Research

17 pages, 2362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Particle Variation Effect on Flexural Properties of Hollow Glass Microsphere Filled Epoxy Matrix Syntactic Foam Composites

by Olusegun Adigun Afolabi, Krishnan Kanny and Turup Pandurangan Mohan

Polymers 2022, 14(22), 4848; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14224848 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1928

Abstract

Syntactic foam made from hollow glass microspheres (HGM) in an epoxy matrix has proven to be a good material with a strong structural strength. Understanding filler particle size variation is important in composite material formation, especially in syntactic foam, because of its numerous [...] Read more.

Syntactic foam made from hollow glass microspheres (HGM) in an epoxy matrix has proven to be a good material with a strong structural strength. Understanding filler particle size variation is important in composite material formation, especially in syntactic foam, because of its numerous applications such as aerospace, marine, and structural purposes. In this present work, the effects of particle variation in different sizes (20–24 µm, 25–44 µm, 45–49 µm, and 50–60 µm) on the mechanical properties of the syntactic foam composites with a focus on flexural strength, modulus, and fracture surfaces are investigated. The particle sizes are varied into five volume fractions (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 vol%). The results show that the highest flexural strength is 89 MPa at a 5 vol% fraction of 50–60 µm particle size variation with a 69% increase over the neat epoxy. This implies that the incorporation of HGM filler volume fraction and size variation has a strong effect on the flexural strength and bending modulus of syntactic foam. The highest particle size distribution is 31.02 at 25–44 µm. The storage modulus E’ increased at 30 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C by 3.2%, 47%, and 96%, respectively. The effects of wall thickness and aspect ratio on the size of the microstructure, the fracture surfaces, and the viscoelastic properties are determined and reported accordingly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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16 pages, 3999 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Preparation and Properties of Chrysin Binary Functional Monomer Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

by Long Li, Lanfu Li, Gege Cheng, Sentao Wei, Yaohui Wang, Qin Huang, Wei Wu, Xiuyu Liu and Guoning Chen

Polymers 2022, 14(14), 2771; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14142771 - 06 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1558

Abstract

Chrysin is a natural bioactive molecule with various groups, and it has been a challenge to separate and enrich chrysin from natural products. Molecularly imprinted polymers have been widely used in the extraction of natural products, but the number and type of functional [...] Read more.

Chrysin is a natural bioactive molecule with various groups, and it has been a challenge to separate and enrich chrysin from natural products. Molecularly imprinted polymers have been widely used in the extraction of natural products, but the number and type of functional monomers limits the separation effect. The synergistic action of multiple functional monomers can improve the separation effect. In this paper, molecularly imprinted polymers (Bi-MIPs) were prepared using methacrylic acid and acrylamide as binary functional monomers for the separation and enrichment of chrysin. The Bi-MIPs were characterized using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The performances of Bi-MIPs were assessed, which included adsorption isotherms, selective recognition and adsorption kinetics. The experimental results show that Bi-MIPs are shaped as a uniform sphere with an abundant pocket structure on its surface. The adsorption of chrysin on the Bi-MIPs followed a pseudo-second-order and adapted Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption performance of the Bi-MIPs was determined at different temperatures, and the Bi-MIPs showed excellent adsorption performance at 30 °C. The initial decomposition temperature of the Bi-MIPs was 220 °C. After five times of adsorption and desorption, the adsorption performance of the Bi-MIPs decreased by only 7%. In contrast with single functional monomer molecularly imprinted polymers (Si-MIPs), the Bi-MIPs showed excellent specificity, with an imprinting factor of 1.54. The Bi-MIPs are promising materials in the separation and enrichment of chrysin for their high adsorption capacity, low cost and being environmentally friendly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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17 pages, 4054 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Rosin-Based Composite Membranes and Study of Their Dencichine Adsorption Properties

by Long Li, Xiuyu Liu, Lanfu Li, Sentao Wei and Qin Huang

Polymers 2022, 14(11), 2161; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14112161 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1529

Abstract

In this work, rosin-based composite membranes (RCMs) were developed as selective sorbents for the preparation of dencichine for the first time. The rosin-based polymer microspheres (RPMs) were synthesized using 4-ethylpyridine as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol maleic rosinate acrylate as a crosslinking. [...] Read more.

