Polymer Journal最新文献

{"title":"Preparation of urea-containing polysilsesquioxane membranes for CO2 separation designed by model-based research","authors":"Yusuke Kanematsu, Katsuhiro Horata, Kazuki Hara, Yohei Adachi, Toshinori Tsuru, Masakoto Kanezashi, Joji Ohshita","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01156-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01156-7","url":null,"abstract":"Membrane separation has been extensively studied as a cost-effective CO2 separation method, and polysilsesquioxane (PSQ)-based membranes are expected to be robust membranes with high thermal and mechanical stability and processability. In this study, a prediction model for CO2 permeance and CO2/N2 permselectivity as target variables was generated by applying machine learning to experimental data collected in our previous studies as explanatory variables. On the basis of this model, two new urea-containing PSQ-based membranes were prepared, and their CO2 separation performance was evaluated. Among them, a membrane synthesized through the 1:1 copolymerization of (3,6-dioxaoctane-1,8-diyl)bis-N-[N’-(triethoxysilylpropyl)urea] and bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane demonstrated high performance, achieving a CO2 permeance of 1.3 × 10–6 mol m–2s–1Pa–1 (4.0 × 103 GPU) and a CO2/N2 permselectivity of 13. A membrane was also prepared using (triethylamine-2,2’,2”-triyl)tris-N-[N’-(triethoxysillylpropyl)urea] as a monomer, which resulted in inferior CO2 separation performance. However, increasing the calcination temperature significantly increased the CO2 permeance, whereas the CO2/N2 permselectivity slightly decreased, likely because of the thermal degradation of the urea units, resulting in the formation of void spaces. Two new urea-containing polysilsesquioxane-based membranes were prepared. One of these membranes demonstrated impressive performance, achieving a CO₂ permeance of 4000 GPU and a CO₂/N₂ permselectivity of 13. A prediction model was generated using machine learning based on previous data to predict membrane performance. The model exhibited potential for membrane design, despite limited accuracy owing to the small number of explanatory variables used.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 7","pages":"747-758"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-026-01156-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148387069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Origins of polyvinylpyrrolidone hydrophilicity: Its well-defined chemical structure","authors":"Ryo Nagumo, Shunsuke Kawashima, Dai Katae, Kenta Yamamoto, Shuichi Iwata","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01160-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01160-x","url":null,"abstract":"Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is a commonly used hydrophilic polymer for a wide range of applications. In this study, we investigated the origins of the excellent hydrophilicity of PVP using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Hydrations around the side chains of the vinylpyrrolidone (VP) analog pentamers and self-associations between the VP analog pentamers were evaluated in an aqueous solution. Consequently, an N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (2VP) pentamer, which is a constituent fragment of PVP, was surrounded by a highly robust hydration layer owing to a N–C = O bond in the side chain of the 2VP pentamer. The self-association between the 2VP pentamers was suppressed compared with that between several types of VP analog pentamers. Thus, the 2VP pentamer achieved dramatically high dispersion in a binary mixture with water molecules. In addition to the robust hydration around the side chains, the excellent hydrophilicity of PVP was ascribed to the high-level suppression of the self-association between the molecular chains. These specific properties of PVP originate from the well-defined chemical structure of the 2VP side chain. The origins of the excellent hydrophilicity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The hydrations around the side chains of the constituent pentamer of PVP and its analogs and the self-associations between them were evaluated at the molecular level. In addition to the robust hydration around the side chains, the high-level suppression of self-association, originating from the well-defined chemical structure of the PVP side chain, is also a key origin of the excellent PVP hydrophilicity.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 7","pages":"771-778"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148387073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of density fluctuations on the fracture behavior of amorphous polymers investigated by time-resolved small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering","authors":"Daisuke Iwahara, Shotaro Nishitsuji, Takashi Inoue, Hiroshi Ito, Mikihito Takenaka","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01155-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01155-8","url":null,"abstract":"We investigated the influence of nanometer-scale density fluctuations on fractures in two amorphous polymers, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS), using time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)/wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) combined with mechanical tests. Three-point bending and tensile tests showed different fracture behaviors: PMMA formed a relatively uniform plastic zone with internal crazes before an abrupt fracture, whereas PS produced abundant surface crazes and fractures at lower displacements. The elastic moduli indicated that both materials have bulk moduli greater than their shear moduli, with the bulk modulus of PMMA exceeding that of PS. Static SAXS revealed nanoscale density fluctuations in both polymers: PMMA exhibited