Polymer Bulletin最新文献

{"title":"Photothermal performance of polymer hydrogels via solar vapor generation for clean water production: a comprehensive review","authors":"Flora Serati,&nbsp;Syazwani Mohd Zaki,&nbsp;Chin Wei Lai,&nbsp;Norazuawana Shaari,&nbsp;Nadiah Mokhtar,&nbsp;Siti Hajar Yusoff","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06337-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06337-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Solar vapor generation (SVG) is an innovative and sustainable technology that plays a vital role in tackling the pressing issue of global water scarcity. By harnessing solar energy, SVG offers an effective solution to improve water access and sustainability. Polymeric hydrogels, with their innate hydrophilicity and tunable water transport properties, have emerged as a leading material platform for this application. However, their native limitations in solar absorption and thermal conductivity constrain overall solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency. This review critically analyzes the material design strategies employed to transform passive hydrogel matrices into efficient photothermal materials. The primary focus is on methodologies to maximize light absorption and optimize thermal management. Key approaches include the integration of photothermal nanoabsorbers, the synthesis of intrinsically absorptive copolymer networks, and the fabrication of interpenetrating or composite structures. Furthermore, engineering the polymeric hydrogel network by precisely tuning cross-linking density, porosity, and effectively localize thermal energy at the evaporation front. By synthesizing recent advances, this review establishes a clear connection between material-level modifications and enhanced system-level performance, providing a roadmap for the rational design of next-generation hydrogel evaporators. Advancing these material strategies is essential for transitioning SVG from a promising concept into a practical, scalable technology for sustainable water production.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147607010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart pH-responsive hydrogel for oral delivery of ticagrelor: in vitro characterization and safety assessment of a promising strategy for antiplatelet therapy","authors":"Alina Javaid,&nbsp;Nadia Shamshad Malik,&nbsp;Ume Ruqia Tulain,&nbsp;Alia Erum,&nbsp;Ayesha Rashid,&nbsp;Arshad Mahmood,&nbsp;Mohammed S. Alqahtani,&nbsp;Sohail Akram,&nbsp;Asmaa Jabeen,&nbsp;Sajjad Hussain","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06379-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06379-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A pH-responsive interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel was developed using xanthan gum (XG), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and acrylic acid (AA) crosslinked with N, N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) to enhance oral delivery of ticagrelor (TGR)—a BCS Class IV antiplatelet drug with low solubility (10–15 μg/mL) and bioavailability (≈36%). The optimized formulation (F5) achieved 90.4 ± 0.52% drug entrapment efficiency and exhibited pH-triggered swelling, demonstrating a 2.41-fold higher equilibrium swelling ratio at pH 6.8 (13.02 ± 0.41) versus pH 1.2 (5.41 ± 0.32; p &lt; 0.001). In vitro release studies revealed pH-dependent sustained release: 86.83% cumulative drug release at pH 6.8 over 24 h compared to 47.85% at pH 1.2 (p &lt; 0.001). Release kinetics followed anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion (Korsmeyer–Peppas model; R² &gt; 0.91, n = 0.47–0.59), indicating coupled diffusion/polymer relaxation. FTIR, DSC/TGA, and PXRD confirmed covalent crosslinking, thermal stability (&gt; 200 °C), and amorphous drug dispersion, while SEM revealed a porous microstructure. Acute oral toxicity studies (OECD 423; mice (Balb/c), 2 g/kg) showed no significant alterations in hematological/biochemical parameters (p &gt; 0.05) or histopathology, affirming safety. This engineered IPN hydrogel effectively addresses the critical solubility limitations of ticagrelor through pH-triggered swelling and sustained release, while demonstrating safety in acute toxicity studies, presenting a highly promising strategy for enhancing its oral therapeutic efficacy in acute coronary syndrome.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147606974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolation and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles from different microparticle sizes of powdered crab shells for an improved drug delivery system","authors":"S. S. Oluyamo,&nbsp;L. O. Akinboyewa,&nbsp;O. I. Olusola,&nbsp;A. F. Afolabi,&nbsp;M. A. Adekoya","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06331-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06331-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Chitosan, the second most abundant polysaccharide after cellulose, is widely utilized in food, bioengineering, and cancer therapy due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, bioactivity, and non-toxicity. In this work, chitosan nanoparticles (CH NPs) were synthesized from locally sourced crab shells of five different microparticle sizes 50 μm, 60 μm, 75 μm, 90 μm, and 105 μm via the ionic gelation method, The structural, morphological and chemical composition of the CHNPs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. SEM analysis showed that some microparticles tend to form agglomeration but 105 μm precursor produced