{"title":"The Correlation Between Microstructural Evolution and Slow Crack Growth Resistance of UHMWPE/Bi-HD Blends: A Focus on UHMWPE Content and Molecular Weight","authors":"Z. Yagoobi, A. Jalali-Arani, H. Garmabi","doi":"10.1002/app.57201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57201","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study systematically evaluates the interplay between microstructural characteristics and slow crack growth (SCG) resistance in blends of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and bimodal high-density polyethylene (bi-HD), varying in UHMWPE content and molecular weight (MW). At 1 and 5 wt% UHMWPE, cocrystallization and crystallinity were promoted, while higher contents (10 and 15 wt%) induced phase separation, thicker lamellae, and broader lamellar thickness distribution, as confirmed by thermal, morphological, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The probability of tie molecules (TMs) and zero shear viscosity were strongly correlated with UHMWPE content, underscoring the entangled network structure's dominant role in SCG. This was further evidenced by a 21% increase in strain-hardening modulus < G<sub>p</sub> > (52.18 MPa), and a 25% reduction in natural draw ratio (3.2). Quantitative assessment of lamella area offered a more precise reflection of UHMWPE's influence on SCG, with higher MW UHMWPE exhibiting superior <G<sub>p</sub> > due to a larger TMs fraction and lamella area. For the first time, the strain-hardened samples revealed a distinctive alternating lamellar structure with slit-like micropores. Incorporating up to 5 wt% UHMWPE into bi-HD increased micropore density while reducing pore size and uniformity. At 10 and 15 wt% UHMWPE, closed micropores predominated, indicating a restricted slippage mechanism.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhihua Li, Ziyi Wang, Yidan Zhang, Ziteng Guo, Bo Zhao, Sainan Liu
{"title":"Hydrophobic Fluorinated Polyurethane Encapsulants for Hydroacoustic Applications","authors":"Zhihua Li, Ziyi Wang, Yidan Zhang, Ziteng Guo, Bo Zhao, Sainan Liu","doi":"10.1002/app.57092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57092","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Polyurethane elastomers are widely employed as underwater transducer encapsulants, owing to their distinctive mechanical and acoustic properties. However, the lack of hydrophobicity of polyurethanes remains a problem to be resolved. A series of hydrophobic fluorine-modified polyurethanes (FPUs) were synthesized by incorporating 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriMethoxysilane (FAS-17) into polybutadiene-based polyurethane. These fluorinated chain extenders enhance the hydrophobicity by reducing surface energy and increase physical cross-linking points, thereby improving the material's overall performance. Remarkably, at a FAS-17 content of 4 wt%, the water contact angle of FPU-2 rises to 106.0°, with a water absorption rate of only 0.189%. This corresponds to a substantial 58.6% reduction in water absorption compared to unmodified polyurethane (PU), demonstrating its exceptional hydrophobicity. Additionally, the introduction of fluorine-containing chains enhances mechanical properties, with FPU-2 having an elongation at break (452%) and tensile strength (10.93 MPa). These results demonstrate that fluorinated polyurethane not only retains the essential properties for underwater sound transmission but also significantly improves hydrophobicity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 26","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144190970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. D. Almeida, K. O. Gonçalves, V. Parra, D. F. Parra
{"title":"Gamma-Irradiated PVP-PVAL Clay-Hydrogels: Evaluations of Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties With Different Clay Concentrations","authors":"L. D. Almeida, K. O. Gonçalves, V. Parra, D. F. Parra","doi":"10.1002/app.57161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57161","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The pursuit of biomaterials and medicines dosed at therapeutic levels has become increasingly intensive over time. There is a growing need for materials that respond more efficiently to the demands of daily use. Hydrogels have the potential to meet this demand due to the specific characteristics of their reagents and synthesis methods. This article investigates the influence of Laponite RD (Lap), a clay material, as a crosslinking mediator in the gamma radiation synthesis of PVP/PVAL hydrogels. The central question addressed is how Lap, which possesses dual properties as both a drug carrier and a crosslinking mediator, can enhance both functionalities without antagonistic effects. The data presented in this study demonstrate the interaction between polymers