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With the rapid progress of the advanced electronic device industry, precision electronic instruments are gradually developing towards miniaturization. In this case, epoxy resin gradually attracts people's attention, but its intrinsic thermal conductivity is not high, and the resulting heat dissipation problem limits the further application of epoxy resin in the field of electronic packaging. Therefore, how to enhance the thermal conductivity of epoxy resins has become an urgent problem in the field of electronic packaging. In this work, BNNS was successfully prepared by stripping h‐BN into a flaky two‐dimensional material, which was added to the epoxy resin as a filler to make the composite material. And on the basis of the above, two‐dimensional micron silver flakes (AgMS) with different mass fractions were added to the composites, and the AgMS/BNNS/EP composites were successfully prepared. When BNNS was 25 wt% and AgMS was 1 wt%, its out‐of‐plane thermal conductivity was enhanced from 0.17 W m−1 K−1 of pure epoxy resin to 0.43 W m−1 K−1. When BNNS was 20 wt% and AgMS was 1 wt%, the breakdown strength was enhanced from 105 kV/mm for pure epoxy to 130 kV/mm. This work provides a new strategy for synthesizing high‐thermal‐conductivity epoxy matrix composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer dielectrics with excellent energy storage properties are crucial for high‐power density electronic equipment in environments such as high temperatures and strong electric fields. They play a critical role in applications including hybrid electric vehicles, electromagnetic launch devices, and photovoltaic power generation. In this paper, the small molecule compound lithium acetate (LiAc), which is low cost and exhibits good thermal stability in high‐temperature environments, was selected and blended with a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer matrix at an ultra‐low loading (≤0.3 vol%). LiAc has a higher electron affinity compared to PEI, which will result in a large trap energy level (Φe). The injected and excited electrons are trapped by strong electrostatic attraction, which suppresses carrier transport, reduces conduction losses, and improves breakdown strength in high‐temperature environments. This composite dielectric exhibits better energy storage properties in high‐temperature environments. The energy density of the 0.2% by volume LiAc/PEI composite dielectric reaches 3.04 J cm−3 at 150°C, maintaining an energy storage efficiency of approximately 90%. The research presented in this paper offers a novel approach to achieving excellent energy storage properties in polymer‐based composite dielectrics operating in high‐temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the solubility of oligomer polystyrene and random copolymers of styrene and methyl methacrylate with different styrene contents have been obtained. Phase diagrams were constructed and the values of critical points were determined. The upper critical solution temperature is localized in the temperature range above 420 K and grows with increasing molecular weight of PS and decreasing styrene content in the copolymer. Based on the compositions of the coexisting phases, paired interaction parameters were calculated and their temperature dependences were plotted. The dependence of the interaction parameter on the copolymer composition and the correlation dependence between its enthalpy and entropy components were constructed. A method for simulation phase equilibrium for copolymers of arbitrary composition and molecular weight is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of waste plastics primarily involves physical modification and the addition of modifiers, often utilizing equipment such as twin‐screw extruders for miscible modification. Considering the widespread use of single‐screw 3D printing, improving the mixing efficiency of the single‐screw is crucial to achieve a "one‐stop" recycling modification that is suitable for 3D printing. This paper introduces a 3D printer equipped with a mixing screw (MS) and compares it with a conventional screw (CS). We conduct numerical simulations to investigate the pressure build‐up capacity, velocity streamline distribution, and the mixing effect of the MS. The mechanical properties, thermal characteristics, and molecular orientation of the recycled Polypropylene (rPP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) mixture are investigated through experiments. The results show that the MS provides more effective elongational flows compared to the CS by breaking down the reinforcing materials into smaller particles. Additionally, toughening and modification experiments are performed on rPP and HDPE. The composites treated with the MS showed improved elongation at break (increased by ~111%), a stable melt crystallization temperature, and an enhanced mixing effect. This study on single‐screw 3D printers lays the groundwork for streamlining the plastic recycling process and increasing the reuse rate of recycled plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the recycling of end‐of‐life computer plastics, focusing on polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer, which constitute a significant portion of collected computers. Through differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy analyses, the properties of raw PC, ABS and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were evaluated. Various blends of PC and ABS were prepared, incorporating different percentages of recycled PMMA as a cost‐effective coupling agent. These blends were processed through melt compounding using a contra‐rotating twin‐screw extruder and subsequently shaped by injection molding. An experimental mixture design was applied to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of the composite materials, including melt flow index, hardness, flexural strain at break and Charpy impact strength. The results of the desirability analysis indicated that the optimal blend for achieving a balance between mechanical and physical properties consists of a high PC content (approximately 80% or more), a low ABS content (less than 20%) and less than 5% recycled PMMA. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamides (PA), commercially known as Nylon, are versatile engineering thermoplastics extensively used in different industries due to their thermal, and chemical resistance and excellent mechanical properties. Although polyamide recycling has received significant attention due to increasing demand for sustainable practices, it is important to understand the effect of the different factors involved in the mechanical recycling of this polymer. The initial part of this review presents an overview of the PA in the industry, its classification, properties, and applications. Following this, the effects of reprocessing cycles are examined, concluding with the impact of moisture before and after the recycling of polyamides. This review not only focuses on the recycling of PA 6 and PA 66 but also includes other grades, such as PA 11 and PA 12. Additionally, it covers the recycling of PA blends and composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine water‐lubricated bearings have the advantages of environmental friendliness and long replacement cycle. However, when under the complex lubrication circumstance, the frictional and vibrational behaviors of water‐lubricated bearing always dissipate the mechanical energy output from the ship's diesel engine. Aiming at this problem and combining with previous research findings, in this paper, ceramic balls with similar mechanical properties to ship's main shaft were selected as the friction counterpart to simulate the operating conditions of marine water‐lubricated bearing. Meanwhile, dual nanoparticles of tungsten disulfide (WS2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) were used to modify ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) bearing material. The tribological and vibrational properties of the prepared composites were carefully investigated. The results showed that compared to pure UHMWPE, with the synergistic effect of 0.75 wt% WS2 and 0.9 wt% TiO2, the frictional and vibrational behaviors of the composites were reduced by 43.3% and 42.7%. Mechanical testing and microscopic characterization revealed the enhancement mechanism of these nanoparticles on UHMWPE. This study proposed a design strategy on marine water‐lubricated bearings for engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal antibacterial composite membranes have a broad range of clinical applications such as wound dressing, drug delivery, and physiotherapy. However, existing photothermal antimicrobial films have limitations related to biosafety, stability, and degradability. Herein, we develop an environmentally‐friendly composite membrane with antibacterial properties, photothermal conversion capability, and facile processing. The composite membrane film is comprised of polylactic acid (PLA) with graphene (G) and is synthesized via melt co‐blending and hot pressing. We verify that graphene is uniformly dispersed in the PLA phase, and an antibacterial rate of 99.7% can be achieved by a PLA/G composite membrane with only 3.0 wt.