{"title":"Experimental and Theoretical Characterization on the Temperature Dependent Tensile Strength of FRP Composites Considering Interfacial Properties and Fiber Agglomeration","authors":"Shifeng Zheng, Zhouyi Ju, Ying Li, Weiguo Li","doi":"10.1002/app.70553","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70553","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have emerged as critical materials in the aerospace field. In the application, the characterization of the mechanical properties of composites with different fiber contents at different temperatures has long constituted a significant research area. This study conducted a combined experimental and theoretical approach to investigate the effects of fiber content and temperature on the mechanical properties of FRP composites. Firstly, this study examined the mechanical responses of tensile specimens of composites; it was found that the degree of nonlinearity in mechanical behavior increases with higher fiber content, while both tensile strength and failure strain initially rise and then decline as fiber content. Furthermore, the tensile tests at varying temperatures revealed a significant decrease in tensile strength with increasing temperature. Finally, based on the Force-Heat Equivalence Energy Density Principle (FHEEDP), this work established a temperature dependent tensile strength (TDTS) model for FRP composites. It considers the influences of temperature, fiber/matrix properties, and residual thermal stresses, particularly the interfacial performance and fiber agglomeration. The model employs a physically-based theoretical method, enabling prediction of the TDTS of FRP composites. This study provides the theoretical basis for predicting their strength performance and reliability evaluation of FRP composites under service conditions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147564390","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":"Ba, Nb Co-Doped LLZO Reinforced PEO Composite Solid Electrolyte for High-Performance Solid-State Lithium Batteries","authors":"Haihua Wang, Haonan Wang, Kewei Shu, Chaoxian Chen, Qing Liu, Rui Cao, Jiaheng Li, Xing Yang, Zhuyu Li","doi":"10.1002/app.70571","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70571","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Owing to its high lithium-ion conductivity, the cubic garnet-phase material Li<sub>7</sub>La<sub>3</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>12</sub> (LLZO) is a widely adopted key component in the fabrication of composite solid-state electrolytes (CSSEs). Nevertheless, the advancement of all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) is still hindered by two major challenges: the high intrinsic crystallinity of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poor interfacial stability. Herein, cubic garnet Li<sub>6.3</sub>La<sub>2.7</sub>Ba<sub>0.3</sub>ZrNbO<sub>12</sub> (LLBZNO) featuring Ba and Nb co-doping was first prepared by a conventional solid-state method. Following this, the material was dispersed within a PEO matrix to construct composite solid-state electrolytes. Adding LLBZNO served to decrease PEO's crystallinity while enhancing its mechanical flexibility and bolstering its interfacial compatibility with lithium metal. The optimized membrane demonstrated superior properties, including a high Li<sup>+</sup> transference number of 0.75 (at 60°C) and an extended electrochemical stability window of up to 5.1 V (vs. Li/Li<sup>+</sup>) under the present testing conditions. It also showed an excellent ability to suppress dendrites, facilitating stable cycling at 0.1 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> for 1500 h without short-circuiting. Furthermore, the LFP/LLBZNO–PEO/Li battery delivered a high discharge capacity of 101.6 mA h g<sup>−1</sup> after 300 cycles at 1°C with nearly 99% coulombic efficiency. These findings highlight that LLBZNO-PEO composite solid electrolytes possess superior ionic transport, electrochemical stability, and mechanical robustness, providing a viable pathway toward the advancement of next-generation high-performance ASSLBs.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147564963","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}
Mohammed Laid Tedjani, Iman Kir, Salah Eddine Laouini, Abderrhmane Bouafia, Souhaila Meneceur, Abdelmadjid Guerram, Bilal Khaled, Mahmood M. S. Abdullah, Tomasz Trzepieciński
{"title":"PVP-Coated Fe3O4/Fe2O3 Nanocomposites for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants","authors":"Mohammed Laid Tedjani, Iman Kir, Salah Eddine Laouini, Abderrhmane Bouafia, Souhaila Meneceur, Abdelmadjid Guerram, Bilal Khaled, Mahmood M. S. Abdullah, Tomasz Trzepieciński","doi":"10.1002/app.70560","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70560","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this study, Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PVP nanocomposites were synthesized via a controlled hydrothermal route and evaluated as multifunctional photocatalysts for the degradation of inorganic and organic pollutants. Structural analyses confirmed the coexistence of magnetite and hematite phases, with PVP incorporation inducing compressive lattice strain, reducing crystallite size from 19.91 to 14.83 nm, and increasing the specific surface area from 55.84 to 68.8 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a slight red shift in the optical bandgap (from 1.25 to 1.04 eV), attributed to enhanced polymer–oxide electronic coupling. Morphological studies showed that PVP effectively minimized nanoparticle agglomeration, leading to improved dispersion and surface accessibility. Photocatalytic evaluations under UV irradiation demonstrated nearly complete degradation (~99.9%) of Cr(III) within 105 min and of the organic pollutants 2,4-dinitroaniline and p-bromohydroxybenzene within 120 min. The PVP-capped Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PVP nanocomposite exhibited slightly superior efficiency and stability compared to the uncoated sample, owing to enhanced charge carrier separation, reduced electron–hole recombination, and improved interfacial contact with the pollutants. These findings highlight the potential of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PVP nanocomposites as efficient, recyclable, and sustainable photocatalysts for water purification and environmental remediation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147565060","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":"Rigid