PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129654
Sreedevi T. , Franck Ducos , Jesiya Susan George , Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai , Asha Bhanu A.V. , Henri Vahabi , Poornima Vijayan P.
{"title":"Chemical and microstructure correlation towards optimisation of thermal behaviour of boric acid crosslinked PVA-cellulose nanofiber composite","authors":"Sreedevi T. , Franck Ducos , Jesiya Susan George , Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai , Asha Bhanu A.V. , Henri Vahabi , Poornima Vijayan P.","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a superior biodegradable polymer, it requires structural modifications using crosslinking agents and nanofillers to assure thermal integrity. PVA-cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite films were fabricated by solvent casting with boric acid as crosslinking agent (named PVA-BA-CNF composite). Chemical interactions established between components of the composite film was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Newly formed B–O–C linkages were evident from chemical structure evaluation. Surface morphology of the film was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy (OM). Morphological studies revealed a uniform dispersion of CNF in a PVA-BA crosslinked matrix especially at low boric acid content. Changes in crystallinity and crystalline size with extent of crosslinking in the composites has been evaluated using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Those parameters were correlated with melting temperature (<em>T</em><sub><em>m</em></sub>) of the composites obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The higher glass transition temperature (<em>T</em><sub><em>g</em></sub>) recorded for PVA-BA-CNF composite films were correlated with increased crosslinking. The effect of boric acid content on thermal stability, degradation kinetics and the processing window for PVA-BA-CNF composites have been evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The apparent activation energy for thermal degradation was calculated using the Coats-Redfern method. Vertical flammability test was conducted to study flammability of composite films. The PVA-BA-CNF composites exhibit enhanced thermal properties making them as a potential candidate for applications where higher thermal resistance and processability are required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129654"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146110986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(silyl fumarate) shape memory scaffolds","authors":"Jenlyan Negrón Hernández , Kaley Beach , Paola Chavarria , Melissa A. Grunlan","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biodegradable shape memory scaffolds have the unique potential to heal irregularly shaped craniomaxillofacial (CMF) defects through conformal ‘self-fitting’. These have been previously prepared from poly(ε-caprolactone) diacrylate (PCL-DA), but the slow biodegradation rate of PCL is expected to limit neotissue formation. Subsequently, telechelic siloxane macromers polydimethylsiloxane-dimethacrylate (PDMS-DMA) and polymethylhydrosiloxane-DMA (PMHS-DMA) were combined with PCL-DA at varying weight (wt)% ratios, resulting in PCL/PDMS and PCL/PMHS co-network scaffolds with accelerated degradation rates owing to phase separation that increased water uptake. Still, these siloxane macromers lack a hydrolytically unstable backbone thus limiting degradation. Herein, poly(silyl fumarate) (PSF) was synthesized as a hybrid siloxane macromer with a hydrolytically unstable backbone as well as interchain crosslinkability. PCL/PSF scaffolds were prepared at 90:10, 75:25, 60:40, and 50:50 wt% of PCL-DA to PSF via solvent-casting particulate leaching (SCPL) with a fused salt template. Despite a reduction in PCL crystallinity (i.e., switching segments) with 40 and 50 wt% PSF, all scaffolds maintained excellent shape memory behavior. PCL/PSF scaffolds with 10 and 25 wt% PSF also maintained the modulus of the PCL-only scaffold as well as the corresponding PCL/PDMS and PCL/PMHS scaffolds. <em>In vitro</em> degradation under basic conditions revealed that PCL/PSF scaffolds with just 10 wt% PSF degraded faster than the PCL-only scaffold and further increased with 25 wt% PSF to surpass that of the corresponding PCL/PDMS scaffold. A lack of phases separation was observed, and thus indicated that faster degradation was achieved by the hydrolytic instability of the PSF.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129694"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-19Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129721
Matheus H. Nachbar, Marion Colella, Sébastien Livi, Jannick D. Rumeau