and clay, as confirmed by FTIR, XRD, and TG/DSC analyses. Swelling and gel fraction tests revealed that the polymer network is also altered by the presence of Lap. Mechanical resistance tests indicated that the Young's modulus varies with increasing Laponite concentration, in addition to enhancing the elasticity of the hydrogel. However, despite these findings, all analytical techniques suggest that there may be a limit to the polymer–clay interaction. Furthermore, the hydrogels did not exhibit an inhibition halo against \u0000 <i>E. coli</i>\u0000 bacteria, but positive optical density results indicated bacterial inhibition. Additionally, this research contributes to the future development of a matrix suitable for clay-drug systems, in hydrogel form, for drug delivery systems in pharmaceutical applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 28","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jun Chen, Yanzheng Li, Ganghui Wei, Chentong Zhang, Qiming Liu, Xuetao Luo
{"title":"Improve the Photoelectric Properties of Transparent Insulating Films Through Simple Mechanical Pressure Treatment","authors":"Jun Chen, Yanzheng Li, Ganghui Wei, Chentong Zhang, Qiming Liu, Xuetao Luo","doi":"10.1002/app.56958","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.56958","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this study, a transparent insulating film that possesses high visible light transmittance, high resistivity, and excellent resistance to potential-induced degradation (PID) is developed via a simple and innovative physical modification technique. By employing mechanical pressure treatment (MPT), the internal porosity of the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) film is decreased. This results in a 0.5% increase in average transmittance and a theoretically calculated enhancement in photovoltaic (PV) cell efficiency of over 0.1%. Additionally, the pores of the EVA film become denser, effectively suppressing leakage current carriers induced by structural defects. As a result, the volume resistivity of the EVA film is significantly improved, with increments of 36% and 48% at room temperature and 60°C, respectively. Compared to conventional chemical modification approaches, this MPT technique significantly improves the defects of the film during the film-forming process without altering its structure or negatively affecting the properties of the packaging material. This method also demonstrates a reduction in the migration of Na<sup>+</sup> from the PV module glass to the cell, thereby improving the performance of the module. When integrated with light-induced recovery (LIR) encapsulation protocols, the optimized EVA film represents a promising and cost-effective solution for mitigating PID in commercial PV systems. This advancement provides critical insights into defect engineering for polymeric encapsulants while offering industrially scalable processing advantages.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 26","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microstructure Study and Kinetic of Conjugated Polyene Formation in Alkaline Dehydrochlorination of PVC","authors":"Hossein Abdollahi, Vahid Najafi, Ebrahim Ahmadi","doi":"10.1002/app.57191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57191","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a widely used plastic; yet, its recycling remains challenging due to the release of hazardous chlorine compounds during conventional processing. This study investigates the alkaline dehydrochlorination of PVC using KOH and NaOH in a dimethylformamide (DMF)/ethylene glycol (EG) system at 100°C–140°C. The effects of temperature, base concentration, and base type (KOH vs. NaOH) on PVC's microstructure and dehydrochlorination kinetics were examined. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) analyses, along with color changes, confirmed successful dehydrochlorination. Microstructural analysis revealed progressive decrease in meso–meso (mm, initial: 0.242) and increase in racemic–racemic (rr, initial: 0.314) triad sequences during dehydrochlorination. After 40 min, mm reached 0.163 (KOH) and 0.117 (NaOH); rr increased to 0.379 (KOH) and 0.407 (NaOH). The process occurred with a ratio ~ 9:1 via simultaneous E2 and S<sub>N</sub>2 mechanisms. Kinetic studies using UV–Vis yielded activation energies of 21.6 and 22.03 kcal mol<sup>−1</sup> for polyene and double-bond formation, respectively, with Arrhenius constants of 2.96 × 10<sup>5</sup>and 2.27 × 10<sup>6</sup> Alkaline dehydrochlorination was found to be faster and more direct than thermal dehydrochlorination. A reaction order of 1.0 with respect to KOH concentration supported the E2 mechanism. NaOH was more efficient than KOH in removing HCl from PVC. This work introduces a stereoselective alkaline process, achieving lower activation energies and environmental compatibility compared to thermal methods, offering a sustainable alternative for PVC recycling.