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Water-based coating has gained much attention globally due to environmental issues. This work aims to develop a waterborne epoxy coating incorporated with modified natural rubber (NR) latex for improved performance. For this purpose, the NR latex was modified into three types of low molecular weight epoxidized natural rubber (LENR) latex. The waterborne epoxy resin was prepared by simply mixing the epoxy resin with an amine curing agent in water and various LENR latex contents (10 to 50 wt%). The waterborne epoxy/LENR blend was coated on a tin substrate and the cured coating demonstrated better adhesion and bending properties than the neat epoxy. Phase morphological properties displayed a rough surface with a heterogeneous surface structure of the dispersed rubber and epoxy matrix. Two glass transition temperatures were observed, corresponding to the rubber modifier and the epoxy matrix. The mechanical properties of the thermosetting epoxy/LENR blends were assessed, revealing a maximum increment in elongation ability by approximately 370% for adding 50 wt% LENR, compared to the neat epoxy. These results hold the potential avenue for utilizing NR-based material in the waterborne epoxy-based resin for coating applications. Furthermore, it contributes to the NR, a renewable and eco-friendly material, in the coating technology, embracing a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type V linerless hydrogen storage vessels made of all-composite face the challenges of cryogenic mechanical failure and hydrogen leakage of composites. The cryogenic mechanical performance and gas-barrier property of the carbon fiber reinforced polymer for Type V vessels are largely determined by the epoxy matrix. Carbon nanotubes are widely used as polymer reinforcement material to enhance the cryogenic mechanical performance and gas-barrier property of epoxy resins. In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed into epoxy resins to prepare MWCNTs-modified epoxy resins. The cryogenic mechanical performance, gas-barrier and thermal properties of the modified resin were then investigated. The experimental findings revealed a 34.34% reduction in the gas permeability coefficient for the nanocomposites containing 0.9 wt% MWCNTs compared with the epoxy matrix. The tensile strength and failure strain at cryogenic temperature (77 K) experienced enhancements of 26.99% and 41.53%, respectively. In addition, the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the modified resin were improved. As a result, the MWCNTs-modified epoxy resin exhibits improved gas-barrier property in addition to excellent cryogenic mechanical performance, making it ideal for manufacturing Type V linerless hydrogen storage vessels. • The thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the modified resin are improved. • The tensile strength and failure strain at 77 K improved by 26.99% and 41.53%, respectively. • The gas permeability coefficient of MWCNTs-modified resin decreases by 34.34%. • The mechanism of MWCNTs enhancing resin's gas-barrier and mechanical properties is explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion exchange typically involves replacing smaller ions with larger ions below the glass transition temperature. This study introduces an innovative computational approach for the inverse design of ion-exchangeable glasses. It aims to simultaneously achieve high depth of layer (DOL) and surface compressive stress (CS), a task complicated by the inherent trade-offs between these properties. Traditional ion exchange experimental methods are not only time-consuming and expensive, but they also involve complex practical difficulties. Addressing these challenges, this paper introduces a novel computational approach that synergistically combines a multi-objective genetic algorithm with machine learning models. The approach involves training models on a diverse set of glass compositions to predict DOL and CS, which then guide an evolutionary algorithm to optimize these properties concurrently. Physics-informed parameters further refine the search, enabling a flexible design framework in glass manufacturing. Comprehensive experimentation and subsequent analysis affirm the proposed method's capacity to efficiently and effectively traverse the intricate design landscape of glass materials. The findings elucidated the influence of distinct compositional and process parameters on DOL and CS, facilitating the manual design process. Additionally, the study identified sixteen glass composition candidates within the SiO 2 –B 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –MgO–Na 2 O system, exhibiting remarkable properties. Specifically, some compositions achieved a DOL of up to 95 μm with a corresponding CS of 890 MPa, while others attained a CS of up to 1654 MPa with a DOL of 14.72 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass transition is one of the most crucial physical properties for polymerical materials. As a typical complex polymerical material, the glass transition phenomenon in asphalt binder is directly related to their temperature-related properties. To investigate the glass transition characteristics, this study delves into the glass transition temperature of asphalt binder based on molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the calculation range for the glass transition temperature sits between 100 and 400 K. The evolution of asphalt binder structure is influenced by different cooling rates, where lower cooling rates allow sufficient microstructural rearrangement, resulting in a smaller volume at the lower temperature. Model size is closely associated with the glass transition region. As the size increases, the transition region significantly expands. Increasing the model size also reduces volume fluctuations after isothermal relaxation, providing more stable volume changes. It is observed that higher cooling rates with a model size over 100 Å can well reproduce the glass transition process of asphalt binders. This work provides atomic-scale insights for the glass transition phenomenon in asphalt binder, which could be beneficial for the design of high-performance asphalt binder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to optimize the compatibility and performance of PLA/PC blends by investigating the effects of Cloisite 20A nanoclay (NC) and Joncryl chain extender (CE). PLA/PC blends with varying NC and CE loadings were prepared, and the optimal formulation was identified. The optimal NC and CE content were then used to produce PLA/PC blends with varying PC ratios. The test specimens were produced by mixing the mixture in a twin‐screw micro compounder and subsequent injection molding into dog bone specimens to investigate the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of the blends. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis confirmed the immiscibility of the unmodified blend, but significant improvements in blend morphology were observed with high NC/CE ratios. The presence of NC/CE resulted in reduced droplet size of dispersed PC phase and a new intermediate glass transition temperature (Tg) in DMA, suggesting partial miscibility. The highest thermal stability improvement was achieved with 5 wt% NC alone or a combination of 5 wt% NC and 1 wt% CE. Composites containing NC/CE showed the most significant improvements in composite properties, demonstrating their effectiveness as compatibilizers and improved compatibility in PLA/PC blends. These results indicate that the use of NC/CE is a promising method for expanding the applicability of PLA/PC blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of grafting level of polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted styrene ethylene propylene styrene (SEPS) on the intrinsic brittleness of epoxy thermosets were studied. The SEPS‐g‐PEG block copolymer (BCP) was synthesized by grafting various grafting degree of PEG (i.e., 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) on polystyrene (PS) blocks of SEPS following Williamson ether synthesis method. A total of 10 wt% of the BCP modifiers were dispersed in epoxy thermosets. PEG side chains were miscible in the epoxy which formed a uniform BCP dispersion within the epoxy thermoset matrix. As the degree of PEG grafting was increased, the BCP phase was absorbed in the epoxy matrix. This absorption occurred because the increase in PEG grafting provided more miscible PEG chains to bind the BCP and epoxy nanostructures together. The differential scanning calorimeter and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis analyses indicated that BCP toughened epoxy exhibited an improved glass transition temperature (Tg). At a 40% PEG grafting degree in the BCP, the critical stress intensity factor (KIC) and critical strain energy release rate (GIC) increased up to 80% and 180%, respectively. This trend suggested that the energy associated with fractures could be absorbed through the deformation of the softer phases when a load was applied to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites containing low wt% of oxidized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT‐OXI), nanosilica (NS), and its hybrid (MWCNT‐OXI/NS) in epoxy resin were produced