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Polymer Composites: Chemical Synthesis and Applications
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Polymer Composites: Chemical Synthesis and Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecular Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 4846

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ying Pan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
Interests: layer-by-layer self-assembly; coating; polyurethane; fiber and fabric; flame retardancy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer materials encompass rubber, synthetic resins, and synthetic fibers. However, when used as engineering structural materials or functional materials, a single polymer material has certain limitations in terms of strength, toughness, heat resistance, heat insulation, heat preservation, sound insulation, muffling, and anti-static properties. To overcome these limitations and expand the application range of polymer materials, modifications are necessary. Polymer materials can be modified by chemical modification. Modified polymer composites have enhanced properties, such as higher specific strength and specific modulus, improved impact toughness, and additional functional properties, such as thermal insulation, sound insulation, muffling, antistatic, and flame retardancy.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform to display high-quality papers on polymer composites that could inspire readers with innovative thinking and thus promote the development of high-performance composite materials. Research on polymer composite materials, including nanocomposites, bio-composites, green/eco composites, energy composites, and composites mimicking natural materials, is welcome.

Dr. Ying Pan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanocomposites
  • bio-composites
  • green/eco composites
  • energy composites
  • enhancement
  • mechanical properties
  • mechanisms

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2479 KiB  
Article
Recycled Jute Non-Woven Material Coated with Polyaniline/TiO2 Nanocomposite for Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Water
by Aleksandar Kovačević, Marija Radoičić, Darka Marković, Zoran Šaponjić and Maja Radetić
Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4366; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184366 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1009
Abstract
Growing volumes of textile waste and heavy metal pollution of water are emerging environmental challenges. In an attempt to tackle these issues, a non-woven sorbent based on jute fibers was fabricated by recycling the textile waste from the carpet industry. The influence of [...] Read more.
Growing volumes of textile waste and heavy metal pollution of water are emerging environmental challenges. In an attempt to tackle these issues, a non-woven sorbent based on jute fibers was fabricated by recycling the textile waste from the carpet industry. The influence of contact time, concentration, pH and temperature on the sorption of lead and copper ions from aqueous solutions was studied. In order to enhance the sorption capacity of the non-woven material, in situ synthesis of polyaniline (PANI) in the presence of TiO2 nanostructures was performed. The contribution of TiO2 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanotubes to the uniformity of PANI coating and overall sorption behavior was compared. Electrokinetic measurements indicated increased swelling of modified fibers. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed the formation of the emeraldine base form of PANI. FESEM confirmed the creation of the uniform nanocomposite coating over jute fibers. The modification with PANI/TiO2 nanocomposite resulted in a more than 3-fold greater sorption capacity of the material for lead ions, and a 2-fold greater absorption capacity for copper ions independently of applied TiO2 nanostructure. The participation of both TiO2 nanostructures in PANI synthesis resulted in excellent cover of jute fibers, but the form of TiO2 had a negligible effect on metal ion uptake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Chemical Synthesis and Applications)
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15 pages, 4304 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study for the Sorption and Diffusion of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide into Polyetherimide
by Wei-Heng Huang, Pei-Hua Chen, Chin-Wen Chen, Chie-Shaan Su, Muoi Tang, Jung-Chin Tsai, Yan-Ping Chen and Feng-Huei Lin
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4233; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174233 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 580
Abstract
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly fluid and has been used in polymerization reactions, processing, foaming, and plasticizing of polymers. Exploring the behavior and data of SCCO2 sorption and dissolution in polymers provides essential information for [...] Read more.
Supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly fluid and has been used in polymerization reactions, processing, foaming, and plasticizing of polymers. Exploring the behavior and data of SCCO2 sorption and dissolution in polymers provides essential information for polymer applications. This study investigated the sorption and diffusion of SCCO2 into polyetherimide (PEI). The sorption and desorption processes of SCCO2 in PEI samples were measured in the temperature range from 40 to 60 °C, the pressure range from 20 to 40 MPa, and the sorption time from 0.25 to 52 h. This study used the ex situ gravimetric method under different operating conditions and applied the Fickian diffusion model to determine the mass diffusivity of SCCO2 during sorption and desorption processes into and out of PEI. The equilibrium mass gain fraction of SCCO2 into PEI was reported from 9.0 wt% (at 60 °C and 20 MPa) to 12.8 wt% (at 40 °C and 40 MPa). The sorption amount increased with the increasing SCCO2 pressure and decreased with the increasing SCCO2 temperature. This study showed the crossover phenomenon of equilibrium mass gain fraction isotherms with respect to SCCO2 density. Changes in the sorption mechanism in PEI were observed when the SCCO2 density was at approximately 840 kg/m3. This study qualitatively performed FTIR analysis during the SCCO2 desorption process. A CO2 antisymmetric stretching mode was observed near a wavenumber of 2340 cm−1. A comparison of loss modulus measurements of pure and SCCO2-treated PEI specimens showed the shifting of loss maxima. This result showed that the plasticization of PEI was achieved through the sorption process of SCCO2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Chemical Synthesis and Applications)
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16 pages, 3530 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Pullulan-Based Packaging Paper for Fruit Preservation
by Hang Dong and Zhongjian Tian
Molecules 2024, 29(6), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061394 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1568
Abstract
Improving the shelf lives of fruits is challenging. The biodegradable polysaccharide pullulan exhibits excellent film-forming ability, gas barrier performance, and natural decomposability, making it an optimal material for fruit preservation. To overcome problems of high cost and film porosity of existing packaging technologies, [...] Read more.
Improving the shelf lives of fruits is challenging. The biodegradable polysaccharide pullulan exhibits excellent film-forming ability, gas barrier performance, and natural decomposability, making it an optimal material for fruit preservation. To overcome problems of high cost and film porosity of existing packaging technologies, we aimed to develop pullulan-based packaging paper to enhance the shelf lives of fruits. A thin paper coating comprising a mixture of 15 wt.% pullulan solution at various standard viscosities (75.6, 77.8, and 108.5 mPa·s) with tea polyphenols (15:2) and/or vitamin C (150:1) improved the oxygen transmission rate (120–160 cm3 m−2·24 h·0.1 MPa), water vapor transmission rate (<5.44 g·mm−1 m−2·h·kPa), maximum free radical clearance rate (>87%), and antibacterial properties of base packaging paper. Grapes wrapped with these pullulan-based papers exhibited less weight loss (>4.41%) and improved hardness (>16.4%) after 10 days of storage compared to those of control grapes (wrapped in untreated/base paper). Grapes wrapped with pullulan-based paper had >12.6 wt.% total soluble solids, >1.5 mg/g soluble protein, >0.44 wt.% titratable acidity, and ≥4.5 mg 100 g−1 ascorbic acid. Thus, pullulan-based paper may prolong the shelf life of grapes with operational convenience, offering immense value for fruit preservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Chemical Synthesis and Applications)
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18 pages, 4225 KiB  
Article
Structural and Thermal Characterization of Milled Wood Lignin from Bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) Grown in Korea
by Ji-Sun Mun and Sung-Phil Mun
Molecules 2024, 29(1), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010183 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1303
Abstract
The structural and thermal characterization of milled wood lignin (MWL) prepared from bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) grown in Korea was investigated, and the results were compared with bamboo MWLs from other studies. The C9 formula of the bamboo MWL was C [...] Read more.
The structural and thermal characterization of milled wood lignin (MWL) prepared from bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) grown in Korea was investigated, and the results were compared with bamboo MWLs from other studies. The C9 formula of the bamboo MWL was C9H7.76O3.23N0.02 (OCH3)1.41. The Mw and Mn of MWL were 13,000 and 4400 Da, respectively, which resulted in a polydispersity index (PDI) of 3.0. The PDI of the prepared MWL was higher than other bamboo MWLs (1.3–2.2), suggesting a broader molecular weight distribution. The structural features of MWL were elucidated using FT-IR spectroscopy and NMR techniques (1H, 13C, HSQC, 31P NMR), which indicate that MWL is of the HGS-type lignin. The major lignin linkages (β-O-4, β-β, β-5) were not different from other bamboo MWLs. The syringyl/guaiacyl ratio, determined from 1H NMR, was calculated as 0.89. 31P NMR revealed variations in hydroxyl content, with a higher aliphatic hydroxyl content in MWL compared to other bamboo MWLs. Thermal properties were investigated through TGA, DSC, and pyrolysis-GC/MS spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The DTGmax of MWL under inert conditions was 287 °C, and the Tg of MWL was 159 °C. Py-GC/MS at 675 °C revealed a syringyl, guaiacyl, p-hydroxyphenyl composition of 17:37:47. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Composites: Chemical Synthesis and Applications)
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