In this work, rosin-based composite membranes (RCMs) were developed as selective sorbents for the preparation of dencichine for the first time. The rosin-based polymer microspheres (RPMs) were synthesized using 4-ethylpyridine as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol maleic rosinate acrylate as a crosslinking. RCMs were prepared by spinning the RPMs onto the membranes by electrostatic spinning technology. The optimization of various parameters that affect RCMs was carried out, such as the ratio concentration and voltage intensity of electrospinning membrane. The RCMs were characterized by SEM, TGA and FT-IR. The performances of RCMs were assessed, which included adsorption isotherms, selective recognition and adsorption kinetics. The adsorption of dencichine on RCMs followed pseudo-second-order and adapted Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm model. As for the RCMs, the fast adsorption stage appeared within the first 45 min, and the experimental maximum adsorption capacity was 1.056 mg/g, which is much higher than the previous dencichine adsorbents reported in the literature. The initial decomposition temperature of RCMs is 297 °C, the tensile strength is 2.15 MPa and the elongation at break is 215.1%. The RCMs have good thermal stability and mechanical properties. These results indicated that RCMs are a tremendously promising adsorbent for enriching and purifying dencichine from the notoginseng extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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26 pages, 5953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Analytical Model for Deflection of Concrete Beams Reinforced by BFRP Bars and Steel Fibres under Cyclic Loading

by Haitang Zhu, Zongze Li, Qun Chen, Shengzhao Cheng, Chuanchuan Li and Xiangming Zhou

Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1797; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14091797 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1720

Abstract

Basalt-fiber-reinforced plastic-bars-reinforced concrete beams (i.e., BFRP-RC beams) usually possess significant deformations compared to reinforced concrete beams due to the FRP bars having a lower Young’s modulus. This paper investigates the effects of adding steel fibers into BFRP-RC beams to reduce their deflection. Ten [...] Read more.

Basalt-fiber-reinforced plastic-bars-reinforced concrete beams (i.e., BFRP-RC beams) usually possess significant deformations compared to reinforced concrete beams due to the FRP bars having a lower Young’s modulus. This paper investigates the effects of adding steel fibers into BFRP-RC beams to reduce their deflection. Ten BFRP-RC beams were prepared and tested to failure via four-point bending under cyclic loading. The experimental variables investigated include steel-fiber volume fraction and shape, BFRP reinforcement ratio, and concrete strength. The influences of steel fibers on ultimate moment capacity, service load moment, and deformation of the BFRP-RC beams were investigated. The results reveal that steel fibers significantly improved the ultimate moment capacity and service load moment of the BFRP-RC beams. The deflection and residual deflection of the BFRP-RC beams reinforced with 1.5% by volume steel fibers were 48.18% and 30.36% lower than their counterpart of the BFRP-RC beams without fibers. Under the same load, the deflection of the beams increased by 11% after the first stage of three loading and unloading cycles, while the deflection increased by only 8% after three unloading and reloading cycles in the second and third stages. Finally, a new analytical model for the deflection of the BFRP-RC beams with steel fibers under cyclic loading was established and validated by the experiment results from this study. The new model yielded better results than current models in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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16 pages, 8376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Morphological Study of Dynamically Vulcanized Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene/Styrene-Butylene-Styrene/MethylVinylSilicon Rubber Thermoplastic Elastomer

by Chunxu Zhao, Xiaohan Chen and Xian Chen

Polymers 2022, 14(9), 1654; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14091654 - 20 Apr 2022

Viewed by 1571

Abstract

In this work, we prepared thermoplastic silicone rubber (TPSiV) by dynamically vulcanizing different relative proportions of methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVSR), styrene ethylene butene styrene block copolymer (SEBS), and styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer (SBS). The compatibility and distribution of the MVSR phase [...] Read more.

