Advances in Polymer Technology最新文献

Recent advancements in biomedical engineering have shed light on the remarkable capabilities of self-healing hydrogels, particularly those derived from chitosan (CHS) or its derivatives. These hydrogels exhibit noteworthy properties such as self-healing (SH), biocompatibility, and responsiveness to various stimuli like pressure, temperature, and pH. Recently, different therapeutic approaches, especially gene therapy and chemotherapy, have been explored through the incorporation of CHS-based hydrogels with therapeutic agents. Despite their promise, the clinical application of CHS hydrogels has been limited owing to an inadequate combination of physical and chemical properties, resulting in uncontrolled swelling and suboptimal SH behavior, particularly in terms of mechanical properties. This comprehensive review will explore the mechanistic understanding of various functionalized CHS, shedding light on their ability to offer desired SH properties while enhancing swelling behavior. These advancements are crucial for applications in tissue engineering and wound management. This comprehensive review aims to serve as a guide to CHS-based self-healing hydrogels, emphasizing their potential in addressing diverse challenges in the field of biomedical engineering.

Nanocellulose (NC) extraction from agricultural waste and lignocellulosic biomass residues has drawn considerable interest due to its low cost and wide availability. The environmental issues linked to nonrenewable materials have underscored the need for renewable alternatives that are biocompatible, biodegradable, and eco-friendly. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Ethiopian highland bamboo Arundinaria alpina for NC extraction by using acid hydrolysis. An experimental design incorporating response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to identify the optimal hydrolysis process parameters for NC extraction. The optimum conditions for NC extraction were a reaction time of 60 min, temperature of 40°C, and acid concentration of 61.40 wt%, with a yield of 43.15%. Bamboo and extracted NC were characterized for their chemical composition, particle size distribution, and crystallinity, using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The resulting NC had a particle size of 79.64 nm. XRD analysis revealed the crystallinity indices of the bamboo and its corresponding NC was 44.60% and 74.07%, respectively. These results indicate that highland bamboo A. alpina is a promising lignocellulosic source for sustainable NC extraction, optimization, and industrial applications.

To reveal the relationship between the dielectric constant and mechanical strength indices of polymer grouting materials, 40 groups of specimens with different densities were designed and prepared in the laboratory. The complex dielectric constants of the specimens within the frequency range of 500–6000 MHz were measured using a vector network analyzer (VNA) equipped with the open-ended coaxial probe. Based on the experimental data, relationship equations for the dielectric constant and conductivity as functions of density were constructed. Compared to conductivity, the dielectric constant was found to be less affected by frequency. By incorporating the results of engineering mechanics tests while using density as an intermediate medium, a mechanical performance index model based on dielectric properties and conductivity was developed. The study found that there are linearly increasing relationships with different increments between the bending strength, unconfined compressive strength, tensile strength, shear strength, shear modulus, and the dielectric constant and conductivity. Based on the research findings of this paper, the mechanical properties of polymers can be predicted through nondestructive testing technology using electromagnetic waves.

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the PLGA-PEG-PLGA polymer, focusing on its synthesis and applications in advanced drug delivery systems (DDSs). PLGA-PEG-PLGA, a triblock copolymer, gains attention due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and thermosensitive properties, making it suitable for encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. The polymer’s ability to undergo sol-to-gel at body temperature allows controlled and targeted drug release, significantly enhancing the solubility of poorly soluble drugs, such as paclitaxel and irinotecan. The paper discusses the polymer’s synthesis via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and explores its optimization using various methods, including microwave-assisted techniques and supercritical CO₂. Additionally, it examines the polymer’s cytotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo studies, emphasizing its low toxicity and ability to deliver chemotherapeutic agents more effectively. The study highlights the polymer’s potential in cancer therapy, biopharmaceutical delivery, and the development of dual-sensitive drug carriers.

Vulcanized latex films from different Hevea brasiliensis natural rubber clones, including RRIM600, RRIT251, and PB235, were prepared using the creaming process of concentrated latex. The protein content, morphology, molecular weight distribution (MWD), mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermo-mechanical properties were studied. The morphological characteristics of the Hevea brasiliensis natural rubber clones were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that the particle sizes of the three clones ranged from 1.0 to 2.5 µm. Moreover, the MWD exhibited a bimodal pattern in the RRIM600 and RRIT251 clones, leading to a high polydispersity index (PDI) that correlates with protein content. Additionally, the PB235 clone showed higher molecular weight (Mw) than the other clones, which affected the properties of the vulcanized latex films. The mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal properties from temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR) analysis, and swelling resistance were also studied. The results indicated that the crosslinked density of the vulcanized latex films is related to the bimodal MWD. This leads to increased physical interactions between the end chains of short and long rubber molecules. Moreover, the crosslinked density is associated with protein content. This study confirms that the MWD and non-rubber components in different natural rubber clones affect the properties of vulcanized rubber.

