Karima Ben Hamou, Ralf Brüning, Gabriel La Plante, Marie-Hélène Thibault, Jacques Robichaud and Yahia Djaoued
{"title":"Rheokinetics of ε-caprolactam anionic-ring polymerization applied to the rapid production of thermoplastic composites†","authors":"Karima Ben Hamou, Ralf Brüning, Gabriel La Plante, Marie-Hélène Thibault, Jacques Robichaud and Yahia Djaoued","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00015G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00015G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The present study focuses on the synthesis and structural analysis of poly-ε-caproamide (PA6), produced through anionic polymerization of ε-caprolactam in bulk, utilizing mono and bifunctional activators. The research investigates the physical properties of PA6 synthesized under various polymerization conditions, aiming to understand how these conditions influence the polymer's behavior. The polymerization kinetics were monitored <em>via</em> dynamic rheology, offering insights into the progression of ε-caprolactam's conversion into PA6. Microstructural changes in the PA6 samples, including variations in the degree of crystallinity and the formation of α and γ crystalline structures, were systematically studied. These transformations were dependent on both the type and concentration of the activator used, as well as the specific polymerization parameters applied. The interplay between these factors significantly impacted the resulting chemical and physical structure of the PA6 samples. In the latter part of the study, hybrid composites were fabricated by reinforcing poly-ε-caproamide with two distinct types of fiber fabrics by reactive processing, achieving a 25% weight fraction of reinforcement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed excellent interfacial adhesion between the fibers and the polymer matrix, confirming the effectiveness of the fabrication process and the potential of these composites for advanced material applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 829-844"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00015g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144646764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dylan Wilkinson, Dominic Taylor, Neil B. McKeown and Graeme Cooke
{"title":"Bindone-based polymer for colorimetric detection of volatile amines†","authors":"Dylan Wilkinson, Dominic Taylor, Neil B. McKeown and Graeme Cooke","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00017C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00017C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Effective detection and monitoring of volatile amines are crucial for protecting human health and the environment, particularly in areas such as disease diagnosis and food spoilage detection. Traditional gas sensors, including electrochemical, semiconductor, and photochemical types, often suffer from limited selectivity, sensitivity and require complex and expensive synthesis and detection equipment. Colorimetric sensors, which are easily interpreted through visible colour changes, have recently gained attention for their simplicity and real-time detection capabilities. In this study, we present a chemosensing system based on the bindone motif, both as a small molecule (<strong>Bin</strong>) and embedded in a polymer backbone (<strong>PBin</strong>), for the effective colorimetric detection of volatile amines. Our system exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity, with detection limits as low as 0.04 ppm for <strong>Bin</strong> and 1.57 ppm for <strong>PBin</strong>. The colour change, driven by amine-induced tautomerisation, was confirmed through UV-Vis spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and TD-DFT calculations. pH dependent studies reveal the importance of basicity on the mechanism and selectivity. By incorporating the bindone moiety into the polymer backbone, its thermal stability was significantly enhanced. The versatility of the sensor was demonstrated in solution, and paper-based film formats, with successful application in detecting amines released during fish spoilage. This work highlights the potential of the bindone-based chemosensor as a cost-effective, portable, and efficient tool for monitoring food freshness and other applications requiring the detection of volatile amines.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 701-710"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00017c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Monika Swami, Shanu Prabhakar, Susanta Ghosh and Debmalya Roy