In this work, we prepared thermoplastic silicone rubber (TPSiV) by dynamically vulcanizing different relative proportions of methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVSR), styrene ethylene butene styrene block copolymer (SEBS), and styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer (SBS). The compatibility and distribution of the MVSR phase and SEBS/SBS phase were qualitatively characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests on TPSiV. Subsequently, the backscattered electron signal image was analyzed using a colorimeter, and it was found that the size of the interface layer between the MVSR phase and the SEBS-SBS phase could be quantitatively characterized. This method overcomes the defect of the etching method, which cannot quantitatively analyze the size of the compatible layer between the two polymers. The final experiment proved that the two phases in TPSiV exhibited a “sea-island” structure, in which the MVSR phase acted as a dispersed phase in the SEBS-SBS phase. In addition, the addition of the silane coupling agent KH-907 (γ-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane) improved the mechanical properties of TPSiV, increasing the tensile strength by about 40% and the elongation at break by 30%. The permanent tensile deformation increase rate was about 15%. Through the quantitative measurement of the compatible layer, it was found that KH-907 could increase the thickness of the interface layer between the MVSR phase and the SEBS-SBS phase by more than 30%, which explained why the silane coupling agent KH-907 improved the mechanical properties of TPSiV at the micro level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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15 pages, 5240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facile Preparation of Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Using Hybrid Filler Method

by Safarul Mustapha, Jacqueline Lease, Kubra Eksiler, Siew Teng Sim, Hidayah Ariffin and Yoshito Andou

Polymers 2022, 14(8), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14081630 - 18 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2654

Abstract

Dried hybrid fillers comprised of silica/CNF were successfully synthesized in ethanol/water mixed solvents at room temperature without the usage of any precursor. The as-prepared fillers were incorporated with polypropylene (PP) as a polymer matrix through a twin-screw extruder. From surface morphology analysis, the [...] Read more.

Dried hybrid fillers comprised of silica/CNF were successfully synthesized in ethanol/water mixed solvents at room temperature without the usage of any precursor. The as-prepared fillers were incorporated with polypropylene (PP) as a polymer matrix through a twin-screw extruder. From surface morphology analysis, the agglomeration of the silica/CNF hybrid fillers was prevented in the PP matrix and they exhibited moderate transparency, around 17.9% and 44.6% T at 660 nm. Further, the chemical structures of the polymer composites were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. According to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the insertion of silica as a co-filler to the PP matrix resulted in an increase in its degradation onset temperature and also thermal stability. In addition, the mechanical properties of the PP composites also increased after the blending process with the hybrid fillers. Overall, sample PP-SS/CNF exhibited the highest tensile strength, which was 36.8 MPa, or around 73.55% compared to the pristine PP. The improvements in tensile strength were attributed to good dispersion and enhanced efficiency of the stress transfer mechanism between the silica and the cellulose within the PP matrix. However, elongation of the sample was reduced sharply due to the stiffening effect of the filler. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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13 pages, 4184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Fiber Type and Content on Mechanical Property and Lapping Machinability of Fiber-Reinforced Polyetheretherketone

by Shang Gao, Jialu Qu, Honggang Li and Renke Kang

Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1079; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061079 - 08 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2220

