics. Raman and FTIR analyses indicate no structural deterioration and that defects in the C = O groups are eliminated by the treatment. SEM observations reveal that the treatment induces surface reorganization both between fibers and on individual fiber surfaces. Furthermore, the ZnO coating applied to the PPTA surface via the hydrothermal method produces a more homogeneous and denser layer by reducing surface defects after treatment. The modified PPTA fiber surfaces therefore offer promising potential for the fabrication of high-performance devices based on these materials.

Chitosan (CS) is valued in biomedical applications for its biocompatibility and cationic nature but is limited by poor solubility in water and organic solvents. To address this, we synthesized a highly water-soluble chitosan derivative, dicyandiamide-coupled chitosan (CSDCDA), via a novel, eco-friendly pathway and evaluated its efficacy as a gene delivery agent. CSDCDA was prepared by grafting dicyandiamide onto low molecular weight CS using cyanuric chloride as a green hydrochloric acid precursor, eliminating the need for microwave irradiation or high-temperature reflux. The successful modification, confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, XRD, SEM, and EDX analyses, introduced guanidinium groups mimicking cell-penetrating peptides, enhancing solubility, DNA binding, and biocompatibility. CSDCDA exhibited compact polyplexes (reduced size and zeta potential) and excellent cytocompatibility, outperforming native CS and Lipofectamine^®. Superior buffering capacity, assessed via acid–base titration and bafilomycin A1 assays, facilitated rapid endosomal escape. These findings position CSDCDA as a promising gene delivery vector, warranting further mechanistic and in vivo studies.

Static electricity is generated by friction during the storage, transportation, and handling of refined oils such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. If not dissipated promptly, the accumulated charge can lead to spark discharge, which poses significant risks of fire and explosion. The incorporation of antistatic agents(ASAs) to increase fuel conductivity is among the most effective strategies for mitigating these electrostatic hazards. In this study, the polymer fragment modification method was employed to synthesize a series of economically viable and highly efficient polyquaternary ammonium salt type antistatic agents.Four hydrophobic long-chain alkyl acrylates, i.e., lauryl acrylate (LA), tetradecyl acrylate (TA), hexadecyl acrylate (HA), and stearyl acrylate (SA) were individually grafted onto the unsaturated carbon-carbon double bond of the water-soluble quaternary ammonium monomer, methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium acetate (DMAc). This approach yielded antistatic agents that combine the inherent charge dissipation capability of quaternary ammonium salts with excellent oil matrix compatibility, while avoiding the generation of chlorinated pollutants during subsequent combustion processes. The structure and morphology of the polymeric product were characterized using instrumental analysis techniques, confirming its successful synthesis. Performance tests demonstrated that at an additive dosage of only 2 ppm, the DMAc-LA copolymer increased the conductivity of base diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline to 396, 270, and 876 pS/m, respectively. This study provides a new class of highly efficient antistatic agents for the electrostatic protection of fuels and offers practical insights for advancing polymer segment modification technologies.

Benzoxazines are heterocyclic compounds known for their high thermal stability, flame retardancy, and excellent mechanical performance, making them promising candidates for high-performance polymer applications. This study aimed to synthesize a benzoxazine monomer (Ca-c) derived from cardanol (Ca), the main component of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as a source of both methylene and nitrogen units, and to evaluate the influence of Lewis acids (AlCl₃, FeCl₃, MgCl₂, and ZnCl₂) on the polymerization process. The monomer was synthesized from cardanol and HMTA, producing a resin that was employed without further purification. Formulations were prepared by incorporating metal salts at 7.5% (mol/mol), followed by curing under a controlled heating protocol. This approach enabled evaluation of the influence of the salts on the curing behavior and properties of the benzoxazine system. Characterization by FTIR and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) confirmed the formation of the oxazine ring. DSC analyses revealed a significant reduction in the onset polymerization temperature, especially with MgCl₂ (up to 29 °C). TGA showed good thermal stability, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated metal–ligand interactions, particularly in the Zn²⁺-containing systems. The results demonstrate that metal salts act as effective catalysts, enabling efficient polymerization under milder conditions.

