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Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Functional Polymers

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2022) | Viewed by 9208

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Interests: novel synthesis of functional monomers; functional polymer synthesis and characterization; functionalization of polymer surface; thermal properties of polymers; application of polymeric microspheres in separation processes; polymeric drug delivery systems; polymeric composites; biodegradable polymers
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Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie Sklodovska University in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
Interests: synthesis and modification of nanoporous materials (polymers and carbons); materials characterization TGA-EGA, FTIR, MS, XPS; sorption processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, “Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Functional Polymers”, will focus on advances in functional polymers preparation, based on their direct synthesis and chemical modification. Functional organic polymers are applied in many areas, such as solid-phase organic synthesis, separation, chromatography, adsorbents, ion exchangers, drug-delivery systems, sensors, catalysts, membranes, and templates. Each application requires customized properties in the polymer, including the form and size of particles and their chemical compositions. The prospective applications of polymer functionality are especially considered. Functionality can be introduced into the polymer network by applying functional monomers that can also play the role of crosslinking agents. A more challenging route of polymers functionalizing is chemical post-modification using reactive groups present in their structure. Applying the grafting to or grafting from approach, the surface of polymers can also be modified by the other types of polymers. In this Special Issue, original articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and short communications covering the most recent advances in the preparation, applications, and characterization of functional polymers are welcome.

Dr. hab. Marta Grochowicz
Dr. hab. Magdalena Sobiesiak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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

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

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Functional polymers synthesis
  • Reactive polymers and monomers
  • Chemical modification
  • Surface modification
  • Structure characterization
  • Chemical properties
  • Porous polymers
  • Separation and purification processes
  • Applications of functionalized polymers
  • Sorption processes/ functionalized sorbents
  • Drug delivery systems

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2846 KiB  
Article
Discharge Plasma Treatment as an Efficient Tool for Improved Poly(lactide) Adhesive–Wood Interactions
by Mariusz Ł. Mamiński, Igor Novák, Matej Mičušík, Artur Małolepszy and Renata Toczyłowska-Mamińska
Materials 2021, 14(13), 3672; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14133672 - 30 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1519
Abstract
Poly(lactide) (PLA) films obtained by thermoforming or solution-casting were modified by diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge plasma (300 W and 60 s). PLA films were used as hot-melt adhesive in joints in oak wood. It was demonstrated that lap shear strength increased from [...] Read more.
Poly(lactide) (PLA) films obtained by thermoforming or solution-casting were modified by diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge plasma (300 W and 60 s). PLA films were used as hot-melt adhesive in joints in oak wood. It was demonstrated that lap shear strength increased from 3.4 to 8.2 MPa, respectively, for the untreated and plasma-treated series. Pull-off tests performed on particleboard for the untreated and treated PLA films showed 100% cohesive failure. Pull-off strength tests on solid oak demonstrated adhesion enhancement from 3.3 MPa with the adhesion failure mode to 6.6 MPa with the cohesion failure mode for untreated and treated PLA. XPS revealed that carbonyl oxygen content increased by two-to-three-fold, which was confirmed in the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy experiments of the treated PLA. The water contact angle decreased from 66.4° for the pristine PLA to 49.8° after treatment. Subsequently, the surface free energy increased from 47.9 to 61.05 mJ/m2. Thus, it was clearly proven that discharge air plasma can be an efficient tool to change surface properties and to strengthen adhesive interactions between PLA and woody substrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Functional Polymers)
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15 pages, 2934 KiB  
Article
Freeze-Dried Matrices Composed of Degradable Polymers with Surfactant-Loaded Microparticles Based on Pectin and Sodium Alginate
by Natalia Stachowiak, Jolanta Kowalonek and Justyna Kozlowska
Materials 2021, 14(11), 3044; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14113044 - 03 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3401
Abstract
Gelatin/polyvinylpyrrolidone/hydroxyethyl cellulose/glycerol porous matrices with microspheres made of sodium alginate or pectin and sodium alginate were produced. A surfactant was loaded into these microparticles. The microspheres were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy SEM, and laser diffraction particle size analyzer. For the [...] Read more.
Gelatin/polyvinylpyrrolidone/hydroxyethyl cellulose/glycerol porous matrices with microspheres made of sodium alginate or pectin and sodium alginate were produced. A surfactant was loaded into these microparticles. The microspheres were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy SEM, and laser diffraction particle size analyzer. For the matrices, the density, porosity, swelling capacity, dissolution in phosphate saline buffer were determined and SEM, mechanical, and thermogravimetric studies were applied. The results showed that the size of the two-component microspheres was slightly larger than that of single-ingredient microparticles. The images confirmed the spherical shape of the microparticles. The prepared matrices had high water uptake ability and porosity due to the presence of hydrophilic polymers. The presence of microparticles in the matrices caused a decrease in these parameters. Degradation of the composites with the microspheres was significantly faster than the matrix without them. The addition of microparticles increased the stiffness and toughness of the prepared materials. The efficiency of the thermal decomposition main stage was reduced in the samples with microspheres, whereas a char residue increased in these composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Functional Polymers)
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17 pages, 5029 KiB  
Article
Collagen-Based Hydrogels Composites from Hide Waste to Produce Smart Fertilizers
by Daniela Simina Stefan, Gabriel Zainescu, Ana-Maria Manea-Saghin, Irene-Eva Triantaphyllidou, Ioanna Tzoumani, Triantafyllos I. Tatoulis, George T. Syriopoulos and Aurelia Meghea
Materials 2020, 13(19), 4396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194396 - 01 Oct 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3007
Abstract
The study aims at reusing and recycling the protein hide waste from the leather industry in ecological conditions by elaborating an innovative procedure in order to obtain a collagen matrix functionalized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) nutrients to be used for preparing [...] Read more.
The study aims at reusing and recycling the protein hide waste from the leather industry in ecological conditions by elaborating an innovative procedure in order to obtain a collagen matrix functionalized with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) nutrients to be used for preparing smart fertilizers. This is an interdisciplinary approach, as it starts from hide waste raw material as a critical industrial waste, which is then subjected to several technological steps by selection of optimal processing parameters, followed by product fabrication at the laboratory, and next scales to the industrial pilot plant to obtain novel agro-hydrogels. In this context, the technology scheme for collagen hydrolysate with encapsulated nutrients was proposed and the process parameters were optimized by functionalization of agro-hydrogels with various natural and synthetic polymers, such as polyacrylamide, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer, starch or dolomite. Based on the laboratory experiments, a pilot plant was constructed and tested. Taking as reference the collagen hydrolysate with encapsulated nutrients, the new fertilizers were adequately characterized by chemical analysis, determination of biodegradability and the degree of release of oxidable compounds in water. Based on the biodegradation mechanism and kinetic analysis of oxidable compounds release, adequate arguments are evidenced to demonstrate that these fertilizers can be applied for amendment of poor agricultural soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Functional Polymers)
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