small-amplitude, short-correlation-length Debye–Bueche-type fluctuations, whereas PS showed much stronger scattering with fractal-like power-law behavior. In situ SAXS during tensile deformation revealed that PMMA developed anisotropic, Ornstein-Zernike-Debye-type fluctuations along the tensile axis, with markedly increased low-q intensity near the necking. PS exhibited abrupt Porod-type scattering and fibrillar signatures of crazing (average fibril diameter ≈ 6.0 nm) with minimal WAXS change. We concluded that the amplitude and spatial scale of the initial density fluctuations govern the local strain concentration and energy dissipation pathways, thereby accounting for the distinct brittle-like fracture modes of PMMA and PS. Time-resolved SAXS/WAXS reveals that nanoscale density fluctuations govern the fracture behavior of amorphous polymers. PMMA exhibits DB-type fluctuations with small amplitude that evolve into anisotropic OZD-type fluctuations under deformation. In contrast, PS shows large fractal-like fluctuations that transform into Porod-type scattering with fibrillar signatures, resulting in numerous surface crazes. These findings demonstrate that nanoscale density fluctuations govern the distinct brittle-like fracture modes of PMMA and PS.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"671-680"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-026-01155-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of surface coupling agents on the mechanical properties of polypropylene/silica composites","authors":"Yuki Mochizuki, Kota Shitamatsu, Toshimi Nakaya, Joji Ohshita","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01159-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01159-4","url":null,"abstract":"We examined the effects of interfacial interactions on the crystallization behavior and properties of polypropylene (PP) composites containing unmodified silica, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)-modified silica, and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-modified silica. Through Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and mechanical testing, we demonstrated that surface functional groups strongly affect polymer–filler interactions. HMDS-modified silica generated broad damping factor (tan δ) peaks, indicating the presence of weak, heterogeneous interfaces that decrease both the crystallization rate and mechanical performance. In contrast, APTES-modified silica produced moderately strong and flexible interfaces owing to the presence of amino groups and the formation of a polysiloxane layer, enhancing nucleation, accelerating crystallization, and improving mechanical properties. Comparisons with unmodified silica revealed that both strength and spatial uniformity of the interfacial interactions determine the crystallization pathway and the overall composite performance. In this study, we examined the effects of interfacial interactions on the crystallization behavior and properties of PP composites containing unmodified silica, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)-modified silica, and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-modified silica. Through DMA, DSC, and DFT calculations, and mechanical testing, we demonstrated that surface functional groups strongly influence polymer–filler interactions.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"729-734"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of mechanochemical reactions through cellulose transacylation with vinyl laurate","authors":"Jacqueline Lease, PeiQin Tan, KaiXian Ng, Mohammed A. A. Farid, Yoshito Andou","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01152-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01152-x","url":null,"abstract":"Cellulose esters with long-chain alkyl groups are promising sustainable materials because their hydrophobicity and thermal stability can be tuned through chemical modification. We report a mechanochemical transacylation method for synthesizing cellulose laurates using vinyl laurate in a dimethyl sulfoxide/sodium hydroxide medium. The process enables the efficient modification of 0.81 g of cellulose and yields products with degrees of substitution ranging from 0.50 to 2.94 under different designated conditions. Structural analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed successful esterification and reduced crystallinity. The physical properties varied systematically with substitution level, with higher substitution improving thermal stability and reducing wettability, providing opportunities to tailor performance. Response surface methodology, which is based on a five-level, four-factor central composite rotatable design, was applied to study the interactive effects of synthesis parameters and optimize the degree of substitution. The experimental results closely matched the predicted values with 97.3% accuracy, demonstrating the robustness of the approach. This study establishes a green and reproducible route for producing functional cellulose esters with potential applications in bioplastics. Our work introduces a sustainable and highly controllable mechanochemical route for producing cellulose laurates with tunable structure and performance. Precise regulation of substitution enables tailored thermal stability and hydrophobicity, expanding design freedom for bio-based materials. The successful integration of response surface optimization highlights a robust, scalable platform for advancing next-generation cellulose-based bioplastics.