We used density functional theory (DFT) and its time-dependent method (TD-DFT) at the level of the hybrid functional B3LYP and base 6-31G(d, p) to investigate the geometrical, optoelectronic and optical properties of selected organic semiconductor materials based on a Donor-Acceptor (D-π-A) architecture. Our study and design were based on P3HT as donor, furan as π-conjugated spacer, and benzothiadiazole as acceptor with strong potential in the domain of organic photovoltaic materials. In-depth analysis was carried out on the following parameters: HOMO (Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital) and LUMO (Low Unoccupied Molecular Orbital) energies, energy bandgap (Egap), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), electronic affinity (EA) and ionization potential (IP). Absorption and emission properties were investigated using the the TD-DFT method, revealing broad absorption peaks in the UV-visible range above 715 nm, with well-defined wavelength maxima (λmax), vertical transition energies and transition intensities. A SILVACO simulation was performed to analyze the photovoltaic efficiency of donor polymers combined with PCBM as an acceptor and an intermediate layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) with the aim of improving energy efficiency. The following electrical parameters were calculated: open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), energy conversion efficiency (η), as well as series resistance (Rs) and shunt resistance (Rsh). The efficiency of 17.73% achieved demonstrates the effectiveness of this adjustment. These positive results suggest the strong potential of these polymers in the field of organic photovoltaics, a sector that is becoming increasingly important for the development of cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.

The popularity of acrylic resin in the paint and coating industry has grown in recent years due to its superior chemical resistance, durability, and flexibility. However, there is a notable research gap in formulating high-solid acrylic resins from bio-based materials to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and improve sustainability. In this study, we developed two-component (2 K) acrylic resins based on bio-derived lauryl methacrylate (LMA) with 70% solid content and viscosity of up to 10 poises for durable coating applications for the first time. The acrylic copolymer resins were prepared by free radical polymerization using a low-toxicity solvent, n-butyl acetate. The resins were then mixed with aliphatic polyisocyanate to prepare the paint and varnish formulations. The results showed that higher OH levels increased the crosslink density and improved the hardness and hydrophobicity of the LMA-based resin. For example, the water contact angle and hardness increased from 65° and 105 Persoz to 85° and 210 Persoz, respectively, when the OH value increased from 1.5% to 4.5%. The incorporation of LMA greatly improved the adhesion properties, impact resistance, flexibility, and corrosion resistance of the resin. Notably, no visible detachment, cracking, or corrosion was observed in the LMA-based resin with 4.5% OH. In summary, optimizing OH levels and incorporating LMA monomer into high-solids acrylic resins can significantly enhance their performance, rendering them ideal for durable coatings with enhanced tear, abrasion, impact, and moisture resistance.

A high-performance polysiloxane nanocomposite adhesive was developed using a backbone engineered with methylvinyl and diphenyl units to enable addition curing and enhance thermal and mechanical stability. The poly(dimethyl-co-diphenyl) siloxane copolymer and poly(dimethyl-co-diphenyl-co-methylvinyl) siloxane terpolymer were synthesized via tetramethylammonium silanolate-initiated anionic ring-opening polymerization. A central innovation of this study is the replacement of conventional volatile small-molecule disiloxane end-cappers with a long-chain vinyl-terminated end-capper. This molecular engineering strategy overcomes a key limitation of equilibrium anionic polymerization—namely, poor molecular weight predictability at medium-to-high molecular weights—while simultaneously enhancing curing efficiency by providing higher effective vinyl functionality at the chain ends. The resulting polysiloxanes were formulated into a two-part adhesive by incorporating fumed silica and iron oxide nanoparticles, leading to enhanced mechanical performance and interfacial adhesion. Careful purification and optimized synthesis minimized unreacted species, yielding an adhesive with a tensile strength of 1.4 MPa, an elastic modulus of 942 MPa, an elongation at break of 143%, and a single-lap shear strength of 1.3 MPa. Notably, the adhesive exhibited an ultra-low total mass loss (TML) of 0.181%, highlighting its strong potential for use in advanced electronic and aerospace systems, where mechanical robustness and low outgassing are critical.

