Polymers, Volume 13, Issue 4

Cobalt porphyrins have emerged as promising catalysts for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical applications because of their good performance, low cost and the abundance of cobalt in the earth. Herein, a negatively charged porphyrin meso-tetra-(4...

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) plays a key role in the field of electrically conducting materials, despite its poor solubility and processability. Various molecules and polymers carrying sulfonic groups can be used to enhance PEDOT’s electr...

In this work the in vitro antimicrobial activity of colloidal solutions of nine different commercially available nanoparticles were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus strains, both methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA)...

The exploitation of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) in electrochemical applications is approaching its limits because of its poor thermo-mechanical properties. These properties could be improved by chemical and/or physical modification, including gra...

CO₂ convective dissolution has been regarded as one of the fundamental mechanisms to accelerate the mass transfer of CO₂ into brine. We present a new spectrophotometric method to characterize the convective instability and measure the dissolved CO₂ m...

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the applied voltage on the morphological and mechanical properties of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds for potential use in tissue engineering. The morphology of the scaffolds was chara...

In this study, a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) comprising poly (IA-co-cellulose-co-VSA-co-AA; ICVA) core-SAP (CSAP) was synthesized through radical polymerization using itaconic acid (IA), acrylic acid (AA), cellulose, and vinyl sulfonic acid (VSA) as...

The use of bio-based residues is one of the key indicators towards sustainable development goals. In this work, bacterial cellulose, a residue from the fermentation of kombucha tea, was tested as a reinforcing nanofiber network in an emulsion-polymer...

We suggest a simple idea of bio-based adhesives with strong adhesion even under water. The adhesives simply prepared via polycondensation of 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (DHHCA) and lactic acid (LA) in one pot polymerization. Poly(DHHCA-co-LA) has...

This study focuses on the potential uses in textiles of fibers of soy protein (SP) and chitin, which are naturally occurring polymers that can be obtained from agricultural and food processing by-products and wastes. The as-received natural fibers we...

While the economy is rapidly expanding in most emerging countries, issues coupled with a higher population has created foreseeable tension among food, water, and energy. It is crucial for more sustainable valorization of resources, for instance, nano...

Using a simple esterification reaction of a hydroxyl group with an anhydride group, pristine lignin was successfully converted to a new lignin (COOH-lignin) modified with a terminal carboxyl group. This chemical modification of pristine lignin was co...

We present fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations on polyisobutylene (PIB) in a wide temperature range above the glass transition. The cell is validated by direct comparison of magnitudes computed from the simulation and measured by neutron s...

Alkali-activated cements prepared from aluminosilicate powders, such as blast furnace slag and fly ash, are rapidly attracting attention as alternatives to cement because they can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions compared to conventional cement con...

The high solids semicontinuous emulsion polymerization of polyvinyl acetate using poly (vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) as protective colloid is investigated by optical spectroscopy. The suitability of Photon Density Wave (PDW) spectroscopy as inline...

This work applies a multi-scale approach to the microencapsulation by interfacial polymerization. Such microencapsulation is used to produce fertilizers, pesticides and drugs. In this study, variations at three different scales (molecular, microscopi...

Hydrogels can be utilized to extract energy from salinity gradients when river water mixes with seawater. Saline-sensitive hydrogels exhibit a reversible swelling/shrinking process when they are, alternately, exposed to fresh and saline water. We pre...

Even though natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs) have been widely used in automotive and building industries, there is still a room to promote them to high-level structural applications such as primary structural component specificall...

Nowadays, the self-healing approach in materials science mainly relies on functionalized polymers used as matrices in nanocomposites. Through different physicochemical pathways and stimuli, these materials can undergo self-repairing mechanisms that r...

Collecting information from previous investigations and expressing it in a scientometrics study can be a priceless guide to getting a complete overview of a specific research area. The aim of this study is to explore the interrelated connection betwe...

In this work, the crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix included with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafted silica (PEG-g-SiO₂) nanoparticles and bare SiO₂ were systematically investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (D...

The transfer of some innovative technologies from the laboratory to industrial scale is many times not taken into account in the design and development of some functional materials such as hydrogels to be applied in the biomedical field. There is a l...

Lignin-based polyols (LBPs) with controlled microstructure were obtained by cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP) of oxiranes in an organosolv lignin (OL) tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. The control on the microstructure and consequently on the...

The molecular architecture and rheological behavior of linear and branched polybutylene succinate blends have been investigated using size-exclusion chromatography, small-amplitude oscillatory shear and extensional rheometry, in view of their process...

To reliably detect the latent defects and accurately evaluate the remaining life of gas insulated switchgear (GIS) basin insulators, more effective detection and characterization methods need to be explored. The study of pyrolysis kinetic parameters...