{"title":"Metal-based ionic liquids as new catalyst of covalent adaptable networks based on poly(ethylene terephthalate) from textile grade","authors":"Matheus H. Nachbar, Marion Colella, Sébastien Livi, Jannick D. Rumeau","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129721","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129721","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The textile industry has recently been identified as a major contributor to plastic production and environmental pollution. The rising consumption of clothing with shorter lifespans, driven by fast fashion, has led to a significant increase in the production of synthetic fibers. Among these, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is the most widely used on the market. In this study, we propose a promising upcycling strategy for textile-grade PET via reactive extrusion to obtain covalent adaptable networks (CANs). A comparative study was performed using a conventional catalyst, Zn(acac)<sub>2</sub> and a metallic ionic liquid (MIL). The use of ionic liquids as transesterification catalysts demonstrated promising results and represents a compelling alternative to traditional metal-organic catalysts, owing to their lower toxicity and superior thermal stability. The resulting CAN systems exhibited high gel fractions and fast relaxation, regardless of the catalyst employed. Notably, faster relaxation times were achieved with the MIL catalyst, attributed to increased PET chain scission during the extrusion process. This work highlights the potential of ionic liquids as catalysts in PET-based CANs and emphasizes the importance of balancing catalyst loading to optimize final material properties while minimizing chain degradation during processing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"348 ","pages":"Article 129721"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146153081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-06Epub Date: 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129665
Haoxin Fu , Zidi Hao , Xiaohan Qiao , Ruona Li , Lixue Liu , Lei Zhang , Xueting Zhao , Na Tang
{"title":"A PDMS/m-PP hybrid membrane with high oxygen transmittance as a potential building block for 3D printing applications","authors":"Haoxin Fu , Zidi Hao , Xiaohan Qiao , Ruona Li , Lixue Liu , Lei Zhang , Xueting Zhao , Na Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functional membranes integrating optical transparency, oxygen permeability, and mechanical robustness are highly demanded in fields like continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) yet challenged by complex fabrication and environmental concerns from solvent use. To address this, MR2007 (one of the polypropylene candidates) was chosen as the substrate because it exhibited the most homogeneous molecular consistency, evidenced by the sharpest exothermic peak in the DSC cooling curve, firstly. Then we developed a facile hot-pressing method to fabricate metallocene polypropylene (mPP) membranes blended with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at gradient ratios. The resulting composite membranes preserve excellent optical properties while exhibiting an approximately tenfold enhancement in oxygen permeability and robust stability. Notably, they demonstrate exceptional Ultraviolet (UV) resistance, with no significant degradation in transmittance or haze after 120 h of continuous UV exposure. This work establishes a material basis for advancing CLIP technology and demonstrates promise for enabling its practical, high-efficiency application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129665"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-06Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129674
Yun-Chien Zheng , Shimaa Abdelnaser , Yousra M. Nabil , Mostafa Sayed , Shiao-Wei Kuo , Chih-Feng Wang , Mostafa Ahmed , Ahmed F.M. EL-Mahdy
{"title":"Multistep synthesis of heterocyclic Schiff base–derived polybenzoxazines for direct carbonization into N, O, S–co-doped microporous carbons with dual CO2 capture and supercapacitor performance","authors":"Yun-Chien Zheng , Shimaa Abdelnaser , Yousra M. Nabil , Mostafa Sayed , Shiao-Wei Kuo , Chih-Feng Wang , Mostafa Ahmed , Ahmed F.M. EL-Mahdy","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rising demand for sustainable energy storage and carbon mitigation calls for multifunctional materials that integrate high surface area, tailored heteroatom chemistry, and robust electrochemical stability. Herein, we report a continuous three-step synthesis of two novel heterocyclic Schiff base–derived benzoxazine monomers—3-(6-methoxybenzo [d]thiazol-2-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[e][1,3]oxazine (SA-tz Bz) and 3-(6-methoxybenzo [d]thiazol-2-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphtho[2,1-e][1,3]oxazine (NA-tz Bz)—through sequential Schiff base formation, reduction, and Mannich condensation. Thermal ring-opening polymerization followed by direct carbonization at 600 and 700 °C under an inert atmosphere yielded N, O, S co-doped microporous carbons (C@poly (SA-tz Bz) and C@poly (NA-tz Bz)) without the need for activating agents or wastewater generation. These heteroatom-enriched carbons exhibit disordered amorphous structures with hierarchical porosity, abundant pyridinic/pyrrolic nitrogen species, and oxygen/sulfur functionalities, as confirmed by BET, Raman, XPS, and TEM analyses. Electrochemical studies revealed that C@poly (NA-tz Bz 700) delivers a high specific capacitance of 423 ± 18 F g<sup>−1</sup> at 0.5 A g<sup>−1</sup> in a three-electrode system, good cycling stability (98 % retention after 6000 cycles), and superior performance in a symmetric two-electrode device (342 F g<sup>−1</sup>, 89.50 % retention after 4000 cycles). Moreover, C@poly (NA-tz Bz 700) achieves an exceptional CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption capacity of 231.7 cm<sup>3</sup> g<sup>−1</sup> at 273 K, surpassing many reported