Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-05-01DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108836
Wonki Lim , Justin Jae Young Kim , Raisa Kharbash , Aqil Jamal , Cafer T. Yavuz , Sheng Li
{"title":"Investigation of color formation and H2O2-assisted decolorization in CO2-derived polyhydroxyurethane","authors":"Wonki Lim , Justin Jae Young Kim , Raisa Kharbash , Aqil Jamal , Cafer T. Yavuz , Sheng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108836","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CO<sub>2</sub>-derived polyhydroxyurethane (PHU), synthesized via the aminolysis of cyclic carbonate, faces limitations in replacing conventional polyurethane (PU) for color-sensitive applications due to its yellow color. In this study, we investigate, for the first time, the coloration pathways in PHU and explore the use of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) to eliminate polymer color. Model compounds, resembling a PHU repeating unit, are prepared from CO<sub>2</sub>-derived bis(cyclic carbonate) and monoamines and then thermally aged to trace the color-forming species. Observations of the changes in Fourier-transfer infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry indicate multi-pathway thermal oxidation to occur at both the nitrogen-vicinal and the oxygen-vicinal methylene carbon adjacent to the urethane linkage. The changes track well with an increase in the model compound's color index as determined from UV–visible spectra, providing an explanation for PHU's susceptibility to coloration. The colored model compound and PHU are then subjected to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> treatment to disrupt the conjugated carbonyl groups and thus reduce the color. Parameters, including H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> concentration, treatment time, and temperature, are examined for a linear PHU system, and a set of optimized treatment conditions are implemented to yield PHU with reduced color and minimal damage to its molecular structure. The decolorization method developed in this study could be extended beyond PHU to treat polymeric materials that suffer from oxidation-induced coloration issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108836"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143904135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-28DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108826
Yu Tian , Zhile Wang , Shiyuan Li , Chuning Ji , Chuangang Gong , Abdoul Wahab , Shengkang Zhang , Zhongchen Ao
{"title":"Mechanical behavior of waste rock-based geopolymer as a sustainable backfill material: Strength evolution and fracture mechanisms","authors":"Yu Tian , Zhile Wang , Shiyuan Li , Chuning Ji , Chuangang Gong , Abdoul Wahab , Shengkang Zhang , Zhongchen Ao","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green backfill materials enhance slope stability and support sustainable mining in open-pit mines. However, current research mainly focuses on traditional loose fills, neglecting eco-friendly cementitious alternatives. In this study, the potential of waste rock-based geopolymers as mine backfilling materials were proved. Specifically, the compressive strength test was conducted to evaluate the effect of materials interaction, aggregate gradation index, alkali activator dosage, water-to-binder ratio and waste rock utilization rate on the strength. And acoustic emission (AE) technology was used to clarify fracture mechanisms of materials. Results demonstrated high-temperature treatment improves the compressive and flexural strength of waste rock-based paste, with calcined waste rock powder effectively enhancing fly ash reactivity. Increasing slag replacement reduces compressive strength linearly, with 5 MPa decline per 10 % increase in slag content. In addition, specimens with on-site gradation aggregate or higher alkali activator dosage exhibit superior strength. The water-binder ratio around 0.4 and 1:5 waste rock utilization ratio enhances reaction dynamic, maximizing compressive strength. Furthermore, the stress-strain process includes four distinct stages: the compaction and elastic stage, stable crack growth stage, unstable crack growth stage and the post-peak stage. Failure patterns predominantly feature single-slope shear fractures, with cracks concentrated in middle and upper areas of specimen. This study contributes to sustainable resource utilization and green mine construction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108826"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143888143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-28DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108831
Yuling Peng, Wei Wang, Jie Zhang, Jiang Li