nanoparticles in the size range of 90–100 nm, as determined using Image J software. FTIR spectra exhibited absorption peaks between 3427 and 3417 cm⁻¹ corresponding to hydroxyl (O-H) and amine (N-H) stretching vibrations of primary amines. Peaks at 2933–2352 cm⁻¹ were attributed to alkyl (C-H) stretching, while those between 1875 and 1631 cm⁻¹ indicated the presence of carbonyl (C = O) groups from acetate. The FTIR spectrum of the 105 μm-derived chitosan nanoparticles displayed a broad medium peak associated with amine (N-H) functional groups, and the degree of deacetylation (%DD) was calculated as 70%. These findings suggest that chitosan nanoparticles obtained under these conditions possess structural and chemical features that make them suitable for further exploration in biomedical applications, including drug delivery system.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147607300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agricultural and food wastes derived cellulose hydrogels for water reservoirs and dye sorption","authors":"Tarun Kumar Gayen,&nbsp;Mohammad Amdad Ali,&nbsp;Sudhir G. Warkar","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06386-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06386-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hydrogels derived from agricultural and food waste exhibit significant potential across a wide range of applications, addressing both environmental challenges and industrial demands. In this study, cellulose was isolated from various food and agricultural waste sources, including rice straw, mosambi (sweet lemon) peel, and lychee peel, and subsequently used to synthesize hydrogels. The synthesized cellulose and hydrogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric techniques (TGA). SEM images showed rice straw cellulose fibres were oriented, crystalline, and bundles with well-defined fibrous strands, and mosambi peel cellulose fibres were flake-like shapes, and lychee peel cellulose fibres were interlocking, porous, and coiled in shape. The prepared cellulose hydrogel showed swelling 1360% − 1592% with water retention 12 days in open air. The sorption of cationic methylene blue and anionic methyl orange dyes into the neutral hydrogel matrix was further investigated. It was observed that the pseudo-second-order model best fits for all the dye-hydrogel systems, regardless of the primary cellulose source. These observations suggest that the sorption mechanism of cationic or anionic dyes into the neutral hydrogel matrix is complex, combining physisorption and chemisorption. Adsorption kinetic models showed that the Freundlich and Temkin models fit better than the Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption process is governed by multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces, dominated by physical interactions with possible contributions from weak H-bonding. The primary affinity is hydrogen bond (H-bond) formation between dye molecules and the hydrogel, which was confirmed by disrupting the H-bond using HCl and eluting the dye molecules from the hydrogel matrix. This observation suggests that the contribution of the neutral segments of partially functionalized (cationic or anionic) hydrogels should be considered when quantifying total dye adsorption.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147607115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-based fluorine-free amphiphobic polymer coatings using wax–chitosan emulsions for cellulose surfaces","authors":"Nor Adilla Sahirah Nordin,&nbsp;Rahul Dev Bairwan,&nbsp;Azniwati Abd Aziz,&nbsp;Mazlan Ibrahim,&nbsp;Tay Guan Seng,&nbsp;Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06376-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06376-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cellulose substrates are widely used in sustainable material systems but exhibit inherently hydrophilic and oleophilic behavior, limiting their surface functionality. In this work, a fluorine-free amphiphobic polymer coating system based on natural wax–chitosan emulsions was developed to modify cellulose surfaces. Beeswax, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax were emulsified using chitosan as a biopolymeric stabilizer and applied onto cellulose paper at controlled coating thicknesses (30 μm and 120 μm), followed by drying at 45 °C and 90 °C. The ternary wax–chitosan formulation exhibited the most effective amphiphobic performance, increasing the water contact angle from &lt; 10° to 125 ± 2.53° and the oil contact angle from 9 ± 1.18° to 88 ± 2.05°. Spectroscopic, thermal, and morphological analyses demonstrated that elevated drying temperatures promoted wax melting and redistribution, enabling alkyl chains to shield cellulose hydroxyl groups, while chitosan formed a continuous polymeric film within the paper pores. The synergistic interaction between wax crystallization and chitosan film formation governed the dual water- and oil-repellent behavior. This study highlights a bio-based polymer coating strategy for imparting amphiphobicity to cellulose substrates without the use of fluorinated polymers.