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"TPU Nonwoven Fabrics Enhanced the Erosion Resistance and Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of CF/EP Composites","authors":"Jiale Zhang, Yukun Lu, Zhaoyang Li, Mei Fang","doi":"10.1002/app.57186","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57186","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) are extensively employed in engineering applications owing to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and outstanding fatigue resistance. Nevertheless, when utilized in critical components such as aircraft wings, wind turbine blades, and structural elements, their performance and durability are frequently degraded by harsh environmental conditions. To address these challenges, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nonwoven fabric was introduced as an interlayer in carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites to improve both erosion resistance and interlaminar fracture toughness. Experimental investigations revealed remarkable enhancements in mechanical properties: the CF/TPU/EP composites exhibited a 28.6% increase in maximum load, an 11.8% improvement in tensile strength, and a substantial 45.3% augmentation in bending load compared to conventional CF/EP composites. Moreover, the erosion resistance demonstrated progressive enhancement with increasing impact angles (30° to 90°), showing improvements of 58%, 130%, 185%, 227%, and 292%, respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that the TPU-modified composites achieve superior interlaminar toughness while maintaining excellent mechanical performance. The significant improvements in both mechanical properties and erosion resistance suggest that CF/TPU/EP composites possess considerable potential for demanding applications in aerospace, marine, and construction engineering, particularly under severe service conditions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing Flexibility and Adhesion of PVDF Coatings on PVC Textiles via PVDF/PMMA/Plasticizer Blends","authors":"Anya Sonnendecker, Johan Labuschagne","doi":"10.1002/app.57176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57176","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated improving the flexibility and adhesion of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coatings on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) textiles by blending PVDF with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and adding plasticizers. Because PVDF is inherently stiff, blends were prepared with 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt% PMMA. Four plasticizers—di(propylene glycol) dibenzoate (P2), dibutyl phthalate (P3), di(ethylene glycol) dibenzoate (P4), and benzyl butyl phthalate (P5)—were also incorporated into 10 wt% PMMA blends. Thin films and coatings were produced via solution casting and dip-coating, then characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A 10 wt% PMMA concentration improved adhesion and raised crystallinity (46.95% versus 30.87% for pure PVDF), while higher PMMA resulted in amorphous structures. Plasticizers lowered melting temperatures by up to 12°C and glass transition temperatures by up to 81.4°C (for P3), increasing flexibility. SEM revealed that plasticizers P3 and P4 generated uniform, nonporous morphologies, making them promising for UV-protective coatings. These blends maintained strong adhesion to PVC and demonstrated good mechanical performance. Further studies on UV stability are advised to confirm their long-term durability. DSC indicated increased thermal stability in PVDF/PMMA blends, while DMA confirmed enhanced mechanical integrity and material performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/app.57176","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331859","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}
Ebuka David, Steven R. McDougall, Eric J. Mackay, Precious Ogbeiwi
{"title":"Polymer Flooding Dynamics in Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Pore-Scale Study of the Influence of Shear-Thinning Rheology on Flow Dynamics and Recovery Efficiency","authors":"Ebuka David, Steven R. McDougall, Eric J. Mackay, Precious Ogbeiwi","doi":"10.1002/app.57189","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57189","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study addresses the limited understanding of how shear-thinning polymer rheology influences enhanced oil recovery (EOR) at the pore scale. Using a pore network model and the Carreau rheological model, the impact of shear thinning under varying wettability, dilution, flow rates, and mobility ratios is examined. Results show that shear thinning strongly