{"title":"Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 core–shell nanocatalysts for highly efficient and magnetically recyclable glycolysis of PET waste","authors":"Longqiang Xiao, Weijia Huang, Kaihong Lin, Shucui Han, Zuyun Luo, Linxi Hou, Yongle Lv","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2026.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2026.2","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, magnetic core-shell Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and applied to Polyethylene terephthalate(PET) degradation.The catalytic degradation of PET by Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 was carried out under atmospheric pressure, yielding high-value bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) monomers.The as-synthesized Fe 3 O 4 @ZIF-8 core-shell composites possess hierarchical porosity with tunable nanoscale cavities.SEM and TEM analyses confirmed the core-shell morphology, with nanoparticles having a size distribution of 180-280 nm.The degradation product was identified as a high-purity, colorless, and transparent monomeric BHET through 1 H NMR and LC analyses.Based on a series of onefactor experiments and a Box-Behnken experimental design, the optimal process conditions were determined to be an alcoholysis temperature of 200 C, a catalyst dosage of 0.5 wt% (relative to PET mass), a reaction time of 50 min, and an ethylene glycol-to-PET mass ratio of 4.5:1.Under these conditions, the actual BHET yield reached 81.12%, closely matching the predicted value.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"20 1","pages":"3-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013469&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147896237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dynamic transesterification bonded epoxy resin vitrimers with latent heat storage property","authors":"Bo-Han Zeng, Chuan-Huang Lin, Ye Tan, Ju‐Lan Zeng","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.85","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.85","url":null,"abstract":"Endowing vitrimers with latent heat storage property can broaden their applications in fields of energy storage and thermal management.In this study, we present the fabrication of transesterification dynamic bonded epoxy resin vitrimer-based form-stable phase change materials (V-PCMs).Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), serving as the latent heat storage component, was covalently anchored within the vitrimer network.The prepared V-PCMs were then comprehensively characterized.The results revealed that the obtained V-PCMs prototype exhibited a reversible latent heat storage and release property via the ordering/disordering transformation of the PEG segment, achieving a high latent heat storage capacity of 63.2 J/g.The V-PCMs also exhibited outstanding thermal stability with no thermal decomposition below 350 C in air, along with excellent leakage resistance up to 150 C.The flexibility of the PEG segments endowed the prepared V-PCMs with good tensile properties.Additionally, the materials could be efficiently reprocessed via hot pressing without significant property degradation.This work presents a novel strategy for developing crosslinked and reprocessable V-PCMs, and broadening their potential for sustainable thermal energy storage and management applications.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 11","pages":"1161-1172"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013385&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147890998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Online in-situ monitoring of curing and impact damage of composite structure with embedded CNT sensors","authors":"Kai Du, Qiang Ben, Xiaoqiang Wang","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.61","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.61","url":null,"abstract":"The main purpose of structural health monitoring (SHM) is to detect damage at its earliest possible stage to prevent severe deterioration and reduce subsequent repair costs.Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) buckypaper (BP) was embedded into different cross-ply glass fibre composites to monitor the curing process and impact damage as an in situ sensor in this research.BP sensor can capture the four stages of the curing process, the gel point of the resin and residual stresses of the composite structure can be achieved by analysing the change of the resistance curve.Numerical and experimental analyses were performed to predict the damage in composite structures subjected to low-velocity impact.BP sensors' electrical resistance increases with repeated impact loading; composite structure elastic deformation and damage evolution can be identified from resistance change.Experiment results show that structure monitoring based on the BP sensors cannot only detect small, barely visible impact damage flaws and the damage evaluation of composite structures subjected to impact, but also provide a new method to monitor the curing process through the analysis of results.This work makes some constructive contributions to monitoring the manufacturing process of composites and long-term SHM to evaluate impact resistance and damage prediction of composite structures.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 8","pages":"796-808"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013234&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147899781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiadong Hu, Huiling Chen, Junpeng Zhong, Chang Ming Li, Ronggui Li, Rong Zhou, Hongwei He
