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Polymers
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Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application
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Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 August 2024) | Viewed by 12240

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Reza Nofar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sustainable and Green Plastics Laboratory, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
Interests: polymer processing; rheology; biopolymers; polylactide; polymer nanocomposites; polymer blends; multifunctional nanostructures; microcellular polymer foams
Dr. Reza Salehiyan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK
Interests: polymer processing; polymer rheology; polymer blends; polymer nanocomposites; biodegradable polymers; conductive polymer nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer blends are mixtures of two or more different polymers that are combined to create a new material with unique properties, and the objective of blending polymers is to achieve a combination of properties from the constituent polymers that cannot be obtained from a single polymer alone. By blending polymers, it is possible to create materials with enhanced mechanical, thermal, electrical, or optical properties, as well as improved processability and cost efficiency.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on topics related to polymer blends, including but not limited to:

  1. Novel processing techniques for polymer blends;
  2. Characterization of polymer blends using advanced analytical techniques (e.g., spectroscopy, microscopy, rheology);
  3. Compatibilization of polymer blends and their analyses;
  4. Theoretical modeling and simulation of polymer blend properties;
  5. Applications of polymer blends in various fields (e.g., packaging, biomedical, automotive, construction);
  6. Development of polymer blends with improved properties such as mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance;
  7. Recycling and sustainability of polymer blends;
  8. Role of functional particles in tuning the properties of polymer blends towards a specific application.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad Reza Nofar
Dr. Reza Salehiyan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer blends
  • processing
  • characterization
  • rheology
  • compatibilizer
  • mechanical properties
  • physical properties

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 3561 KiB  
Article
Effect of the Addition of PLA on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Reprocessed HDPE
by Anayansi Estrada-Monje, Miroslava Alejandra Silva-Goujon, Isis Rodríguez-Sánchez, Alain Salvador Conejo-Dávila, Claudia Ivone Piñón-Balderrama, Anayansi Zaragoza-Estrada, Leonardo Aurelio Baldenegro-Pérez and Erasto Armando Zaragoza-Contreras
Polymers 2024, 16(16), 2387; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16162387 - 22 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1269
Abstract
Amid the current environmental crisis caused by plastic accumulation, one of the proposed solutions to manage this problem is using biodegradable polymers. However, the impact of adding biodegradable polymers to the well-established circular economy of recyclable polymers, such as HDPE, has not been [...] Read more.
Amid the current environmental crisis caused by plastic accumulation, one of the proposed solutions to manage this problem is using biodegradable polymers. However, the impact of adding biodegradable polymers to the well-established circular economy of recyclable polymers, such as HDPE, has not been fully considered. Therefore, there is a need to reconsider the way we consume, dispose of, and manage biodegradable polymers after use. This study evaluates the effect of varying the contents of a biodegradable polymer, taking poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a model biodegradable polymer, on the thermal and mechanical properties of HDPE. The study highlights the importance of identifying and disposing of biodegradable polymers to avoid mixtures with HDPE, in order not to affect mechanical performance when considering reprocessing and a new life cycle of this conventional polymer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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13 pages, 6737 KiB  
Article
In Situ Formation of Compound Eye-like SAN-OSB Composite Microspheres by Melt-Blending Method: Enhancing Multiple-Scattering Effect
by Yuhan Li, Yitong Ding, Yuhao Duan, Fengying Yang, Ying Xiong and Shaoyun Guo
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 2076; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142076 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1381
Abstract
The preparation of novel structures of light-diffusing particles is currently a research focus in the field of light-diffusing materials. This study, conducted by the common melt-blending process, controlled thermodynamic and kinetic factors to distribute smaller-sized organic silica bead (OSB) particles at the interface [...] Read more.
The preparation of novel structures of light-diffusing particles is currently a research focus in the field of light-diffusing materials. This study, conducted by the common melt-blending process, controlled thermodynamic and kinetic factors to distribute smaller-sized organic silica bead (OSB) particles at the interface between a polycarbonate (PC) matrix and spherical island-phase styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) for the in situ formation of compound eye-like microspheres with SAN as “large eyes” and OSBs as “small eyes”. Through the multiple-scattering effects of these compound eye-like microspheres, these light-diffusing materials significantly improved the haze, scattering range, and light-shielding capabilities while maintaining high transmittance. Specifically, the PC/SAN-OSB light-scattering materials achieved a haze of 100% with an OSB content of only 0.17%, maintaining a transmittance of 88%. Compared with the PC/OSB system with the same level of haze, the addition of OSB was reduced by 88%. Therefore, this study achieved exceptionally effective light-diffusing materials through a simple, environmentally friendly, and low-cost preparation method, suitable for the scalable production of light-diffusing materials in new display and lighting fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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21 pages, 13283 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Analysis of Morphology and Surface Properties of Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Hydrophilic Nano-Silica Blends
by Sanja Mahović Poljaček, Dino Priselac, Tamara Tomašegović, Mirela Leskovac, Aleš Šoster and Urška Stanković Elesini
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121739 - 19 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1375
Abstract
A quantitative analysis of the morphology, as well as an analysis of the distribution of components and surface/interfacial properties in poly(lactic acid)(PLA) InegoTM 3251D, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) Capa 6800 and nano-silica (SiO2) Aerosil®200 blends, was conducted in this research. The [...] Read more.
