Journal of Polymers and the Environment最新文献

{"title":"EC/DOS/Beeswax Composite Coating for Regulating Salt Release from Sludge Fermentation Products: Performance and Molecular-Level Water Transport","authors":"Qiyu Gong,&nbsp;Xinchang Zhou,&nbsp;Yibin Guo,&nbsp;Junting Wang,&nbsp;Xuanhan Li,&nbsp;Jianshu Xiong,&nbsp;Shujie Hou,&nbsp;Yanping Zhang,&nbsp;Bingzhen Li,&nbsp;Chaoyue Zhao,&nbsp;Xu Li,&nbsp;Tong Zhu,&nbsp;Youzhao Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03958-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03958-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sludge fermentation products (SFP) have potential for agricultural reuse, but the rapid release of retained soluble salts may cause osmotic stress during early plant establishment. This study developed an ethyl cellulose (EC)/dioctyl sebacate (DOS)/beeswax composite coating and investigated the relationships among coating composition, film properties, water transport, and release behavior. An appropriate EC concentration promoted coating continuity, DOS improved film flexibility and mechanical performance, and beeswax enhanced surface hydrophobicity. During a 29-day immersion experiment, the optimized composite-coated sample (EDW3) exhibited the lowest volume-weighted summed leachate conductivity index and cumulative dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release among the tested formulations. On day 29, its conductivity index was 6.920 × 10⁻⁵ S·m², representing a 48.0% reduction relative to uncoated SFP. Lettuce seed emergence reached 94% for EDW3, whereas emergence was completely inhibited by uncoated SFP under the tested conditions. Molecular dynamics simulations qualitatively showed that the calculated water diffusion coefficient decreased from 4.73 × 10⁻² to 4.07 × 10⁻⁴ Ų/ps with increasing EC content, but increased from 5.03 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.86 × 10⁻³ Ų/ps with increasing DOS content. These findings suggest that release regulation depends on balancing polymer-network compactness, film flexibility, and surface hydrophobicity, and provide a structure–property basis for further evaluation of coated SFP under field-relevant conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148974813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Production of Phenolic Foams Based on Tannins from Acacia mearnsii and Stryphnodendron adstringens Reinforced with Quercus suber Powder","authors":"Dieimes Ribeiro Resende,&nbsp;Uasmim Lira Zidanes,&nbsp;Dianessa Danielli,&nbsp;Mário Sérgio Lorenço,&nbsp;Elesandra da Silva Araujo,&nbsp;Denisse Vega Villarruel,&nbsp;Carine Setter,&nbsp;Eraldo Antonio Bonfatti Júnior,&nbsp;Gustavo Henrique Denzin Tonolli,&nbsp;Fábio Akira Mori","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03957-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03957-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Tannins are among the most abundant and versatile chemical compounds extracted from tree bark, with applications ranging from pharmaceuticals to wood-panel adhesives and, more recently, tannin-based phenolic foams. This study aimed to produce and characterize rigid phenolic foams based on <i>Acacia mearnsii</i> (De Wild) and <i>Stryphnodendron adstringens</i> (Mart.) Coville (Fabaceae) tannins, evaluating the influence of cork (Quercus suber) powder reinforcement and polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) on their properties. The latter species is an underexplored Brazilian source, here compared with the industrially established A. <i>mearnsii</i> under identical processing conditions. Eight formulations were prepared, containing each additive alone or in combination: AM1–AM4 (A. <i>mearnsii</i>) and SA1–SA4 (S. <i>adstringens</i>). The foams were characterized for bulk and real density, porosity, compressive strength, mechanical durability (friability), water absorption, contact angle, cell morphology (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The S. <i>adstringens</i> tannins exhibited a higher Stiasny index (81.1%) and condensed-tannin content (20.9%) than A. <i>mearnsii</i> (74.5% and 18.6%), yielding foams with higher compressive strength (up to 0.22 MPa) and elastic modulus (up to 2.27 MPa) than the corresponding A. <i>mearnsii</i> foams (0.13–0.05 MPa and 1.34–0.52 MPa). The combined use of cork powder and polysorbate 80 reduced friability (e.g., from 18.5% in SA1 to 8.4% in SA4) and produced smaller, more homogeneous cells (mean diameter reduced to 163.4 μm in SA4 and 205.5 μm in AM4). All foams showed good thermal stability, with significant char yield at 800 °C. These results demonstrate the potential of S. <i>adstringens</i> tannins as a renewable precursor for rigid phenolic foams and the beneficial role of cork powder and polysorbate 80 in improving their morphology and mechanical durability.