Abstract

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a novel polymer material with excellent material properties. The hardness and strength of PEEK can be further improved by introducing fiber reinforcements to meet the high-performance index of the aerospace industry. The machinability will be influenced when the material properties [...] Read more.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a novel polymer material with excellent material properties. The hardness and strength of PEEK can be further improved by introducing fiber reinforcements to meet the high-performance index of the aerospace industry. The machinability will be influenced when the material properties change. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the influence of material properties of the fiber-reinforced PEEK on machinability. In this paper, the main materials include pure PEEK, short carbon-fiber-reinforced PEEK (CF/PEEK), and short glass-fiber-reinforced PEEK (GF/PEEK). The effects of the fiber type and mass fraction on the tensile strength, hardness, and elastic modulus of materials were discussed using the tensile test and nanoindentation experiments. Furthermore, the fiber-reinforced PEEK lapping machinability was investigated using lapping experiments with abrasive papers of different mesh sizes. The results showed that the hardness and elastic modulus of PEEK could be improved with fiber mass fraction, and the tensile strength of CF/PEEK can be improved compared with that of GF/PEEK. In terms of lapping ability, the material removal rates of the fiber-reinforced materials were found to be lower than the pure PEEK due to the higher hardness of the fiber. During the lapping process, the material removal methods mainly included the ductile deformation or desquamation of reinforcing fiber and ductile removal of the PEEK matrix. The lapped surface roughness of PEEK material can be improved by fiber reinforcement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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19 pages, 3584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cationic Lignocellulose Nanofibers from Agricultural Waste as High-Performing Adsorbents for the Removal of Dissolved and Colloidal Substances

by Liangyi Yao, Xiangyuan Zou, Shuqi Zhou, Hongxiang Zhu, Guoning Chen, Shuangfei Wang, Xiuyu Liu and Yan Jiang

Polymers 2022, 14(5), 910; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14050910 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2016

Abstract

The accumulation of dissolved and colloidal substances (DCS) in the increasingly closed paper circulating water system can seriously lower the productivity and safety of papermaking machines, and it has been a challenge to develop an adsorbent with low cost, high adsorption efficiency and [...] Read more.

The accumulation of dissolved and colloidal substances (DCS) in the increasingly closed paper circulating water system can seriously lower the productivity and safety of papermaking machines, and it has been a challenge to develop an adsorbent with low cost, high adsorption efficiency and large adsorption capacity for DCS removal. In this study, cationic lignocellulose nanofibers (CLCNF) were obtained by cationic modification of agricultural waste bagasse in deep eutectic solvents (DES) followed by mechanical defibrillation, and then CLCNF were employed as an adsorbent for DCS model contaminant polygalacturonic acid (PGA) removal. CLCNF was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The analytical results confirmed the successful preparation of CLCNF with 4.6–7.9 nm diameters and 0.97–1.76 mmol/g quaternary ammonium groups. The effects of quaternary ammonium group contents, pH, contact time and initial concentration of PGA on the adsorption were investigated in a batch adsorption study. According to the results, the cationic modification significantly enhanced the adsorption of PGA by CLCNF and the adsorption performance increased with the increase of the quaternary ammonium group contents. The adsorption of PGA on CLCNF followed the pseudo-second-order and the fitted Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption showed fast initial kinetics and the experimental maximum adsorption capacity was 1054 mg/g, which is much higher than PGA adsorbents previously reported in the literature. Therefore, CLCNF with high cationic group content developed in this paper is a promising adsorbent for DCS removal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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12 pages, 2989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Application of Tackifying Dispersant Poly (Vinyl Alcohol-Acrylic Acid-Triallyl Cyanate)

by Xiaoyan Chen, Weizhi Huang, Bobing He and Yafeng Zhang

Polymers 2022, 14(3), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030557 - 29 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2431

Abstract

At present, the thickener market is relatively advanced. Only by imparting thickeners with new properties can they meet the needs of the current market. In this work, a new modified tackifying dispersant poly (vinyl alcohol-acrylic acid-triallyl cyanate) (PVA-AA-t) was prepared via alcoholysis of [...] Read more.