% graphene added. Moreover, the obtained films exhibit efficient photothermal conversion, reaching thermal treatment temperatures (40–60°C) within 10 s and maintaining temperature stability for extended periods. Additionally, the composite fiber film exhibited a tensile strength of 3.5 cN/dtex and good hydrophobicity (>90° contact angle). The combination of antibacterial properties, efficient photothermal conversion, noninfiltration, high strength, hydrophobicity, and mechanical stability, along with the inherent degradability of PLA and the scalability of the synthesis process for mass production, offer broad application prospects for PLA‐based composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets are seen as highly promising nanofillers for enhancing polymer properties, yet there is a need for methods that are low‐cost, simple, and environmentally friendly to facilitate the large‐scale production of MoS2 nanosheets. Furthermore, it is necessary to functionalize the MoS2 surface to ensure good interfacial compatibility with the polymer matrix. In this study, MoS2@Ag@PA hybrids were created by generating silver nanoparticles directly on the surface of MoS2 via radiation, followed by encapsulation on the surface of MoS2@Ag through the chelating properties of phytic acid. It is significant to note that, due to the excellent lubrication and physical cross‐linking effects of the MoS2@Ag@PA hybrids, adding one part of MoS2@Ag@PA hybrids can enhance the melt flow rate and elongation at break of the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/MH composites by 140% and 17.3%, respectively. The simultaneous addition of one part of MoS2@Ag@PA hybrids decreased the peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke release of the EVA composites by 48.7%, 42.7%, and 41.2%, respectively. Moreover, the toxic gasses (e.g., CO) generated by burning EVA composites were significantly reduced compared to pure EVA, indicating improved fire safety. This research not only provides significant opportunities for the green mass production of MoS2 nanosheets but also expands their potential applications in high‐performance nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this survey, the different weight ratios of polybenzimidazole (PBI)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend polymer membranes were produced using the solution‐casting method. The crosslinking agents of phosphoric acid (PA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) were studied separately to prevent the PVA water solubility in the PBI/PVA blend membrane structure. The GA crosslinking (24 h) successfully prevented membrane solubility, reducing it to below 1%. The chemically crosslinked blend membrane (Cr‐PBI/PVA‐9:1) has the highest proton conductivity result which is 0.209 S cm−1 at 80°C and it has excellent oxidative stability since the membrane only lost 4% of its weight in a Fenton agent after 96 h. The Cr‐PBI/PVA‐9:1 also has higher proton conductivity than the commercial PBI membrane (0.122 S cm−1 at 80°C). The glass transition temperature of the synthesized Cr‐PBI/PVA‐9:1 blend membrane is greater than the synthesized PBI membrane (390°C). The current density and power density measured at 0.6 V for the synthesized Cr‐PBI/PVA‐9:1 membrane were found to be 504 mA cm−2and 251 mW cm−2. This work sheds light on the potential use of PVA in PEMFC applications by mixing PVA with a high‐temperature polymer like PBI and crosslinking the membrane with a prepared GA crosslinking agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) is a thermoresponsive polymer, which presents a transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic behavior close to the physiological temperature, being promising for biomedical applications. However, the production of finished products with PNVCL is difficult due to its high mechanical fragility in the solid state. In the present work, in order to prepare a thermoresponsive film with good mechanical properties, a blend of PNVCL with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was prepared. Three compositions of PNVCL/TPU were studied with mass proportions of 90/10, 70/30, and 50/50, respectively. The films were flexible, miscible and presented different thermoresponsive behaviors, with changing from transparent to opaque varying from 31 to 40°C. Contact angle analysis showed significant changes in the hydrophilicity of the films' surfaces with temperature variation. Moreover, it was possible to induce a change in solid films from transparent to opaque by varying the temperature and verify the reversibility of this change. In addition, tensile tests were carried out, which proved, for PNVCL/TPU blends, the reduction of film brittleness with TPU increase. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first work that presents thermoresponsive properties of solid films formed by a blend of PNVCL and TPU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene double‐grafted maleic anhydride and bisphenol A epoxy resin (PP‐g‐M‐E) was successfully prepared by a single‐step method and characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. Subsequently, it was employed as a compatibilizer to fabricate polypropylene (PP)/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) blends via melt extrusion. The content of the PET dispersed phase in the composite varied from 0 to 30 phr. The microstructure and morphology of the composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The addition of PP‐g‐M‐E increased the interfacial interaction between the two phases and improved the compatibility and thermal stability of the system. In the presence of the compatibilizer, the crystallinity of the matrix phase (PP) increased, while that of the dispersed phase (PET) decreased owing to the heterogeneous nucleation effect of uniformly distributed PET. Double grafting of the PP‐g‐M‐E compatibilizer considerably enhanced the mechanical performance of the PP/PET blend system. The elongation at break of the modified sample exceeded that of the PP/PET blends by 117.55%, and the flexural and impact properties also showed considerable improvement. [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]