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10924-026-03957-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148974812","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":"Silybin-Loaded Chitosan–Gelatin Hydrogels as a Novel Strategy for MRSA-Infected Diabetic Foot Treatment: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Evidence","authors":"Ozge Oztürk Cimentepe,&nbsp;Mehmet Cimentepe,&nbsp;Büsra Hord,&nbsp;Kemal Dogan,&nbsp;Akin Yigin,&nbsp;Muhammet Bahaeddin Dortbudak,&nbsp;Metin Yildirim","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03962-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03962-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Diabetic foot infections are serious complications that increase morbidity, prolong hospitalization, and elevate the risk of amputation in patients with diabetes. Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) remains a major causative pathogen, and its multidrug resistance significantly limits the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, necessitating alternative therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to develop and evaluate silybin-loaded chitosan–gelatin (CS–Gel) hydrogels prepared by glutaraldehyde-mediated crosslinking for the treatment of MRSA-induced diabetic foot infections. The fabricated hydrogels (SB1 and SB2) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming successful crosslin king and silybin incorporation. In vitro studies demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and hemocompatibility, with no cytotoxic effects observed in NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells at concentrations up to 10 mg/mL. Both SB1 and SB2 hydrogels exhibited potent antibacterial activity against MRSA, producing inhibition zones of 19.7 ± 0.45 mm and 20.9 ± 0.53 mm, respectively, with antibacterial efficacy rates exceeding 85%. SEM analysis revealed marked morphological disruption of MRSA cells following treatment. Molecular docking analysis provided complementary computational support for the observed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, demonstrating favorable predicted binding of silybin to MRSA-associated proteins and inflammatory mediators. Consistent with these findings, silybin-loaded hydrogels significantly reduced IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation in an MRSA-infected diabetic foot wound model demonstrated accelerated wound closure and superior healing outcomes for both SB1 and SB2 compared with fusidic acid (Fucidin^®) by day 12. These findings suggest that silybin-loaded CS–Gel hydrogels represent a promising therapeutic platform for the management of MRSA-infected diabetic foot infections.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148974814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facile Preparation of Carboxymethyl Starch/Tri-metallic Layered Double Hydroxide Decorated with the Copper-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Adsorptive Purification of Water","authors":"Hassan Namazi,&nbsp;Malihe Pooresmaeil","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03960-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03960-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Due to the increasing pollution of water resources, this work aimed to construct a new ZnMgAl LDH-CMS/MOF(Cu) nanocomposite that can be used as a synergistic adsorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal. To the knowledge of the authors, ZnMgAl LDH-CMS/MOF(Cu) prepared from carboxymethyl starch (CMS), tri-metallic layered double hydroxide (ZnMgAl LDH), and copper-based metal-organic framework (MOF(Cu)) has never been studied before from the synthesis and MB removal viewpoints. The physicochemical properties of the prepared adsorbent were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, and SEM techniques. Also, the success in the composition of the constituents was confirmed through the appearance of the Zn, Mg, Al, N, O, C, and Cu elements in the EDX spectroscopy. AFM analysis displayed a rough surface with some hill-like heaves in 3D images of ZnMgAl LDH-CMS/MOF(Cu). The prepared adsorbent presented a specific surface area of 406.13 m²/g, a total pore volume of 0.2487 cm³/g, and an average pore diameter of 2.4499 nm in BET analysis. In a batch adsorption method, 120 min, 10 mg, and 8.0 were determined, respectively, as the optimum adsorption time, adsorbent mass, and pH of the pollutant solution. The Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, with R² values of 0.9909 and 0.9545, were the best-fitted models with the experimental adsorption data. Remarkably, the maximum adsorption capacity was obtained at about 232.558 mg/g. Thermodynamic analysis showed ΔG &lt; 0 and ΔH &lt; 0, indicating a spontaneous and exothermic process. The composite retained over 84.99% of its initial activity after five consecutive cycles. In conclusion, findings demonstrated that the ZnMgAl LDH-CMS/MOF(Cu) has the potential to be proposed as an adsorbent for the treatment of dye-contaminated water.