Polymers最新文献

{"title":"Dynamic Behavior of PVC Gel Actuators: Nonlinear Effects of Viscoelasticity and Electromechanical Coupling.","authors":"Yang Xiao, Zhigang Chen, Ye Wang, Hanjing Lu, Bin Luo","doi":"10.3390/polym17050633","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As an inherent property of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel material, viscoelasticity is closely related to the deformation of the material, which will affect its dynamic behavior. However, the existing theoretical model does not consider the influence of time-varying damping on its nonlinear vibration, which leads to the unclear nonlinear dynamic behavior of the material under the dual influence of viscoelasticity and electromechanical parameters and limits the further application of the material. Therefore, in this study, the standard linear solid (SLS) model was used to describe the time-varying dynamic change of viscoelasticity of PVC gel, and the electromechanical coupling second-order nonlinear constitutive equation of PVC gel actuator was established by combining the Gent free energy theory model. The harmonic resonance, stability and periodicity of PVC gel actuator under different loading conditions were investigated by using dynamic analysis methods such as phase path, Poincaré map, bifurcation diagram, and Lyapunov exponent. Through the systematic research in this study, the deformation law of PVC gel with time-varying damping under different electromechanical parameters was revealed, and the parameter control strategy of deformation stability and chaos was obtained, which provided the design method and theoretical basis for the further application of the material.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902653/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic Effects of Hybrid Bio-Fillers and Modified Natural Rubber on Natural Rubber Composite Properties.","authors":"Supharat Inphonlek, Namthip Bureewong, Supawat Kotchapradit, Yupaporn Ruksakulpiwat, Chaiwat Ruksakulpiwat","doi":"10.3390/polym17050632","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050632","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This work aims to investigate the synergistic effects of hybrid bio-fillers and compatibilizers on the properties of natural rubber composites. Rice husk silica (RSi) and hydroxyapatite (HA), derived from rice husk ash and seabass fish scales, respectively, were successfully prepared and used as bio-fillers. Poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)-grafted deproteinized natural rubber (gDPNR) was synthesized via emulsion graft copolymerization, achieving a grafting efficiency and grafting percentage of 15.94 and 4.23%, respectively. The gDPNR was utilized as a compatibilizer in the preparation of natural rubber composites. The addition of hybrid bio-fillers at an RSi-to-HA ratio of 25:75 exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to composites containing a single filler. The incorporation of gDPNR improved filler dispersion and interfacial adhesion between the NR matrix and the bio-fillers, further enhancing the mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties. The composite with hybrid bio-fillers and 10 phr of gDPNR exhibited the highest tensile strength, showing a 2.10-fold and 1.06-fold improvement over neat natural rubber composite and hybrid filler composite without compatibilizer, respectively. The presence of polar functional groups in gDPNR enhanced the dielectric constant of the natural rubber composites. These composites could have potential in sustainable industrial applications, including flexible electronics and eco-friendly devices.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in Conductive Biomaterials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering: Design, Fabrication, and Functional Integration.","authors":"Tabrej Khan, Gayathri Vadivel, Kalaivani Ayyasamy, Gowtham Murugesan, Tamer A Sebaey","doi":"10.3390/polym17050620","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050620","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heart failure functions as one of the leading global causes of death because it falls under the cardiovascular disease categories. Cardiac tissue engineering advances by developing new tissues to rebuild heart functions in individuals with damaged heart structures as it gives medical treatment possibilities to patients reaching their final stage. Most of the heart tissue consists of cardiomyocytes which make up between 80 to 90 percent of the total organ space. The cardiomyocytes retain their specialized cell structure which includes elongation, but they align to produce contractions as they span into length. After myocardial infarction, doctors need elastic soft platforms to heal the heart tissue because they mimic its natural attributes. Special consideration must be paid to the material selection for appropriate mechanical properties, given that different substances have separate qualities. Stem cell survival becomes higher, and cell differentiation develops more efficiently when a proper scaffold design is implemented, thus enabling tissue repair. Conductive biomaterials demonstrate the best candidate status for cardiac tissue engineering due to their ability to both convey electrical signals and boost biological actions as well as promote cellular communication. Scientists conduct life science research on stem cells because the cells present unique characteristics. Biomaterials with conductive properties within cardiac tissue engineering help the body recover heart tissue while improving the functionality of damaged structures in the myocardium. This article analyzes various conductive biomaterials used in biomedical practices for cardiac tissue healing applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ionic Liquid Capsules as Flame-Retardant Additives for Emulsion Paint Systems.","authors":"Rong Ma, Bingqian Wu, Qingsheng Wang","doi":"10.3390/polym17050626","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050626","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To develop a highly efficient and environmentally friendly flame-retardant system, ionic liquids (ILs) have recently emerged as promising candidates. However, the addition of ILs into emulsion paint disrupts emulsion stability, leading to rapid