Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research最新文献

{"title":"Green hydrogel as sustainable adsorbents: Bridging biopolymer & environmental remediation","authors":"Yaksha Verma,&nbsp;Akshay Verma,&nbsp;Jayati Sharma,&nbsp;Pooja Dhiman,&nbsp;Mu Naushad,&nbsp;Tongtong Wang,&nbsp;Alberto García- Peñas,&nbsp;Gaurav Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2026.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2026.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To limit increasing amounts of water pollution and to further the Circular Bioeconomy paradigm, there is a need for the development of sustainable and cost-effective adsorbents. Currently, there is much research being conducted on the use of biopolymers-based GHs in treating wastewater, however, most of the literature is focused on their materials properties so that little insight is provided into how the structure of hydrogels relates to their adsorption characteristics, reuse potential and practicality in real-life situations. Therefore, this review provides a critical overview of green hydrogels based on renewable resources and the waste generated during their production, using a structure-property-performance format. This paper will discuss the influence of polymer chemistry, functional group distribution, crosslinking techniques and network architecture on the adsorption capacity, selectivity, mechanical stability and regeneration potential of GHs. The assessment of the removal of the major classes of pollutants has been systematically evaluated in terms of the dominant adsorption mechanisms that could occur. Additionally, the green synthesis approaches are critically analyzed for their sustainability, durability, and scalability. Furthermore, the key limitations have been identified to highlight the gaps between laboratory studies and practical application. By bringing together a comparative analysis of different approaches, the mechanistic basis for adsorption, and application-based challenges, this review provides design principles and directions for future work to rationally develop next-generation, green hydrogel adsorbents for sustainable wastewater remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 3","pages":"Pages 553-576"},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148546393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphology and interfacial control of micron-scale copper for thermally conductive thermoplastic composites","authors":"Tongyan Cui,&nbsp;Xiao Su,&nbsp;Qiong Jia,&nbsp;Yangzhe Hou,&nbsp;Yongshan Zhao,&nbsp;Qingxiu Jia,&nbsp;Hsu-Chiang Kuan,&nbsp;Seung Ho Lee,&nbsp;Jun Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2026.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2026.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving efficient thermal transport in thermoplastics without compromising other essential properties remains a major challenge for advanced thermal management. Conventional strategies often rely on nanofillers or complex hybrid systems that are difficult to disperse uniformly and lack industrial scalability. This study addresses this limitation by (i) developing thermally conductive polycarbonate (PC)-based composites filled with micron-sized copper powders through melt compounding and (ii) investigating the effects of filler morphology and surface modification on composite performance. Surface modification with 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (MPTES) introduces a dual anchoring mechanism through Cu–S bonding and silane condensation, markedly improving filler dispersion and interfacial compatibility, particularly for dendritic copper. The transient plane source (TPS) measurement reveals that at 11.8 vol% loading, the modified dendritic composite (PC/md-Cu) achieves a thermal conductivity of 0.43 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ — about 32 % higher than the unmodified counterpart — while maintaining a volume resistivity of ∼10¹⁴ Ω cm for electrically insulating thermal management, with tensile strength of 72.5 MPa (26.7 % above neat PC). The findings demonstrate that the interplay between dendritic filler structure and silane-mediated interfacial regulation governs thermal transport behavior, offering a practical route toward the development of thermally conductive yet electrically insulating thermoplastic composites by screw extrusion and injection molding.