heteroatom-doped carbons. This work presents a sustainable strategy for designing heterocyclic benzoxazine-derived microporous carbons that combine efficient energy storage with effective CO<sub>2</sub> capture, offering promising prospects for next-generation electrochemical and environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129674"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Energy dissipation and rate-dependent deformation behavior of shear thickening fluid integrated polyurethane foam nanocomposites","authors":"Emre Gunduz , Bunyamin Karagoz , İpek Ösken , Kaan Yildiz , Hulya Cebeci","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Designing energy dissipative polymeric foams is essential for many applications to withstand various loading scenarios. This study is aimed to improve the compressive and energy absorption properties of polyurethane foams with shear thickening fluid (STF) integration while discussing microstructure-mechanical property relationship. Initially, STFs were fabricated with between 19 and 28 wt% fumed silica content and investigated by a rheometer. 26 wt% silica was found to be optimum for integration into polyurethane foams, yielding an excellent thickening ratio of 67. Therefore, 26 wt% STFs were integrated into rigid PU foams at 0.5, 1, and 3 wt%, and morphological analyses, cyclic compression tests at various strains and strain rates were performed to develop microstructure-mechanical property relationship. The results revealed that 1 wt% STF-integrated polyurethane foams presented the highest specific compressive strength with 33 % and 10.4 % enhancements, respectively. Furthermore, 1 wt% STF integration generated up to 50 % greater energy dissipation over 10 cycles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129668"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The morphological control and formation mechanism of porous electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride fibers","authors":"Yueling Shen, Ying Xu, Chen Chen, Cheng Zou, Yaoyao Yang, Deng-guang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>By integrating non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) with electrospinning technology, porous electrospun fibers can be prepared in a single step. However, the underlying mechanism of phase separation process during electrospinning are still not well understood. In this study, the regulatory effects of non-solvent types and their addition amounts on the morphology and composition of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) electrospun fibers were systematically investigated by constructing various solvent/non-solvent systems, employing <em>N,N</em>-Dimethylacetamide (DMAC) or <em>N,N</em>-Dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents, and water or ethanol as non-solvents. The results indicated that the incorporation of non-solvent significantly enhanced fiber diameter and uniformity, while promoting the formation of bicontinuous pores. Regardless of whether DMAC or DMF is used as the solvent, employing ethanol as the non-solvent results in a more uniform and densely packed porous structure compared to water. As the amount of non-solvent added increases, the internal porous structure of the fibers becomes increasingly superior. Additionally, the addition of non-solvent effectively facilitated the formation of <em>β</em>-phase and <em>γ</em>-phase through hydrogen bonding and confinement effects. The mechanism of NIPS-electrospinning was elucidated through ternary phase diagram and TGA analysis. Specifically, solvent evaporation led to the accumulation of condensed water on the fiber surface, triggering fiber solidification. Subsequently, the NIPS process continued internally within the fibers, resulting in the formation of superporous fibers with an internal bicontinuous pore structure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129693"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-06Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129675
Le Zhou , Chunhua Zhu , Junhua Zhao
{"title":"Molecular dynamics study on the influence of a liquid-crystalline co-curing agent on the curing behavior and mechanical properties of epoxy resins","authors":"Le Zhou , Chunhua Zhu , Junhua Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Epoxy resins are widely used in energy storage devices, electronic encapsulation, and structural adhesives owing to their excellent adhesion and electrical insulation properties. However, conventional epoxy systems still face challenges related to mechanical robustness and long-term service reliability. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide an effective means to investigate structure–property relationships in crosslinked epoxy networks, yet their application is often hindered by the complexity of curing reactions and the limited efficiency and reproducibility of traditional atomistic modeling workflows. In this work, a lightweight graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to facilitate automatic and user-friendly generation of reaction-mapping templates for reactive molecular dynamics simulations based on the AutoMapper–LAMMPS fix bond/react framework. Using this platform, a ternary epoxy system comprising epoxy resin, curing agent, and a mesogenic comonomer was established. By systematically varying the crosslinking degree and comonomer content, the effects of network topology and local molecular ordering on mechanical behavior were elucidated. The results provide molecular-level insight into strategies for enhancing epoxy toughness without significantly compromising stiffness and demonstrate a generalizable and efficient methodology for simulating complex crosslinked polymer systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129675"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146111013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-06Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129706