{"title":"Hydrophilic polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membranes via Ritter reaction: Preparation, characterization and antibacterial properties (N-halamine)","authors":"Jiadong Hu, Huiling Chen, Junpeng Zhong, Chang Ming Li, Ronggui Li, Rong Zhou, Hongwei He","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.26","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.26","url":null,"abstract":"Electrospun (e-spun) nanofiber materials have emerged as a prominent research focus owing to their extensive and promising potential applications across biomedical, energy, and environmental domains. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a commonly used polymer for electrospinning (e-spinning). Due to insufficient hydrophilic properties of nitrile groups of PAN, its e-spun nonwoven membranes had low water absorption and moisture absorption, which limited application in medical and health fields. In this study, it was investigated that the hydrophilic modification of e-spun PAN nanofiber membrane (NFM) was conducted via Ritter reaction to convert nitrile groups into hydrophilic amide ones, thereby improving the hydrophilicity of PAN NFMs. The surface morphologies and structure of the modified e-spun fibers were characterized and verified by SEM, FTIR and XPS. After 60–90 min of Ritter reaction, the fiber diameter of the PAN NFM became thicker, transforming from a hydrophobic membrane to a hydrophilic one, and the water contact angle decreased from 124.2 to 40.7°. The amidated PAN obtained membrane was post-treatment with sodium hypochlorite to make some amide groups change to N-halamine, which took the PAN NFM antibacterial activity or bacteriostasis. This work suggested a strategy that the espun PAN NFMs modified would have a promising application in medical dressings, air filtration, etc.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 4","pages":"351-360"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147331245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Porous rubber materials with temperature-responsive property","authors":"Zeshang Jiang, Jiacheng Yu, Wuchao Cheng, Zhenxiang Xin, Jieting Geng, Lin Xia","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.28","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.28","url":null,"abstract":"Inspired by the micro structure of loofah sponge in nature, this article successfully employs a biomimetic approach to develop a novel series of natural Eucommia rubber foamed materials with excellent shape memory properties. This article explores the characteristic features of natural Eucommia ulmoides rubber foamed materials, including the foaming process, mechanical properties, shape memory performance, and adsorption properties. This paper introduces the innovative use of natural Eucommia ulmoides rubber’s shape memory properties to create a temperature-responsive foam adsorbent material. The foamed material’s unique ability to modify its pore structure through simple compression and heating processes offers tailored adsorption speed and capacity for varied practical applications. The adjustable adsorption properties of this foamed material present novel opportunities for its utilization in adsorption applications.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 4","pages":"372-385"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147914983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Electrical and electrothermal de-icing performance for biodegradable graphene/polyhydroxyalkanoates and graphene/polylactic acid composites","authors":"Yijun Liao, Libo Wan, Ting Yin, Yunyi Li, Xiaoli Wu","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.56","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.56","url":null,"abstract":"The electrical and electrothermal de-icing performance of graphene/polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and graphene/polylactic acid (PLA) composites with different thicknesses were systematically compared and investigated.Graphene/PHA with 1 mm thickness shows a slightly lower electrical resistivity than graphene/PLA.However, the results are contrary for 0.1 mm-thick samples, likely due to poorer interfacial adhesion between graphene and PHA.Besides, all 0.1 mm-thick samples show higher electrical resistivity than 1 mm-thick samples, likely attributed to the alignment of graphene.The current-voltage curves of graphene/PHA exhibit nonlinear behavior with fluctuations, whereas all graphene/ PLA samples show linear behavior.This result enables the graphene/PLA to exhibit superior electrothermal stability than graphene/PHA.An excellent electrothermal performance is obtained for these composites.The temperature increases from -40.2 to 95 C within 17 s under 7 V.While these composites cannot be self-heated and utilized above 95 C, this is because the composites would undergo electrical breakdown when heated to temperatures above 95 C for 5~10 s.The composite can melt ice within 550 s at -40 C and within 447 s at -20 C.These findings suggest that graphene/PHA and graphene/PLA composites hold significant potential for de-icing applications.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 7","pages":"736-750"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0013282&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147894326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenhui Han, Yaqi Ge, Peng Wang, Haojun Zang, Su Xu, Huiguang Bian, Chuansheng Wang
{"title":"Synergistic effect of eugenol and antioxidant 4020 on enhancing the thermo-oxidative aging resistance of silica/NR composites","authors":"Wenhui Han, Yaqi Ge, Peng Wang, Haojun Zang, Su Xu, Huiguang Bian, Chuansheng Wang","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.94","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.94","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates eugenol as an alternative to mitigate environmental pollution and worker hazards associated with antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethyl)butyl-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (4020) while aligning with trends toward sustainable additives. Silica/natural rubber (NR) composites with varying ratios of eugenol and 4020 were prepared to assess their aging resistance, mechanical properties, and the synergistic antioxidant effects. Thermogravimetric analysis, cross-linking density experiments, thermo-oxidative aging tests, and oxidation induction tests revealed the highest thermo-oxidative aging resistance when 0.5 phr of 4020 was substituted with eugenol. When 1.0 phr of 4020 was replaced by eugenol, the antioxidant properties of the composites matched those containing 2.0 phr of 4020. However, when eugenol exceeded 1 phr, the antioxidant properties gradually decreased. DIN wear tests showed optimal wear resistance when 1 phr of 4020 was replaced with eugenol. These findings suggest that 50% of conventional antioxidants can be substituted with eugenol without compromising material properties. The partial substitution of eugenol in silica/NR composites proves eugenol can act as a sustainable alternative, providing comparable antioxidant capacity while reducing environmental impact.