affects displacement patterns, with significant viscous fingering and reduced recovery efficiency at high shear rates, as viscosity declines within pore spaces. In contrast, minimal shear-thinning effects lead to stable displacement fronts, resembling a shear-independent flood with improved recovery. Higher oil viscosities exacerbate the impact of shear thinning, with reduced oil recovery in the presence of more severe shear-thinning polymers. In oil-wet systems, capillary forces counteract shear-thinning effects, promoting uniform displacement. The results also show that higher injection rates do not guarantee better recovery when shear thinning is present, as excessive shear may reduce polymer viscosity. Optimal recovery occurs at lower flow rates, where the polymer maintains higher viscosity and displacement fronts remain stable. This work highlights the importance of incorporating realistic shear-thinning behavior in polymer flooding models to enhance the predictive accuracy of EOR simulations and improve understanding of how polymer rheology influences pore-scale mechanisms in oil recovery.</p>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/app.57189","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331983","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":"Study on the Thermal Stabilization Behavior, Hydrophilicity, and Rheological Properties of Poly(Acrylonitrile-Acrylamide-Monobutyl Itaconate) Terpolymers as Carbon Fiber Precursor","authors":"Yong Liu, Zongwei Guo, Lei Shang, Yuhui Ao","doi":"10.1002/app.57095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57095","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The thermal oxidative stabilization process of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a critical stage that significantly determines the quality of the final carbon fibers. The hydrophilicity and rheological properties of polymers have a profound influence on the compactness of precursor fibers. In this study, acrylamide (AM) and monobutyl itaconate (MBI) were selected as comonomers, and P(AN-MBI) and P(AN-MBI-AM) were synthesized via aqueous-phase free-radical polymerization. The structural evolution, thermal behavior, thermal stability, hydrophilicity, and rheological properties of the polymers were systematically analyzed. FTIR and XRD results indicated that the stabilization reaction was promoted by the incorporation of MBI and AM monomers. The thermal behavior and stability under different atmospheric conditions were investigated using DSC and TGA, and the potential synergistic effects of comonomers and oxygen on structural evolution were discussed. Static contact angle measurements revealed that MBI had a relatively minor effect on enhancing the hydrophilicity of polymer films, whereas the introduction of AM significantly improved hydrophilicity. Rheological analysis was conducted to explore the influence of MBI and AM monomers on the rheological properties of PAN polymer solutions, providing insights into the spinning process and optimizing spinning parameters.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 26","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yudi Huang, Zhipeng Ni, Haojie Yu, Li Wang, Zhenning Zhang, Huanan Wang, Di Shen
{"title":"Preparation of ROS-Responsive Drug-Loaded Particles and Microneedles for Diabetic Wounds Healing","authors":"Yudi Huang, Zhipeng Ni, Haojie Yu, Li Wang, Zhenning Zhang, Huanan Wang, Di Shen","doi":"10.1002/app.57181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.57181","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The treatment of diabetic wounds represents one of the most significant challenges in biomedical science, exacerbated by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Traditional surgical and pharmacological interventions have become inadequate to meet therapeutic requirements. Due to the obstruction of the biofilm, the effectiveness of administration is limited by penetration. In this case, we developed a series of microneedles based on benzene boric acid-grafted polyphosphazene, which can promote the healing of diabetic wounds. Green tea polyphenols (TP) were loaded into the above microneedles through the covalent borate bond with phenylboric acid-based polyphosphazene (PPBA) (PPBA-TP MNs), and TP can be released into the deeper layers of the skin in response to ROS stimulation. The matrix of PPBA-TP MNs was sodium hyalurate (HA), which could also accelerate the healing of wounds. The wound with PPBA-TP MNs treatment was performed on the whole layer of skin wound in the diabetic rat model. The results demonstrated that the PPBA-TP MNs significantly enhanced wound healing.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"142 29","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144331910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}