In this work, blend films were prepared by blending 2% chitosan (CS) and 0.5% konjac glucomannan (KGM) solutions. Five ratios of the blend mixture were implemented (95:5, 80:20, 50:50, 20:80, and 5:95), and a pure CS film and a pure KGM film were also obtained. All the polymeric films were evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy, mechanical testing, SEM and AFM imaging, thermogravimetric analyses, swelling and degradation analyses, and contact angle measurements. The CS/KGM blends were assessed for their miscibility. Additionally, the blend films' properties were evaluated after six months of storage. The proposed blends had good miscibility in a full range of composition proportions. The blend samples, compared to the pure CS film, indicated better structural integrity. The surface structure of the blend films was rather uniform and smooth. The sample CS/KGM 20:80 had the highest roughness value (Rq = 12.60 nm). The KGM addition increased the thermal stability of films. The blend sample CS/KGM 5:95 exhibited the greatest swelling ability, reaching a swelling degree of 946% in the first fifteen minutes of the analysis. Furthermore, the addition of KGM to CS improved the wettability of the film samples. As a result of their good mechanical properties, surface characteristics, and miscibility, the proposed CS/KGM blends are promising materials for topical biomedical and cosmetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the issue of plastic waste persisting and the need for more sustainable solutions to the ever‐increasing demand for lightweight and durable plastic products, this review has become imminent and compelling. Poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer with exceptional film‐forming ability resembling those of low‐density polyethylene. PBAT has a huge advantage for packaging applications due to its remarkably high elongation at break, giving it a good processing window for its application in packaging. However, certain defiant intrinsic properties stand in the way of its full commercialization. The development of blends and biocomposites of PBAT has, therefore, become imperative for complementing its properties and producing a superior material. This paper focuses on the recent developments in preparing PBAT‐based blends and biocomposites with superior mechanical, barrier, and antimicrobial properties and, most importantly, has also investigated how the development of these blends and biocomposites impacts the biodegradation rate of PBAT. It also highlights the possible synthesis of bio‐based PBAT and the commercialization, market trends, and prospects of PBAT‐based materials for flexible, rigid packaging, and other industrial applications compared with biodegradable alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To replace traditional phthalate plasticizers, our previous research revealed that trioctyl citrate (CA) with an alkyl chain containing 8 carbon atoms (C8) exhibited excellent plasticizing properties. In order to delve deeper into the plasticization effects of CA isomers, CA with different side‐chain structures (C8‐Line, C8‐Branch, and C8‐Star) were synthesized by esterification reactions, and various CA/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composite films with different CA contents were prepared using a solution casting method. The plasticization mechanisms of these isomers were systematically explored through experimental and molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that C8‐Branch demonstrates the optimal plasticizing effect, followed by C8‐Line, while C8‐Star exhibits poorer performance. The C8‐Branch/PVC composite system displays the best plasticizing effect, attributed to the strong interaction forces between the Cl atoms of PVC and the COO groups of CA. On the contrary, the formation of stable dipole pairs between C8‐Star and PVC is impeded by steric hindrance effects. The interaction between the two is predominantly dependent on the intertwining of the alkyl chains in C8‐Star with the PVC chains, also elucidating the observed higher migration rate in the C8‐Star/PVC system. This study provides technical guidance and theoretical basis for the optimized design of high‐performance CA/PVC composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was melt-blended with paramylon based mixed ester, paramylon propionate hexanoate (PaPrHe) and characterized for its morphology, thermal and mechanical properties. The PBS/PaPrHe blends were found to be immiscible throughout the loading range of PaPrHe (10–90 wt%), with individual glass transition peaks. Due to the immiscibility, there was phase separation observed in the bulk, evident by sea-island morphology. However, further observation of the micro-structure revealed that, in low PaPrHe loading (10–30 wt%), there was a micron to sub-micron order distribution of PBS particles and partially miscible PBS/PaPrHe phase. On increasing the PaPrHe to 50 wt% and beyond, the sub-micron scale domains fused to form a co-continuous morphology. As a result, the impact strength of PBS increased from 6.6 to 16.4 kJ/m2 in the 50/50 blend. Under tensile loading, the strength at break and elongation decreased after the introduction of less-flexible PaPrHe particles in the blend. This could be countered by uniaxially stretching the blended films with 10–30 wt% PaPrHe, after which the tensile strength increased by up to 380% (from 33–52 MPa to 165–200 MPa) compared to the unstretched films, attributable to the increased degree of orientation of the molecular chains. In terms of thermal processability, all the blend ratios had high thermal degradation temperature (>350 °C), higher than the melt-flow temperature (124–133 °C) providing a wide processing window. Overall, PBS/PaPrHe blend is a novel bio-based blend with properties suitable for packaging, mulching, and related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work details the study conducted on composite solid propellants with activated copper chromite (ACR) as burn catalyst for its burn rate change with time due to the interaction of ammonium perchlorate (AP) with ACR. One of the hypotheses cited for burn rate reduction is the conversion of chromite in ACR to chromate by an electrolytic reaction with moisture in the presence of ammonium perchlorate. This hypothesis was studied by a design of experiments which includes blending ammonium perchlorate and ACR, Aluminum and ACR, stand alone ACR in raw material stage and the blends storage with time. The effect of moisture in AP is addressed by comparing undried and dried AP in the blends. The blended raw materials were characterized by Thermo-gravimetric analysis, Particle Size Distribution, surface area measurement, Scanning Electron Microscopy and chromium estimation. Results show that the conversion of chromium from chromite to chromate is very minimum in the presence of AP. Propellant samples are prepared with these blends at different time intervals to understand viscosity, mechanical properties and burn rate behavior with raw material storage. Experimental results show burn rate shows an opposite trend of increase with blend storage of 6 months. A plausible explanation for this observation is presented in the paper correlating the experimental conditions.

The recent interest in multifunctional materials with tailorable performances led to the formulation of novel polymer blends, with enhanced properties with respect to traditional plastics and showing economical advantages compared to the synthesis of new polymers. However, polymer blends are immiscible in most cases, and proper compatibilization is therefore needed to obtain an alloy with suitable performances. Beside the traditional compatibilization approaches (i.e., addition of graft or branched copolymers, reactive compatibilization), a novel technique has recently emerged, based on the insertion of micro- and nanostructured inorganic fillers within polymer blends.Therefore, the aim of this review is to give an overview about the role played by nanofillers on the compatibilization of polymer alloys. A survey of the most important papers in literature on this topic will be presented, trying to correlate the microstructural features of nanofilled blends to their physical properties. After an introduction on the general aspects of polymer alloys in Chapter 1, the most relevant compatibilization strategies will be presented in Chapter 2, with particular emphasis on the compatibilization induced by micro- and nanostructured fillers. Chapter 3 will be focused on the nanofiller induced compatibilization, and several examples of thermoplastic, thermosetting and elastomeric nanofilled blends will be presented. Considering the increasing importance of biopolymers and of their blends in the modern industry, in Chapter 4 it will be shown how nanofiller induced compatibilization could be successfully applied also to bioplastics based alloys. Due to the recent environmental concerns on the polymer waste management and the difficulties in the plastics sorting operations, in Chapter 5 it will be demonstrated that nanomodification of recycled plastics can lead to blend recyclates with good compatibility and suitable physical properties. The key aspects of the nanofiller induced compatibilization in polymer blends and the future perspectives will be summarized in Chapter 6.