{"title":"Interfacial stress transfer in graphene-based polymeric inks on a textile surface for long term cycling stability","authors":"Monika Swami, Shanu Prabhakar, Susanta Ghosh and Debmalya Roy","doi":"10.1039/D4LP00289J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LP00289J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The viscosity of graphene-based conducting ink has been shown to significantly affect printed geometries, and it has been illustrated that it can be controlled by adjusting the crosslinking density. A porous substrate, such as a textile surface, has been selected for printing to emphasize the structure formation of nanofillers during cyclic bending. The graphene loading in the elastomer matrix was deliberately chosen beyond the percolation threshold to gain insight into the conducting network channels on the fabric substrate. Structure–property analysis revealed the formation of stable conducting geometries of graphene on textile yarns under cyclic stress. The processing parameters have been found to play a crucial role in fabricating a tightly packed, conducting ink-filled textile substrate, which reorganizes the structural integrity of the flexible film by application of stress. The flexibility of graphene flakes is found to be critical as it allows them to conform to the fabric's surface for enhanced wetting and to minimize the stress concentration. The composition of fabric materials plays an important role in enhancing adhesion with conducting layers, thus contributing to the overall resistance stability. Formulation and processing of graphene-based inks have been optimized to achieve consistent deposition of flexible conductive ink on textile surfaces capable of enduring bending stress, making it ideal for the next generation of wearable electronics applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 722-731"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d4lp00289j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zeyu Wang, Junfeng Zhou, Zichen Ling, Qixin Zhou and Junpeng Wang
{"title":"Harnessing mechanochemical fluorescence toward autonomous damage-reporting coatings†","authors":"Zeyu Wang, Junfeng Zhou, Zichen Ling, Qixin Zhou and Junpeng Wang","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00011D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00011D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Protective coatings are essential for shielding engineering materials from environmental and mechanical damage. A significant endeavor in this regard is detecting the damage in coatings and implementing necessary repairs. However, conventional detection methods often require specialized equipment and expertise, rendering them impractical for real-time monitoring. This work introduces an autonomous damage-reporting coating system based on a stress-responsive polymer network containing a Diels–Alder adduct mechanophore. When subjected to mechanical damage, the mechanophore undergoes a retro-Diels–Alder reaction, liberating a fluorescent π-extended anthracene moiety. The mechanically triggered “off-to-on” optical signal allows for highly sensitive detection of material damage preceding failure. A quantitative relationship between the extent of impact damage and the mechanochemically generated fluorescence is established, facilitating the prediction of material failure. Remarkably, the damage-reporting functionality is maintained even after incorporating pigments into the coating formulation, thereby broadening the applicability of this smart coating system in real-world scenarios.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 592-597"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00011d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peter M. Meyer, Dhananjay Dileep, Risha L. Bond, Fasil A. Tadesse, Michael J. Forrester and Eric W. Cochran
{"title":"Bespoke polyamides via post-polymerization modification using accessible bioadvantaged monounsaturated long chain fatty acid units†","authors":"Peter M. Meyer, Dhananjay Dileep, Risha L. Bond, Fasil A. Tadesse, Michael J. Forrester and Eric W. Cochran","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00030K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00030K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Here, we report the copolymerization of a C20:1 monounsaturated long-chain α,ω (MULCH) diacid with polyamide-6,6 (PA66) and polyamide-6 (PA6), and subsequent post-polymerization derivatizations in the swollen or solid state. Surprisingly, most of the unsaturation survived harsh polymerization conditions. The partially unsaturated polyamides were subsequently derivatized through swollen- or solid-state chemistries, including epoxidation and thiol–ene click reactions, demonstrating the opportunity to transform a single nylon/MULCH copolymer into a plethora of high-performance specialty grades through processes like reactive extrusion or chemical washing. Bio-based MULCH diacids could thus serve as a foundation for bespoke polyamides; for example, enabling enhanced water resistance, crosslinkability, recyclability, or internal plasticization. The versatility afforded by MULCH diacid monomers adds significant value, supporting the growth of the bioeconomy. We illustrate these concepts with several examples of modifying MULCH copolymers: chemical staining, enhanced hydrophobicity through grafting of aliphatic pendants, crosslinking, and epoxidation. Chemical and physical properties are evaluated and compared to those of PA66 or PA6 homopolymer controls. Advances in vegetable oil processing and biotechnology have enabled the large-scale production of a variety of MULCH-diacids from lignocellulosic feedstocks. This work illustrates how the “bioadvantage” presented by monounsaturation can be exploited in high-value applications, facilitating the growth of the biobased chemical sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 845-854"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00030k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhengyang Liu, Tao Yang, Yan Song, Ning Zhao, Shijie Wu, Zihui Ma, Xiangjie Gong, Xiaodong Tian and Zhanjun Liu