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148974815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Polyethylene Biodeterioration by Klebsiella Pneumoniae YRK111 and Functional Characterization of a Multicopper Oxidase with Variations in Catalytic Activity","authors":"Ye-Rim Shin,&nbsp;Jang-Sub Lee,&nbsp;Seong-Jun Choi,&nbsp;Jeong-Ann Park,&nbsp;Hyun-Ouk Kim,&nbsp;Kwang Suk Lim,&nbsp;Jong-Hyun Jung,&nbsp;Suk-Jin Ha","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03959-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03959-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rapid increase in plastic production has led to persistent plastic waste and other significant environmental challenges. Polyethylene is highly resistant to biodegradation owing to its inert C–C backbone and hydrophobicity, and although oxidative surface modification is essential for degradation, the underlying enzymatic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a polyethylene-utilizing bacterium, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> YRK111, was isolated and shown to induce polyethylene biodeterioration. Specifically, a multicopper oxidase (MCO) from YRK111 (KpnMCO) was subsequently identified, and treatment with KpnMCO induced oxidative surface modifications, suggesting its involvement in the initial oxidation of polyethylene. Sequence analysis revealed that KpnMCO contains three amino acid substitutions (A64V, E405G, and C472S) relative to previously reported homologous enzymes. Structural modeling suggested that these substitutions were located in regions associated with substrate accessibility and catalytic regulation. Kinetic analysis of recombinant KpnMCO and its variants showed that the substitution of native residues with those from homologs reduced catalytic activity, with A64V and C472S primarily decreasing catalytic turnover. Notably, KpnMCO alone induced the oxidative modification of the polyethylene film, resulting in surface defects and measurable weight loss (1.89% within 3 days). These findings provide molecular-level insight into the relationship between sequence variation and the oxidative activity of bacterial MCOs and support the potential involvement of KpnMCO in the initial oxidation of polyethylene.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148974782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanical and Biological Properties of 3D-Printed Magnetic Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Scaffolds via Chitosan/MWCNTs Coating","authors":"Abbas Toghian Chaharsoughi,&nbsp;Saeed Karbasi,&nbsp;Esmaeil Emadoddin,&nbsp;Seyed Ali Poursamar","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03954-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03954-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bone tissue engineering requires scaffolds that combine high bioactivity with sufficient mechanical strength to support tissue regeneration. In this study, a novel strategy was developed to fabricate hierarchical magnetic mesoporous bioactive glass scaffolds reinforced with 7.5 wt% Al₂O₃ nanowires using direct ink writing. To further enhance scaffold performance, the printed structures were coated with chitosan (CS) and chitosan/multi-walled carbon nanotube (CS/MWCNT) nanocomposites. The resulting scaffolds retained their amorphous, mesoporous, and superparamagnetic characteristics while exhibiting a highly interconnected porous architecture. CS coating increased compressive strength by 36.8 ± 1.2%, whereas CS/MWCNT coating produced a substantially greater enhancement of 155.26 ± 4.4%, while maintaining high porosity (&gt; 82%). In addition, all scaffolds demonstrated excellent bioactivity, high cell viability (&gt; 85%), favorable cell adhesion, and enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity. These findings demonstrate that CS/MWCNT-coated MMBG scaffolds provide an effective combination of mechanical reinforcement and osteogenic potential, offering a promising platform for load-bearing bone tissue engineering applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gracilaria fisheri-Derived Agar and κ-Carrageenan Coatings for Enhancing Single-Use Paper-Based Packaging Performance","authors":"Tunyarut Jinkarn,&nbsp;Korkiat Pilab,&nbsp;Chanthidaporn Phuthongjan,&nbsp;Thitiporn Kaewpetch","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03929-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03929-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the rapidly increasing demand for paper-based packaging, the development of sustainable coating materials is essential to enhance surface functionality and barrier performance. <i>Gracilaria fisheri</i> seaweed is a promising source of edible, biodegradable agar coatings. Given the structural similarity between agar and κ-carrageenan, <i>G. fisheri</i>-derived agar may serve as a lower-cost alternative to κ-carrageenan coatings. In this study, <i>G. fisheri</i>-derived agar coatings (GF), obtained via hot water extraction, were applied to paper substrates and compared with coatings prepared from pure κ-carrageenan and their mixtures to evaluate the coating functionalities mainly for single-use paper-based packaging. The GF coatings provided effective oxygen barrier performance (OTR ~ 1.6×10⁵ cc/m²⋅day) and excellent oil resistance (Cobb₆₀ &lt;10 g/m²) comparable to κ-carrageenan, while offering greater processability during coating application due to weaker gelation. Importantly, GF coatings exhibited clear heat-sealability with seal strength (~ 300–400 N/m) comparable to starch-based films, whereas κ-carrageenan coatings showed no apparent heat-sealing ability. However, their tensile strength and Young’s modulus decreased significantly in machine direction. During