Biopolymers from renewable bio-based resources provide a sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived plastics, but limitations like brittleness and cost restrict applicability. Blending offers an affordable route to combine the advantages of different biopolymers for tailored performance. However, most biopolymer pairs are intrinsically immiscible, necessitating compatibilization to obtain optimal blend morphology, interfacial interaction, and properties. This review summarizes key compatibilization strategies and recent advances in tailoring biopolymer blends. Non-reactive techniques using block or graft copolymers can increase compatibility, though property enhancements are often modest. More impactful are reactive methods, which functionalize and form compatibilizing copolymers in-situ during melt-blending. Nanoparticle incorporation also effectively compatibilizes through interface localization and morphology control. These strategies enable significant toughening and compatibilization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and other brittle biopolyesters by blending with ductile polymers such as poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)((PBAT) or elastomers like natural rubber. Properly compatibilized PLA blends exhibit major simultaneous improvements in elongation, strength, and impact resistance. Using inexpensive starch decreases cost but requires compatibilization to maintain adequate properties. Nanoparticles additionally impart functionality like barrier and flame retardance. However, quantitatively correlating interaction, processing, morphology, and properties will enable further blend optimization. Developing tailored reactive chemistries and nanoparticles offers potential beyond conventional techniques, and retaining biodegradability is also crucial. Overall, compatibilization facilitates synergistic property combinations from complementary biopolymers, providing eco-friendly, high-performance, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional plastics across diverse applications.

One of the most widespread versions of additive manufacturing technologies (AM) is fused filament fabrication (FFF) or fused deposition modeling (FDM), using polymer melts to print freeform structures. Due to specific rheological and processing conditions, interlayer adhesion, shrinkage, and warpage problems, standard polymer grades do not always meet all requirements, so more polymers must be combined to achieve the optimum solution. These combinations include traditional blending technologies (with or without compatibilizer additives), reactive extrusion, and mixing incompatible phases with mechanical interlocking. Combining layers of different polymers in laminated structures, improving the interlayer strength of one-component prints, and developing core-shell filaments also require solving compatibility problems. This mini-review shows representative examples from blending engineering polymers, high-performance polymers, multilayer and coextruded structures, and biodegradable polymers and discusses the solutions characterizing the extrusion-based additive manufacturing technologies, which sometimes differ from multicomponent materials used in injection molding.

Incorporating recycled plastics into the manufacturing process is an essential way to establish a sustainable plastics economy. However, current processes are limited by the degradation of mechanical properties, high cost, and inconsistent product quality compared with their virgin counterparts. Here, we present an upcycling strategy for waste plastics where waste acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (reABS) is first grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH), then utilized to compatibilize nylon 6(PA6)/ABS and PA6/ABS/CaCO3 blends. The reABS‐g‐MAH exhibits improved Young's modulus and tensile strength, but lower strain at break and impact strength compared with reABS. As an additive, reABS‐g‐MAH effectively compatibilizes PA6/ABS and PA6/ABS/CaCO3 blends, indicated by greatly decreased PA6 domain size, homogeneous dispersion of fillers, and narrowed glass transition temperature regions between PA6 and ABS. Adding only 5 wt% reABS‐g‐MAH increases the Young's modulus, strain at break, and impact strength of PA6/ABS blends by 26%, 180%, and 110%, respectively, compared with uncompatibilized samples. Similarly, for PA6/ABS/CaCO3 blends, the strain at break and impact strength increase by 370% and 150%, respectively, while the Young's modulus and tensile strength show increases of 5% and 10%. The results show that this strategy of using polar groups to functionalize waste plastics as compatibilizers may open numerous opportunities for upcycling waste plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A typical halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) formulation for electric cables may contain polymers, various additives, and fire-retardant fillers. In this study, composites are prepared by mixing natural magnesium hydroxide (n-MDH) with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and a few types of ethylene–octene copolymers (C8-POE). Depending on the content of LLDPE and C8-POE, we obtained composites with different crystallinities that affected the final mechanical properties. The nucleation effect of the n-MDH and the variations in crystallinity caused by the blending of C8-POE/LLDPE/n-MDH were investigated. Notably, in the C8-POE/LLDPE blend, we found a decrease in the crystallization temperature of LLPDE compared to pure LLDPE and an increase in the crystallization temperature of C8-POE compared to pure C8-POE. On the contrary, the addition of n-MDH led to an increase in the crystallization temperature of LLDPE. As expected, the increase in the crystallinity of the polyolefin matrix of composites led to higher elastic modulus, higher tensile strength, and lower elongation at break. It has been observed that crystallinity also influences fire performance. Overall, these results show how to obtain the required mechanical features for halogen-free flame-retardant compounds for electric cable applications, depending on the quantities of the two miscible components in the final blend.

This study compares the efficiency of commercially available sorbitol-based clarifying agent (NA) and varying amounts of long chain-branched polypropylene (LCBPP) acting as a specific α-nucleating agent for linear polypropylene (PP). The sorbitol-based clarifying agent, 1,3;2,4-bis(3,4-dimethyl benzylidene)sorbitol (Millad 3988), in concentration 0.2 wt%, and LCBPP in the concentration of 1, 2, 5 and 10 wt% were mixed into PP. The comparison of the effect of NA and long branches under isothermal conditions on the crystallization process, crystallinity and polymorphic composition was realized by differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The addition of long chain-branched polypropylene, even at the lowest concentration, performs better at higher crystallization temperatures and has a superior effect on the crystallization process, crystallization rate and overall crystallization than the addition of NA.