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) has a broad perspective for manufacturing green thermoplastic products by thermoforming for its biodegradable properties. The mechanical behaviour of PLA has been demonstrated by its strong dependence on temperature and strai...

Polylactic acid (PLA)-based nanocomposites were prepared by twin-screw extrusion. Graphene oxide (GO) and an ionic liquid (IL) were used as additives separately and simultaneously. The characterization of the samples was carried out by means of Fouri...

Expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (ETPU) beads were prepared by a supercritical CO₂ foaming process and compression molded to manufacture foam sheets. The effect of the cell structure of the foamed beads on the properties of the foam sheets was stu...

In this work, a sustainable chemical process was developed through the Fischer esterification of Protobind^® lignin, a wheat straw soda lignin, and phloretic acid, a naturally occurring phenolic acid. It aimed at increasing the reactivity of lignin by...

Epoxy composites filled with 0.5 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), 10 and 15 wt% of boric acid and sodium bicarbonate separately, as well as composites filled with a combination of MWCNTs-boric acid and MWCNTs-sodium bicarbonate were pre...

The potential of using residual softwood fibers from the pulp and paper industry for producing eco-friendly, zero-formaldehyde fiberboard panels, bonded with calcium lignosulfonate (CLS) as a lignin-based, formaldehyde free adhesive, was investigated...

The steady-state electrical conduction current for single and multilayer polyimide (PI) nanocomposite films was observed at the low and high electric field for different temperatures. Experimental data were fitted to conduction models to investigate...

Encapsulation of the chemotherapy agents within colloidal systems usually improves drug efficiency and decreases its toxicity. In this study, lignin (LGN) (the second most abundant biopolymer next to cellulose on earth) was employed to prepare novel...

Intravitreal injections are clinically established procedures in the treatment of posterior eye diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) which requires monthly intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor...

Our society’s most pressing challenges, like high CO₂ emission and the constant battle against energy poverty, require a clean and easier solution to store and utilize the renewable energy resources. However, recent electrochemical components are exp...

Following the general aim of recapitulating the native mechanical properties of tissues and organs in vitro, the field of materials science and engineering has benefited from recent progress in developing compliant substrates with physical and chemic...

A two-dimensional mathematical model for a steady viscoelastic laminar flow in a confusor was developed under the condition of swirled flow imposed at the inlet. Low density polyethylene was considered as a working fluid. Its behavior was described b...

Binders play an important role in electrode processing for energy storage systems. While conventional binders often require hazardous and costly organic solvents, there has been increasing development toward greener and less expensive binders, with a...

Biopolymers have gained tremendous attention in many daily life applications, including medical applications, in the past few years. Obstetrics and gynecology are two fields dealing with sensitive parts of the woman’s body and her newborn baby, which...

In recent years, tissue engineering research has led to the development of this field by designing scaffolds with better properties that can fulfill its purpose of better and faster tissue regeneration, consequently improving people’s quality of life...

The fracture theory of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites is complicated compared to that of homogeneous materials. Textile FRPs need to consider crimp, fiber off-axis and various weaving parameters in a two-dimensional scale, which makes rese...

The potential of additive manufacturing to produce architected lattice structures is remarkable, but restrictions imposed by manufacturing processes lead to practical limits on the form and dimension of structures that can be produced. In the present...

The focus on high-strength and functional natural fiber-based composite materials is growing as interest in developing eco-friendly plastics and sustainable materials increases. An eco-friendly fibrous composite with excellent mechanical properties w...

The application of pultruded glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites (PGFRPCs) as a replacement for conventional wooden cross-arms in transmission towers is relatively new. Although numerous studies have conducted creep tests on coupon-scale PGFRPC...

The pH-responsive membrane is a new wastewater treatment technology developed in recent years. In this paper, a novel film with intelligent pH-responsiveness was first prepared by blending functional gates comprised of hydrolyzed aramid nanofibers (H...

Wood polymer composites are materials with pseudoplastic and viscoelastic properties. They have yield stress and exhibit slip during flow. Studies on extrusion and rheology, as well as on process modeling of these highly filled materials are limited....

In a scenario of high demand, low availability, and high economic value, the recovery of rare-earth metals from wastewater is economically and environmentally attractive. Bioadsorption is a promising method as it offers simple design and operation. T...

Synthetic polypeptides and polymer-peptide hybrid materials have been successfully implemented in an array of biomedical applications owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to mimic natural proteins. In addition, these material...

A facile and environmental-friendly approach was developed for the preparation of the cross-linked nanocellulose aerogel through the freeze-drying process and subsequent esterification. The as-prepared aerogel had a three-dimensional cellular microst...

There is an interest in the sustainable utilization of waste cotton cloths because of their enormous volume of generation and high cellulose content. Waste cotton cloths generated are disposed of in a landfill, which causes environmental pollution an...