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"647-658"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-026-01152-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanical properties of model network elastomers: Impacts of network geometry and chemistry","authors":"Shintaro Nakagawa","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01158-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01158-5","url":null,"abstract":"Elastomers exhibit excellent elasticity and deformability because of their three-dimensional cross-linked polymer networks. Conventional elastomers contain various defects in network geometry, stemming from random cross-linking between precursor polymer chains. These defects can be decreased or controlled in model networks, which are constructed by end-linking well-defined precursor polymers. The model network strategy enables the systematic study of the effects of network geometry as well as those of the chemical details of network chains on the mechanical properties. In this Focus Review, I first discuss the progress made in understanding the relationship between network geometry (network chain lengths, low-order loops, and trapped entanglements) and the macroscopic mechanical properties of model network elastomers. Second, recent studies on the effects of the chemical structure of network chains are reviewed. The mechanical performance of model network elastomers can be significantly altered by incorporating transient cross-links, by using a bottlebrush polymer, and by incorporating polymers capable of strain-induced crystallization. These findings not only help elucidate the structure‒property relationships of elastomers in general but also provide insights into the development of high-performance materials. Conventional elastomers contain various geometric defects in their network structure. The model network strategy, in which well-defined precursor polymers are joined specifically at their ends, enables the reduction or control of these defects. This Focus Review highlights recent advances in understanding the structure-property relationships of model network elastomers from two viewpoints: the geometry of the polymer network and the chemical structure of the network chains. Control of these two factors opens diverse possibilities for unique and advanced properties in elastomers.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"629-638"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-026-01158-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oxidatively degradable polystyrene: general strategy for the introduction of functional groups into the main chains of vinyl polymers","authors":"Kouhei Kajiwara, Nobuhiro Kihara","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01143-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01143-y","url":null,"abstract":"Degradable polymers have degradable functional groups in the main chains. To introduce functional groups into the main chains of polystyrene—a typical vinyl polymer whose main chain consists only of carbon—radical copolymerization of styrene with a bifunctional monomer bearing diacylhydrazine as the functional group was carried out in the presence of a chain-transfer agent or excess initiator to avoid gelation. Soluble polystyrene whose main chain was functionalized by diacylhydrazine in an internally connected manner was obtained by controlling the concentration of the chain transfer agent or the initiator. The oxidation of the obtained polystyrene yielded an oligomer via oxidative degradation of the diacylhydrazine moiety in the main chain. To introduce a functional group into the main chain of polystyrene, a typical vinyl polymer whose main chain consists only of carbon, radical copolymerization of styrene with a functional crosslinking monomer was carried out in the presence of a chain-transfer agent or excess initiator to avoid gelation. Main chain-functionalized polystyrene in the internally connected manner was obtained. By using diacylhydrazine, an oxidatively degradable functional group, oxidatively degradable polystyrene was obtained. This method is useful to introduce any functional group into the main chain of vinyl polymer.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"639-646"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structure-dielectric property correlations in polysiloxane- and DDSQ-based polyimides measured at high frequencies","authors":"Erina Yoshida, Natsuko Sashi, Hayato Maeda, Kan Hatakeyama-Sato, Yuta Nabae, Ririka Sawada, Shinji Ando, Teruaki Hayakawa","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01154-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01154-9","url":null,"abstract":"The development of polymer dielectrics with extremely low dissipation factors (Df) in the GHz range is essential for next-generation high-frequency communication and advanced semiconductor technologies. In this study, silicon-containing polyimides (PIs) were systematically synthesized through the incorporation of polysiloxane and double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) units, aiming to elucidate the correlation between molecular structures, higher-order structures, and dielectric properties. Poly(amic acid) precursors were prepared using various tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and silicon-containing diamines, followed by thermal imidization to obtain PI films. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of periodic layered structures in polysiloxane-containing PIs and the preservation of the cage-like architecture in DDSQ-containing PIs. Dielectric measurements at 10 and 20 GHz demonstrated that the introduction of silicon-containing units reduced the dielectric constant (Dk) to less than 3.0 because of increased free volume. Notably, the Df values of DDSQ-containing PIs were markedly lower ( ~ 0.002–0.003) than those of polysiloxane-based PIs because of the effective suppression of dipolar orientational polarization originating from the rigid and highly symmetric DDSQ framework. These findings provide an important molecular design strategy for low-loss polymer dielectrics and highlight the potential of DDSQ-based PIs as promising candidates for interlayer insulating materials in high-frequency electronic devices. This study clarifies how molecular structure governs GHz dielectric behavior in silicon-containing polyimides. Flexible polysiloxane units increase dipolar orientational polarization (Pd) and raise the dissipation factor (Df), whereas rigid DDSQ cages suppress molecular relaxation and yield ultra-low loss. The strong linear Pd–Df correlation demonstrates that orientational polarization is the primary factor controlling dielectric dissipation in hybrid polyimides.