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 3","pages":"Pages 587-596"},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148546458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular origins of interfacial interaction in immiscible polymer blends: Interdiffusion and association motifs from all-atom molecular dynamics","authors":"Akihiro Yamaguchi,&nbsp;Kan Kobayashi","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interfaces among polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), and polyamide 6 (PA6) underpin many industrial blends and advanced nanocomposites, yet a molecular-level description of the interactions governing the phase morphology remains incomplete. In this study, all-atom molecular dynamics was used to resolve interfacial energetics, nanoscale interdiffusion, and atomistic association motifs across five phase-separated binary interfaces constructed from these resins. For each interface, we computed the interfacial interaction energy (<em>E</em>_inter) and interfacial tension (<em>γ</em>_sim), quantified the thickness of the compatibilized region (<em>W</em>_inter), and analyzed cross-radial distribution functions to identify dominant atom-type pairings. <em>γ</em>_sim was consistent with experimentally reported trends in interfacial tension and phase-separated morphologies, supporting the qualitative validity of the simulations. <em>W</em>_inter correlated positively with <em>E</em>_inter, demonstrating the role of mutual chain penetration, while the strength of this correlation varied among systems depending on the presence or absence of local interaction motifs. Cross-radial-distribution-function analysis revealed frequent polar–polar associations at PA6/SAN, particularly between amide and cyano groups (H_am–N_cy, C_am–N_cy, O_am–C_cy), which rationalize its strong interfacial affinity. SAN/PP exhibits moderate associations between SAN cyano/aromatic sites and PP methyl groups, yielding intermediate adhesion. PS/PP shows nonpolar, non-directional contacts without pronounced localization, yet attains relatively high <em>E</em>_inter through efficient mutual interdiffusion rather than specific binding. PA6/PP and PA6/PS display neither pronounced motifs nor extensive interdiffusion, leading to the weakest interfacial affinities. This study presents an atomistic map linking specific interfacial motifs to interfacial energetics, providing molecular-level guidance for designing compatibilization strategies that target functional groups or mobility to control blend morphology and enhance macroscopic performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 3","pages":"Pages 414-426"},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148546460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioinspired vine-wrapped PEEK/PAR nanocomposite paper with hierarchical interface coupling for enhanced dielectric strength and aging stability","authors":"Hua Ma ,&nbsp;Yuyan Hu ,&nbsp;Han Ye ,&nbsp;Qingquan Tang ,&nbsp;Shiwen Yang ,&nbsp;Hanwen Zhang ,&nbsp;Luoxin Wang ,&nbsp;Hua Wang ,&nbsp;Siwei Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a high-value green recycling strategy for waste polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to fabricate a bioinspired “vine-wrapping” nanocomposite insulating paper from recycled PEEK fibers and self-prepared polyarylate (PAR) nanofibers. The multiscale synergy of the nanocomposite significantly enhances its dielectric performance. Micron-scale PEEK fibers form a three-dimensional scaffold, which provides mechanical support and carrier transport pathways. High-aspect-ratio PAR nanofibers exploit secondary thermoplasticity to infiltrate scaffold voids, refine pore structures, suppress electric field distortion, and inhibit electrical tree initiation. At the molecular level, strong dipole-dipole interactions between PEEK carbonyls and PAR esters, along with π-π stacking of aromatic rings, create a stable, hierarchical noncovalent interface. Consequently, the PEEK/PAR nanocomposite paper achieves a breakdown strength of 89.67 kV/mm, representing a 256.11 % improvement over commercial aramid paper. After thermal aging (200 °C, 24 h), UV exposure (365 nm, 24 h), 100 folding cycles, and 20 kneading-folding cycles, the breakdown strengths remain at 34.14, 37.34, 17.51, and 17.06 kV/mm, respectively. These values are 2.3, 1.91, 1.38, and 2.31 times the strength of commercial aramid paper. These results indicate a viable pathway for developing sustainable, high-performance, paper-based insulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 304-315"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasma-assisted green synthesis of SrTiO3/MoS2/MWCNTs nanohybrids for photocatalytic degradation of phenazopyridine in aqueous and smart polymeric film systems","authors":"Reza Ghamarpoor ,&nbsp;Akram Fallah ,&nbsp;Narges Elmi Fard ,&nbsp;Somayeh Salehfekr","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, an integrated green synthesis approach was developed to fabricate multifunctional SrTiO₃/MoS₂/MWCNTs (SMM) nanohybrids for photocatalytic environmental remediation. The process combined plasma-assisted activation, bio-derived precursors, and hydrothermal