{"title":"Mechanochemical synthesis of core-shell MWCNTs@acrylic resin nanoparticles with toughening effect on PVC composites","authors":"Yuling Peng, Wei Wang, Jie Zhang, Jiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is inherently a brittle material, and enhancing its toughness while preserving its mechanical properties with minimal use of fillers remains a significant research challenge. In this paper, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with acrylic resin (ACR) were synthesized using a mechanochemical approach, and their effectiveness in toughening PVC was investigated. Firstly, methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto MWCNTs via atomic transfer radical polymerization to improve the compatibility between the MWCNTs and ACR. Subsequently, MWCNTs@ACR core-shell nanoparticles were prepared using a simple, environmentally friendly mechanochemical method. FTIR and TEM analyses confirmed the successful grafting and coating processes. The grafting efficiency of MMA was found to be 13.6 %, while the ACR coating efficiency was 22 %, as determined by TG. MWCNTs@ACR/PVC composites were then fabricated via compression molding, resulting in improved strength, and, notably, enhanced toughness. The impact strength of the composite was 592 % higher than that of PVC and 303 % higher than that of a simple MWCNTs/ACR/PVC blend, while maintaining the composite's strength. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced interfacial interaction between the MWCNTs and the PVC matrix, as well as the excellent dispersion of the MWCNTs within the matrix.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108831"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143905883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-28DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108830
Mingming Guo , Weiming Zhou , Futao Chen , Yong Wang , Zongqian Wang
{"title":"Synthesis and low-temperature curing behavior of weather-resistant saturated polyester resin suitable for coating for thermosensitive substrates","authors":"Mingming Guo , Weiming Zhou , Futao Chen , Yong Wang , Zongqian Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel carboxyl-terminated polyester resin was strategically synthesized as an advanced coating matrix for composites. The resin was engineered through high-temperature melt esterification of neopentyl glycol with terephthalic acid, followed by acid-end capping using isophthalic acid and adipic acid, and finally vacuum-assisted polycondensation. Comprehensive characterization via FTIR, XRD, and TGA validated its structural integrity and thermal resistance, exhibiting a glass transition temperature of 52.2 °C and 5 % weight loss at 370 °C. More importantly, as a composite coating material, the resin demonstrated exceptional processing compatibility with thermosensitive PE/wood plastic composites, achieving a durable curing temperature at 140 °C, while maintaining substrate dimensional stability (with length and thickness variations of 0.24 % and 2.89 % respectively). The cured coating exhibited outstanding performances: 95.2 % curing degree, perfect adhesion (Grade 0), and 55.1 % gloss retention after 240-h UV aging, confirming its superior weatherability. Such work establishes a theoretical and experimental foundation for implementing coating in low-temperature-curable composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108830"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-28DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108825
Mahmoud Hussein, Daniel Mathieu, Gildas L'hostis, Bernard Durand
{"title":"Modulated quasi-static tensile testing for advanced characterization of elastomer mechanics","authors":"Mahmoud Hussein, Daniel Mathieu, Gildas L'hostis, Bernard Durand","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymers exhibit complex mechanical behavior. Rubber or similar materials are known to display both viscoelasticity and nonlinear elasticity. However, quasi-static mechanical tests alone are insufficient for capturing the viscous component of their response. While Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) provides valuable insights, it is inadequate to characterize the material's behavior under large deformations fully. A hybrid approach combining a quasi-static tensile test with modulation is proposed to address these limitations. During these tests, deformation fields obtained via Digital Image Correlation (DIC) can be complemented by infrared thermography. The experimental setup is based on a modified DY22 universal testing machine. Tests were performed on a rubber band designed for sports applications. The mechanical results, including the load-elongation relationship and field measurements, reveal distinct differences between the quasi-static and modulated components. These differences are particularly evident in the evolution of the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio as a function of elongation. The measurements provide detailed insights into the material's mechanical response at each loading stage. The results demonstrate that integrating modulated testing techniques with thermomechanical analysis allows for a more comprehensive characterization of materials for engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108825"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-26DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108812
Min Zhai , Feilin Gou , Changhong Ke , Wenlong He , Cong Zhai , Alexandre Locquet , D.S. Citrin