Polyurethane Foam Flame-Retardanted by Environmentally Friendly Polyether Polyol Based on Dialdehyde Starch","authors":"Weihan Chen, Zhenghong Guo, Yanhui Zhang, Juan Li","doi":"10.1002/app.70567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70567","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Polyurethane foam (PUF) is widely recognized for its excellent mechanical properties, yet its inherent flammability and potential toxicity of certain additives limit its compliance with green and safe production principles. In this study, a novel melamine-based polyether polyol (MFPPG) was synthesized using dialdehyde starch as the key bio-based feedstock. Compared with previously reported melamine-based polyether polyols, MFPPG has lower viscosity and toxicity, and better flame-retardant performance in PUFs. Under the optimal molar ratio of raw materials, MFPPG showed favorable hydroxyl value and viscosity. When replacing 3% of commercial polyether polyol PPG4110, the modified polyurethane foams (MPUFs) exhibited significantly improved flame retardancy, thermal insulation, and mechanical performance; further increasing MFPPG loading led to poor compressive strength. Specifically, the compressive strength of MPUF was greatly enhanced, and the 3% MFPPG-loaded MPUF also showed obviously improved thermal insulation performance compared with commercial foam.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147565561","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":"The Effect of Nanoclay Particles on the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Polyamide 12 and Waste Rubber Composites","authors":"Friday Nwankwo Archibong, Nourredine Aït Hocine, Pascal Médéric, Michel Gratton, Martha Chilee Ekwedigwe, Obisi Matthias Nweke, Valentine Isdore Nwachukwu","doi":"10.1002/app.70568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70568","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Recycling discarded rubber is essential for environmental preservation and human health. The study examines the improvement of end-use properties by combining old rubber with thermoplastics in thermoplastic/waste rubber composites, produced using a Haake Rheomix 600 mixer with organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT), polyamide 12 (PA12), and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). It reveals that at a 2% OMMT mass fraction, the PA12/OMMT nanocomposite displays solid-like characteristics. A threshold is identified around 2% clay mass fraction, differentiating stable Young's modulus from declines in properties at higher mass fractions, while lower fractions enhance mechanical characteristics. The study also notes that the ternary nanocomposite's EPDM slightly disrupts the binary's percolation network, and a small decrease in the glass transition temperature (<i>T</i>\u0000 <sub>\u0000 <i>g</i>\u0000 </sub>) indicates improved interfacial interactions, enhancing Young's modulus. The ability of OMMT to act as a dispersing agent comprises the study's main breakthrough. Overall, the ternary nanocomposite demonstrates comparable Young's modulus to the binary version, underscoring the potential for recycling rubber waste.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147568545","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":"Investigation of the Affine Model for the Network Chains by Molecular Dynamics Simulation","authors":"Zhigang Wei, Hao Wu, Zelin Zhang, Guo cheng Xu, Yuchao Ke","doi":"10.1002/app.70513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70513","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to investigate the relationship between microstructural changes and macroscopic deformations in rubber materials. Coarse-grained (CG) models of isoprene rubber (IR) with varying crosslink densities (CD) were constructed, and uniaxial tensile stretching was simulated. The positions of effective crosslink points, together with the magnitudes and orientations of the end-to-end vectors of selected chains under stretching, were analyzed and compared with their affine counterparts. The results reveal significant deviations between the simulations and the predictions of the affine model. These deviations depend on orientation: along the stretching direction, they are larger than those in the lateral directions for the positions of crosslinkers and the end-to-end distances, though not for the chain orientations. In general, the deviations—except for the orientation of the end-to-end vectors—decrease with increasing crosslink density and increase with stretching. Moreover, the deviation of an individual chain calculated in an instantaneous state differs significantly from that averaged over many equilibrium states, whereas the deviations averaged over the entire system are weakly affected by the averaging over states. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the deformation of individual chains in a network does not strictly conform to the affine model, either in magnitude or in orientation, providing important insights for constitutive modeling and mechanical property analysis.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147563103","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":"Synthesis and Characterization of Branched Polyurethane Synergistically Modified by Long-Chain Alkyl and Silicone for Waterproof Textile Application","authors":"Kai Xie, Zeng Wang, Haiyang He, Junmin Wan","doi":"10.1002/app.70512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70512","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To address concerns such as the biological toxicity of current fluorinated waterproofing agents and poor water resistance durability, a fluorine-free, eco-friendly waterproofing agent co-modified with long-chain alkane and silicone was developed. Using a mixture of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as isocyanates, poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) and monoterminated-α, α′-biscarbinol poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) as mixed polyols, trimethylolpropane (TMP) as a branching unit, and long-chain alkane 1-hexadecanol (HA) as a capping agent, a series of solution-based branched polyurethanes with varying PDMS contents were synthesized. These polymers were applied to polyester fabrics to investigate the effect of PDMS content on waterproof performance and durability. The results indicated that a polyurethane formulation with 30% long-chain alkane capping content, 16% mass fraction of PDMS and 4.27% branching unit content exhibited optimal waterproof performance. After application onto polyester fabric, the treated fabric achieves a water repellency score of 85–90 and a static contact angle of 144.8° ± 0.5°. After 20 standard washes, the fabric's water contact angle remains above 135°, demonstrating excellent wash durability. Therefore, this research may provide some reference for the development of new waterproof functional textiles.