strategies to achieve high structural control, enhanced surface functionality, and eco-compatibility. Initially, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized via a novel plasma-assisted bio-CVD route using humic acid as a sustainable carbon source. Few-layer MoS₂ nanosheets were subsequently grown on functionalized MWCNTs through a bio-hydrothermal process employing <span>l</span>-cysteine and ammonium molybdate, with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma pre-treatment to introduce active defect sites. The resulting MoS₂/MWCNT hybrids were uniformly assembled onto SrTiO₃ nanoparticles via electrostatic self-assembly, followed by secondary hydrothermal growth to ensure strong interfacial coupling. This synergistic strategy enabled the formation of a hierarchical heterostructure with optimized electron transport pathways, visible-light activity, and catalytic functionality. The synthesized nanohybrids were further embedded into epoxy matrices and polymeric films, enabling the development of smart coatings with light-driven pollutant degradation capability. The SMM nanocomposite demonstrates superior photocatalytic degradation of phenazopyridine under UV (95 %) and visible light (98 %), with a band gap of 2.78 eV. The photocatalytic charge transfer mechanism operates via a Z-scheme under UV light and conventional electron transfer under visible light, facilitated by the synergistic interaction of MoS₂, MWCNTs, and SrTiO₃, ensuring efficient charge separation and minimal recombination. Furthermore, incorporating SMM into epoxy resin significantly improves tensile strength, elongation, stiffness, and toughness compared to pure epoxy. Color change analysis (Δb∗) under UV and visible light shows significant shifts compared to pure epoxy (i.e., 4.1 UV, 3.5 visible) and other individual composites, highlighting SMM's (i.e., 41 UV and 45 visible) superior photocatalytic activity. These findings demonstrate the promising future of multifunctional nanohybrid materials in sustainable environmental technologies, paving the way for the next generation of smart coatings and pollution control solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 327-345"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overcoming property trade-offs in colorless polyimides: A molecular composite strategy for simultaneous optical transparency, mechanical robustness, dimensional stability, thermal resistance, and electrical insulation","authors":"Xueqi Zhao ,&nbsp;Zunchu Liu ,&nbsp;Zihao Huang ,&nbsp;Chuying Li ,&nbsp;Xueshuang Jiang ,&nbsp;Wanjuan Wang ,&nbsp;Guoshan He ,&nbsp;Siwei Liu ,&nbsp;Haitao Huang ,&nbsp;Qianfa Liu ,&nbsp;Qilin Li ,&nbsp;Yi Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although conventional colorless polyimides (PIs) possess remarkable thermal stability and optical transparency, their inability to simultaneously achieve high mechanical strength, low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), superior electrical insulation, and processability limits their applications in flexible electronics. To address these challenges, a class of high-temperature-resistant, colorless transparent polyamide/polyimide (FPI-PA_<em>x</em><em>-y</em>) molecular composite films with enhanced comprehensive properties were developed through innovative material design. Using soluble fluorinated polyimide (FPI) from 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB) as colorless transparent matrix, polyamide (PA) chains with controlled molecular weight as reinforcement, the molecular composite films were prepared via <em>in situ</em> polymerization of PA in FPI solution with an off-stoichiometric monomer feed ratio. Compared to the pristine FPI film, the FPI-PA_<em>x</em><em>-y</em> films maintained excellent optical and thermal properties while exhibiting significantly improved comprehensive performance. This enhancement is attributed to the molecular level dispersion of the rigid-rod-like PA molecular chain in the FPI matrix, which promote ordered chain packing and introduce rigid segments without compromising toughness. The FPI-PA₁₅-26 demonstrated excellent film-forming capability, achieving a Young’s modulus of 4.2 GPa, tensile strength of 130.2 MPa, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) as low as 24.8 ppm K⁻¹. Notably, the composite exhibited high dielectric breakdown strength (741 MV m⁻¹ at 25 °C and 724 MV m⁻¹ at 150 °C). This work offers a unique design strategy for the development of high-temperature colorless transparent polyimide with excellent comprehensive properties, which is important for the development of flexible display and wearable electronics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 363-373"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"On the drastic discrepancy between the mechanical characteristics of polymer nanocomposites as observed and as predicted: Justifications and workable fixes","authors":"Stoyko Fakirov","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.09.