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Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2023) | Viewed by 20486

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Dr. Hui Zhao

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Guest Editor

School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
Interests: polyurethane; cellulose; composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Wei Wu

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Guest Editor

Jihua Laboratory, Foshan, China
Interests: polymer processing; biodegradable polymer; polymer composites; structure and physical properties of polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Bin Wang

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Guest Editor

College of Engineering, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
Interests: additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology; interfacial strengthening methodology of thermoplastic composites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials and their composites have been widely utilized in previously unimagined areas due to their light weight, high flexibility, and excellent processing ability. Along with the fast-increasing consumption of polymeric materials in recent years, the demand for advanced polymer processing technology is ever increasing. Advanced polymer processing, including 3D printing, electrospinning, extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, casting, injection molding, etc., can convert polymeric materials into various useful products. Obviously, the processing condition, properties, and structures of polymeric materials and their composites have a close relationship with each other. The aim of this Special Issue is to present a collection of research or review papers which can depict the recent progress in the processing and application of polymeric materials and their composites. We would welcome contributions dealing with related research fields; we hope that this stimulating subject will inspire you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue.

Dr. Hui Zhao
Dr. Wei Wu
Dr. Bin Wang
Guest Editors

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. Polymers 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

polymer composites
biodegradable polymer
polymer processing
antibacterial
thermal stability
mechanical properties

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 4357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tuning the Ferroelectric Response of Sandwich-Structured Nanocomposites with the Coordination of Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃ Nanoparticles and Boron Nitride Nanosheets to Achieve Excellent Discharge Energy Density and Efficiency

by Zhihui Yi, Zhuo Wang, Dan Wu and Ying Xue

Polymers 2023, 15(17), 3642; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173642 - 4 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1084

Abstract

With the rapid development of new electronic products and sustainable energy systems, there is an increasing demand for electrical energy storage devices such as electrostatic capacitors. In order to comprehensively improve the dielectric, insulating, and energy storage properties of PVDF-based composites, sandwich-structured composites were prepared by layer-by-layer solution casting. The outer layers of the sandwich structure composite are both PVDF/boron nitride nanosheet composites, and the middle layer is a PVDF/Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃ nanoparticles composite. The structural and electrical properties of the sandwich-structured composites were characterized and analyzed. The results show that when the volume percentage of Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃ nanoparticles in the middle layer of the sandwich structure composite is 1 vol.%, the dielectric properties are significantly improved. Its dielectric constant is 8.99 at 10 kHz, the dielectric loss factor is 0.025, and it has better insulating properties and resistance to electrical breakdown. Benefiting from the high breakdown electric field strength and the large maximum electrical displacement, the sandwich-structured composites with 1 vol.% and Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃ nanoparticles in the middle layer show a superior discharge energy density of 8.9 J/cm³, and excellent charge and discharge energy efficiency of 76%. The sandwich structure composite achieves the goal of simultaneous improvement in breakdown electric field strength and dielectric constant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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23 pages, 5631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applying a Green Solvent with Microwave, Ultrasound, and Soxhlet Extraction Techniques to Quantify the Slip Additive cis-1,3-Docosenamide and Nine Oxidative Degradation Byproducts in Polypropylene Samples

by Hernández Fernández Joaquin, Pérez Mendoza Jaime and Ortega-Toro Rodrigo

Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3457; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163457 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2024

Abstract

Erucamide is used as an important slip agent for polymers. However, erucamide can degrade during processing and long-term storage, forming various oxidation products. These degradation products can affect the recovery rates of erucamide. In this study, investigated different solid–liquid extraction methods (Soxhlet, microwave, and ultrasound) and used gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to quantify erucamide and its degradation byproducts in polypropylene (PP). A multivariable experiment was designed, and a mixed-effect approach was used to analyze the results. Various extraction variables were examined, such as temperature, time, solvents, and PP pretreatments. Using a mixed-effect model with a Kenward–Roger approximation, an R2 of the model of 97% and p values of 0.168, 0.000, and 0.000 were obtained for the technical, solvent, and type of PP pretreatment variables, respectively. The highest average recoveries of erucamide were found with the microwave technique and were 96.4% using dichloromethane, 94.57% using cyclohexane, and 93.05% using limonene. With ultrasound, recoveries ranged between 85 and 92% for dichloromethane and limonene. In addition, it was observed that the extraction method had better recovery results in ground PP than in films and in pellets. Nine oxidative degradation byproducts of erucamide were identified and semi-quantified by GC-MS. The reaction mechanisms for forming each byproduct were proposed. The byproducts that experienced a higher rate of degradation of erucamide were erucamide with a hydroxyl group at position one and 12-amino-6-12-oxo-dodecanoic acid, showing more prominent peaks using the Soxhlet method with cyclohexane and dichloromethane as solvents and polypropylene (PP) films as the type of material used. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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13 pages, 4833 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Properties of Polyamide 6 Random Copolymers Containing an Aromatic Imide Structure