and evaluated. The used nanoparticles were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Raman spectroscopy while the nanocomposites were investigated in relation to its morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties. The results demonstrated significant improvements in the storage modulus (E′), glass transition temperature (Tg), and cross link density (CD), for the produced nanocomposites. Increases in thermal conductivity (TC) of up to 85% at 90°C were observed for the nanocomposites containing 1.0 wt% of the hybrid MWCNT‐OXI + NS nanofiller, when compared with neat polymer. It was also verified increases in the resistance to plastic deformation for the nanocomposites, maintained the polymer thermal stability with the addition of these nanoparticles. Finally, the use of MWCNT‐OXI and NS, combined or not, significantly improved the thermal and mechanical properties of polymer, showing multifunctional characteristics for the produced nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn starch‐based direct expanded products incorporated with 2% and 10% (w/w) sugar (fructose, glucose, sucrose, and xylose) were produced using a 20 mm co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. The pasting and thermal properties of raw corn starch‐sugar mixes were analyzed before extrusion processing. The independent variables for extrusion processing included two sugar inclusion levels (2% and 10% w/w) and two screw speeds (150 and 250 rpm). The extrudates were characterized by their initial expansion ratio (IER), expansion ratio (ER), and shrinkage. ER values were high for fructose at 2% and 150 rpm and 10% glucose and sucrose extrudates at 250 rpm. The extrudates with 2% sucrose inclusion shrunk significantly higher than the control. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the extruded blends did not indicate the presence of any new covalent bond formed between starch and sugar post‐extrusion. The interactions between sugar concentration and screw speed significantly influenced extrudate expansion characteristics. Due to their thermal and plasticizing properties, sugar inclusion (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and xylose) enhanced the extrudate expansion by altering their melt viscosity. Practical Application: The findings of this study can improve the expansion characteristics of high‐fiber‐based extruded snacks. Ingredients high in fiber generally hinder the starch transformation during extrusion and negatively impact the expansion properties. The presence of sugar at low concentrations can improve melt properties during extrusion processing and, in turn, significantly improve the textural properties of snacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorinated polyurethaneimide (PUI) electro-optic waveguide polymer with polyurethane and polyimide chain segment structures was synthesized by stepwise polymerization using the synthesized amino ester oligomer pu and imide oligomer pi as monomers. Since the main chain structure of the synthesized PUI had the functionality of both polyurethane and polyimide chain segment structures, it combines the excellent thermal and film-forming properties of polyurethanes and polyimides, as well as lower optical transmission loss in the near-infrared wavelength band. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of PUI was 182 °C, and the 5% heat loss decomposition temperature was 325 °C. The PUI had good optical properties with an optical propagation loss of 1.10 dB/cm and an electro-optic (EO) coefficient (γ33) of 86 pm/V at a wavelength of 1550 nm. A Mach-Zehnder interferometric polymer waveguide EO modulator had been designed and fabricated by using the PUI as a waveguide electro-optic core layer. The prepared polymer waveguide EO modulator showed a good electro-optic modulation response at a wavelength of 1550 nm under an applied 1 kHz sinusoidal modulation signal. The results showed that the synthesized PUI met the performance requirements for the preparation of polymer optical waveguide devices and was a polymer electro-optic waveguide material with good overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oligomeric poly(α-methyl-β-alanine)with vinyl end-group (PmBA) was synthesized via base-catalyzed hydrogen-transfer polymerization (HTP) of molten methacrylamide (MAm) in the presence of sodium tert-butoxide (t-BuONa). The PmBA was used as a comonomer in the synthesis of amphiphilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-g-α-methyl-β-alanine) (PHEA-g-PmBA)via nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP)and "grafting through" approach.The graft copolymer formation was confirmed byproton nuclear magnetic resonancespectroscopy (1H-NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and static light scattering (SLS)measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis of the amphiphilicPHEA-g-PmBAexhibited a multi-step decomposition curve corresponding to the α-methyl-β-alanine and the 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate blocks at about 306, 369, and 403 °C.DSC curve of the copolymer has a baseline shift at −12.87 °C attributed to the glass transition temperature. SLS analysis of the final product resulted in a weight average molecular weight of 83.6 kDa. The spectroscopic and thermal analyses proved that amphiphilicPHEA-g-PmBA was successfully synthesized through HTP and NMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon-containing arylacetylene (PSA) resins have broad application prospects because of their excellent heat resistance. However, improving their mechanical properties and interfacial bonding with reinforcement fibers while maintaining heat resistance is a challenge in engineering applications. Here, poly(diethynylbenzene-methylsilyl-3-benzonitrile) (DEB-CN) and poly(diethynylbenzene-methylsilyl-3,6-diethynylcarbazole-3-benzonitrile) (DEC-CN) were synthesized via an isopropylmagnesium chloride lithium-chloride complex (i-PrMgCl·LiCl), overcoming the compatibility problem between cyano groups and Grignard reagents. The cyano and alkyne groups in the resin underwent cyclization to form pyridine, catalyzed by the -NH- moiety in DEC-CN, resulting in extremely high thermal stability (5% weight loss temperature: 669.3 °C, glass transition temperature >650 °C). The combination of cyano dipole-dipole pairing and hydrogen bonding greatly enhanced the resin-fiber interface properties, while the generated pyridine promoted stress relief in the crosslinked network, substantially improving the mechanical properties of the cyano-silicon-containing arylacetylene resin composites. The flexural strength of quartz fiber cloth/DEC-CN composites was 298.2 MPa at room temperature and 145.9 MPa at 500 °C, corresponding to 84.0% and 127.6% enhancements, respectively, over the cyano-free counterpart. These cyano-silicon-containing arylacetylene resins exhibited a dual reinforcement mechanism involving physical interfacial interactions and chemical crosslinking, achieving a good balance between thermal stability and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, plastic and metal 3D printing has experienced massive development in the professional and hobby spheres, especially for rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, maintenance and quick repairs. However, this technology is limited by a number of factors, with the most common being the cost and availability of the technology but also the lack of information on material properties. This study focuses on investigating the material properties of PLA, PETG, HIPS, PA, ABS and ASA in order to elucidate their behavior in terms of wear and thermal resistance. The research builds on previous studies focusing on the mechanical properties of these materials and includes wear testing and DMA analysis. Weight loss, frictional forces, and frictional work including relative frictional work are recorded as part of this testing. The storage modulus and loss modulus including tan(δ) were then measured using DMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-Phenylalanine-ε-caprolactone-based polyesteramides (PCPs) were synthesized via melt polycondensation across a diverse range of molar compositions. The copolymer structure was extensively characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS). NMR analysis confirmed the intercalation of the L-Phenylalanine comonomer units within the polyester backbone. MALDI MS characterization further demonstrated the formation of linear PCP chains with carboxyl end groups. A detailed structural analysis through MALDI MS/MS fragmentation indicated that ester bond scission was the predominant fragmentation mechanism, depicting the polyesteramide sequence in the copolymers. The resulting copolymers were primarily amorphous, except for those with molar compositions of 90/10 and 80/20, which exhibited semi-crystalline structures. Additionally, these PCPs showed an increase in glass transition temperatures with higher amino acid contents and demonstrated good thermal stabilities, as evidenced by a 10% mass loss at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicylate-based poly(anhydride-esters; SAPAEs) have demonstrated wound healing properties due to salicylic acid (SA) release during polymer degradation. Additionally, the