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147607301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility evaluation of poloxamer-co-(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) nanogels: a promising strategy for enhancing the solubility of hydrophobic drugs","authors":"Kifayat Ullah Khan,&nbsp;Naveed Akhtar,&nbsp;Muhammad Usman Minhas","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06385-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06385-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The current study aimed to address the challenge of poor solubility, a significant concern in the pharmaceutical industry, affecting approximately 40% of marketed drugs and 70–90% of newly developed therapeutic agents, by developing nanogels as a drug delivery system using poorly soluble olanzapine (OZP) as a model drug. Nanogels were synthesized using a modified free-radical polymerization technique, crosslinking poloxamer-407 (P-407) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) with N, N’-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA). Characterization confirmed the successful formation of nanogels, with zeta-sizer analysis indicating a particle size of 161 ± 13 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed a highly porous structure with an irregular surface topology, facilitating water penetration and drug release. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the structural integrity and drug incorporation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested that OZP remained thermally compatible within the amorphous nanogel system. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the amorphous nature of the nanogel matrix, supporting improved drug solubility. A gel fraction of 84.2% suggested efficient crosslinking and a stable polymeric network. Swelling occurred within 5 min, and in vitro release studies showed rapid drug release within 5–10 min under both pH 1.2 and 6.8 conditions. Notably, the solubility of OZP increased by 37.7-fold. Additionally, acute oral toxicity studies confirmed their biocompatibility, and a stability study indicated that the nanogels remained stable for 6 months. These findings demonstrate that P-407/poly(AMPS) nanogels represent a promising platform for improving the solubility and in vitro release performance of poorly soluble drugs.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147607370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Valorization of tomato processing waste for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and evaluation of their effects on the properties of sodium alginate matrices","authors":"Amel Meniche,&nbsp;Sofiane Fatmi,&nbsp;Nacera Chibani,&nbsp;Chadia Ihamouchen,&nbsp;Mohamed Skiba","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06373-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06373-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study presents a sustainable strategy for converting food waste into high-performance active packaging materials through the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Tomato waste extracts were employed as natural reducing agents for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, which were then incorporated into alginate, a biodegradable polymer matrix. Comprehensive statistical analyses (one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc test, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) confirmed that the incorporation of AgNPs (0–4%) significantly modulates the physicochemical and functional properties of the nanocomposite films. The films displayed strong, dose-dependent antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones reaching 20.2 mm against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (Gram+) and 18.3 mm against <i>Escherichia coli</i> (Gram–). In addition, antioxidant capacities were observed, achieving 85.4 ± 2.1% (DPPH) and 92.7 ± 1.8% (ABTS) inhibition at 500 µg/mL. Structural analyses ( FTIR, UV–Vis) confirmed uniform AgNP dispersion, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the AgNPs retain their face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure after incorporation, with crystallite sizes ranging from 11.68 to 15.65 nm, confirming the preservation of their nanometric character while mechanical testing demonstrated improved tensile strength (up to 47.5 MPa at 4% AgNPs). Water solubility decreased from 68% to 29%, alongside a 70.9% reduction in water vapor permeability, highlighting enhanced barrier properties. The optimal concentration of ~ 3% AgNPs provided a balance between antibacterial, antioxidant, mechanical, and barrier performance. However, this improvement in properties is accompanied by a significant and dose-dependent decrease in the biodegradability of the films, with the mass loss after 28 days decreasing from 98.5% for the control film to 42.7% for the highest concentration of AgNPs. The thermal stability of the films, a critical parameter for food packaging processing and application, was also evaluated, DSC analysis reveals that the incorporation of 3% AgNPs significantly modifies the thermal behavior of the alginate film without compromising its overall stability. Overall, this work offers a circular approach to plastic materials by integrating waste valorization, antimicrobial protection, and functional performance for sustainable food packaging solutions. Nevertheless, the transition of these materials to real-world applications requires a thorough evaluation of the regulatory framework concerning AgNP toxicity. Beyond our in vitro antimicrobial results, comprehensive assessments of AgNP migration into food and subsequent toxicological effects are imperative to ensure compliance with food safety authorities (e.g., EFSA, FDA). Future work must therefore prioritize migration studies and in vivo toxicity evaluations to confirm the material’s safety and regulatory viability for sustainable food packaging.