demulsification due to electrostatic effects. Herein, IL-silica capsules were developed using a soft-template method. These capsules can be directly added to an acrylic emulsion paint system as flame-retardant additives. Incorporating 5 wt% IL-silica capsules into the system and coating it on fabric reduced flammability by 53% compared to untreated fabric. This work provides a novel and practical approach to enhance flame retardancy in emulsion paint systems without compromising their stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902430/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization of Process Parameters for Steel Wire-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites Produced by Additive Manufacturing.","authors":"Turker Turkoglu, Ahmet Cagri Kilinc","doi":"10.3390/polym17050624","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050624","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The mechanical performance of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)-produced polymer composites is highly dependent on processing parameters; however, most studies focus on unreinforced polymers, leaving a gap in understanding how these parameters influence continuous wire-reinforced composites. This study addresses this gap by investigating the effect of hatch spacing and layer thickness on the tensile properties of steel wire-reinforced PLA composites. The Taguchi method was employed to systematically optimize mechanical performance, using an L9 orthogonal array to evaluate tensile strength across different process conditions. The results showed that layer thickness was the most influential factor, contributing to 75.861% of the total variance (F = 60.90, <i>p</i> = 0.001), followed by hatch spacing (21.647%, F = 17.37, <i>p</i> = 0.010). The highest tensile strength of 231.61 MPa was obtained at a hatch spacing of 0.4 mm and a layer thickness of 0.2 mm, confirming the importance of optimizing these parameters to improve interfacial bonding and minimize defects. Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio analysis further validated these optimal conditions, with the highest S/N ratio of 47.29 observed under the same settings. This study provides a structured approach to optimizing process parameters for metal-reinforced polymer composites, contributing to the development of stronger, more reliable FDM-produced composite materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902399/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-Density Lipoprotein Biomimetic Inorganic-Organic Composite Nanosystem for Atherosclerosis Therapy.","authors":"Yunpeng Zhang, Danni Liu, Yaoqi Wang, Qi Sun, Dong Mei, Xiaoling Wang, Yan Su, Siyu Liu, Chunying Cui, Shuang Zhang","doi":"10.3390/polym17050625","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050625","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atherosclerosis (AS) is an important causative agent of cardiovascular diseases, and the occurrence and development of AS is accompanied by oxidative stress, so antioxidant therapy has become one of the strategies for the treatment of AS. This study aimed to design and construct an apolipoprotein ApoA1-modified inorganic-organic composite nanosystem for AS therapy, in which ApoA1 was modified onto carboxylated CeO₂/Mn₃O₄ by covalent bonding, resulting in an inorganic-organic nanocomplex with a structure similar to that of high-density lipoprotein. The nanocomplex could effectively deliver the antioxidant nanoparticles to the AS plaque through the specific recognition between ApoA1 and the macrophage at the AS lesion site. For one thing, the nanocomplex could alleviate the oxidative stress environment of the AS site through the highly efficient antioxidant effect of CeO₂/Mn₃O₄, which played a therapeutic role in the treatment of AS. For another, it could effectively eliminate the formed lipid plaques and maximally alleviate and treat AS by utilizing the cholesterol efflux effect of ApoA1.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902788/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Eco-Friendly Biocomposites from Chestnut Waste: Production, Optimization, Characterization, and Application.","authors":"Simão B Silva, Olga M Freitas, Elsa F Vieira, Amália Gomes, Ana R Carreiras, Diogo C Moreira, Púria Esfandiari, João F Silva, Cristina Delerue-Matos, Valentina F Domingues","doi":"10.3390/polym17050616","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores the valorization of non-commercial chestnut waste from the Portuguese chestnut industry to develop biocomposites. The composites were obtained by hot compression molding, and a Box-Behnken Design model was employed to optimize the mechanical, thermal, and water resistance properties of the chestnut-based composite, using fruit and shell fibers, respectively, as the polymeric matrix and reinforcement agent. The optimal formulation, comprising 70% chestnut, no glycerol, a molding temperature of 120 °C, and applying a pressure of 2.93 MPa for 30 min, achieved a Flexural Strength of 9.00 MPa and a Flexural Modulus of 950 MPa. To enhance water resistance, shellac was added as a natural hydrophobic coating. Water interaction tests indicated that shellac-treated biocomposites exhibited superior water resistance, absorbing approximately two times less water than those containing glycerol or untreated samples. Thermal analysis revealed that glycerol acted as a plasticizer, improving flexibility and reducing the glass transition temperature. Additionally, the chestnut-based biocomposite demonstrated an out-of-plane thermal conductivity of 0.79 W/m·K, categorizing it as a thermal insulator. The final prototype application was a candle holder, showcasing the potential for the practical and sustainable use of chestnut-based composite. This research highlights the potential for chestnut waste to be repurposed into eco-friendly products, offering an alternative to conventional plastics and contributing to a circular economy.