At present, the thickener market is relatively advanced. Only by imparting thickeners with new properties can they meet the needs of the current market. In this work, a new modified tackifying dispersant poly (vinyl alcohol-acrylic acid-triallyl cyanate) (PVA-AA-t) was prepared via alcoholysis of a random copolymer composed of vinyl acetate (VAc), acrylic acid (AA), and triallyl cyanate (TAC) by a one-step high-temperature solution polymerization in methanol, which was a relatively simple method. The structure of the polymer was characterized by FTIR and TG. FTIR proved the successful synthesis of PVA-AA-t, while TG showed the thermal stability of PVA-AA-t at around 100 °C. The excellent thickening properties of the PVA-AA-t were observed using a nano particle size analyzer and a rotary viscometer. The nano particle size analyzer showed that the PVA-AA-t particles swelled in water to nearly nine times their initial size. The rotary viscometer showed that the viscosity of PVA-AA-t in water increased significantly, while PVA-AA-t was sensitive to electrolytes and pH, which changed the polymer molecular chain from stretched to curled, resulting in a decrease in viscosity. In addition, the dispersion properties of PVA-AA-t and a common thickener as graphene (Gr) dispersants were compared. The results indicate that PVA-AA-t has very good compatibility with Gr, and can effectively disperse Gr, because of the introduction of weak polar molecules (VAc) to the polymer molecules, changing their polarity, meaning that it is possible to use PVA-AA-t in the dispersion of Gr and other industrial applications (such as conductive textile materials, Gr batteries, etc.) derived from it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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16 pages, 5429 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Various Polymeric Films on the Pericarp Microstructure and Storability of Longan (cv. Shixia) Fruit Treated with Propyl Disulfide Essential Oil from the Neem (Azadirachta indica) Plant

by Muhammad Rafiullah Khan, Chongxing Huang, Rafi Ullah, Hakim Ullah, Ihsan Mabood Qazi, Taufiq Nawaz, Muhammad Adnan, Abdullah Khan, Hongxia Su and Liu Ren

Polymers 2022, 14(3), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030536 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2272

Abstract

Plant extracts represent a rich repository of metabolites with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a medicinal plant considered the tree of the 21st century. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of propyl disulfide (PD), [...] Read more.

Plant extracts represent a rich repository of metabolites with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a medicinal plant considered the tree of the 21st century. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of propyl disulfide (PD), a major volatile compound in neem seed, against the pericarp browning (BI), microbial decay incidence (DI), and water loss of longan fruit. Fresh longan cv. Shixia samples were packaged in oriented polypropylene (OPP) and polyethene (PE) packages of different thicknesses (20, 40, and 60 µm). Sterile gauze was fixed inside the packages and 500 uL of PD was placed on them to avoid the direct contact of PD with fruit samples. Packages were sealed immediately to minimize vaporization and stored at 12 ± 1 °C for 18 days. Fruit samples packaged in open net packages served as controls. The results showed that fruit treated with PD in OPP and PE packages significantly prevented losses of water, DI, and BI compared to control treatment. PD also maintained the color, TSS values, TA values, pH values, high peel firmness, high TPC content, and high TFC content, and reduced the activity levels of PPO and POD. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis indicated that the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp of longan peel were smooth, uniform, and compact with no free space compared to control, where crakes, a damaged and loose structure, and a lot of fungal mycelia were found. The shortest shelf life of 9 days was observed in control as compared to 18 days in OPP-20 and OPP-40; 15 days in OPP-60, PE-20, and PE-40; and 12 days in PE-60 packaging films. Therefore, PD as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent, in combination with OPP-20 and OPP-40 polymeric films, could successfully be applied commercially to extend the postharvest shelf life of longan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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11 pages, 3681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of Gas Barrier Properties for Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Nanocomposites with MXene Nanosheets via Biaxial Stretching

by Xionggang Wang, Xia Li, Lingna Cui, Yuejun Liu and Shuhong Fan

Polymers 2022, 14(3), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030480 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2807

Abstract

In order to ease the white pollution problem, biodegradable packaging materials are highly demanded. In this work, the biodegradable poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/MXene (PBAT/Ti₃C₂T_X) composite casting films were fabricated by melt mixing. Then, the obtained PBAT/Ti₃C [...] Read more.

