Haiyang Li, Qiao Wu, Biao Xu, Yukai Ge, Ruijing Zhao, Zongming Xu, Tao Liu
{"title":"Vitrimer Incorporation for Enhanced Cushioning Properties of Acrylic PolyHIPEs","authors":"Haiyang Li, Qiao Wu, Biao Xu, Yukai Ge, Ruijing Zhao, Zongming Xu, Tao Liu","doi":"10.1002/app.71180","DOIUrl":"10.1002/app.71180","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templating method offers a simple, low-cost route to porous foams, but is hindered by a key challenge: during conventional thermal drying, removal of the internal phase creates capillary stress that collapses the delicate porous structure. This work employs a one-pot in situ strategy to permit the use of conventional thermal drying. A Span 80/SiO<sub>2</sub>-stabilized water-in-oil HIPE template is loaded with a mixture of isobornyl methacrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker, and zinc acetate as catalyst. Subsequent to thermal polymerization, a stepwise heating regimen is applied to simultaneously dry the material and activate transesterification catalysis by Zn<sup>2+</sup> ions, forming a dynamic vitrimer network. The preservation of the porous architecture is achieved by this network, which alleviates drying-induced capillary stresses through dynamic bond exchange via transesterification. The prepared vitrimer integrated polyHIPE foam exhibits a uniform pore morphology and outstanding cushioning performance, with a compressive stress of 0.246 MPa recorded at 25% strain. This strategy establishes a low-energy, scalable pathway to robust porous polymers, while providing key insights into kinetic stress-dissipation mechanisms that inform the design of foams resistant to drying-induced collapse.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148672113","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":"A Micromechanics-Based Predictive Model for Damping Behavior of Resin-Mineral Composites: Theory, Experiment, and Design Implications","authors":"Sirui Yang, Guangpeng Zhang","doi":"10.1002/app.71186","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71186","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Based on micromechanical theory, this paper develops a predictive model for the damping behavior of resin–mineral composites. This framework enables the quantitative prediction of macroscopic loss factors from constituent properties. The study compares the prediction accuracy of a two-phase model with that of a three-phase model, which incorporates a third phase (pores or an interfacial layer). Dynamic mechanical analysis experiments reveal the evolution of storage modulus (<i>E</i>′), loss modulus (<i>E</i>″), and loss factor (<i>η</i>) with temperature. As the filler volume fraction increases from 60% to 80%, the storage modulus rises from 8.86 to 13.37 GPa, while the loss factor decreases from 0.0362 to 0.0313. Theoretical predictions show that the two-phase model yields average errors of approximately 18% for storage modulus and 10% for loss factor. In contrast, the three-phase model reduces these errors to about 10% and 5%, respectively, demonstrating significantly improved agreement with experimental data. The three-phase model captures coupled filler–matrix–interface damping, revealing that the interfacial phase enhances stiffness and provides extra energy dissipation. The proposed model therefore provides a theoretical basis for the structure–property relationship of resin–mineral composites, supporting their targeted design and performance optimization in vibration-damping structures such as high-precision machine tools.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862254","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":"Calcium Nitrate Doped Methylcellulose Solid Polymer Electrolytes With Enhanced Ionic Transport for Energy Storage Applications","authors":"Mahesh Vinay Kulkarni, Ismayil","doi":"10.1002/app.71191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71191","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The growing demand for safe, sustainable, and high-performance electrolytes has increased interest in biopolymer-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), supporting global goals for clean energy. In this study, methylcellulose (MC) doped with calcium nitrate tetrahydrate [Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O] was prepared using the solution-casting technique with varying salt concentrations from 0 to 40 wt%. XRD with peak deconvolution confirmed the dominance of amorphous phases which facilitate the movement of ions, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified effective complexation between MC and [Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O]. EIS revealed that the M-40 composition achieved the highest ionic conductivity of 1.29 × 10<sup>−6</sup> S/cm at room temperature, significantly higher compared to pure (M-0: 1.81 × 10<sup>−9</sup> S/cm), which is consistent with dielectric studies indicating enhanced dielectric constant and charge carrier density. The electrochemical stability window of M-40 reached 2.58 V, which is adequate for calcium-based sustainable energy storage systems. The fabricated electrochemical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) exhibited non-faradaic behavior in cyclic voltammetry, indicating a double-layer-dominated charge storage mechanism with a moderate specific capacitance of 4.16 F/g at 5 mV/s. Overall, the results highlight methylcellulose as a biodegradable, eco-friendly host matrix for calcium-ion-conducting SPEs, contributing to greener energy technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/app.71191","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862255","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":"Regulating the Microstructure of As-Spun Polybutylene Terephthalate Fibers to Achieve High Ultimate Tensile Strength","authors":"Ruiling Fan, Na Sun, Xiaohui Wang, Yue Zhang, Jinlong Xu, Yumei Zhang","doi":"10.1002/app.71190","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71190","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To develop high-strength polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) fibers, the crystalline and orientation structures of as-spun fibers were regulated via spinning process optimization