This study introduces phthalic anhydride (P) and glycerol (G)‐based polyester as an additive for upgrading lower‐grade bitumen to higher‐grade bitumen. The different colorless polyesters were synthesized using polycondensation of P and G as a monomer in the ratio of 1:1 and polymerization time of 1, 3, 5, and 7 h. A rheological analysis was performed on all the synthesized polyesters to check their performance with respect to their use in bitumen modification. The polyesters were blended with base bitumens (VG10) to obtain the modified bitumens that were tested for the rheological and physicochemical properties and to assess the performance based on the grade quality test. The quality test of the modified bitumens includes softening point (SP), penetration (PEN), kinematic viscosity (KV), dynamic viscosity (DV), and rheological properties as per standard ASTM test methods. Based on the performance evaluation, P1G1H3 polyester was found suitable for blending with bitumen, and further study was carried out with blending of P1G1H3 with 3, 6, 10, and 15 wt%. The finding illustrates that 6.0 wt% of polyester‐modified bitumen show an enhanced SP, KV, and DV by 23.6, 86, and 30%, respectively, while decreasing the PEN by 49% with respect to VG10. Polyester blending also improved the rheological parameters in terms of deformation resistance, load‐bearing capacity, and the viscoelastic nature of bitumen. The investigation concluded that 6 wt% P1G1H3 polyester on blending in VG10 meets VG30 bitumen specification as per IS:73:2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the significant catalytic charring effect of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), Cu‐MOF decorated ammonium polyphosphate (APP@Cu‐MOF) was prepared by coupling agents to improve the fire safety of epoxy resin (EP). After adding 9 wt% APP@Cu‐MOF, the fire performance of EP is significantly improved with limiting oxide index (LOI) value of 29.4 and UL‐94 V‐0 rating. The peak heat release rate (PHRR), total smoke production (TSP), CO production, and CO2 production of EP composite samples decreased by 34.6%, 54.7%, 24.6% and 30.0%, respectively. It is proposed that the synergistic effect among Cu‐MOF and APP promoted the char formation of EP. The dense carbon layers formed a barrier that prevented the transfer of heat and inhibited the release of toxic gases, thus acting as a flame retardant. This work provides a new strategy to develop a high‐efficient MOF‐decorated flame retardant with smoke inhibition, toxicity reduction, and catalytic carbonization effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A typical halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) formulation for electric cables may contain polymers, various additives, and fire-retardant fillers. In this study, composites are prepared by mixing natural magnesium hydroxide (n-MDH) with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and a few types of ethylene–octene copolymers (C8-POE). Depending on the content of LLDPE and C8-POE, we obtained composites with different crystallinities that affected the final mechanical properties. The nucleation effect of the n-MDH and the variations in crystallinity caused by the blending of C8-POE/LLDPE/n-MDH were investigated. Notably, in the C8-POE/LLDPE blend, we found a decrease in the crystallization temperature of LLPDE compared to pure LLDPE and an increase in the crystallization temperature of C8-POE compared to pure C8-POE. On the contrary, the addition of n-MDH led to an increase in the crystallization temperature of LLDPE. As expected, the increase in the crystallinity of the polyolefin matrix of composites led to higher elastic modulus, higher tensile strength, and lower elongation at break. It has been observed that crystallinity also influences fire performance. Overall, these results show how to obtain the required mechanical features for halogen-free flame-retardant compounds for electric cable applications, depending on the quantities of the two miscible components in the final blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopolymer blend based nanocomposites have been interestingly investigated by researchers to achieve advanced composite functional materials that are environmentally amicable. Among the varieties of biopolymers, widespread attention has been given to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) owing to their interesting properties like water solubility, biodegradability, biocompatibility and non-toxicity. PVA and PVP form a completely miscible blend at all compositions as both the polymers are rich in a variety of functional groups that permit effective intermolecular interactions between the polymers as well as with filler. PVA/PVP blend exhibits excellent dopant sensitive properties also. Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) have made a prominent place in the area of scientific and technological research due to their unique chemical and physical properties. Doping with MONPs enhances the properties of the PVA/PVP blend matrix and the resulting PVA/PVP/MONP polymer nanocomposites are suitable for multifunctional purposes. This review mainly focused on the influence of various MONPs such as ZnO, CuO, Al2O3, ZrO2, MnO, SnO, MgO, TiO2, etc. in the structural, morphological, thermal, optical and electrical properties of PVA/PVP blend as well as its applications in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Non-invasive composition determination from six different measurements experimentally verified. • Composition determination from density data most accurate and robust. • Data from system level heat pump testing sufficient for rapid mixture model evaluation. • REFPROP mixture models for R-1234yf/1233zd(E), R-1234yf /1336mzz(Z), R32/1224yd(Z) and several ternary mixtures thereof proven useful for system level design. Refrigerant mixtures are frequently used in air-conditioners and heat pumps. However, mixtures with high glides of 30 K and more during evaporation are rare, partially because there is an increased concern about composition shifts within the system. An easy and reliable inline composition measurement could alleviate these concerns and simplify the handling of systems with high-glide mixtures. This study investigates six composition determination methods, which are all non-invasive, five of which can be conducted during system operation. All methods were applied to all available mixtures in a dataset of 380 data points. The binary and ternary mixtures tested consist of the refrigerants R-1233zd(E), R-1336mzz(Z), R-1234yf, R-1224yd(Z), and R-32. Each method was applied to all datapoints collected with a certain refrigerant mixture at varying operating conditions. The average of the calculated mass fraction was then compared to the manually charged mass fraction. For the density method, this difference of the calculated and measured mass fraction was always less than 0.03 and usually smaller than 0.01 across all tested mixtures. Most other methods performed well with deviations typically less than 0.05. Some of the methods require only low-cost sensors like thermocouples and pressure transducers. Property data of ternary mixtures is also discussed in the study but a composition determination, theoretically possible combining any two of the six methods, is not attempted in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares the efficiency of commercially available sorbitol-based clarifying agent (NA) and varying amounts of long chain-branched polypropylene (LCBPP) acting as a specific α-nucleating agent for linear polypropylene (PP). The sorbitol-based clarifying agent, 1,3;2,4-bis(3,4-dimethyl benzylidene)sorbitol (Millad 3988), in concentration 0.2 wt%, and LCBPP in the concentration of 1, 2, 5 and 10 wt% were mixed into PP. The comparison of the effect of NA and long branches under isothermal conditions on the crystallization process, crystallinity and polymorphic composition was realized by differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The addition of long chain-branched polypropylene, even at the lowest concentration, performs better at higher crystallization temperatures and has a superior effect on the crystallization process, crystallization rate and overall crystallization than the addition of NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel thermoplastic elastomer, kernel resin (KN), α‐nucleating agent (HPN), and β‐nucleating agent (DCHT), which acted as toughener and nucleating agents (NAs), were used to improve the mechanical properties and crystallization behaviors of isotactic polypropylene (PP). The impact strength of the PP/KN blends increased significantly with increase in KN concentration. Surprisingly, the impact strength of PP/KN/NA blends improved further upon addition of NA. The toughening effect of DCHT was stronger than that of HPN. The maximum impact strength of PP/KN/DCHT blend reached 69.2 kJ/m2 when the DCHT content was 0.05%, which was six times higher than that of neat PP. The SEM images of fractured surfaces of the blends showed a change from brittle fracture to ductile fracture. Moreover, the WAXD results showed that the incorporation of HPN promoted the formation of the α form of crystalline PP. Addition of DCHT induced the generation of α‐β crystal transition of PP. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry showed that the crystallizability and the overall crystallization rate of PP were enhanced by the addition of KN and NA. The half‐crystallization time of PP at 128°C decreased from 5.52 (neat PP) to 0.34 min (PP/KN/DCHT‐0.3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its low dietary impact and bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, white kidney bean extract is an attractive raw material for fermented drinks. It can be utilized either on its own or blended with cow's milk, offering a promising solution to help meet dairy product demand during mid-season shortages. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the physicochemical characteristics, sensory properties, and microbiological profile of fermented milk-like drinks made from white kidney bean extract, cow's milk and their blends during 28 days of storage at 4 °C. Three blends of fermented milk-like drinks (FMLDs) were prepared from different ratios of cow's milk (CM) and kidney bean extract (BE): FMLD1 (CM 30%:BE 70%); FMLD2 (CM 50%:BE 50%), FMLD3 (CM 70%:BE 30%), along with plain fermented kidney been extract (FBE; CM 0%:BE 100%), and plain fermented cow's milk (FCM; CM 100%:BE 0%). The mixtures were pasteurized at 92 °C for 25 min and fermented with a probiotic-type starter culture (S. thermophilus, B. bifidum, L. acidophilus) at 43 °C. FBE exhibited the lowest levels of carbohydrates (2.14%), fat (0.11%), and protein (1.45%) compared to fermented cow's milk and blends. The FBE and the fermented blends with a higher ratio of bean extract had lower viscosity and lactic acid contents, greener hue, more pronounced aftertaste and off-flavors, and received lower overall acceptability scores. Although the FCM had higher counts of S. thermophilus and L. acidophilus, the FBE displayed significantly higher counts of B. bifidum. This study demonstrated the potential of using white kidney bean extract and its blends with cow's milk to create unique fermented products with a lower dietary impact, highlighting the importance of further optimizing the formulations to enhance sensory qualities and reduce the beany off-flavors in the products with added kidney bean extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen bonding is the prerequisite for polyamide fibers to have better stress–strain behavior. It affects the crystal structure of polyamide fibers, such as orientation and periodic arrangement. To illustrate the effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on fiber orientation structure and macroscopic mechanical properties, this work uses conventional polyamide resin doped with high molecular weight components to construct polymer compounds with discrete distribution characteristics. By analyzing the changes in intermolecular hydrogen bonds, melt rheological properties, non‐isothermal crystallization behaviors, the impact of hydrogen bonds on the crystal structure and orientation structure and thus on the fiber strength was clarified. The doping of high molecular weight components can make the compound form more hydrogen bonds and inhibit the relaxation of molecular chains through entanglement, thereby promoting melt non‐isothermal crystallization process and increasing complex viscosity η* and storage mode G'. 1D and 2D wide‐angle and small‐angle X‐ray scattering show that doping components reduce crystal size of α1(200) and α2(002, 202) planes from 4.19 to 3.47 nm and 5.88 to 4.96 nm, resulting in a denser long‐period structure. Through the strategy of this work, polyamide 6 fibers' tensile strength is effectively improved by18%, and the mechanical properties are significantly improved. Highlights: High‐strength polyamide compound fibers were prepared.Discretely distributed compounds are achieved.Discretely distributed molecular weight enabled hydrogen bonding regulation.Hydrogen bonding‐induced compound fiber crystal structure.Multiple external fields induced crystallization and orientation structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intricate interplay between chemical composition and the incorporation of functional fillers plays a pivotal role in shaping the structural attributes and separation efficacy of mixed matrix ultrafiltration membranes. In this work, we report the utilization of a novel organic filler of hydrophilic modified polyimide particles (PI‐SO3) for the first time in the preparation of mixed matrix ultrafiltration membranes. A series of ultrafiltration membranes were fabricated using polysulfone as the matrix material and PI‐SO3 as the additive. The addition of PI‐SO3 to the mixed matrix membrane effectively enhanced both water flux and antifouling ability. The ultrafiltration membrane with 0.2% particle content exhibited the highest pure water flux at 535.5 L h−1 m−2, owing to the synergistic regulation of pore structures and surface hydrophilicity. The ultrafiltration membrane with 0.5% PI‐SO3 particles demonstrated the highest flux recovery rate at 76.8%, attributed to the superior hydrophilicity displayed by the added particles within the ultrafiltration membrane. The increased particles content correlated with improved hydrophilicity on the membrane surface, resulting in enhanced antifouling performance. The hydrophilic modified particles effectively regulated pore structures, surface hydrophilicity, and surface charge, ultimately enhancing the performance of mixed matrix ultrafiltration membranes for wastewater purification. Therefore, the use of modified polyimide particles as fillers introduces an innovative method to economically enhance ultrafiltration membranes, providing a potential solution to mitigate the economic costs associated with trade‐off effects during the modification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the feasibility of the Biofuel and diesel used in a proportionate mixture as a Biodiesel as a replacement for Diesel fuel. Biodiesel has gained significant attention in the power world as an alternative to biodiesel blends prepared in this study is 50% Neem and 50% Pongamia pinnate. During the study, the blends used for testing were B5%, B10%, B15% and B20% with a varying load condition of 3kg to 20kg in a single-cylinder diesel engine at rpm of 1600 with a load of 19.01kg. A pyrolysis method is used for making Biodiesel. The viscosity values of the Biodiesel blend lie in the range of 3.89 to 8.756 Nm/s2 1. The performance of biodiesel has been analysed in terms of break power, indicated power, break and indicated thermal efficiency, mechanical efficiency, torque, specific fuel consumption, and volumetric efficiency. The parametric value of the all curve shows the increasing behaviour from lower to higher value. Volumetric efficiency shows only decreasing behaviour concerning load. The result shows the B5% blend is better in break power by 13.43% than a diesel at a load of 19.01kg. And specific fuel consumption. The torque generated is more efficient in B20% blends. Break thermal efficiency is proportional to the load of the engine. Indicated Thermal efficiency is much higher than diesel of B5% Biodiesel. The maintenance of a fuel pump is required regularly due to more viscosity problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of electronic and semiconductor devices is critically dependent on the distribution of guest molecules or atoms in a host matrix. One prominent example is that of organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) displays containing phosphorescent emitters, now ubiquitous in handheld devices and high‐end televisions. In such OLEDs the phosphorescent guest [normally an iridium(III)‐based complex] is typically blended into a host matrix, and charge injection and transport, exciton formation and decay, and hence overall device performance are governed by the distribution of the emissive guest in the host. Here high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF‐STEM) is used with depth sectioning to reconstruct the 3D distribution of emissive iridium(III) complexes, fac‐tris(2‐phenylpyridine)iridium(III) [Ir(ppy)3], blended into the amorphous host material, tris(4‐carbazoyl‐9‐ylphenyl)amine (TCTA), by resolving the position of each single iridium(III) ion. It is found that most Ir(ppy)3 complexes are clustered with at least one other, even at low concentrations, and that for films of 20 wt.