In order to ease the white pollution problem, biodegradable packaging materials are highly demanded. In this work, the biodegradable poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/MXene (PBAT/Ti₃C₂T_X) composite casting films were fabricated by melt mixing. Then, the obtained PBAT/Ti₃C₂T_X composite casting films were biaxially stretched at different stretching ratios so as to reduce the water vapor permeability rate (WVPR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR). It was expected that the combination of Ti₃C₂T_X nanosheets and biaxial stretching could improve the water vapor and oxygen barrier performance of PBAT films. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that the Ti₃C₂T_X nanosheets had good compatibility with the PBAT matrix. The presence of Ti₃C₂T_X acted as a nucleating agent to promote the crystallinity when the content was lower than 2 wt%. The mechanical tests showed that the incorporation of 1.0 wt% Ti₃C₂T_X improved the tensile stress, elongation at break, and Young’s modulus of the PBAT/Ti₃C₂T_X nanocomposite simultaneously, as compared with those of pure PBAT. The mechanical dynamical tests showed that the presence of Ti₃C₂T_X significantly improved the storage modulus of the PBAT nanocomposite in a glassy state. Compared with pure PBAT, PBAT-1.0 with 1.0 wt% Ti₃C₂T_X exhibited the lowest OTR of 782 cc/m²·day and 10.2 g/m²·day. The enhancement in gas barrier properties can be attributed to the presence of Ti₃C₂T_X nanosheets, which can increase the effective diffusion path length for gases. With the biaxial stretching, the OTR and WVPR of PBAT-1.0 were further reduced to 732 cc/m²·day and 6.5 g/m²·day, respectively. The PBAT composite films with enhanced water vapor and water barrier performance exhibit a potential application in green packaging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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8 pages, 7371 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Composited Film of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and Graphene Oxide as Hole Transport Layer in Perovskite Solar Cells

by Tian Yuan, Jin Li and Shimin Wang

Polymers 2021, 13(22), 3895; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13223895 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1869

Abstract

It is important to lower the cost and stability of the organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for industrial application. The commonly used hole transport materials (HTMs) such as Spiro-OMeTAD, poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA) and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) are very expensive. Here, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers are [...] Read more.

It is important to lower the cost and stability of the organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) for industrial application. The commonly used hole transport materials (HTMs) such as Spiro-OMeTAD, poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA) and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) are very expensive. Here, 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers are in-situ polymerized on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) as PEDOT-GO film. Compared to frequently used polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSS), GO avoids the corrosion of the perovskite and the use of H₂O solvent. The composite PEDOT-GO film is between carbon pair electrode and perovskite layer as hole transport layer (HTL). The highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) is 14.09%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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12 pages, 4364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Properties of Self-Healing Waterborne Polyurethane Based on Dynamic Disulfide Bond

by Gongbo Ye and Tao Jiang

Polymers 2021, 13(17), 2936; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13172936 - 31 Aug 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4076

Abstract

A self-healing waterborne polyurethane (WPU) materials containing dynamic disulfide (SS) bond was prepared by introducing SS bond into polymer materials. The zeta potential revealed that all the synthesized WPU emulsions displayed excellent stability, and the particle size of them was about 100 nm. [...] Read more.

A self-healing waterborne polyurethane (WPU) materials containing dynamic disulfide (SS) bond was prepared by introducing SS bond into polymer materials. The zeta potential revealed that all the synthesized WPU emulsions displayed excellent stability, and the particle size of them was about 100 nm. The characteristic peaks of N-H and S-S in urethane were verified by FTIR, and the chemical environment of all elements were confirmed by the XPS test. Furthermore, the tensile strength, self-healing process and self-healing efficiency of the materials were quantitatively evaluated by tensile measurements. The results showed that the self-healing efficiency could reach 96.14% when the sample was heat treated at 70 °C for 4 h. In addition, the material also showed a good reprocessing performance, and the tensile strength of the reprocessed film was 3.39 MPa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites)

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