Mahsima Seifollahi, Mohammad Zaman Kabir, Sara Golbabapour
{"title":"Effects of geometric discontinuities on tensile fatigue deterioration and life estimation in additively manufactured polylactic acid (PLA) parts","authors":"Mahsima Seifollahi, Mohammad Zaman Kabir, Sara Golbabapour","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, an integrated experimental–analytical framework was employed to investigate the effects of geometric imperfections on the static and fatigue behaviour of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) specimens. The specimens were fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) with YZ orientation and a concentric infill pattern. Experimental results showed that a central hole with a stress concentration factor of 1.95 resulted in approximately 17% shorter fatigue life compared to edge-notched specimens. Notches and holes with a 2 mm radius yielded fatigue notch factors of 1.12 and 1.15, respectively, emphasizing the dominant influence of process-induced internal defects on fatigue damage evolution. To determine the notch geometry that can override the effect of internal defects on fatigue behaviour, the Theory of Critical Distance (TCD) coupled with numerical models was used to estimate the fatigue notch factor. In the numerical simulations, the internal porosity of the 3D-printed samples was taken into account to capture the interaction between notches and inherent defects. The analysis identified a notch aspect ratio of 0.25 as critical, exhibiting the highest fatigue notch factor of 1.59. Then, crack growth behaviour was monitored using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and analysed through the Paris law to determine material constants. Fatigue life was subsequently estimated using a defect-based approach for 3D-printed PLA, explicitly accounting for process-induced internal defects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129706"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PolymerPub Date : 2026-03-06Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129652
D. Lipowska-Kur , P. Groch , Ł. Otulakowski , K. Filipek , K. Jelonek , A. Utrata-Wesołek
{"title":"Impact of amino functionalization on gelation properties of random terpolymer of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates in water and physiological media","authors":"D. Lipowska-Kur , P. Groch , Ł. Otulakowski , K. Filipek , K. Jelonek , A. Utrata-Wesołek","doi":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymer.2026.129652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermoreversible gels (thermogels) are formed when solutions of thermoresponsive polymers transition from a low-viscosity liquid state to a gel state upon exceeding the gelation temperature (<em>T</em><sub><em>GEL</em></sub>). This property makes them attractive materials for a wide range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and drug delivery. While the gelation mechanism of block copolymers containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments are well understood, the ability of random copolymers, particularly those containing thermoresponsive units, to form stable gels is still not well established. In this work, we explore the gelation behavior of random copolymers based on oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates, focusing on the impact of amino functional groups studied in their ammonium and amine forms, and directly comparing them to non-functionalized polymer. As comonomers, oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (O; M<sub>n</sub> = 300 g/mol), di(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (D) and 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride, introducing amino groups (in A<sup>(+)</sup> NH<sub>3</sub><sup>+</sup> and A NH<sub>2</sub> form), were used. The gelation behavior of the resulting copolymers was influenced by the presence of amine groups, their ionization state and the type of medium (water or PBS). Both the non-functionalized copolymer P(OD) and the amino-functionalized copolymer P(AOD) formed thermogels in water and PBS, whereas the ammonium-functionalized copolymer P(A<sup>(+)</sup>OD) exhibited gelation only in PBS. Moreover, the P(AOD) gel demonstrated superior mechanical strength and a more stable polymer network compared with the P(OD) gel, indicating a beneficial effect of amino groups on the properties of thermogelling materials. In addition, the amine-functionalized copolymer was found to be non-toxic, making the obtained materials particularly promising for biomedical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":405,"journal":{"name":"Polymer","volume":"347 ","pages":"Article 129652"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}