Polymer-based thermally conductive composite materials are widely used in microelectronic heat dissipation and packaging. The interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) between fillers limits their in-plane thermal conductivity improvement. This study tailors interfacial heat transfer behavior through microstructure design. Nickel nanoparticles were in-situ reduced and anchored on boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) via an in-situ reduction method, forming a “point-to-plane” contact interface in the BC/BNNS/MXene composite system to establish a continuous thermal conduction network. In this 3D network, uniformly dispersed MXene nanosheets are interconnected by Ni nanoparticles on BNNS, forming stable 3D heat transfer pathways. When the BS@Ni filler content was 10 wt%, the composite had a in-plane thermal conductivity of 13.8 W m^− 1 K^− 1, showing that Ni nanoparticles as thermal bridges reduce the contact thermal resistance between BNNS and MXene. As a thermal interface material for CPU cooling, the BM30BS@Ni10 composite film reduced the operating temperature from 84.5 °C to 69.9 °C. Under 80 mW·cm^− 2 light irradiation, the film’s surface temperature quickly rose to 85 °C and maintained efficient photothermal conversion after ten cycles. This research offers an effective structural design strategy for high-performance polymer-based thermally conductive materials and has broad application prospects in electronic thermal management, intelligent heat regulation, and electromagnetic protection.

Pharmaceutical residues in water sources pose serious environmental and health risks due to their persistence and potential to induce antibiotic resistance. In this study, a novel photocatalytic composite film comprising few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) single crystals embedded in a cellulose acetate (CA) matrix was synthesized for the efficient photodegradation of commonly used antibiotic tablets, Amoxicillin and Cefixime. The MoS₂ nanosheets were exfoliated and uniformly dispersed within the CA polymer through a simple solution-casting method. Structural and morphological characterizations confirmed the successful incorporation of MoS₂ into the polymer matrix, forming a stable and flexible composite film. Under visible light irradiation, the MoS₂/CA film exhibited notable photocatalytic performance, achieving degradation efficiencies of 84.31% for Amoxicillin and 76.11% for Cefixime within a specific reaction time. The enhanced degradation activity is attributed to the high surface area of few-layer MoS₂, which facilitates effective light absorption and reactive oxygen species generation, while the CA matrix provides a biodegradable and environmentally friendly support. This work demonstrates the potential of MoS₂-based biopolymer composites as sustainable photocatalysts for removing pharmaceutical contaminants from aqueous environments. The results offer a promising route for designing efficient and green photocatalytic systems to address emerging water pollution challenges.

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In the field of aqueous metal ion removal, conventional metal ion extraction methods often face limitations such as low separation efficiency and leaching of extractants, leading to secondary environmental contamination. This study used the Pickering emulsion templating method, with gelatin/sodium alginate complexes as stabilizing particles, to fabricate a Pickering emulsion hydrogel (PEHG) loaded with the zinc extractant di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (P204). The resulting hydrogel system not only improves emulsion stability but also effectively sequesters Zn²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. The structure of the materials was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The influence of pH, adsorbent dosage, initial zinc concentration, and contact time on adsorption capacity was investigated by the study. Results showed that at pH 4, the PEHG exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 13.47 mg g⁻¹ for Zn²⁺. The adsorption behavior follows pseudo-second-order kinetics and fits the Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm, suggesting a chemisorption-dominated mechanism. This corresponds to monolayer adsorption of a single solute from dilute solution onto heterogeneous surfaces. The adsorbent retains over 80% removal efficiency through five regeneration cycles, demonstrating excellent reusability. This study establishes a theoretical framework for preparing extractant-incorporated Pickering emulsion hydrogel microspheres using gelatin/sodium alginate composites. We developed an environmentally friendly and cost-effective adsorbent for heavy metal ions.