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.09.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The significant divergence between the anticipated and actual mechanical characteristics of polymer nanocomposites - an increase of 30 %–35 % rather than a tenfold increase - is widely known. It mostly relates to the unproper distribution of the reinforcement inside the matrix. Despite employing genuine nanoparticles in the fabrication of nanocomposites (in many cases with sizes of a couple of nanometers), their inherent thermodynamically driven propensity to agglomerate into larger particles leads to final materials failing to maintain a nanoscale dimension, as demonstrated by light scattering research. The key reason for the large gap between the predicted and actual mechanical properties is that when polymers are combined with nanoparticles, the resulting material behaves more like a microcomposite than a true nanocomposite. Since there don't seem to be any methods for properly dispersing nanoparticles in the matrix now, methods that avoid the blending step must be employed to make real polymer nanocomposites. These approaches are based on the concept of “creating rather than adding,” which means that, during the composite manufacturing process, one of the two main components - the matrix or the reinforcement - is used in its finished form, while the other is generated as the composite is being produced. Avoiding the dispersion step in manufacturing process via creating the nanoreinforcement during the manufacturing it is possible to realize a perfect distribution of the nanoparticles excluding any agglomeration and thus to observe the expected for the true polymer nanocomposites mechanical performance. Finally, it is demonstrated that the electrospun polymers prepared according to the classical set-up of the method are inadequate as reinforcing agents for nanocomposites because of their inferior mechanical properties. Due to the non-woven textile's dispersion issues, the same is true for electrospun materials that undergo post-drawing and have far better mechanical qualities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 179-188"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Voltage-free fabrication of high-performance porous polypropylene piezoelectrets via in-situ triboelectrification during constrained supercritical carbon dioxide foaming","authors":"Jiahui Xu ,&nbsp;Yunchen Yao ,&nbsp;Xiaoyue Zou ,&nbsp;Yuxin Jia ,&nbsp;Jiajun Mei ,&nbsp;Cailiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiangrong Chen ,&nbsp;Longcheng Tang ,&nbsp;Kun Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porous piezoelectric electrets are pivotal for advanced sensing and energy harvesting due to their outstanding piezoelectric coefficients and mechanical flexibility. However, conventional fabrication relies on high-voltage charging, which introduces manufacturing complexity and safety concerns. This work presents a groundbreaking voltage-free strategy for in-situ triboelectric charging of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) within a one-dimensional constrained space during supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) foaming. This approach enables the direct generation of porous piezoelectrets in a single step, eliminating the need for post-foaming electrical polarization. We systematically investigated the effects of backing materials (e.g., polyimide, iron) and an electret masterbatch on the triboelectrification efficacy. The optimized porous iPP electrets achieved a remarkable piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) of ∼600 pC/N, significantly surpassing that of commercial corona-charged counterparts (∼400–450 pC/N). Moreover, these materials enhibit exceptional long-term charge stability, retaining &gt;90 % of their initial d₃₃ and surface potential after 90 days. A mechanistic model based on intermolecular electron transfer is proposed, wherein the scCO₂ environment reduces the interfacial energy barrier and amplifies the electron transfer driving force, thereby enabling efficient charge injection. Furthermore, the incorporation of the electret masterbatch is demonstrated to enhance crystallinity and promote the formation of dense α-crystals, which increases the charge trap density and consequently improves charge retention within the porous architecture. This novel approach establishes a green, safe and efficient pathway for manufacturing high-performance porous piezoelectrets with superior and stable electromechanical properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 