Conductive polymers are a notable breakthrough in electronic technology, providing distinctive electrical characteristics that render them appropriate for various uses in contemporary products like OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes), batteries, sensors, and medical equipment. Their use in additive manufacturing (AM) processes represents a significant advancement, allowing for the direct integration of electronic functionality into intricate 3D-printed structures. This results in a reduction in production time and costs associated with conventional assembly methods. This paper examines different conductive polymers, including PANI (polyaniline), PPy (polypyrrole), and PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)), with a focus on their involvement in AM methods including fused deposition modeling and inkjet printing. Current developments in ink formulations, including those integrating graphene, are improving conductivity while also tackling environmental issues. However, there are still obstacles that need to be overcome, such as finding the right balance between conductivity and processability, maintaining stability in different environmental conditions, dealing with biocompatibility concerns, and optimizing compatibility with other materials. Continuing research is improving these materials, and conductive polymers show potential for transforming electronics and medical applications due to their ability to be scaled up, their flexibility, and their adjustable electronic properties. This review article offers a thorough summary of the latest research trends, difficulties, and future paths in the realm of electronics and AM that utilize conductive polymers.

The use of centrifugal spinning as a method for producing nanofibers has advantages over other methods, such as high production rates, large-scale production, and no need for high voltage. In this work, two different biodegradable materials are used in different mixture ratios to produce biodegradable composite fibrous membranes. Characterization methods demonstrated that the amount of added carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) significantly affects the fiber formation and end-product properties. When the concentration of CMC is increased, the membranes become mechanically stronger, whereas the fiber formation ability becomes weaker. The CMC crystal clusters and their heterogeneous distribution determine the optical properties of the membranes. These fibrillar composite membranes are suitable for use in biodegradable and eco-friendly filtration systems.

The recycling of thermoplastic polymers from end-of-life vehicles is crucial to achieve a circular economy within the sector and prevent the accumulation of plastic waste by reusing it. However, several challenges in these processes present difficulties, making it challenging or impossible to recycle these materials for the same applications, impeding the closure of the life cycle and valorization of waste. The primary problem faced by plastic converters is the presence of superficial paint. In this study, we evaluate the implementation of chemical methods with varying conditions to remove paint from used bumpers thermoformed with polypropylene, with the aim of valorizing the plastic waste from these bumpers. We examine the various process variables, such as reagent concentration, temperature, time, and pH. Additionally, we analyze procedures to quantify the paint content in the different recycled samples and use this as a tool to compare the effectiveness of different paint removal processes.

In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN)–based method is presented to predict the experimental effective demolding forces (EDFs) produced during the injection molding of a polycarbonate polymer material. To evaluate the prediction accuracy and capability of the proposed method, three different algorithms, namely Levenberg–Marquardt (lm), BGFS quasi-Newton (bfg), and scale conjugate gradient (scg), were included in the proposed model. The generated models were validated by comparing the experimental and ANN results, which showed good quantitative agreement. The performance of the algorithms was evaluated using the R² and root mean square error (RMSE) values, which indicated that scg exhibited the best performance with an R² of 0.9655 and an RMSE of 0.0223. The relative contribution plot of the ANN models showed that packing pressure had a stronger influence than mold temperature, filling time, and melt temperature. These results will form the basis for predicting the EDF of a comparable molded part using ANN and will help to significantly improve the demolding properties of polymer materials.

The use of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars is an innovative approach to replace traditional reinforcement of steel into concrete structures. GFRP bars provide notable benefits like corrosion resistance, electromagnetic neutrality, higher tensile stress by weight ratio, sustainability, and cost-effective construction reducing maintenance cost. However, challenges like brittleness, reduced ductility, and lower elastic modulus limit their practical applications. This research examines the flexural behavior of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams using experimental and numerical methods. Nonlinear finite element analysis (FEM) was performed in ABAQUS, employing a three-dimensional deformable model, concrete damage plasticity (CDP) theory, and detailed material properties for concrete, steel and GFRP. Four-point flexural load conditions were simulated, and mesh sensitive analysis was conducted to ensure model accuracy. Experimental results demonstrated that GFRP-reinforced beams had higher load-bearing capability, but wider cracks and larger deflections compared to steel-reinforced beams. Failure of flexural members primarily due to concrete crushing was observed. Numerical simulations closely exhibited experimental load deflection performance, stress distributions, and failure patterns with accuracy variation of ~10%–16%. This study highlights the potential of FEM for correctly simulating the performance of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams and comparing the numerical outcomes with experimental studies. It was observed that GFRP-reinforced beams had 20% more load-carrying capacity compared to steel-reinforced beams based on grade of concrete and size of reinforcement. Deflection values for GFRP-reinforced beams were higher compared to steel-reinforced beam leading to requirements for serviceability considerations. The outcome of the study exhibited the potential of GFRP as a superior reinforcing material for specific applications.