polymers are deformable and self-adhesive due to their low Young's modulus, lower glass transition temperature (T g), and inherent tackiness at body temperature. These properties make them particularly well-suited for therapeutic use in the bacteria-laden environment of the oral cavity. To enhance their therapeutic capabilities, the antiseptic chlorhexidine dihydrochloride was physically incorporated into SAPAEs for dual release of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory upon degradation. This study analyzes the thermomechanical properties of two SAPAE compositions (adipate homopolymer and 50:50 adipate:sebacate copolymer) and the release of chlorhexidine (incorporated at 10% (w/w)) from these polymers. Polymer adhesivity was monitored as a function of chlorhexidine incorporation and in vitro degradation time. Throughout in vitro degradation, the polymer systems had a low Young's modulus and a T g at or near body temperature. Incorporation of the antiseptic further decreased Young's modulus and increased both the T g and adhesivity. The release profiles were also evaluated and determined to be similar for the homopolymer and copolymer, although the homopolymer degradation occurred over a longer time period. Overall, the SAPAE systems have favorable properties for periodontal disease treatments by virtue of their controlled degradability, deformability, adhesivity, and release profiles with encapsulated antiseptic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syntactic foam composite (SFC) has the potential to substitute the conventional material used in damage-tolerance, thermal insulation, and weight-sensitive applications such as automotive parts, submarine structures, etc. Here, SFCs were developed by varying the weight fraction of cenosphere (CS) content from 0-40 wt. % in a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) matrix. This investigation provides the terse behavior of the viscoelastic properties of 3D-printed PETG/CS foam composites. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the initial degradation temperature (Ti) and the temperature at 50% mass loss (T50) of the composite filament increased with the addition of CS particles, indicating improved thermal stability. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results revealed that the storage modulus of SFC increased with increasing cenosphere content. The foam composite's glass transition temperature (78.9 ± 0.35 °C) is lower by 4 °C than pure PETG. This underscores the potential of the developed syntactic foam composite to effectively utilize industrial waste fly ash through 3D printing routine, thereby promoting sustainable manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the impact of short glass fiber (GF) on the performance of 60/40 wt% of polyamide 6/polyamide 12 (PA6/PA12) blend. The short fiber-reinforced composites were fabricated by using melt compounding via twin screw extruder and injection molding. The morphological, water uptake, rheological, thermo-mechanical, and mechanical properties of the composites were discussed. The morphological observations show that the PA6/PA12 blend exhibited compatible morphology and also adhesion between the fiber and matrix was quite strong. The tensile strength/modulus and storage modulus of the blend were substantially improved with GF reinforcement as a result of these morphological findings. While the water uptake of neat PA6 decreased significantly after blending with PA12, the incorporation of GF further reduced the water uptake of the PA6/PA12 blend. The thermomechanical analysis showed the enhancement of the stiffness of the composites and also glass transition temperature increment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a heat transfer model is developed for thermally-driven material extrusion additive manufacturing of semicrystalline polymers that considers the heat generated during crystallization by coupling crystallization kinetics with heat transfer. The materials used in this work are Technomelt PA 6910, a semicrystalline hot melt adhesive with sub-ambient glass transition temperature (Tg) and slow crystallization, and PA 6/66, a traditional semicrystalline polyamide with a higher Tg and fast crystallization. The coupled model shows that the released heat during crystallization depends on material selection, with Technomelt PA 6910 and PA 6/66's temperatures increased by less than 1 °C and up to 6.3 °C, respectively, due to enthalpy of crystallization. Increasing the layer time decreases the layer temperature as well as the initial crystallinity. However, its effect on final crystallinity in Technomelt PA 6910 is negligible due to continued crystallization of the material after printing. Experimental validation shows good agreement for Technomelt PA 6910, but consistently underpredicts PA 6/66 crystallinity. Increasing modeled environmental temperature leads to better agreement with experimental results for PA 6/66, suggesting that higher temperatures may have been experienced. Shear-induced crystallization may also be contributing to crystallinity in this material. The results from this model highlight the importance of and interrelationships between material and processing parameter selection and can aid in achieving quality prints from semicrystalline thermoplastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiro structures, possessing unique π‐electron systems, large steric hindrance, high glass transition temperature, and chemical stability, serve as critical structural building blocks in constructing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. The incorporation of various heteroatoms such as oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen in 9,9′‐spirobifluorene generates diverse spiro structures like spiro[fluorene‐9,9′‐xanthene], spiro[fluorene‐9,9′‐thioxanthene], and spiro[acridine‐9,9′‐fluorene]. Based on the charge transfer characteristics, TADF emitters built upon spiro structures can be classified into various types, including twisted intramolecular charge transfer, through‐space charge transfer, multiresonance, and exciplex‐type TADF emitters. This review systematically highlights the recent progress in the research on TADF emitters comprised of spiro‐structured aromatics. It intricately explores the molecular design strategies, material synthesis methods, understanding of photophysical attributes, and analysis of organic light‐emitting diode performance. Concurrently, it sketches out the challenges faced in the commercial application stage while providing an outlook for potential research trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PMR-type polyimide resins were prepared in an analogous manner PMR-15 resin is formulated, using two furan-based diamines. The PMR resins from both furan-based diamines showed well-separated transitions that are well-known for PMR-type polyimides, and their oligoimide prepolymers showed lower softening temperatures and cure onsets than PMR-15, making them suitable for lower temperature processing. The cure kinetics of the prepolymers were followed by FTIR spectroscopy. The glass transition and thermal degradation of the crosslinked polyimides were characterized by DMA and TGA which showed in general these polyimides had lower thermal properties than PMR-15. A study on the effects of prepolymer molecular weight was conducted using DFDA to find the optimal stoichiometric number n for better processability and thermal properties. The study determined the polyimide based on DFDA with n = 1.5 had overall a good balance in properties. Its oligoimide precursor softens at 135°C and the cure onset temperature is 231°C. The polyimide has a glass transition temperature of 296°C. Degradation study by TGA showed the lower decomposition temperatures which limit their application temperature to below 300°C. A 1000-h thermo-oxidative stability experiment at 280°C resulted only 6.8% weight loss for DFDA-PI with n = 1.5, making it suitable for high temperature applications around 280°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, bio-composites were developed using polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix and sisal fibers (SFs) derived from agave sisalana leaves as the reinforcement. The bio-composites were prepared through injection molding with the addition of tributyl 2-acetylcitrate (ATBC) plasticizer. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of these bio-composites were investigated to understand the effects of fiber and plasticizer contents. The results showed that the addition of SFs improved the tensile and flexural moduli of the bio-composites but led to a decrease in tensile strength compared to neat PLA. The flexural strength initially decreased with low fiber content but recovered to the level of neat PLA as the fiber content increased. The impact strength increased with the incorporation of SFs and ATBC. However, the presence of ATBC had a negative impact on the tensile and flexural properties of the bio-composites. The thermal conductivity of the materials was influenced by the fiber content and processing temperature, increasing with SFs inclusion but decreasing with temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed increased crystallinity of PLA with the presence of SFs and ATBC. The specific heat capacity increased with ATBC but decreased with increasing SFs. Dynamic mechanical property testing showed variations in storage and loss moduli of the bio-composites at different temperatures. The storage modulus increased with higher fiber content and abruptly dropped around glass transition temperature. Rheological characterization demonstrated effective interactions between the fibers and matrix with good fiber dispersion, resulting in uniform shear viscosity versus shear rate for different capillary dimensions. The shear viscosity of the SFs/PLA mixture increased with increasing fiber content but decreased with the addition of plasticizer. Furthermore, the compounding and molding processes had a notable impact on the microstructure of the fibers, specifically resulting in fiber breakage and fiber separation during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicomponent injection molding industry is experiencing a growth due to its ability to reduce production costs and streamline processes. However, compared to single injection, multicomponent injection molding introduces interface regions where multiple engineering polymers meet. Consequently, it is essential to comprehend and enhance the adhesive bonding strength properties of these polymers. This study investigates the adhesive bond strength of polymer-polymer multimaterial molding using two-shot bi-injection and overmolding techniques. The research also emphasizes the influence of injection molding process parameters of mold temperature and melt temperature on the adhesive bond strength of polycarbonate (PC), polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC-ABS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS). Tensile strength results revealed that the bi-injection method yields the highest interface strength, approximately 10 MPa lower than the reference value for single-material hard-hard plastics. Results from overmolded samples for both injection sequences are presented, indicating that material with low melting temperature was found to be the first injected part for better adhesion strength. Empirical equations for estimating adhesion strength were derived as a function of interface temperature obtained from CAE numerical simulations and polymer glass transition temperatures. The proposed equation achieved R2 values greater than 0.96. This empirically derived equation will serve as a guide for multi-injection manufacturing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aimed to get mechanistic insights on the evolution of major quality attributes of meat‐analogue (MA) based batter‐coated fried products. Wheat and rice flour‐based batter systems were used to coat a MA. The products were deep‐fried at 180°C for 4 min in canola oil and their post‐fry quality changes at room environment (RE, 25°C) and under IR‐heating (65 °C) were investigated. Results showed that in addition to moisture‐fat profile, batter coating substantially (P < 0.05) influenced the development of thermal, textural, colour and microstructural traits of MA. Post‐fry colour changes (ΔE value: 3.1 to 10.4) in MA‐based coated product continued under IR‐heating (65 °C). Evolution of the thermal, textural and colour attributes of MA‐based coated products were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the formulation of outer batter coatings. Moisture migration occurred from high moisture (ranged from 1.07 to 1.25 g g−1 dry matter) containing core to dry (moisture ranged from 0.15 to 0.59 g g−1 dry matter) crust region of MA‐based coated fried product, where the moisture migration was interlaced with batter formulations. Holding environment and duration substantially (P < 0.05) impacted the textural properties (hardness, brittleness and crispiness) of MA‐based coated fried product. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of coated fried products were ranged between −20.4 to −23.0 °C, that explains quality changes at RE and under IR‐heating. Scanning electron microscopic image analysis (surface openings: 5.7 to 27.31%; fractal dimension: 2.555 to 2.702) revealed the impact of surface microstructure and mass‐transfer modulated textural development in MA‐based coated products. FTIR spectroscopy revealed surface chemical profile in relation to colour evolution of MA‐based fried products. Principal component analysis outcome (PC1: 52.9.% and PC2: 25.8%) revealed varying extent of correlation between studied thermomechanical and physicochemical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Cr3+ ion introduced germanate transparent glass-ceramics with one-step heat treatment around the glass transition temperature were prepared. By using TEM and other structural characterizations, it was demonstrated that the microstructure of glass-ceramics had uniform distribution and excellent grain development. Through XPS, FTIR, Raman and JMA model calculation, it was found that the substitution of Cr 2 O 3 for Ga 2 O 3 led to the decrease of [TO 4 ] ratio in the glass network, and the crystallization behavior changed to the whole crystallization. The results of optical performance tests indicated that the transmittance of the transparent glass-ceramics with one-step heat treatment was 46 % higher than that of glass-ceramics prepared by the two-step heat treatment, and the broadband emission intensity at 980 nm was 1.69 times higher than that of the basic glass. There is some guiding relevance to the innovative preparation approach suggested in this work for the creation of transparent glass-ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reversible associated copolymer capable of healing at room temperature was constructed using acrylic acid (AA) and hemin as anionic monomers, and methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DMC) as the cationic monomer. Through optimization of the synthesis conditions, characterization by 1HNMR, infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and construction of reasonable models for dynamic simulation, the following conclusions were obtained: The introduction of Hemin could convert light energy into heat energy, accelerating the healing of damaged areas; the predicted glass transition temperature value matched well with the experimental value, demonstrating the reliability of the constructed polymer model; the cohesive energy density (CED), dominated by electrostatic interactions, was identified as the key factor in the self-healing mechanism; the study also visually captured the microscopic process of self-healing within the polymer, providing a detailed understanding of the molecular rearrangements that facilitate this process. This work offers valuable insights into the design of reversible associated polymers, contributing to the broader goal of developing functional polymer materials aligned with circular economy principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), a biodegradable material, has excellent mechanical properties and processing properties. Brassylic acid (BA) is a kind of diacid with long chains derived from biomass. In this study, poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene brassylate) is synthesized to investigate the effects of BA on the structure and properties of PBS. The relationship between the melting temperature of copolyesters and the content of butylene brassylate units is V-shaped, which is typical of isodimorphic random copolyesters. Due to the introduction of BA, the density of unstable ester bonds in copolyesters gradually decreases and the initial thermal decomposition temperature of copolyesters gradually increases with the increase of BA. The dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the glass transition temperature of PBS was reduced by the introduction of BA. When the BA content is 25%, the copolyesters and PBS have the same crystal structure. When the BA content is 50–100%, the copolyesters and poly(butylene brassylate) have the same crystal structure, which indicates that the butylene brassylate units are easier to crystallize than the butylene succinate units. The ductility of copolyesters increases with the addition of BA. When the BA content is 50%, the elongation at break reaches the maximum (> 2000%). The copolyesters are suited for films due to high elongation at break. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strict dependance of the polymer industry on petroleum-based chemicals has risen awareness on environmental safety and sustainability, motivating an at least partial shift towards the utilization of renewable platforms as alternative sources of raw materials. The strategy gains notoriety if one considers the preparation of novel macromolecules that cannot be obtained from petroleum using reasonable synthetic steps. In this work, tung oil and itaconic acid were used as bio-based feedstocks for the synthesis of novel polyfunctional monomers and polyesters. Primarily, methyl α-eleostearate, synthesized from tung oil and methanol, was applied as diene in a Diels-Alder reaction with dimethyl itaconate, leading to the formation of tri-ester monomers. A petroleum-based dienophile, n-butyl methacrylate, was also used to produce a bifunctional monomer. The synthesized monomers were characterized by FTIR/ATR, 1H NMR and GC-MS, and then submitted to step-growth polymerizations with either glycerol or ethylene glycol, which allowed to synthesize novel linear and crosslinked bio-based polyesters. Spectroscopic analyses of the products suggested the success of the reactions, and TGA did not detect the presence of volatiles, with the materials being stable at temperatures up to 240 °C. DSC indicated a glass transition temperature at approximately 0 °C for one of the polymers, and an exothermic peak centered at about 140 °C, likely resulting from polymerization of the unsaturations in the polyesters. GPC indicated peaks with weight average molecular weights () of around 1400–2200 Da, suggesting the formation of oligomers. The results were encouraging and are expected to inspire new possibilities to produce bio-based polymeric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polyol derived from gamma-valerolactone with 10 carbon chain and four hydroxyl groups was used in combination with choline chloride for the production of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) employed as plasticizer for chitosan. The polyol estimated boiling point was 340 °C and the glass transition temperature (Tg) was − 6 °C. No crystallization temperature was observed due to the non-symmetric structure of polyol and because it is a mixture of stereoisomers. A eutectic condition was detected in an interval of choline chloride(ChCl)/polyol composition from 2:1 to 1:10. It was observed that only the mixtures with higher ChCl content showed melting points, so the eutectic composition was chosen by the lowest Tg that was obtained by the 1:1 molar ratio mixture, circa − 40 °C. This ChCl/Polyol composition was used to prepare plasticized chitosan film, by hot pressing. The glycerol/choline chloride mixture was also used as DES for comparison purposes. Both DES acted as plasticizer to obtain chitosan thermoplastic films, verified by the significant Tg drop from 165 °C, for unplasticized film, to -2 °C and − 30 °C, for films plasticized with DES based on ChCl-polyol and ChCl-glycerol, respectively. The materials plasticized with ChCl-polyol, showed a decrease in modulus of about 54% and an increase of 455% in elongation compared to ChCl/Glycerol, indicating better plasticization efficiency of the polyol based DES. The use of ChCl/Polyol have opened up a new opportunity for the use of chitosan as a plastic material and the high boiling point of polyol has made it a real and highly stable plasticizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop a highly durable synthetic leather with excellent resistance to light discoloration and deterioration without the use of fluorine or silicon and a surface that is resistant to dyes and odors. Environment-friendly biomass feedstock was used as the reaction component. Firstly, polyurethane (PU) resins with varying glass transition temperatures (T g) were synthesized. Subsequently, these were used as surface treatment agents for synthetic leather, and the relationship between the non-staining performance of the PU resin and the T g values was discussed. In addition, the physical durability over time was investigated. The non-staining performance of the synthetic leather surface against dyed clothing and the odor of ammonia evidently depended on the T g of the PU resin used as the surface treatment agent. The T g range that is the most convenient for practical purposes, and the related best light discoloration and degradation resistance and bending resistance, were confirmed, and serve as indicators that the material can be used as a highly durable interior material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tetrafunctional glycidyl ether cyclic siloxane epoxy resin (TGTS) has been synthesized, characterized and cured with four aromatic amine hardeners: 1,3‐phenylenediamine (PDA), diethyltoluenediamine (DETDA), 4,4‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and 1,3‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene (APB). Each of the cured networks produces transparent and homogeneous networks, although when TGTS is cured with DETDA, reduced compatibility led to lower epoxide consumption, a more heterogenous microstructure and deleterious effects upon properties. Reduced miscibility of DETDA significantly impacts the chemical structure and microstructure of the network, resulting in significant reductions in thermal and mechanical properties but higher UV‐A transmission. The PDA‐, APB‐ and DDM‐cured networks conversely were more miscible and display properties typical of organic–inorganic hybrid networks, such as good mechanical properties at ambient and sub‐ambient temperatures, comparatively high glass transition temperatures, improved resistance to oxidation and lower UV‐A transmission. © 2024 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights This study investigates the effect of the annealing treatment for carbon fiber reinforced Polyether‐ketone‐ketone (CF/PEKK) composite structures under flexural and compressive loadings through reference, pre‐damaged, and annealed sample sets. Significant recovery of pre‐existing damage is observed after the annealing process, following both flexural and compressive loading. Acoustic emission (AE) inspection is employed to monitor the failure behavior and assess the impact of pre‐damage and annealing on CF/PEKK composite. Initially, AE inspection reveals that the reference CF/PEKK material exhibits a notable fiber‐related failure with 85% of cumulative AE counts under flexural load, whereas matrix‐related failures are more pronounced with 92% cumulative AE counts under compressive load. Pre‐damages in the matrix alter the cumulative count percentages and initiation time that are related to matrix, interface, and fiber‐related failures, under flexural and compressive loadings. After annealing, each cumulative AE count percentages are comparable to reference sample values, due to changes in microstructure and relieving of residual stresses. The annealing effect is further validated through dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis results with increased glass transition temperature (Tg) and degree of crystallization (Xc). Overall, these findings indicate that annealing treatment effectively restores structural integrity and improves the mechanical performance of CF/PEKK composites. Annealing aims for damage recovery in CF/PEKK under flexural and compressive loads. Significant damage recovery in CF/PEKK is seen after annealing. Annealing raises Tg and crystallinity, and enhances CF/PEKK structural integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined actions of tensile and ultrasound on the melting enthalpy, retrogradation kinetics, spherical morphology, crystal structure, thermal stability, hydrophilicity, and molecular chain of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) containing different surface properties nano‐silica (SiO2) are investigated. The result indicates that the melting enthalpy of TPS/SiO2 composite and the retrogradation rate increases under combined actions of tensile and ultrasound, and the sample containing hydrophobic nano‐SiO2 is greater than that of hydrophilic nano‐SiO2. The spherulites of TPS/SiO2 composite become obvious, and the contact angle increases; however, the thermal degradation temperature decreases. Under combined actions of tensile and ultrasound, the aggregation of nano‐SiO2 particles in the matrix reduces and the dispersion become uniform. TPS/SiO2 composite presents A+V type crystal structure, and V‐type crystal increases after the combined actions of tensile and ultrasound. The storage modulus, loss modulus, and glass transition temperature of TPS/SiO2 composite increase, and the sample containing hydrophobic nano‐SiO2 is higher than that of sample containing hydrophilic nano‐SiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractOur research described in this report describes our advanced thermo-electric characterization of hydroxyapatite (HA) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polymer composites. The incorporation of HA and MWCNTs was aimed to enhance the thermo-electric properties of PEEK while maintaining its biocompatibility. Three different methodologies were followed for development of the polymer nanocomposites with the effect of varying the methodologies investigated in the present study. FTIR analysis showed the presence of HA, MWCNT and PEEK, confirming the formation of the nanocomposite. HA and MWCNT addition enhanced the dielectric constant and conductivity compared to pure epoxy. This corresponds to enhanced interfacial polarization and charge transfer capabilities. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed the modification of the glass transition temperatures, with the addition of HA and MWCNT indicating enhanced thermal stability as well as resistance to degradation. This research, we suggest, paves the way for innovative materials that bridge the gap between functionality and biocompatibility in advanced engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Fiber hybrid with bundle‐by‐bundle dispersion can achieve the high performance of composites, fully understand the hybrothermal resistance of hybrid composites is the key to prove the applications in engineering structures. In the present paper, the hygrothermal resistance performances of new type carbon and glass fiber reinforced epoxy based hybrid rod with bundle‐by‐bundle dispersion produced by pultrusion technology is investigated experimentally. The tests of water absorption and desorption, thermal and mechanical performances are performed to obtain the evolution rules of hygrothermal aging. As a result, the water absorption of hybrid rod confirms to the Fick's diffusion behavior, the serious relaxation of resin matrix and the interfacial debonding of fiber‐resin exposed at high temperature provide more diffusion space for water molecules. Long‐term hydrothermal aging results in the recoverable plasticization of resin matrix and irrecoverable interfacial debonding of fiber‐resin, which brings about the degradation of 6.7%–15.0% for short beam shear strength (SBSS) retention. In addition, the plasticization effect reduces the cross‐linking density of resin matrix, which leads to the degradation of 3.3%–15.6% for glass transition temperature (Tg) retention. The life prediction results show that degradation rate of SBSS is gradually slow down and reached to a stable retention of 85.5%. Relaxation of resin matrix and interfacial debonding accelerate the diffusion of water molecules. Plasticization and interfacial debonding lead to the degradation of short beam shear strength retention and glass transition temperature. Long‐term life prediction shows that short beam shear strength e retention is 85.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, polymer blends of polythiophene (PTH) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) are investigated by focusing on their structural and electrochemical characteristics. These blends displayed immiscibility confirmed through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and interaction assessments. PTH's role as a plasticizer is evident, diminishing crystallinity. A rise in PTH level led to a lower glass transition temperature and a higher melting point, suggesting reduced intermolecular forces and increased polymer chain flexibility. Conversely, a dispersed phase presence elevated the melting point, restricting chain movement and crystallization. The thermal properties of blends are enhanced by increased PTH content. Applying the Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher model to ionic conductivity measurements, it observed a direct relationship between temperature and free volume, impacting conductivity and ion transport numbers. Certain materials exhibit increased activation energies, indicating substantial thermodynamic barriers to local motion. Higher PTH content within the PVDF matrix notably increased the lithium ion transfer number from 0.22 to 0.71, a change tied to the C–S–C structure of polythiophene. However, elevated PTH levels also led to diminished negative charge transfer and ionic conductivity in the PTH‐PVDF blend compared to pure PVDF, likely due to an ionic conduction hindrance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is involved in synthesizing, characterizing, and evaluating the role of Er3+ ion on structural, optical, and thermal properties of 20CaO–10ZrO 2 –10Y 2 O 3 -30 B 2 O 3 -(30-x)SiO 2 -xEr 2 O 3 (x = 0.3, 0.6, 1.0, and 1.5 mol%) compositions. The as-synthesized samples are characterized by various experimental techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Raman, UV visible spectroscopy, and DSC to study their suitability for optoelectronic applications. The density of glasses increases, whereas the molar volume decreases with the doping of Er 2 O 3 in place of SiO 2. The amorphous nature of the prepared samples is confirmed by the X-ray diffraction pattern. FTIR and Raman spectra confirm the presence of BO 4 and BO 3 structural units in the prepared glass samples. The UV–visible absorption spectra show 4G 9 / 2 , 4G 11 / 2 , 2G 9 / 2 , 4F 5 / 2 , 4F 7 / 2 , 2H 11 / 2 , and 4F 9 / 2 transitions with the Er 2 O 3 doping. The optical band gap increases from 3.25 to 3.61 eV, whereas the refractive index decreases from 2.33 to 2.24 with increasing doping of Er 2 O 3 , except for the SE-1.5 glass sample. The molar refraction decreases with Er 2 O 3 doping. The glass transition temperature increases from 472 to 512 °C with Er 2 O 3 doping in place of SiO 2 , except for the SE-1.5 glass. SE-0.3 glass shows the highest thermal stability, while SE-1.5 glass shows the lowest thermal stability. Therefore, these glasses can be considered for application in optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar organic molecules form spontaneous polarization in vacuum-deposited films by permanent dipole orientations in the films, originating from the molecule's potential ability to align itself on the film surface during deposition. This study focuses on developing polar molecules that exhibit spontaneous orientation polarization (SOP) and possess a high surface potential. In the proposed molecular design, a hexafluoropropane (6F) unit facilitates spontaneous molecular orientation to align the permanent dipoles, and a phthalimide unit induces strong molecular polarization. Furthermore, the introduction of phthalimides into the molecular backbone raises the glass transition temperature of the molecules, leading to the suppression of molecular mobility on the film surface during film deposition and an improvement in the dipole orientation. The resulting surface potential slope is approximately 280 mV nm−1 without substrate temperature control. Furthermore, this work proposes a method using position isomers as a design strategy to tune the SOP polarity. The substitution position of the strong polar units influences the direction of the total molecular dipoles and affects the SOP polarity of the 6F-based molecules. The proposed molecular designs in this study provide wide tunability of the SOP intensity and polarity, which contributes to highly efficient organic optoelectronic and energy-harvesting devices. Polar organic molecules form spontaneous polarization in vacuum-deposited films originating from the molecule's potential ability to align itself on the film surface during deposition. Here, the author incorporates fluoroalkyl and phthalimide units to the molecular backbone to improve spontaneous molecular orientation facilitating strong polarization in vacuum deposited films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into optimizing production parameters and 3D printing (3Dp) conditions for alkaline‐treated 10% hemp fiber‐reinforced polycarbonate (PC) composites. Initially, composite filaments were extruded at 250°C (PCH250) and 230°C (PCH230) to assess the impact of varying melt mixing temperatures on thermal behavior. Thermal characterization was conducted using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC analysis indicated consistent glass transition temperatures (Tg) across pure PC and the composites, while TGA revealed minimal thermal degradation in PCH230 compared to pure PC. Subsequently, to ascertain the optimal 3D printing temperature, specimens were printed at temperatures elevated by 10°C relative to their melt mixing temperatures (PCH250/260 and PCH230/240), followed by mechanical evaluation via tensile testing. PCH230/240 exhibited superior mechanical properties, demonstrating a 12% increase in tensile strength and a 29% increase in Young's modulus compared to pure PC. Additional testing at 230°C printing temperature (PCH230/230) demonstrated enhanced mechanical strength over PCH250/260 but inferior performance relative to PCH230/240, attributed to incomplete interlayer adhesion observed through SEM analysis. Consequently, the optimal composite melt mixing temperature was determined to be 230°C, with an accompanying 3D printing temperature of 240°C for optimal mechanical performance. Highlights: 3D printable, 5% NaOH treated hemp fiber reinforced polycarbonate composite.Printing composite with 3D printing device at different temperatures230°C process temperature gives the best thermal properties.240°C 3Dp temperature provides the best mechanical and morphological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the impressing advances on sizing agents for CF/PEEK composites, the aromatic backbone of the polymer precursors utilized in the vast majority of reports compromises the dispersity and ductility of the slurry, subsequently resulting in inferior overall performance of the composites. Meanwhile, most resins employed for sizing agents in existing reports are based on petroleum resources. Herein, a bio‐based waterborne sizing agent utilizing semi‐aromatic poly ether ketones (PIEK‐C) derived from isosorbide and phenolphthalein has been disclosed, featured by its salutary dispersity, exceptional thermal stability, higher glass transition temperatures, and broader applicability. Due to the structural similarity between the sizing and resin matrix, the protocol endowed CF/PEEK composites with ameliorated overall performance, addressing issues related to inadequate adhesion of CF with PEEK resin, as well as environmental pollution commonly associated with existing commercial epoxy and solvent‐based sizing agents. The Tg and T5% of PIEK‐C‐5050 were 205.08 and 427.16°C, respectively. The particle size range of the PIEK‐C sizing agents spanned from 66.32 to 84.63 nm. The flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength of the composites experienced a respective 993.92 MPa (30.73%) and 83.32 MPa (36.97%) increase compared to untreated CF/PEEK composites following sizing treatment with PIEK‐C‐5050, underscoring expedient intermolecular interactions based on comparable solubility and π‐π stacking effects between the PEEK and PIEK‐C components. This study introduced an efficient and eco‐friendly approach to enhance the interfacial properties of CF/PEEK composites. Highlights: PIEK‐C resin is employed for the first time to prepare carbon fiber sizing agents.The PIEK‐C sizing agent significantly fortified the surface energy and wettability of carbon fibers.The CF/PEEK composites after treatment with PIEK‐C sizing agent showed excellent heat resistance.The ILSS and bending strength of the composites were significantly increased by 36.97% and 30.73%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative assessment of hygrothermal effects on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of resin‐infused thermoplastic E‐glass fiber‐reinforced composites (FRC) in the marine environment. The thermoplastic FRCs were immersed in seawater at two different aging temperatures, that is, 35 and 70°C. The quasi‐static tests were conducted on unaged and aged FRCs, followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the effect of the marine environment on the mechanical properties and damage progression. The specimens immersed at 70°C showed a significant drop of 46.7%, 39.7%, 22.6%, and 16% in mechanical properties (tensile, compression, flexural, and ILSS) mainly due to plasticization, matrix cracking, and fiber/matrix debonding. The specimens immersed at 35°C showed a reduction in tensile, compressive, and flexural strength of 10%, 14.7% and 1.9% respectively, with no significant effect on ILSS. In addition, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) reveals that prolonged aging induces an increase in glass transition temperature Tg due to polymerization reactions. This work is intended to reveal the effect of extreme marine environment on the resin‐infused thermoplastic FRC and to provide a useful reference for their potential structural applications in the marine industry. Highlights: Influence of aging conditions on the long‐term performance of FRCs.Hygrothermal aging leads to an increase in the glass transition temperature.The marine environment degrades mechanical properties of FRCs by up to 50%.Matrix cracking and fiber‐matrix debonding evolved as dominant failure modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid biopolymer electrolytes for zinc primary battery based on cellulose acetate (CA) and zinc chloride (ZnCl2) have been prepared by solution casting technique with Dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent. X-ray diffraction analysis provides that biopolymer membrane 40 wt% of CA:60 wt% of ZnCl2 shows very high amorphous nature. Complex formation between biopolymer CA with ZnCl2 has been confirmed by FTIR measurements. Biopolymer membrane 40 wt% of CA:60 wt% of ZnCl2 shows a high zinc ionic conductivity of 3.04 × 10–3 S/cm calculated from impedance measurements. Wagner's Polarization measurements indicates that charge carriers are ions and the highest zinc ionic conductivity membrane has got low glass transition temperature 35 °C determined by DSC studies. The electrochemical stability of the highest zinc ion conductivity membrane is found to be 2.15 V by LSV technique. The cyclic stability of the prepared membrane has been determined by cyclic voltammetry analysis. Transport parameters such as Diffusion constant (D), mobility (μ) and relaxation time (τ) have been calculated for the biopolymer electrolytes. A primary zinc ion battery has been constructed using zinc plate as anode, highest zinc ion conducting membrane as an electrolyte and MnO2 as cathode shows an open-circuit voltage 1.55 V. The performance of the battery has been studied with various loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delineates the dependence of thermophysical behavior of acid‐epoxy vitrimers on their formulation. The stress relaxation due to the bond exchange reaction and the glass transition temperature of acid epoxy vitrimers are investigated, with respect to the influence of catalyst content and acid chain length. This is carried out for a range of dicarboxylic acids and catalyst concentrations formulated and characterized using calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. The influence of acid chain length on the bond exchange rate, topological transition, and glass transition temperatures of the vitrimers is found to be significant. The activation energy of the exchange reaction varies over a wide range from 73 to 104 kJ/mol and the topology freezing temperature from 66 to 136°C with the behavior governed by the interplay between crosslinking density, network flexibility and density and distance of functional groups, with an increase of catalyst concentration leading to lower topological transition temperature and the dependence on chain length showing non‐monotonic behavior. The glass transition decreases by about 30°C as the carbon chain length increases from 6 to 14 carbons due to enhanced monomer flexibility and is not affected by the concentration of catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultralow‐k materials with promising comprehensive performance to meet the increasing requirements of high‐frequency communication are highly desired. Here, a cross‐linked porous polymer SiCOH, synthesized via simple sol–gel method, was used as the filler to prepare SiCOH/PI composite films by physically blending, which demonstrates ultralow dielectric constant at high frequency. Notably, only 2.5% of SiCOH in the composite can significantly reduce the dielectric constant of PI from 3.0 to an ultralow value of 1.7 in the 9.5–12.4 GHz, together with a low dielectric loss of 0.029. Additionally, the SiCOH/PI composite maintains a high tensile strength of 82.4 MPa and a tensile modulus of 1.82 GPa, which is comparable to pure PI film. While the glass transition temperature (Tg) increases to 370°C and the linear expansion coefficient is reduced to 30.7 ppm/°C, both of which are superior to those of pure PI film. Moreover, by introducing the hydrophobic SiCOH into PI, the contact angle of the composite films increased to 92.0°–99.0°. This simple and low‐cost method not only effectively lowers the dielectric constant of PI but also improves the thermal stability, mechanical properties, and hydrophobic ability, greatly boosts the practical application of PI in high‐frequency communication in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hole transport materials (HTMs) are essential for improving the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we have designed and synthesized a novel organic small molecule HTM, cor‐(DPA)5, characterized by a bowl‐shaped core with symmetric five diphenylamine groups. Compared to already‐known HTMs, the bowl‐shaped and relatively compact structure of cor‐(DPA)5 facilitates intermolecular π–π interactions, promotes film formations, and enhances charge transport. Consequently, the cor‐[DPA(2)]5 HTM exhibits high charge mobility, exceptional hydrophobicity, and a significantly elevated glass transition temperature. Superior to previously reported HTMs such as spiro‐OMeTAD and cor‐OMePTPA, our newly synthesized cor‐(DPA)5 HTM is free from any ionic dopants. As a result, the dopant‐free cor‐[DPA(2)]5‐based PSC demonstrates an impressive efficiency of 24.01 %, and exhibits outstanding operational stability. It retains 96 % after continuous exposure to 1 sun irradiation for 800 hours under MPP (maximum power point) tracking in ambient air. These findings present a structurally compact novel HTM and exemplify a new approach to the molecular design of HTM for the development of stable and effective PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The condensation reactions of 4,4′-(ethane-1,2-diylbis (oxy)) bis(3-methoxybenzaldehyde) (VV) with cystamine, 1,6-hexamenthylene diamine, and a dimer diamine (PriamineTM 1075) produced three types of vanillin-derived imine-and disulfide-containing diamines (VC, VH, and VD, respectively). Thermal curing reactions of polyglycerol polyglycidyl ether with VD and mixtures of VC/VD and VH/VD produced bio-based epoxy vitrimers (BEV-VD, BEV-VC/VD, and BEV-VH/VD, respectively). The degree of swelling and gel fraction tests revealed the formation of a network structure, and the crosslinking density increased with a decreasing VD fraction. The glass transition temperature, tensile strength, and tensile modulus of the cured films increased as the VD fraction decreased. In contrast, the thermal degradation temperature of the cured films increased as the VD fraction increased. All the cured films were healed by hot pressing at 120 °C for 2 h under 1 MPa at least three times. The healing efficiencies, based on tensile strength after the first healing treatment, were 75–78%, which gradually decreased as the healing cycle was repeated. When imine-and disulfide-containing BEV-VC/VD and imine-containing BEV-VH/VD with the same VC/VD and VH/VD ratios were used, the former exhibited a slightly higher healing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aramid copolymers have garnered significant interest due to their potential applications in extreme environments such as the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. Recent developments in aramid copolymers have moved beyond their traditional use in high-strength, high-temperature resistant fibers. There is now a demand for new polymers that can easily be processed into thin films for applications such as electrical insulation films and membranes, utilizing the inherent properties of aramid copolymers. In this work, we demonstrate two novel aramid copolymers that are capable of polymerizing in polar organic solvents with a high degree of polymerization, achieved by incorporating flexible bis(4-aminophenoxy) benzene moieties into the chain backbone. The synthesized MBAB-aramid and PBAB-aramid have enabled the fabrication of exceptionally thin, clear films, with an average molecular weight exceeding 150 kDa and a thickness ranging from 3 to 10 μm. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reveal that the thin films of MBAB-aramid and PBAB-aramid exhibited glass transition temperatures of 270.1 °C and 292.7 °C, respectively, and thermal decomposition temperatures of 449.6 °C and 465.5 °C, respectively. The mechanical tensile analysis of the 5 μm thick films confirmed that the tensile strengths, with elongation at break, are 107.1 MPa (50.7%) for MBAB-aramid and 113.5 MPa (58.4%) for PBAB-aramid, respectively. The thermal and mechanical properties consistently differ between the two polymers, which is attributed to variations in the linearity of the polymer structures and the resulting differences in the density of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interactions. The resulting high-strength, ultra-thin aramid materials offer numerous potential applications in thin films, membranes, and functional coatings across various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at developing a fibre-reinforced polymer composite with a high bio-based content and to investigate its mechanical properties. A novel basalt fibre-reinforced polymer (BFRP) composite with bio-based matrix modified with different contents of star-like n-butyl methacrylate (n-BMA) block glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymer has been developed. n-BMA blocks have flexible butyl units, while the epoxide group of GMA makes it miscible with the epoxy resin and is involved in the crosslinking network. The effect of the star-like polymer on the rheological behaviour of the epoxy was studied. The viscosity of the epoxy increased with increase in star-like polymer content. Tensile tests showed no noteworthy influence of star-like polymer on tensile properties. The addition of 0.5 wt.% star-like polymer increased the glass transition temperature by 8.2 °C. Mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness and low-velocity impact tests were performed on star-like polymer-modified BFRP laminates, where interfacial adhesion and impact energy capabilities were observed. Interlaminar fracture toughness improved by 45% and energy absorption capability increased threefold for BFRP laminates modified with 1 wt.% of star-like polymer when compared to unmodified BFRP laminates. This improvement could be attributed to the increase in ductility of the matrix on the addition of the star-like polymer, increasing resistance to impact and damage. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy confirmed that with increase in star-like polymer content, the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and fibres improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations were employed to investigate the effects of phospholipids on the aggregation of hydrophilic, modified carbon-nanoparticle fillers in cis-polyisoprene (cis-PI) composites. The MARTINI force field was applied to model dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipids and hydrophilic modified fullerenes (HMFs). The simulations of DPPC in cis-PI composites show that the DPPC lipids self-assemble to form a reverse micelle in a rubber matrix. Moreover, HMF molecules readily aggregate into a cluster, in agreement with the previous studies. Interestingly, the mixture of the DPPC and HMF in the rubber matrix shows a cluster of HMF is encapsulated inside the DPPC reverse micelle. The HMF encapsulated micelles disperse well in the rubber matrix, and their sizes are dependent on the lipid concentration. Mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were analyzed by calculating the diffusion coefficients (D), bulk modulus (κ), and glass transition temperatures (Tg). The results suggest that DPPC acts as a plasticizer and enhances the flexibility of the HMF-DPPC rubber composites. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and process of high-performance rubber composites, offering improved mechanical and thermal properties for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their mechanical robustness and chemical resistance, composite electrospun membranes based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are suitable for sensor applications. Aiming to improve the electrical characteristics of these membranes, this work investigated the effects of the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to PVC electrospun membranes, in terms of morphology and thermal and impedance behavior. Transmission electron microscopy images evidenced that most of the nanotubes were encapsulated within the fibers and oriented along them, while field-emission scanning electron micrographs revealed that the membranes consisted of uniform fibers with an average diameter of 339 ± 31 nm, regardless of the addition of the carbon nanotubes. With respect to the neat resin, the addition of nanotubes caused a significant lowering of the glass transition temperature (up to 20 °C) and a marked change in the second degradation step of PVC. Nyquist plots from electrical impedance spectra showed a charge transfer resistance (RCT) of 38 and 40 MΩ for neat PVC and PVC/CNT 3 wt.% membranes, respectively, indicating that, in the dry state, the encapsulation of CNTs in the fibers and the high porosity of the membranes prevented the formation of a percolation network, increasing the electrical resistance. In the wet state, however, there was a greater change in the impedance behavior, decreasing the resistance RCT to 4.5 and 1.1 MΩ, for neat PVC and PVC/CNT 3 wt.% membranes, respectively. The results of this study, showing a significant variation in impedance behavior between dry and wet membranes, are relevant for the development of various types of sensors based on PVC composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWith the rapid development of 5 G technology and microelectronics, there is an urgent demand to design and develop modified polyimide films with low dielectric constant as flexible matrix materials. In this work, a diamine containing multiple side methyl and biphenyl groups was synthesized by aromatic nucleophilicsubstitution reaction and oxidation-reduction reaction, respectively. Furthermore, this monomer was used to polymerize with four different commercially available dianhydrides (ODPA, BTDA, BPDA, and PMDA) to produce a class of polyimides (PI 3a∼3d). The structures of the diamine and its PIs are characterized, and the relationship between the structure and properties of the obtained PI films is investigated. These modified PIs are easy to cast into films and have low dielectric constants and water absorption. Their dielectric constants and dielectric losses are in the range of 2.66–2.91 and 0.00579–0.00677 at 1 MHz, respectively. Meanwhile, these PIs also maintains good thermal stability, with glass transition temperatures (Tg) higher than 284 °C and 10% weight loss temperatures in the range of 496–505 °C at N2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel polycyclic naphthoxazine resin (NSA‐thiq) is synthesized via N, O‐acetal forming reaction between o‐hydroxyl naphthaldehyde and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline. The chemical structure of the monomer is investigated and confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Besides, the ring‐opening polymerization behavior similar to ordinary benzoxazine resins is observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in situ FT‐IR analyses, leading to the formation of the phenolic cross‐linked network. Notably, DSC thermograms indicate that the newly obtained polycyclic naphthoxazine resin exhibits much lower polymerization temperatures compared to many other reported benzoxazine or naphthoxazine resins. Moreover, the corresponding polybenzoxazine (poly(NSA‐thiq)) shows comparable thermal stability in comparison with thermosets derived from monobenzoxazine resins. As a consequence of these unique performances, NSA‐thiq is applied as a property modifier for a commercialized benzoxazine resin (BA‐a). The glass transition temperature of copolymeric thermosets is enhanced without sacrificing too much thermal stability and heat resistance. Here, another series of naphthoxazine thermosetting resin is explored, which can provide more examples for constructing composites based on thermoset polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]