by Yingwei Zhang, Chunhua Wang, Yong Yi, Wenzhi Wang and Jun Yang

Polymers 2023, 15(13), 2812; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15132812 - 25 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2732

Abstract

In order to adjust the properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) and expand its application, a new strategy of introducing an aromatic imide structure into the PA6 chain through the random copolymerization method is reported. The diimide diacid monomer was first synthesized by the dehydration and cyclization of pyromellitic dianhydride and 6-aminocaproic acid before it reacted with 1,6-hexamethylene diamine to form poly(amide imide) (PAI) salt, and finally synthesized PA6/PAI random copolymers containing an aromatic imide structure by the random copolymerization of ε-caprolactam and PAI salt. The introduction of an aromatic imide structural unit into the PA6 chain could have a great influence on its properties. As the content of PAI increases, the crystallinity (X_c) and melting temperature (T_m) of the PA6/PAI random copolymer gradually decrease, but its glass transition temperature (T_g) increases obviously. When the PAI content is 20 wt%, the copolymer PA6/PAI-20 has the best comprehensive performance and not only has high thermal stabilities but also excellent mechanical properties (high strength, high modulus, and good toughness) and dielectric properties (low dielectric constant and dielectric loss). Moreover, these properties are significantly superior to those of PA6. Such high-performance PA6 random copolymers can provide great promise for the wider applications of PA6 materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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15 pages, 5700 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Investigation of Copolymer Composition Sequence on Non-Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Bio-Based Polyamide 56/512

by Diansong Gan, Yuejun Liu, Tianhui Hu, Shuhong Fan, Xiaochao Liu, Lingna Cui, Ling Yang, Yincai Wu, Lily Chen and Zhixiang Mo

Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2345; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102345 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1711

Abstract

A new bio-based polyamide 56/512 (PA56/512) has been synthesized with a higher bio-based composition compared to industrialized bio-based PA56, which is considered a lower carbon emission bio-based nylon. In this paper, the one-step approach of copolymerizing PA56 units with PA512 units using melt polymerization has been investigated. The structure of the copolymer PA56/512 was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Other measurement methods, including relative viscosity tests, amine end group measurement, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), were used to analyze the physical and thermal properties of the PA56/512. Furthermore, the non-isothermal crystallization behaviors of PA56/512 have been investigated with the analytical model of Mo’s method and the Kissinger method. The melting point of copolymer PA56/512 exhibited a eutectic point at 60 mol% of 512 corresponding to the typical isodimorphism behavior, and the crystallization ability of PA56/512 also displayed a similar tendency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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15 pages, 4642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Sustainable Critical Flux through a Long-Term Membrane Resistance Model

by Rongle Xu, Yaobo Fan, Min Yang and Jinqiu Song

Polymers 2023, 15(10), 2319; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15102319 - 16 May 2023

Viewed by 1311

Abstract

A long-term membrane resistance model (LMR) was established to determine the sustainable critical flux, which developed and simulated polymer film fouling successfully in a lab-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) in this study. The total polymer film fouling resistance in the model was decomposed into the individual components of pore fouling resistance, sludge cake accumulation and cake layer compression resistance. The model effectively simulated the fouling phenomenon in the MBR at different fluxes. Considering the influence of temperature, the model was calibrated by temperature coefficient τ, and a good result was achieved to simulate the polymer film fouling at 25 and 15 °C. The relationship between flux and operation time was simulated and discussed through the model. The results indicated that there was an exponential correlation between flux and operation time, and the exponential curve could be divided into two parts. By fitting the two parts to two straight lines, respectively, the intersection of the two straight lines was regarded as the sustainable critical flux value. The sustainable critical flux obtained in this study was just 67% of the critical flux. The model in this study was proven to be in good agreement with the measurements under different fluxes and different temperatures. In addition, the sustainable critical flux was first proposed and calculated in this study, and it was shown that the model could be used to predict the sustainable operation time and sustainable critical flux, which provide more practical information for designing MBRs. This study is applicable to polymer films used in a wide variety of applications, and it is helpful for maintaining the long-term stable operation of polymer film modules and improving the efficiency of polymer film modules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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24 pages, 12505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Curing Agent Amount on Properties of Dynamic Vulcanized Phenyl Silicone Rubber-SEBS-SBS System

by Chunxu Zhao, Bobing He and Xian Chen

Polymers 2022, 14(24), 5443; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14245443 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