A quantitative analysis of the morphology, as well as an analysis of the distribution of components and surface/interfacial properties in poly(lactic acid)(PLA) InegoTM 3251D, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) Capa 6800 and nano-silica (SiO2) Aerosil®200 blends, was conducted in this research. The study aimed to improve the understanding of how PLA, PCL, and nano-SiO2 interact, resulting in the specific morphology and surface properties of the blends. Samples were produced by varying the concentration of all three components. They were analyzed using SEM, EDS mapping, water contact angle measurements, surface free energy calculation, adhesion parameter measurements, and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The results showed that the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles led to an increase in the contact angle of water, making the surface more hydrophobic. SEM images of the blends showed that increasing the PCL content reduced the size of spherical PCL elements in the blends. FTIR-ATR analysis showed that SiO2 nanoparticles influenced the structure ordering of PLA in the blend with equal portions of PLA and PCL. In the samples with a higher PCL content, the spherical elements present in the samples with a higher PLA/PCL ratio have been reduced, indicating better interactions at the interface between PLA, PCL, and SiO2. SEM-EDS mapping of the PLA/PCL 100/0 blend surfaces revealed the presence of SiO2 clusters and the silicon (Si) concentration reaching up to ten times higher than the nominal concentration of SiO2. However, with the addition of 3% SiO2 to the blend containing PCL, the structure became more granular. Specifically, Si protrusions in the sample PLA/PCL 90/10 with 3% SiO2 displayed 29.25% of Si, and the sample PLA/PCL 70/30 with 3% SiO2 displayed an average of 10.61% of Si at the protrusion locations. The results confirmed the affinity of SiO2 to be encapsulated by PCL. A better understanding of the interactions between the materials in the presented blends and the quantitative analysis of their morphology could improve the understanding of their properties and allow the optimization of their application for different purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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13 pages, 5567 KiB  
Article
Tuning the Structure–Property Relationships in Binary and Ternary Blends of PLA/PBAT/PHBH
by Mohammadreza Nofar, Reza Salehiyan and Massimiliano Barletta
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121699 - 14 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
While the brittle polylactide (PLA) has a high durability among bioplastics, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) with certain ductility exhibits facile compostability. The addition of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) may also be used to improve the ductility and toughness of brittle bioplastics. Binary and ternary blends [...] Read more.
While the brittle polylactide (PLA) has a high durability among bioplastics, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) with certain ductility exhibits facile compostability. The addition of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) may also be used to improve the ductility and toughness of brittle bioplastics. Binary and ternary blends of PLA/PBAT/PHBH based on either PLA or PHBH as the matrix have been manufactured using a twin-screw extruder. The melt rheological, mechanical, and morphological properties of the processed samples were examined. Binary blends of PLA/PHBH show superior strength, with the PLA75/PHBH25 blend exhibiting a tensile strength of 35.2 ± 3.0 MPa, which may be attributed to miscible-like morphology. In contrast, blends of PLA with PBAT demonstrate low strength, with the PLA50/PBAT50 blend exhibits a tensile strength of 9.5 ± 2.0 MPa due to the presence of large droplets in the matrix. PBAT-containing blends exhibit lower impact strengths compared to PHBH-containing blends. For instance, a PLA75/PBAT25 blend displays an impact strength of 1.76 ± 0.1 kJ/m2, whereas the PHBH75/PBAT25 blend displays an impact strength of 2.61 ± 0.3 kJ/m2, which may be attributed to uniformly dispersed PBAT droplets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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13 pages, 5134 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Effects of Nano-CaCO3 on the Core–Shell Structure and Properties of HDPE/POE/Nano-CaCO3 Ternary Nanocomposites
by Wei Liu, Lumin Wang, Xun Zhang, Hongliang Huang, Yongli Liu and Minghua Min
Polymers 2024, 16(8), 1146; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081146 - 19 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1533
Abstract
To address the dilemma of the stiffness and toughness properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites, titanate coupling agent-treated CaCO3 nanoparticles (nano-CaCO3) and ethylene–octene copolymer (POE) were utilized to blend with HDPE to prepare ternary nanocomposites via a two-sequence-step process. Meanwhile, [...] Read more.