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elastic Characterization of Acrylate-Based Liquid Crystal Elastomers.","authors":"Gevorg S Gevorgyan, Maksim L Sargsyan, Mariam R Hakobyan, Matthew Reynolds, Helen F Gleeson, Rafik S Hakobyan","doi":"10.3390/polym17050614","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050614","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are innovative materials best known for their reversible shape and optical property changes in response to external stimuli such as heat, light, and mechanical forces. These unique features position them as promising candidates for applications in emerging technologies. The determination of the mechanical properties of these materials is important for the study of the interaction between orientational and mechanical deformations of LCEs. Importantly, thoroughly characterizing the mechanical and elastic properties of LCEs is essential for their efficient design and integration into various devices. In this study, a full elastic characterization of promising acrylate-based LCE materials that are auxetic above a material-dependent strain threshold (~0.4 for the material studied here) was carried out. Highly aligned macroscopic samples were fabricated, allowing us to determine, for the first time, the five elasticity coefficients that enter into the elastic-free energy density of acrylate-based LCE materials, as well as the Young's moduli and Poisson ratios. Our approach involves connecting measured strains with elasticity coefficients and using data obtained from three tensile experiments. Specifically, the measured Young's moduli are on the order of MPa, with an anisotropy ratio (E‖/E⟂) of ~4.5. Moreover, the longitudinal Poisson ratios are both close to 0.5, confirming a uniaxial elastic response at low strains in these LCE samples. These findings align with theoretical predictions, indicating a good correspondence between experimental results and established theories.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902791/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Radiation Shielding Efficiency of <i>Nigella sativa</i> Eumelanin Polymer Through Heavy Metals Doping.","authors":"Mohammad Marashdeh, Nawal Madkhali","doi":"10.3390/polym17050609","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050609","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gamma radiation shielding is necessary for many applications; nevertheless, lead creates environmental risks. Eumelanin, a natural polymer, is a viable alternative, although its effectiveness is limited to lower gamma-ray energy. This research looks at how doping the herbal eumelanin polymer (<i>Nigella sativa</i>) with heavy metals including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) affects its gamma radiation shielding characteristics. The inclusion of these metals considerably increases the linear attenuation coefficient (<i>μ</i>) and mass attenuation coefficient (<i>μ_m</i>) of eumelanin, especially at lower photon energies where the photoelectric effect is prominent. The <i>μ</i> value of pure eumelanin is 0.193 cm^-¹ at 59.5 keV. It goes up to 0.309 cm^-¹, 0.420 cm^-¹, and 0.393 cm^-¹ when Fe, Cu, and Zn are added, in that order. Similarly, the mass attenuation coefficients increase from 0.153 cm²/g for pure eumelanin to 0.230, 0.316, and 0.302 cm²/g for the Fe-, Cu-, and Zn-doped samples. At intermediate and higher energies (661.7 keV-to-1332.5 keV), where Compton scattering is the main interaction, differences in attenuation coefficients between samples are not as noticeable, which means that metal additions have less of an effect. The mean free path (MFP) and radiation protection efficiency (RPE) also show these behaviors. For example, at 59.5 keV the MFP drops from 5.172 cm for pure eumelanin to 3.244 cm for Mel-Fe, 2.385 cm for Mel-Cu, and 2.540 cm for Mel-Zn. RPE values also go up a lot at low energies. For example, at 59.5 keV Cu-doped eumelanin has the highest RPE of 34.251%, while pure eumelanin only has an RPE of 17.581%. However, at higher energies the RPE values for all samples converge, suggesting a more consistent performance. These findings suggest that doping eumelanin with Fe, Cu, and Zn is particularly effective for enhancing gamma-ray shielding at low energies, with copper (Cu) providing the most significant improvement overall, making these composites suitable for applications requiring enhanced radiation protection at lower gamma-ray energies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injectable Light-Responsive Hydrogel Dressing Promotes Diabetic Wound Healing by Enhancing Wound Angiogenesis and Inhibiting Inflammation.","authors":"Peifen Ma, Jianlong Da, Guanghui Zhao, Feiya Suo, Yan Li, Xiaochun Zhou, Yao Li, Yiheng Han, Mingyang Zou, Xinman Dou","doi":"10.3390/polym17050607","DOIUrl":"10.3390/polym17050607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetic wounds are therapeutically challenging because of the complex and adverse microenvironment that impedes healing. Unlike conventional wound dressings, hydrogels provide antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and repair-promoting functions. In this study, we developed a light-responsive and injectable chitosan methacryloyl (CSMA) hydrogel, incorporating soy isoflavones (SIs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of the CSMA/SI/AuNP hydrogels. In vitro experiments demonstrated that this hydrogel exhibited exceptional biocompatibility and enhanced the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (<i>p</i> < 0.05), thereby underscoring its potential for promoting angiogenesis. In vivo studies have indicated that hydrogels significantly enhance the rate of wound healing (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Moreover, they facilitate angiogenesis (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and diminish the inflammatory response at the wound site (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, hydrogels promote collagen deposition and the regeneration of skin appendages. These findings substantiate the hydrogel's therapeutic potential for diabetic wound care, highlighting its promise for regenerative medicine. CSMA/SI/AuNP represents a significant advancement in diabetic wound treatment, addressing key challenges in wound healing by offering a multifaceted therapeutic approach with broad clinical implications for enhancing patient outcomes in chronic wound management.</p>","PeriodicalId":20416,"journal":{"name":"Polymers","volume":"17 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11902652/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143616917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}