355-362"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genuine polymer nanocomposites with anticipated mechanical performance","authors":"Stoyko Fakirov","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The reason that the predicted mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites often don't match what is observed in materials made by blending the matrix and reinforcement is primarily because the nano-sized material is not spread out well enough. Achieving good dispersion in polymer nanocomposites faces fundamental thermodynamic hurdles. Because of this, it is best to skip the dispersion step entirely when manufacturing these materials. New techniques for making genuine polymer nanocomposites without dispersion operate on the principle of “creating instead of adding.” This method entails commencing the manufacturing process with one component while producing the second component concurrently. The cold drawing process of a polymer blend transforms the minor component into uniformly dispersed nanofibrils, yielding a nanofibrillar polymer-polymer composite as the final material. The selective extraction of the matrix component from the cold drawn blend leads to the formation of neat nanofibrils. Post-compression molding, these nanofibrils are converted into nanofibrillar single polymer composites. Both categories are classified as genuine nanocomposites. To significantly boost the mechanical strength of polymer nanocomposites potentially increasing tensile strength and modulus by 300–400 %, or even up to ten times more than with older techniques two main elements are crucial: bypassing the dispersion step and ensuring the nano-sized reinforcement is optimally distributed throughout the polymer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 238-244"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-performance nanostructured shape-memory polymer blends developed via solid-state mixing","authors":"Salim-Ramy Merouani ,&nbsp;Andrei Voznyak ,&nbsp;Fahmi Zaïri ,&nbsp;Iurii Vozniak","doi":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aiepr.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Multiple-shape memory polymers (MSMPs) require hierarchical architectures capable of efficiently storing and releasing elastic energy through distinct permanent and switching domains. In this work, we test the hypothesis that nanoscale homogeneous polymer blends possessing molecular-level heterogeneity—created via solid-state mixing—can achieve high-efficiency dual- and triple-shape memory effects through the cooperative action of crystalline domains and polymer–polymer interphases, even without chemical crosslinking.</div><div>To verify this hypothesis, semicrystalline–semicrystalline (PBT/PLA), semicrystalline–amorphous (PBT/PETG), and fully amorphous (ABS/a-PET) polymer blends were prepared by conventional melt mixing and by high-pressure torsion (HPT) solid-state mixing, and their shape-memory behaviour was systematically compared. Solid-state mixed blends form a single nanoscale homogeneous amorphous phase while retaining molecular-level heterogeneity, resulting in a broadened glass-transition interval.</div><div>The HPT-processed PBT/PLA and PBT/PETG blends exhibit outstanding dual- and triple-shape memory performance, with shape fixity ratios <em>R</em>_<em>f</em> ≈ 95–96 % and recovery ratios <em>R</em>_<em>r</em> ≈ 90–94 %, showing negligible degradation (&lt;2 %) over multiple programming–recovery cycles. Even the fully amorphous ABS/a-PET system demonstrates a pronounced improvement, achieving Rf ≈ 90–92 % and <em>R</em>_<em>r</em> ≈ 82–84 %, approaching the threshold of practical shape-memory performance. In contrast, immiscible melt-mixed counterparts show significantly lower values (<em>R</em>_<em>f</em> ≤ 75 %, <em>R</em>_<em>r</em> ≤ 66 %) and poor cyclic stability.</div><div>These results demonstrate that crystalline domains act as universal physical permanent domains for all amorphous chains in the homogeneous phase, while interphase regions generated by solid-state mixing function as additional morphological permanent domains that enhance mechanical coupling and suppress creep. The combination of nanoscale homogeneity and molecular-level heterogeneity enables stable, temperature-dependent multi-shape programming. This study establishes interphase engineering and crystalline-amorphous cooperativity via solid-state mixing as a robust and scalable strategy for designing high-performance, recyclable multi-shape memory polymer systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7186,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research","volume":"9 2","pages":"Pages 374-384"},"PeriodicalIF":12.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147584281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}