% Ir(ppy)3 essentially all the complexes are interconnected. The results validate the morphology of blend films created using molecular dynamics simulations which mimic the evaporation film‐forming process and are also consistent with the experimentally measured charge transport and photophysical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the effect of paraffin wax, expanded graphite, and their dispersion on the properties of the blend of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The idea is to reduce interfacial tension in blends of PP and EVA while enhancing the properties of blends in the process. The chosen optimum contents of the paraffin wax and EG in the 80/20 PP/EVA blend were 10 and 6 wt.%, respectively. The morphological features show that the expanded graphite (EG) particles had high affinity for each other. Moreover, EG filler particles are localized inside the minor EVA phase and some at the interface. Rheological properties revealed that the flow of the binary composites increased when 10 wt.% wax is added suggesting that wax enhanced the processability of the composites. The Cole-Cole plots deviated from the semi-circular arc suggesting heterogeneity in the blend and PP/EVA/Wax/EG composite. The addition of paraffin wax and EVA delayed crystallization of PP, while earlier crystallization of PP was promoted by the presence of EG. Generally, all samples caught fire after 10 s, started dripping and are thus given a V-2 rating according to the Underwriters Laboratories test standard 94 results (UL-94). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past years, poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA) is commonly researched as a possible replacement for traditional fossil‐based polymers because of its compostability, biocompatibility, and high mechanical properties. PLA has a variety of applications in packaging, biomedical, and structural. However, PLA has limitations, such as high brittleness, low thermal stability, and a slow crystallization rate, which limits the wide range of applications. To overcome these limitations, the literature reports that blending PLA with other polymers, such as poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), is an economically viable approach. Although blending PLA with PCL is considered a feasible approach, the blend system still suffers from immiscibility, depending on the blend composition. This review aims to highlight recent developments from 2014 to date on the processing of PLA/PCL blends, including their composites, with a primary focus on morphological characteristics and mechanical and thermal properties, including their potential applications in various sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is one of the durable polymers with potential in a plethora of healthcare applications. Its biological properties, degradability, chemical properties, and mechanical properties can further be modified to manufacture desired products for modern biomedical applications. Electrospinning of PCL offers the opportunity to design treatment materials that resemble human tissues and facilitate regeneration at the target site. The resultant materials can also be modified by loading other active functional materials to broaden their applications. Herein, the recent advances in the preparation and modification of PCL‐based materials for healthcare applications are elucidated. The challenges and future trends for its application in modern biomedical applications are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inherent brittleness and high cost of polylactic acid (PLA) hinder its further application. Developing low‐cost, flexible, and biodegradable gelatin (GEL)‐modified PLA is a way to broaden the application prospects of PLA applications. Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) was added to overcome the process difficulty of PLA/GEL melt blending and toughening the blends. Maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted PLA (PLA‐g‐MAH) was prepared to improve the compatibility of the PLA/GEL/ATBC. Because of the interface, physical and chemical interaction induced by PLA‐g‐MAH, the compatibility among PLA, GEL, and ATBC was enhanced, which significantly improved the plasticizing efficiency of ATBC. Results showed that the elongation at break of the blends can be improved by 491%, 68 times higher than that of pristine PLA. Moreover, the modified blends did not break under the conditions of notch impact, which exhibited excellent toughness. The blends possessed a high degradation rate owing to the hydrophilic gelatin and PLA‐g‐MAH, significantly accelerated the degradation process of PLA. The prepared PLA/GEL/ATBC/PLA‐g‐MAH biomass blended plastics exhibited good comprehensive performance, with true sustainability and environmental friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) possess unique properties that respond to external stimuli. The current review discusses types of SMPs, fabrication methods, and the characterization of their mechanical, thermal, and shape recovery properties. Research suggests that SMP composites, when infused with fillers, demonstrate enhanced mechanical and thermal characteristics. On the other hand, blends, particularly incorporating polylactic acid (PLA), exhibit the most efficient shape recovery. Furthermore, the crosslinking density in polymer blends impacts the shape recovery force, showcasing a correlation between energy storage capacity and shape recovery force in SMP networks. Overall, SMP blends show promising mechanical, thermal, and shape recovery features, rendering them advantageous for applications of artificial muscles, soft actuators, and biomedical devices. This review also discusses the future prospectives of SMP for robust applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable blends of PHB/Bio-PBS were successfully electrospun with solvent system 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol as the solvent to obtain electrospun mats (EMs) of fiber diameters ranging from 534 ± 135 to 181 ± 84 nm. The addition of CaCl2 led to defect/bead free morphology of PHB and PHB/Bio-PBS blends with the exception for Bio-PBS at ~ 20 wt% concentration. Bio-PBS based electrospun mats with CaCl2 led to the lowest fiber diameter (due to high conductivity and low viscosity of solution). Further, our study indicates that PHB/Bio-PBS blends displayed shear-thinning behavior with reduction in solution viscosity which in turn remained in tune with increasing Bio-PBS concentration. DSC studies indicated a more significant drop in crystallinity for PHB/Bio-PBS blends and as well corroborated by WAXD. Mechanical properties were affected by immiscibility, resulting in lower tensile strength from ~ 4.0 to ~ 2.0 MPa and tensile modulus from ~ 186 to ~ 64 MPa, while strain-at-break increased from ~ 1.5 to ~ 46.5% with Bio-PBS content in PHB matrix. Electrospun mats with up to 50% Bio-PBS loading demonstrated optimal ductility and strength and also exhibited a tensile modulus comparable to that of cancellous bone. Additionally, the blend with ~ 50 wt% of Bio-PBS showed increased hydrophobicity (116°) and decreased swelling characteristics (84%) compared to neat PHB (95° and 124%). Hydrolytic degradation studies showed improved structural robustness and consistent morphology in Bio-PBS based electrospun mats even after 30 days in phosphate buffer solution compared to PHB based mats. Thus, up to 50 wt% Bio-PBS incorporation into Polyhydroxyalkanoates matrices, i.e. in the blends with 50:50 composition ratio the mats obtained showed enhanced pliability in combination with the desired extent of physico-mechanical properties and stiffness for soft bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of incorporating graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) on the mechanical and thermal properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) composites. We employ a melt-extrusion process to achieve homogeneous dispersion of varying G and GO loadings (1.0–5.0 wt%) within the PA6 matrix. Notably, 2.0 wt% of both G and GO achieve excellent dispersion, leading to significant enhancements in the degradation temperature and a reduction in the thermal decomposition rate of the PA6 blends. Compared to the neat PA6, these composites exhibit improved (mention specific mechanical properties observed, e.g. tensile strength, modulus). This research establishes a novel and cost-effective approach to improve