to increase hot draw ratio, employing a two-step melt spinning and hot drawing process. As-spun PBT fibers (intrinsic viscosity 1.26 dL/g) with varied microstructures were prepared by controlling take-up speed (500–3000 m/min) and spinneret draw ratio. Crystalline morphology, crystallinity, and degree of orientation were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The as-spun fibers exhibited crystallinity above 30%, but the relatively stable α-form crystals formed during the cooling-drawing process hindered further drawing deformation. By optimizing extrusion and take-up speeds, a combination of low take-up speed and moderate spinneret draw ratio promoted the formation of as-spun fibers with low orientation and small crystalline domains, yielding excellent post-drawability. After hot drawing, the resulting PBT fibers achieved tensile strength up to 6.8 cN/dtex, high crystallinity, and highly oriented β-form crystals. This work provides technical support for the industrial production of high-strength PBT fibers.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862347","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}
Sarah Elfadil Ali, Jianhui Li, Yuanqing Shen, Xiaochun Chen
{"title":"Synergistic Catalysis of Diverse Imidazolium Ionic Liquids and ZnO for Enhanced PET Glycolysis: A Sustainable Approach to Plastic Recycling","authors":"Sarah Elfadil Ali, Jianhui Li, Yuanqing Shen, Xiaochun Chen","doi":"10.1002/app.71175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71175","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The development of efficient catalytic systems for the glycolysis of PET is crucial for enhancing the recovery of valuable monomers from PET waste. In this study, a series of hybrid catalysts was prepared by combining imidazolium-based ionic liquids (IL's) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for PET glycolysis. The IL–ZnO composites were synthesized using ultrasonication and examined under the same reaction conditions. Among the catalysts assessed, the [Amim][DCA]–ZnO hybrid exhibits the highest activity, achieving complete PET conversion and an 87.4% yield of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) at 195°C within 60 min. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicate that the enhanced performance arises from cooperative interactions at the IL–ZnO interface. Coordination of the [DCA]<sup>−</sup> anion to Lewis-acidic Zn<sup>2+</sup> sites, together with non-covalent interactions involving the imidazolium cation, facilitates polymer swelling and reduces the apparent activation energy to 67.8 kJ/mol. Differences in catalytic efficiency among the IL systems correlate with anion coordination strength and ionic liquid fluidity at the reaction temperature. A conceptual process scale-up for PET glycolysis was evaluated using Aspen modeling. These results demonstrate that IL–ZnO hybrid catalysts provide a practical approach for PET glycolysis, supporting chemical recycling strategies aligned with circular economy principles.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862262","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":"Processing Window for High-Performance Glass-Fiber/Nylon-6 Pultruded Shear Webs in Wind Turbine Blades","authors":"Jiangrong Chen, Huihuang Ma, Luo Luo, Chunhua Zhou, Qunfang Lin, Xiaodong Zhou","doi":"10.1002/app.71176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71176","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The shear web in wind turbine blades is traditionally manufactured from thermoset glass-fiber composites, but its irreversible curing chemistry severely limits repair, remanufacturing and recycling. Decommissioned blades typically end up in landfills, making the non-recyclability a critical bottleneck to the sustainable development of the wind industry. Continuous-fiber thermoplastic composites offer a recyclable alternative; however, the processing window for thick shear-web profiles, particularly for glass-fiber/nylon-6 systems, remains unclear. To address this issue, continuous glass-fiber-reinforced nylon-6 (GF/PA6) thermoplastic composites are investigated. A pultrusion mold suitable for thick-section shear webs is designed. The effects of four process parameters are systematically examined: the number of prepreg strips (13–17), die temperatures (preheating 160°C–200°C, heating 230°C–270°C, cooling 40°C–120°C), pultrusion speed (115–315 mm min<sup>−1</sup>) and fiber mass fraction (44–67 wt%). Their influences on shear web density, porosity, flexural strength and compressive strength are analyzed. A shear web with excellent mechanical properties is successfully fabricated, achieving a radial flexural strength of 670 MPa, an axial compressive strength of 289 MPa and a radial compressive strength of 176 MPa. These results delineate a practical processing window for thick-section wind turbine blade shear web that suppresses voids while avoiding resin starvation and thermal degradation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862342","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}
Wei Zhao, Ji Ruixiang, Hao Chen, Dan Zhao, Sun Minghao, Liu Jiaqi, Ling Weng, Liu Changwei
{"title":"Effect of Mg Content on the Corona Resistance and Dielectric Properties of Si-B-Mg/PI Composites","authors":"Wei Zhao, Ji Ruixiang, Hao Chen, Dan Zhao, Sun Minghao, Liu Jiaqi, Ling Weng, Liu Changwei","doi":"10.1002/app.71192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71192","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To enhance the corona resistance and dielectric properties of polyimide (PI), this study designed and fabricated Si-B-Mg/PI nanocomposites. The relative magnesium content was investigated for its effect on the electrical insulation properties of the Si-B-Mg/PI nanocomposite. A composite with a specific doping level of 27.5 wt% Si-B-Mg/PI was prepared by adjusting the Mg addition ratio. The composite material underwent performance testing and microstructural characterization, including corona discharge lifetime, dielectric properties, volume resistivity, conductive current, and breakdown field strength. The influence of Mg content on the insulating properties of the Si-B-Mg/PI composite was systematically analyzed. Experimental results indicate that when the molar ratio of Si-B-Mg composite oxides is 12:3:0.8, the composite exhibits minimal dielectric loss and the longest corona resistance lifetime. At 155°C, 60 kV/mm, and 50 Hz, this lifetime reaches 510.4 min-2.67 times that of the pure PI film. At 155°C, 60 kV/mm, and 10 kHz, it reached 140 min, representing a 11.67-fold increase over the pure PI film. The incorporation of magnesium effectively enhances the corona resistance lifetime and reduces dielectric loss in Si-B-Mg/PI composite materials.