{"title":"Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of boron nitride nanotube-reinforced PMMA composites","authors":"Min Zhai , Feilin Gou , Changhong Ke , Wenlong He , Cong Zhai , Alexandre Locquet , D.S. Citrin","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) reinforced with boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) at weight fill factors <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>f</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>w</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> of 0.2 and 0.5 wt % are characterized by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). It is known that the introduction of BNNTs in polymer composites can provide thermal conduction paths and significantly reduce interface thermal resistance. Despite the low values of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>f</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>w</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>, the presence of the BNNTs has a significant effect on the optical constants, either due to the intrinsic contribution of the BNNTs or due to extrinsic effects such as induced strain in the PMMA matrix. Negligible THz birefringence observed in the polarization-resolved THz transmission measurements indicates a high degree of isotropy of the BNNT dispersed in the PMMA. Assuming an intrinsic effect and the validity of modified Maxwell–Garnett theory regardless of the inclusion shape, the frequency-dependent optical constants of BNNTs are extracted. The refractive index of BNNTs varies roughly linearly from <span><math><mrow><mi>n</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>ν</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>500</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>GHz</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>≈</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>8</mn></mrow></math></span> to <span><math><mrow><mi>n</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>ν</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>5</mn><mi>THz</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>≈</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>75</mn></mrow></math></span>, while the absorption coefficient increases from <span><math><mrow><mi>α</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>ν</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>500</mn><mspace></mspace><mi>GHz</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>≈</mo><mn>10</mn></mrow></math></span> cm<sup>−1</sup> to <span><math><mrow><mi>α</mi><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>ν</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>5</mn><mi>THz</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow><mo>≈</mo><mn>45</mn></mrow></math></span> cm<sup>−1</sup>. The extracted THz dielectric properties of the BNNTs trend toward reported values for bulk h-BNs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108812"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-26DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824
Saunak Sinha Ray , David Zumr , Florian Wilken , Tomáš Dostál , Peter Fiener
{"title":"A cost-effective protocol for detecting fluorescent microplastics in arable soils to study redistribution processes","authors":"Saunak Sinha Ray , David Zumr , Florian Wilken , Tomáš Dostál , Peter Fiener","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding microplastics' (MPs) transport from soils to aquatic ecosystems is challenging due to labor-intensive detection methods, especially in large-scale plot experiments analyzing surface runoff and soil erosion. To address this, we used fluorescent MPs as tracers and developed a cost-effective protocol to detect them in dry soils and eroded sediments. We analyzed spherical polyethylene (PE: 125–150 μm; 425–500 μm) and irregular polylactic acid (PLA: 125–150 μm; 250–300 μm). Sample assays were prepared primarily based on dry and wet sieving. Subsequent darkroom photography under 365 nm illumination, and thresholding and segmentation-based image analysis were done. The developed protocol demonstrates high reliability, precision, and F-scores of 88.7 % ± 2.9 %, 85.2 % ± 3.1 %, and 86.9 % ± 2.8 %. PE exhibited slightly higher recovery rates (85 % ± 5 %) than PLA (79 % ± 8 %). Particle size influenced recovery, with larger MPs achieving significantly higher recovery. Smaller particles showed slightly lower recovery under dry soil conditions, but their recovery improved under sediment conditions facilitated by wet sieving and ultrasonication. All fluorescent MPs retained >95 % detectability after three months of storage, highlighting marker temporal stability. Compared to existing methods, this protocol eliminates complex digestion steps, reduces costs, and ensures minimal contamination, providing a robust framework for MP transport studies. It offers potential for enhancement through advanced imaging and machine learning, enabling more efficient and accessible detection in environmental research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108824"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143904172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A novel tenter-frame device for real-time monitoring during biaxial stretching of polyethylene","authors":"Francesca Gentile , Adriano Guida , Ilaria Squillante , Finizia Auriemma , Giuseppe Portale , Roberto Pantani","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biaxial stretching of polymeric films, which typically occurs in a semi-solid state, involves the application of shear and elongational force fields along two main directions and is a common technology in several applications. To understand the effect of the processing conditions on the final properties, it is crucial to monitor the development of the crystal