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147562677","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":"Microporous Composite Nanofiltration Membrane With Intrinsic Microporosity for Water Treatment","authors":"Gaohui Liu, Haifang Hu, Anqi Tang, Han Li, Yinghua Wu, Chuanjie Fang, Lingshu Wan, Liping Zhu","doi":"10.1002/app.70514","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70514","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Novel polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) exhibit rigidity and non-planar structures, which make them promising for constructing high-permeability separation materials. However, the intrinsic hydrophobicity of PIMs limits their application in separation membranes for aqueous systems. Herein, we report an in situ interfacial polymerization strategy utilizing a catechol-functionalized PIM monomer in conjunction with dopamine (DA) to fabricate a thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membrane with intrinsic microporosity. In this process, the aqueous-phase monomer, 5,5′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-1,1′spirobiindan (TTSBI), modulated the pore size distribution, which facilitated water transport and enhanced permeance, while DA improved hydrophilicity and adhesion. Furthermore, the steric hindrance imparted by the contorted structure of TTSBI interfered with the self-polymerization and assembly behavior of DA, inhibiting the formation of larger aggregates and consequently reducing structural defects within the composite layer. The resulting composite membrane exhibits a narrow pore size distribution (0.3–0.4 nm), high Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> (VB<sub>12</sub>) rejection rate (92.5%), and outstanding permeance (4.6 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> bar<sup>−1</sup>). Moreover, long-term testing demonstrated excellent stability, with only a 4.4% decline in rejection after 96 h. This work provides valuable insights for the fabrication of high-performance nanofiltration membranes for water treatment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147563709","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":"Effect of Latex Concentration on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber","authors":"Qinglong Qu, Hongzhen Wang","doi":"10.1002/app.70349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70349","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The quality and properties of natural rubber depend on the concentration of fresh latex. If natural latex is solidified at its original concentration, it is difficult to control the uniformity of the product quality. Therefore, it is necessary to dilute the fresh natural rubber latex and study how the structure and properties of natural rubber change at different concentrations to determine the optimal concentration for improved performance. Against the backdrop of the above research, this paper studies the effects of latex concentration on the non-rubber components, microstructure and macroscopic properties of natural rubber. Test results showed that, as latex concentration decreased, the molecular chain entanglement of natural rubber first increased and then decreased. The gel content test results showed that the gel content gradually decreased with latex dilution. The mechanical properties tests showed that, as the latex concentration decreased, the tensile and tear strengths of natural rubber first increased and then decreased. Test results from the Akron abrasion volume showed that diluting the latex improved the wear resistance of natural rubber. The performance of natural rubber is best when the latex concentration is 23%.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147568950","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}
Wang Ziwei, Tong Yuxing, Liu Zhichang, Yu Yang, Wang Yixin, Zhang Lei, Gao Song, Feng Xiong, Lei Wang
{"title":"Green and High-Value Polyurethane Foams: Lignin-Microcrystalline Cellulose Biocomposites From Industrial Byproducts","authors":"Wang Ziwei, Tong Yuxing, Liu Zhichang, Yu Yang, Wang Yixin, Zhang Lei, Gao Song, Feng Xiong, Lei Wang","doi":"10.1002/app.70507","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70507","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The growing demand for sustainable polymeric materials has driven efforts to replace petroleum-based polyols in rigid polyurethane foams (RPFs) with renewable alternatives. Lignin, owing to its abundant hydroxyl groups and aromatic structure, is considered a promising candidate; however, its intrinsic rigidity and structural heterogeneity often limit its incorporation and compromise foam performance. In this study, industrial Kraft lignin (KL) was liquefied using 1,4-butanediol and employed as a bio-based polyol for RPF fabrication. Process optimization demonstrated that catalyst, surfactant, and water contents played critical roles in regulating foam density and compressive strength. To enhance mechanical performance, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from tobacco stems was introduced as a reinforcing phase. At an MCC loading of 5 wt%, the compressive strength at 10% strain increased by 34%, from 171.6 ± 7.5 to 229.7 ± 12.6 kPa, with enhancement up to 50% strain, while the apparent density increased slightly from 85.4 ± 2.0 to 93.5 ± 2.6 kg·m<sup>−3</sup>. MCC incorporation also reduced the water contact angle from 110.3° to 100.0°. Morphological analysis revealed that increased system viscosity during foaming led to gas entrapment and larger, more irregular cellular structures. Overall, this work demonstrates an effective strategy for valorizing industrial byproducts into high-performance, sustainable RPFs.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":183,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Polymer Science","volume":"143 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147562142","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}