{"title":"Hypercrosslinked polymer by an external crosslinker strategy: formation mechanism, structural regulation and applications","authors":"Zhengyang Liu, Tao Yang, Yan Song, Ning Zhao, Shijie Wu, Zihui Ma, Xiangjie Gong, Xiaodong Tian and Zhanjun Liu","doi":"10.1039/D4LP00379A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LP00379A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hypercrosslinked polymers (HCPs) are a type of porous organic polymer that have been rapidly developed over the past few decades. These polymers are primarily synthesized through Friedel–Crafts alkylation over Lewis acid catalysts such as ferric chloride and aluminum chloride, leading to the formation of porous materials by cross-linking. HCPs can be prepared through strategies such as post-cross-linking of polystyrene-type polymer precursors, self-cross-linking of specific aromatic monomers, and cross-linking by external agents with aromatic monomers. Among these methods, the external cross-linking approach has been utilized in fields such as gas storage, adsorption, catalysis, separation, and energy storage due to its mild synthesis conditions, good stability, high yield, broad availability of monomers, and tunable structure. In this paper, recent research progress in the preparation of HCPs by external cross-linking methods, with a focus on the formation mechanisms, structural regulation, and applications, is reviewed. Additionally, the drawbacks and challenges while projecting future developments in HCPs are highlighted.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 4","pages":" 746-766"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d4lp00379a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sander Driesen, Valentino Atella, Kristi Kiick, Louis M. Pitet and Geert-Jan Graulus
{"title":"Effect of sulfation on a tough hybrid hydrogel network","authors":"Sander Driesen, Valentino Atella, Kristi Kiick, Louis M. Pitet and Geert-Jan Graulus","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00013K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00013K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hybrid hydrogels can mimic the exceptional stiffness of tough native tissues (<em>e.g.</em>, articular cartilage). However, many of these tough hybrid hydrogels currently lack bioactive moieties. Therefore, our work focuses on introducing sulfated alginate into a tough poly(acrylamide-<em>co</em>-acrylic acid)/alginate hybrid hydrogel network. This modification introduces the potential for effective tissue interactions and allows further diversification through chemical transformations. These hydrogels are synthesized <em>via</em> the radical-mediated polymerization and covalent crosslinking of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The covalent network is fortified with a second ionically crosslinked sulfated alginate network. FTIR, <small><sup>13</sup></small>C-NMR, and elemental analysis confirmed a degree of sulfation of 42.5%. Mechanical testing showed that hydrogels with a sulfated alginate content of 2 wt% exhibit comparable compressive stiffness (up to 230 kPa) to native articular cartilage. Cyclical mechanical testing revealed the network's resilience and remarkable toughness. These results suggest the hydrogels’ potential as cartilage mimics and support their additional investigation <em>in vitro</em>.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 624-636"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00013k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. A. Parvathy, Sriparna De, Manjinder Singh, Gaurav Manik and Sushanta K. Sahoo
{"title":"Functional self-healing aldehyde-derived nanoparticle-crosslinked gelatin/PNIPAm-based adhesive gels†","authors":"P. A. Parvathy, Sriparna De, Manjinder Singh, Gaurav Manik and Sushanta K. Sahoo","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00038F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00038F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The combination of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymers provides varying dissolution to the system, with tunable physiochemical properties. In the current work, injectable, fluorescent, and thermo-responsive poly-<em>N</em>-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAm)-gelatin nanocomposite gels were prepared by combining non-covalent interactions and Schiff base chemistry. The incorporation of aldehyde-based nanoparticles (2.5–10%) facilitated the crosslinking of the matrix <em>via</em> the formation of imine