structure and orientation throughout the stretching process. While there is considerable literature on the uniaxial processing of PE materials, only a small number of research studies have been conducted on biaxially oriented polyethylene (BOPE) film processing. Given the complex and costly nature of designing biaxial devices, several potential solutions exist within the literature. However, most of these do not meet the needs of in-situ investigations. The objective of this manuscript has been the development of a cost-effective device that enables in-situ analysis during biaxial stretching of polyethylene cast sheet samples. The potential of the so-designed device has been demonstrated by carrying out in-situ small X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis during stretching tests at 125 °C on an LLDPE pre-cast sheet sample.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108823"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143898683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-23DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108822
Jibin Chen , Xiaobo Lv , Jingwen Kang , Guanglei Liu , Yongxiang Zhou
{"title":"Experimental study on the anchoring mechanism and performance of BFRP bolt-anchorage system in supporting clay slopes","authors":"Jibin Chen , Xiaobo Lv , Jingwen Kang , Guanglei Liu , Yongxiang Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The experimental studies were performed to examine the failure mechanism and the capacity of BFRP bolt-anchorage system under laboratory and field conditions in supporting clay slopes in Sichuan Basin, China. The results indicate that BFRP anchor bolts, designed based on the principle of equal strength replacement between bolt tensile strength and the bonding strength of the first interface, can meet the safety standards required for slope engineering. During the stable phase of the slope, the mechanical behavior and deformation characteristics of BFRP anchor bolts are comparable to those of steel anchor bolts, with the axial force of BFRP bolts being 1/3 to 1/4 lower than the designed value. When the slope enters the accelerated creep stage, the axial force of steel anchor bolts exceeds the designed value by 40 %, while the axial force of BFRP bolts remains at only 2/3 of that of steel bolts. The failure mechanisms of the BFRP bolt-anchorage system primarily involve shear failure at the bolt-mortar interface and pullout failure of the bolt body, which are attributed to the cumulative damage of the polymer material. Based on the experimental findings, it is recommended that the minimum tensile safety factor for BFRP bars used in temporary slope support should be set at 1.26. This study enhances the understanding of BFRP anchorage systems in clay soil environments and provides valuable insights for the design and construction of infrastructure projects in similar geological conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108822"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143873517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Polymer TestingPub Date : 2025-04-18DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108821
Peng Zhang
{"title":"Mechanical and electrical properties of a polymer electrolyte based on zinc oxide for enhancement of Li-ion battery performance","authors":"Peng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work was carried out to synthesize and apply mesoporous 3-mercaptopropyl pyridine-ZnO nanorods (MPP-ZnO NRs) as additives in a cross-linked composite gel polymer electrolyte for enhancing the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The MPP-ZnO NRs were synthesized using a sol-gel method and functionalized with MPP. The electrospun fibrous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane was coated with ZnO nanorods, forming a stable and robust composite electrolyte. Results of mechanical tests indicated that compared to control membranes (without ZnO NRs), the MPP-ZnO-containing membranes showed significant enhancements, likely an increase in tensile strength (∼1.5-fold), an enhancement in adhesion strength (∼4-fold), and an increase in shear stress (∼3-fold). Electrochemical performance was evaluated using charge-discharge cycling and AC impedance spectroscopy tests. Findings demonstrated that utilizing cross-linked gel-polymer electrolytes with MPP-ZnO NRs showed lower charge transfer resistance and superior cycling stability, maintaining 89.0 % capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.5C, with an initial discharge capacity of 179.9 mAh/g and 160.1 mAh/g after 200 cycles. Moreover, these cells showed remarkable capacity recovery, with an18 % higher capacity at 5.0C compared to non-porous counterparts and delivering discharge capacity of 139.8 mAh/g at 5.0C. Results showed good high-rate performance due to improved thermal stability and HF scavenging ability of the mesoporous MPP-ZnO NR-based electrolyte. These results indicate the potential of mesoporous MPP-ZnO NRs in advancing the performance and stability of lithium-ion batteries, making them as low-cost candidates for future energy storage applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20628,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Testing","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 108821"},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}