application test with oil-rich food, GF coatings also had limited thermal resistance (Tg ≈ 69 °C), restricting prolonged contact with high-temperature, oil-rich foods. Therefore, further improvements in thermal stability are required, potentially through polymer blending, crosslinking, or reinforcing fillers incorporation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148927016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design of TPS/PBAT Flexible Biodegradable Blown Films Modified by PLA and Talc","authors":"Cristina Martín-Poyo,&nbsp;Josep P. Cerisuelo,&nbsp;Jose D. Badia-Valiente","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03946-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03946-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This work investigates the combined influence of talc (0–10 wt%) and polylactide (PLA, 0–10 wt%) on thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (TPS/PBAT) biodegradable blown films at a pre-industrial level. A series of 16 formulations was successfully prepared via twin-screw extrusion and subsequently processed into films using blown film extrusion. FTIR confirmed the coexistence of TPS, PBAT, and PLA phases. Morphological analysis revealed that PLA enhanced phase compatibility and matrix homogeneity, while moderate talc contents improved surface uniformity; however, excessive talc induced microstructural irregularities, unless high PLA contents were formulated. DSC analysis showed that talc acted as a nucleating agent for PBAT, raising the crystallisation temperature (Tc) from 83.9 °C to 95.7 °C, while PLA slightly modulated both crystallisation and melting behaviour (Tm₁ ≈ 116–118 °C; Tm₂ ≈ 148–151 °C). Mechanical results indicated that PLA significantly increased stiffness and strength, with the Young’s modulus rising from 29 MPa to 286 MPa and yield strength from 4.6 MPa to 9.3 MPa, whereas talc contributed with additional reinforcement. The optimal balance between stiffness and ductility was achieved at intermediate-to-high PLA levels (7–10 wt%) combined with 5–10 wt% of talc, maintaining elongation at break between 450% and 700%. These findings provided valuable guidelines for tailoring compostable TPS/PBAT-based biofilms to meet the performance and sustainability requirements of flexible packaging applications.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10924-026-03946-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148926904","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":"Retraction Note: Newly Synthesized Nanocomposites for Superior Barrier and Hydrophobic Behaviours of Tinplates for the Applications in Food Packaging Industry","authors":"Joseph Raj Xavier,&nbsp;Ramesh Bhaskar,&nbsp;Srinivasan Subramanian","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03956-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03956-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148926459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis of Gemini Quaternary Ammonium Salts with Varying Hydroxyl Group Numbers and Their Application in the Preparation of Novel Cationic Waterborne Polyurethanes","authors":"Zhenqiang Wang,&nbsp;Xueke Li,&nbsp;Yajie Jiang,&nbsp;Yakui Wang,&nbsp;Zijie Guo,&nbsp;Hongbin Ju,&nbsp;Tao Geng,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Li","doi":"10.1007/s10924-026-03938-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10924-026-03938-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Due to their excellent hydrophilicity, antibacterial properties, and molecular designability, quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) have attracted considerable interest. In this study, four Gemini quaternary ammonium salts (GQAS-1, GQAS-2, GQAS-3, and GQAS-4), each containing two quaternary ammonium groups and varying numbers of hydroxyl groups, were designed and synthesized as hydrophilic chain extenders. These were subsequently used as chain extenders in cationic waterborne polyurethanes (WPUs). The WPUs were prepared using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), polybutylene glycol (PTMG), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and GQAS-1, GQAS-2, GQAS-3, or GQAS-4. The results show that GQAS-4, which contains five hydroxyl groups, significantly enhances the performance of the resulting WPU. The WPU modified with GQAS-4 exhibits excellent emulsion stability. The five hydroxyl groups in GQAS-4 alter the crosslinking degree of the WPU molecular structure, endowing the film with a tensile strength of up to 5.4 MPa. Furthermore, when the GQAS-4 content is increased to 8.6%, the tensile strength of the film reaches 9.4 MPa. In addition, the incorporation of GQAS-4 substantially increases the glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the WPU films. This work provides a new synthetic approach and establishes a research foundation for the development of novel WPU coatings with antibacterial properties, heat resistance, and high mechanical performance.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":659,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","volume":"34 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148928022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}