linkages with gelatin, which significantly reduced the pore size of the gels from 30–40 micron to 4–5 μm. The temperature-dependent viscoelastic properties showed that the storage modulus increased significantly above 40 °C, which confirmed the thermosensitive behaviour of the gels owing to the combined effect of PNIPAm and gelatin. Higher storage modulus over loss modulus for all crosslinked gels indicates the elastic behaviour of the gels. The introduction of imine linkages offered instant self-healing features and the nanoparticles provide photoluminescence to the polymeric gel system. Furthermore, the tackiness offered by gelatin enhances the adherence to human skin and the gels are found to be biocompatible towards fibroblast cell lines (L929) and are promising for drug delivery systems, injectable materials, and optically trackable adhesives. The findings provide new insights into the multifunctional properties of thermoresponsive PNIPAm-gelatin nanocomposite gels with dynamic imine linkages for biological applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 662-674"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00038f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chibin Zhang, Liang Yao, Mingrui Pu and Cheng Zhou
{"title":"Recent material development and applications of conjugated polyelectrolytes by leveraging electronic and ionic transport properties","authors":"Chibin Zhang, Liang Yao, Mingrui Pu and Cheng Zhou","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00012B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00012B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) are a distinct class of organic materials featuring a π-conjugated backbone and ionic functional groups, enabling simultaneous electronic and ionic transport. This dual conductivity, governed by molecular design, makes CPEs highly versatile for a wide range of applications. The interplay between backbone conjugation and side-chain polarity allows fine-tuning of charge transport, significantly influencing their performance in electronic and energy storage devices. This review highlights recent advances in CPE material design, focusing on backbone evolution and side-chain engineering. We further explore key applications of CPEs, including organic photovoltaics, organic electrochemical transistors, and lithium-ion batteries, emphasizing the structural requirements for each field. Their current challenges and future opportunities are discussed, underscoring the critical role played by CPEs in next-generation optoelectronic and energy technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 549-573"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00012b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cationic nano-objects produced by polymerization-induced self-assembly using sulfonium-macro chain transfer agents with different counter anions†","authors":"Hirotsugu Miyakawa and Hideharu Mori","doi":"10.1039/D5LP00009B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LP00009B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Sulfonium cations and sulfonium-based polymers have received increased interest as biomedical and ion-conductive materials because of their unique cationic features. However, the feasible construction of cationic nanostructures <em>via</em> polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) remains limited owing to charge repulsion. In this study, we report the efficient synthesis of sulfonium cation-based nano-objects from P(MTEA(S<small><sup>+</sup></small>)[R<small><sup>−</sup></small>])s with different counter anions (R = bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, TFSI; trifluoromethanesulfonate, OTf; and chloride, Cl), which were prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) of 2-(methylthio)ethyl acylate (MTEA) and a subsequent anion exchange reaction. RAFT dispersion copolymerization of styrene (St) and <em>N</em>-phenylmaleimide (PMI) using cationic P(MTEA(S<small><sup>+</sup></small>)[R<small><sup>−</sup></small>]) macro-chain transfer agents (CTAs) afforded various assembled structures (worms, vesicles, and nanotubes) by tuning the chain lengths of the P(MTEA(S<small><sup>+</sup></small>)[R<small><sup>−</sup></small>]) and P(St-<em>alt</em>-PMI) blocks and their composition and polymerization conditions (<em>e.g.</em>, monomer concentration and solvent polarity). Depending on the three cationic macro-CTAs, the PISA of St and PMI enabled the efficient copolymerization and construction of cationic assemblies, including unique nanotubes. This is the first study demonstrating the successful integration of the sulfonium macro-CTA and PISA, enabling the design and manipulation of cationic nano-objects with various morphologies and unique functionalities originating from sulfonium cations.</p>","PeriodicalId":101139,"journal":{"name":"RSC Applied Polymers","volume":" 3","pages":" 651-661"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lp/d5lp00009b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144117507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}