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862343","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":"Research Progress on Bio-Based Epoxy Vitrimers: A Review","authors":"Xia Ying, Xiaoling Yao, Dan Sun, Qiang Wu, Lina Liu, Gaobo Lou","doi":"10.1002/app.71187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71187","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Conventional epoxy resins, widely used in high-performance applications, face significant sustainability challenges due to their permanent crosslinking and reliance on fossil-derived bisphenol A, leading to resource depletion, health concerns, and end-of-life disposal issues. In response, bio-based epoxy vitrimers—covalent adaptable networks that integrate renewable feedstocks with dynamic covalent bonds—have emerged as a promising solution to combine high performance with circularity. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in recyclable bio-based epoxy vitrimers, covering five major classes of renewable feedstocks (lignin derivatives, vegetable oils, biomass-derived acids, sugar-derived platform molecules, and other natural compounds) and five dynamic covalent chemistries (transesterification, disulfide, imine, Diels–Alder, and multiple dynamic bonds). The structure–property relationships, reprocessability, self-healing ability, degradability, and closed-loop recycling potential are critically analyzed. Finally, key challenges and future directions are discussed, including the development of catalyst-free low-energy systems, decoupling of service and reprocessing temperatures, feedstock valorisation, mechanical robustness, and scalable closed-loop recycling. This review aims to guide the rational design of sustainable epoxy vitrimers and accelerate their integration into circular material technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/app.71187","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862348","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}
Jiangtao Guo, Hongxiang Ou, Wenqian Zhou, Fang Zhu, Tingting Yang
{"title":"Preparation and Performance Study of Pyrophosphoric Acid Piperazine and Tannic Acid Synergistically Intumescent Flame-Retardant Polypropylene","authors":"Jiangtao Guo, Hongxiang Ou, Wenqian Zhou, Fang Zhu, Tingting Yang","doi":"10.1002/app.71184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71184","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To address the inherent drawbacks of polypropylene (PP), including high flammability, severe melt dripping during combustion, and significant mechanical property deterioration after flame retardant incorporation, a novel halogen-free intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system was developed in this work by blending natural polyphenol tannic acid (TA) with piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP). PP composites were fabricated via melt blending. Systematic characterization of the thermal stability, combustion behavior, mechanical properties, and char layer microstructure of the as-prepared PP composites revealed that the limiting oxygen index (LOI) increased with an increasing PAPP/TA mass ratio. The optimal PP/7PAPP/TA formulation achieved an LOI of 37%. Compared with PP, the peak smoke production rate (pSPR) of the PP/7PAPP/TA composite decreased by 91.11%, while the peak heat release rate (pHRR) decreased by 90.66%. These results confirm that TA exerts a significant synergistic enhancement effect on the IFR efficiency of PAPP. Specifically, a PAPP/TA mass ratio of 7:1 enables the as-prepared composite to achieve the optimal balance between flame retardant performance, melt dripping inhibition, and mechanical property retention.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862346","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":"Epoxy-Thiol Click Chemistry as a Platform for In Situ Preparation of New Reversible Thermoplastic Adhesives","authors":"Adem Lakkaichi, Christof Storz, Zoubair Cherkaoui","doi":"10.1002/app.71179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.71179","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Thermally reversible adhesive systems combining high thermomechanical performance with recyclability remain a major challenge in polymer science. This study presents heat-reversible polymers prepared via a two-component (2K) liquid system through in situ step-growth polymerization between difunctional thiols and difunctional epoxy resins. The influence of thiol structure (aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic) on polymer formation, thermal behavior, and adhesion was investigated. The use of selected difunctional thiols enabled the formation of materials with suitable adhesive properties, highlighting the key role of thiol chemistry in determining final performance. The best systems exhibited glass transition temperatures (<i>T</i><sub>g</sub>) of 45°C–60°C by dynamic mechanical analysis and softening temperatures above 130°C. Adhesion performance, evaluated by lap shear strength measurements on aluminum substrates, showed that good adhesion is maintained at 80°C. Above the softening temperature, adhesion decreases significantly, allowing reversible debonding. Repeated debonding and rebonding cycles demonstrate that optimized systems can be reprocessed within minutes at moderate temperatures with minimal loss of mechanical properties. Overall, this work introduces an epoxy-thiol adhesive platform with controlled thermal debonding and true reversibility, while preserving performance, enabling sustainable and reworkable bonding systems.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 38","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148862445","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}