the processability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of PA6, making it a valuable contribution for applications demanding high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of silicone rubber (SR) and ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) could have an aggregate of their properties. High temperature vulcanized (HTV) is one of the most widely used SR type. This study explores the impact of montmorillonite Cloisite® layered silicate nanoclay on the vulcanization characteristics, mechanical‐dynamical behavior, and thermal properties of the HTV/EPDM blend. For this purpose, varying ratios of the HTV/EPDM compounds were prepared in the range of 100/0, 50/50, and 0/100, with 0, 3, and 5 wt% of Cloisite® using an internal mixer. The X‐ray diffraction results indicate that the mixing time, Cloisite® content and base polymer significantly influence the distance between Cloisite® layers. Cloisite® was found to accelerate the curing system and reduce the difference between minimum and maximum torque. The mechanical analysis of the prepared HTV/EPDM/clay nanocomposites revealed an increase in hardness, tensile strength, and modulus for samples with applied Cloisite® content. The degradation temperature was raised in HTV base samples by the presence of Cloisite®. On the other hand, the degradation temperature was dropped in the EPDM base samples as the amount of Cloisite® increased. In the HTV/EPDM/clay compounds, the degradation temperature was between the degradation temperatures of pure HTV and EPDM rubbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toughening thermo‐setting resins with both high impact strength and tensile strength is a challenging issue. In this study, a novel cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres for toughening epoxy resin were prepared by self‐emulsification method with hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer (HDI trimer) and diethylene triamine (DETA) as the crosslinkers. The structure, morphology and particle size of cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres were investigated by infrared spectroscopy, laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the prepared cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres showed spherical shape and had the size in the range from 40 to 258 nm. The application of cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres in toughing epoxy resin was investigated. The results showed that cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres can be uniformly dispersed in epoxy resin and no obvious aggregation phenomenon was observed. And the tensile strength and impact strength of epoxy resin can be increased simultaneously when the cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres were used in toughening epoxy resin. With the increase of the amount of polyurethane nano spheres in epoxy resin, both the tensile strength and impact strength of epoxy resin had the trend of first increase and then decrease. The amount of HDI trimer in the microspheres had a great impact on their toughening effect on epoxy resin. When the cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres contained HDI trimer content of 12 wt% and the amount of the nano spheres in epoxy resin was 8 wt%, the impact strength of the epoxy resin can reach as high as 23 kJ/m2, which was 4.33 times that of pristine epoxy resin. And the tensile strength of toughened epoxy resin was 50.7 MPa, which was at same level of that of pristine epoxy resin. The results of this study indicate that the cross‐linked polyurethane nano spheres have a great potential in toughening thermo setting resins, such as epoxy resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of rubber powder (RP) to natural rubber (NR) matrix using the dry mixing method leads to uneven distribution and poor interface bonding while the wet mixing method is not feasible due to the hydrophobic nature of the RP surface. To address this issue, we developed a method for producing RP with weakened hydrophobicity on the surface by high‐pressure waterjet and successfully achieved even distribution of the waterjet‐produced rubber powders (WPRPs) in NR and strong interface adhesion between WPRPs and NR by the wet mixing method. The properties of NR/WPRP composites were tested and characterized carefully. When adding 6 phr of 140‐mesh WPRPs in the NR matrix, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the NR/WPRP composites were 30.2 MPa and 627.2%, respectively, which were 4% and 7% higher than NR without WPRPs. Moreover, the anti‐abrasion property of the NR/WPRP composite was also strengthened by the addition of WPRPs. Our findings demonstrate that recycling waste rubber through a reasonable recycling method can not only reduce material waste and alleviate environmental pollution but also enhance the performance of the raw rubber, which offers significant economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid flexible separators having adequate ion conductivity at ambient temperature along with good thermal and voltage stability are potential candidates for separators in all solid-state ion batteries. In the present work, zirconium and niobium-doped Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7 (PO4)3 ceramic particles have been incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based blend that served as a flexible matrix to create a flexible polymer–ceramic framework and have been examined for conductivity, dielectric properties, voltage stability, thermal stability, and electrochemical performance. The flexible polymer–ceramic framework shows high thermal stability, improved conductivity, and a high-voltage window. Optimized dc conductivity of 9.8 × 10−5 S cm−1 has been observed among all investigated samples, with an improved voltage stability of 4.94 V. Further, the Trukhan model has been used to understand the effect of filler loading on ion migration properties. The optimized solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) shows improved ion mobility (μ) of 5.13 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s, number density (n) = 2.39 × 1015 cm³, and diffusion coefficient (D) of 2.09 × 10−3 cm² s−1. It also shows a very high specific capacitance of ~10−4 Fg−1, excellent cycling stability, and 93.75% capacity retention after 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of the effects of Gasoline-Methanol (GM) fuel blends on SI engine perfor-mance and emissions analysis was the aim of this research. Engine performance was ana-lyzed using M15 fuel blends at Wide Open Throttle (WOT) and various speed conditions between 1200 to 1800 rpm. A computerized 4s, 1cyl, VCR petrol engine test setup was used for the experimental work. The results found that the BSFC of M15 blends in-creased as much as regular gasoline for all engine speeds at full load. Exhaust emissions, including CO, HC, CO2, and NOx, are found to be minimized while engine torque and brake power (BP) is less than regular gasoline. This research recommends a methanol-gasoline blend can be an effective alternative for gasoline in transportation engines with-out requiring hardware modifications or causing major environmental harm. It found that the M15 fuel blend was appropriate for both increasing engine performance and reducing emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of natural fibers in polymer biocomposites is on the rise owing to their ready availability, lightweight nature, excellent mechanical strength and eco-friendly characteristics. In this study, a solution casting method was performed to synthesize biodegradable composite films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with 10 to 30% polyethylene glycol loading (PEG, matrix) and 10% untreated or alkali treated coir fiber (reinforcement). SEM, FTIR, XRD, mechanical properties and contact angle studies were used to examine how the alkaline treatment affected the structure and characteristics of the synthesized films. Alkali treatment on coir fiber removed hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin and significantly improved its crystalline nature from 38.3% to 69.5%, confirmed by the XRD test. Adding 10 wt% polyethylene glycol with alkali treated coir fibers attained the highest tensile strength which was 38.6% greater than untreated coir fiber and demonstrated the best reinforcing effects of treated coir on these biocomposite films. According to our research, coir fiber's alkali treatment considerably enhances its ability to interact with polyvinyl alcohol polymer and polyethylene glycol polymer blends, making it possible to fabricate composite films with improved mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]