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 12","pages":"1274-1285"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013420&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147878827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Disulfide bond and free radical copolymerization endow TPU with reversible cross-linking properties","authors":"Wei Min Gan, Hanyu Xue, Hong‐Yi Lin, Renjin Gao, Yuchi Zhang, Liwei Wang, Jiuping Rao","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.22","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.22","url":null,"abstract":"Cross-linking frequently enhanced the mechanical properties of linear polymeric materials; however, it also resulted in the transition from thermoplastic to thermosetting materials, which posed issues from an environmental perspective. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomers were extensively applied across various industries. To improve the mechanical properties of TPU while preserving its environmental benefits, this study integrated radical copolymerization technology to develop a reversible crosslinked TPU. Specifically, the linear polyurethane molecular chains were crosslinked using diallyl disulfide (DADS) as a functional cross-linking monomer. Through radical copolymerization reactions, reversible crosslinks formed from disulfide bonds were created between the linear polyurethane molecular chains, yielding a self-healing reversible crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane (DSTPU). The study showed that DSTPU could self-heal and dissolve under UV light and alkaline N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) conditions, achieving 82.2% self-healing efficiency at 3 phr DADS. It dissolved into fine particles in alkaline DMF. Disulfide bonds in DSTPU enhanced cross-linking, boosting 19% oxygen permeability, thermal conductivity (0.218 W/(m·K)), and mechanical properties like tensile stress (11.18 MPa), force (134.13 N), and elongation (548%). These bonds also enhanced aging resistance, cutting ΔYI to 6.0%.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 3","pages":"311-325"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013178&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147334058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ha Ngoc Giang, Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, Thi-Thuy-Hai Luu, Anh Tuan Pham, Tuan Nguyen Anh Huynh
{"title":"Fully physical double network gel based on low hydrolysis degree poly(vinyl alcohol)","authors":"Ha Ngoc Giang, Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, Thi-Thuy-Hai Luu, Anh Tuan Pham, Tuan Nguyen Anh Huynh","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.38","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.38","url":null,"abstract":"Freeze-thaw (F-T) poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a soft network and ionic-crosslinked sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a hard network were applied to fabricate a double network (DN) gel using a one-step process. Mechanical properties of the DN gel using a high degree of hydrolysis PVA (PVA-CMC of 60-1) were significantly improved compared to that of a single network gel of PVA. The tensile strength of ~0.55 MPa and elongation at break of 179% could be achieved. The mechanical properties of PVA-poly(acrylic acid) DN gel were lower than that of PVA-CMC samples. Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results showed less compatibility between polyacrylic acid (PAA) and PVA compared to that of CMC. The solution made from the lower hydrolysis degree PVA (PVA1788) could form a strong gel after being treated with NaOH 1 M. The FTIR result showed the disappearance of acetate groups. A large melting peak in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed high crystallinity of the hydrolyzed-PVA1788. The effect of various multivalent cations on the mechanical properties of PVA1788-CMC DN gel was performed. The properties of the samples followed the order: Fe3+<Co2+<Ni2+<Cu2+<Zn2+<Ca2+~Ba2+<Al3+. The tensile strength of DN gel fabricated using AlCl3 solution could reach 0.87 MPa, and the elongation at break was 330%.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 5","pages":"519-530"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013256&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147894554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recyclable high-strength polybutadiene-based rubber with self-healing and shape memory properties via dynamic boronic ester and Diels-Alder chemistry","authors":"Shengao Yang, Yan Wang, Fang Wang, Kaiyi Zhang, Xinxin Lv, Hao Teng, Rui Zheng, Faliang Luo, Qian Xing","doi":"10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.7","url":null,"abstract":"Dynamic cross-linked networks (DCNs) endow thermoset rubber with self-healability and recyclability to extend its lifetime and alleviate environmental pollution.However, the contradiction between high self-healing and mechanical properties in DCNs rubber is always difficult to be resolved.Herein, we used boronic ester (BO) and Diels-Alder dynamic covalent bonds (DA) to synthesize polybutadiene-based dual networks rubber (PB-BO-DA) via thiol-ene reaction.This approach achieved a tensile strength of 16.46 MPa and 99% self-healing efficiency, facilitated by extensive intermolecular interactions (- packing and N-B coordination) and fully dynamic cross-linking.In addition, multiple dynamic cross-linked networks (MDCNs) polybutadiene-based rubber also show excellent shape memory ability and recyclability.This strategy might open a helpful pathway to fabricate intelligent multifunctional polymers with high strength and high self-healing efficiency.","PeriodicalId":12327,"journal":{"name":"Express Polymer Letters","volume":"19 1","pages":"94-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt_EPL.php?file=EPL-0013091&mi=c","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147904224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}