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase morphology and quiescent coalescence behavior of polypropylene/polystyrene blends: Effect of polystyrenes with different chain structures","authors":"Jingru Liu,&nbsp;Hongwei Liang","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06377-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06377-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The effect of chain structure of polystyrene (PS) on the phase morphology and quiescent coalescence behavior of polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) blends was investigated by dynamic rheological properties measurements and optical microscopy. The results indicate that the chain structure of PS significantly influences its entanglement and relaxation behavior, determining the dispersion state and coalescence kinetics upon melt annealing. For linear polystyrene (lPS) and three-arm star-shaped polystyrene (sPS), lower molar mass correlates with lower melt viscosity and a more favorable viscosity ratio between the dispersed phase and the matrix. This results in finer dispersion and a higher coalescence rate driven by enhanced chain mobility. When comparing linear and branched PS with close molar mass, the finer dispersion and higher coalescence rate of branched PS are ascribed to the better chain mobility resulting from the existence of short branched chains. However, comb-like branched polystyrene (cPS) demonstrates pronounced chain entanglement compared to lPS and sPS, as evidenced by the absence of viscous flow transition. Although the high bulk viscosity of cPS tends to hinder coalescence, the dense side chains create significant steric hindrance at the interface, leading to reduced interdiffusion with PP chains. This lack of interfacial entanglement facilitates interfacial slip and accelerates the drainage of the matrix film between droplets. Consequently, this interfacial dynamic mechanism dominates over the bulk viscous resistance, leading to a remarkable elevation in the coalescence rate for PP/cPS blends.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crosslinked chitosan-tartaric acid composited with multi-walled carbon nanotubes for efficient removal of cationic organic dye: characterization and adsorption modeling","authors":"Ahmed Saud Abdulhameed,&nbsp;Rima Heider Al Omari,&nbsp;Mohammed Al-Yaari,&nbsp;Mahmoud Abualhaija,&nbsp;Sameer Algburi","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06371-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06371-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A novel biopolymer-based nanocomposite, crosslinked chitosan-tartaric acid with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CHS-TA/MWCNT), was developed and investigated for its capacity to remove cationic organic dye (Basic Red 2, BR2). The structural and surface characteristics of the CHS-TA/MWCNT nanocomposite were comprehensively analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), point of zero charge (pH_pzc), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The CHS-TA/MWCNT material exhibited a specific surface area of 25.0 m²/g, with a mean pore diameter of 16.72 nm and a total pore volume of 0.1046 cm³/g. To optimize the uptake of BR2 dye, response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD) was adopted to assess the effects of key variables. Equilibrium data fit well to the Temkin model, while kinetic studies followed a pseudo-first-order model. The experimental adsorption capacity was determined to be 216.05 mg/g. These results confirm the potential of CHS-TA/MWCNT polymeric adsorbents as a sustainable and efficient bioadsorbent for the treatment of dye-laden industrial wastewater.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cellulose/epoxy resin composite microtube foam","authors":"Qingyuan Niu,&nbsp;Zihao Chen,&nbsp;Weitao Yuan,&nbsp;Shuaifei Li,&nbsp;Tangen Liang,&nbsp;Kezheng Gao","doi":"10.1007/s00289-026-06381-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00289-026-06381-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Inspired by natural microstructures such as bamboo and Gramineous plants, this study developed a simple, low-cost and environmentally friendly method to fabricate cellulose/epoxy resin (CP) composite microtube foams. The core design involves using epoxy resin to mimic the reinforcing mechanism of lignin, to coat cellulose microtubes and promote their interconnection, thereby reconstructing a 3D network structure. By optimizing the concentration of epoxy resin in the preparation solution, CP composite foams with tunable physical and mechanical properties were achieved. Experimental results showed that the composite foams exhibit excellent comprehensive performance: the compressive modulus ranges from 2 to 67 MPa, and the thermal conductivity is 0.052–0.092 W/m·K, indicating good mechanical performance and thermal insulation. Additionally, the minimum cushioning coefficient reaches 2.48 (comparable to commercial expanded polystyrene, EPS), with a water contact angle (WCA) of 125° showing favorable hydrophobicity. These results suggest that the CP composite foams, with their balanced performance and eco-friendly preparation process, hold great potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional foam materials in applications such as thermal insulation and cushioning.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":737,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Bulletin","volume":"83 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147561493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}