To address the dilemma of the stiffness and toughness properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites, titanate coupling agent-treated CaCO3 nanoparticles (nano-CaCO3) and ethylene–octene copolymer (POE) were utilized to blend with HDPE to prepare ternary nanocomposites via a two-sequence-step process. Meanwhile, a one-step process was also studied as a control. The obtained ternary nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Advanced Rheometrics Expansion System (ARES), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis (WXRD), and mechanical test. The SEM results showed one or two CaCO3 nanoparticles were well-encapsulated by POE and were uniformly dispersed into the HDPE matrix to form a core–shell structure of 100–200 nm in size by the two-step process, while CaCO3 nanoparticles were aggregated in the HDPE matrix by the one-step method. The result of the XRD showed that the nano-CaCO3 particle played a role in promoting crystallization in HDPE nanocomposites. Mechanical tests showed that the synergistic effect of both the POE elastomer and CaCO3 nanoparticles should account for the balanced performance of the ternary composites. In comparison with neat HDPE, the notched impact toughness of the ternary nanocomposites of HDPE/POE/nano-CaCO3 was significantly increased. In addition, the core–shell structure absorbed the fracture impact energy and prevent further propagation of micro-cracks, thus obtaining a higher notched Izod impact strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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12 pages, 3204 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Polyamide 11 on the Thermal Stability and Light Transmittance of Silicone-Based Thermoplastic Vulcanizates
by Muhammet Iz, Jinhyok Lee, Myungchan Choi, Yumi Yun and Jongwoo Bae
Polymers 2024, 16(3), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16030324 - 24 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1488
Abstract
The effect of polyamide 11 (PA11) on the thermal stability and light transmittance properties of silicone-based thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) has been investigated. The blends were prepared through a dynamic vulcanization process by adding 15, 30, and 45 wt% PA11 to the silicon-based TPVs, [...] Read more.
The effect of polyamide 11 (PA11) on the thermal stability and light transmittance properties of silicone-based thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) has been investigated. The blends were prepared through a dynamic vulcanization process by adding 15, 30, and 45 wt% PA11 to the silicon-based TPVs, respectively. The effect of PA11 on the dispersion of silicone rubber in the TPVs after dynamic vulcanization was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the thermal stability of the compounds was evaluated through the changes in mechanical performance in the thermo-oxidative aging process, and the light transmittance of TPVs was measured by a haze meter. The results showed that adding PA11 to silicone-based TPVs caused a decrease in the size of the silicone rubber particles after dynamic vulcanization, resulting in improved dispersion. Due to this, by increasing the compatibility between the segments through silicone’s effective dispersion, the amount of light absorption was reduced, and the amount of light transmittance was increased. Finally, according to the results of the thermal aging test, it was found that TPVs with 30 and 45 wt% PA11, respectively, showed outstanding thermal resistance after aging at 160 °C and 168 h and did not melt down. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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20 pages, 11727 KiB  
Article
Phase Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Super-Tough PLLA/TPE/EMA-GMA Ternary Blends
by Martin Boruvka, Roman Base, Jan Novak, Pavel Brdlik, Lubos Behalek and Chakaphan Ngaowthong
Polymers 2024, 16(2), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16020192 - 9 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
The inherent brittleness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) limits its use in a wider range of applications that require plastic deformation at higher stress levels. To overcome this, a series of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/biodegradable thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE) blends and their ternary [...] Read more.
The inherent brittleness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) limits its use in a wider range of applications that require plastic deformation at higher stress levels. To overcome this, a series of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA)/biodegradable thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPE) blends and their ternary blends with an ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (EMA-GMA) copolymer as a compatibilizer were prepared via melt blending to improve the poor impact strength and low ductility of PLAs. The thermal behavior, crystallinity, and miscibility of the binary and ternary blends were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tensile tests revealed a brittle–ductile transition when the binary PLLA/20TPE blend was compatibilized by 8.6 wt. % EMA-GMA, and the elongation at break increased from 10.9% to 227%. The “super tough” behavior of the PLLA/30TPE/12.9EMA-GMA ternary blend with the incomplete break and notched impact strength of 89.2 kJ∙m−2 was observed at an ambient temperature (23 °C). In addition, unnotched PLLA/40TPE samples showed a tremendous improvement in crack initiation resistance at sub-zero test conditions (−40 °C) with an impact strength of 178.1 kJ∙m−2. Morphological observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates that EMA-GMA is preferentially located at the PLLA/TPE interphase, where it is partially incorporated into the matrix and partially encapsulates the TPE. The excellent combination of good interfacial adhesion, debonding cavitation, and subsequent matrix shear yielding worked synergistically with the phase transition from sea–island to co-continuous morphology to form an interesting super-toughening mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymer Blends: From Processing to Characterisation and Application)
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