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"659-669"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-026-01154-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase change behavior during the heating process of long-chain alkyl group-functionalized corner-opened POSS compounds","authors":"Takaya Ohno, Hiroaki Imoto, Kensuke Naka","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01147-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01147-8","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of trifunctional long alkyl chain-functionalized corner-opened polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (CO-POSS) with various apex organic groups: isobutyl, phenyl, and 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl. These long alkyl chain-functionalized CO-POSS compounds were synthesized via hydrosilylation reactions between dimethylsilyl-functionalized CO-POSS and an alkene. The phase transition behavior and thermal stability of the long alkyl chain-functionalized CO-POSSs were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), variable temperature X-ray diffractometry (VT-XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The melting points of the CO-POSS compounds decreased with the introduction of C12 alkyl chains, whereas the phase transition temperatures generally increased with chain length. Notably, several of the long alkyl chain-functionalized CO-POSS compounds exhibited an exothermic peak during the DSC heating process. Among them, the C12-alkyl-functionalized CO-POSS derivative with phenyl substitution showed a cold crystallization behavior. The thermal decomposition temperature of the compounds also increased with the addition of long alkyl chains, despite the higher content of flexible organic components. Long-chain alkyl group functionalized corner-opened POSS (CO-POSS) derivatives exhibited exothermic peaks during the heating process at temperature range from 5 °C to 35 °C. Among them, C12-alkyl functionalized CO-POSS derivative with phenyl-substitution showed a cold crystallization behavior. The thermal decomposition temperature of the compounds increased with the addition of long alkyl chains, despite the higher content of flexible organic components.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"691-700"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relative contributions of crystallinity and environmental factors to the degradation rate of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) under coastal field conditions","authors":"Hironori Taguchi, Takako Kikuchi, Yoshifumi Amamoto, Hiroshi Morita, Keiji Tanaka","doi":"10.1038/s41428-026-01153-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41428-026-01153-w","url":null,"abstract":"Evaluating the environmental fate of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a marine-biodegradable plastic, requires understanding its degradation behavior under realistic marine conditions. Previous studies have separately examined the effects of crystallinity and environmental conditions on PCL degradation, but in actual ocean environments where conditions vary spatiotemporally, the relative contributions of these factors remain insufficiently quantified. In this study, long-term coastal field tests in Japan were combined with machine learning analysis to construct a regression framework relating PCL degradation rates to crystallinity and environmental variables. PCL sheets with controlled crystallinity were exposed for 6–15 months at six coastal locations, and degradation rates were derived from mass loss. Among the regression models tested, CatBoost showed the best performance (test R² = 0.60). Within the present dataset and coastal seafloor deployment conditions, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis ranked water temperature highest in terms of mean absolute contribution, followed by depth and total nitrogen (TN), whereas crystallinity contributed moderately. Depth and TN may partly capture location-level background differences rather than isolated variable effects. These results suggest that environmental factors contributed substantially to the variation in observed degradation rates. These findings offer a basis for field-relevant environmental compatibility assessment and for interpreting the role of crystallinity in material design. This study quantifies the relative contributions of material crystallinity and environmental factors to the marine degradation rate of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). PCL sheets with controlled crystallinity were exposed at six Japanese coastal locations for 6–15 months. Machine learning regression (CatBoost, R² = 0.60) combined with SHAP analysis revealed that water temperature contributed most strongly to degradation rate variation, followed by depth and total nitrogen, while crystallinity showed moderate influence. These findings demonstrate that environmental conditions substantially drive degradation rate variability in realistic marine settings, providing insights for field-relevant material design and environmental compatibility assessment.","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"58 6","pages":"717-728"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41428-026-01153-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}