In this paper, we prepared a new type of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) by melt blending methyl vinyl phenyl silicone rubber (PSR), styrene butylene copolymer (SBS), and hydrogenated SBS (SEBS) and then dynamically vulcanizing it. At the same time, we studied the influence of the content of the vulcanizing agent on the properties. The corresponding backscattered electron images were obtained by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) test of each group of samples, as well as the distribution of the PSR phase and the SEBS-SBS phase, and the vulcanization process of the samples with a vulcanizing agent content of 1 phr were characterized. According to the imaging principle of the backscattered electron signal, we found that the atomic number contrast can be clearly reflected in the backscattered image. From the obtained images, we found that PSR is a dispersed phase, while SEBS and SBS are continuous phases, that is, they had a “Sea-Island” structure. In the first 30 s of the vulcanization reaction, the “Sea-Island” structure is formed, and then the vulcanization reaction rate gradually slows down. We then printed the images and analyzed them using a colorimeter and found that it was feasible to quantitatively characterize the size of the compatible layer between the continuous and dispersed phases. According to the quantitative characterization results, we found that the silane coupling agent KH-172 can increase the thickness of the compatible layer by nearly 35%. In addition, we also tested the mechanical properties and low-temperature elastic properties of the material. Finally, we found that when the content of the vulcanizing agent was 1 phr, the elastic properties and tensile properties were the best, and when the content of the vulcanizing agent was more than 1 phr, the tensile and elastic properties of the material decreased significantly. At the same time, we also found that the addition of the silane coupling agent KH-172 can also significantly improve the tensile properties and elastic properties of TPV, which we believe is related to the increase in the thickness of the compatible layer. The test results of dynamic mechanics show that PSR has good compatibility with SEBS-SBS. When the vulcanizing agent content is less than or equal to 1 phr, the material exhibits good low-temperature resistance. In addition, through the test of the melt index of each group, it was also found that the addition of the vulcanizing agent will affect the fluidity of the melt to a certain extent. When the content of the vulcanizing agent is greater than 1 phr, the melt fluidity decreases more obviously. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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15 pages, 5233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Assembled Serpentine Ni₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ Hybrid Sheets with Ammonium Polyphosphate for Fire Safety Enhancement of Polylactide Composites

by Xiaohong Yi, Jingshu Huang, Yizhang Tong, Hui Zhao, Xianwu Cao and Wei Wu

Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5255; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235255 - 1 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1394

Abstract

Biodegradable polylactide (PLA) has been widely utilized in people’s daily lives. In order to improve the fire safety of PLA, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) was self-assembled onto the surface of serpentine Ni₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄ through the electrostatic method, followed by mixing with PLA by melt compounding. The APP-modified serpentine (serpentine@APP) dispersed uniformly in the PLA matrix. Compared with pure PLA, the PLA composite with 2 wt% serpentine@APP reduced the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) by 43.9% and 16.3%, respectively. The combination of APP and serpentine exhibited suitable synergistic flame-retardant effects on the fire safety enhancement of PLA. In addition, the dynamical rheological tests revealed that the presence of APP and serpentine could reduce the viscosity of PLA composites. The plasticizing effects of APP and serpentine benefited the processing of PLA. The mechanical properties of PLA/serpentine@APP maintained suitable performance as pure PLA. This study provided a feasible way to enhance the fire safety of PLA without sacrificing its mechanical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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13 pages, 4941 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Thermomechanical and Tribological Properties of Graphene-Reinforced Natural Rubber Nanocomposites

by Zepeng Wang, Minglong Su, Xinwu Duan, Xiulong Yao, Xiaoying Han, Junping Song and Lianxiang Ma

Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5056; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235056 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1934

Abstract

The thermomechanical and tribological properties of graphene (GNS)-reinforced NR were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The amorphous molecular dynamics models of two nanocomposites, i.e., natural rubber (pure NR) and graphene/natural rubber (GNS/NR), were established. In addition, the thermodynamic properties of the two materials, before and after the incorporation of graphene into the natural rubber matrix, were investigated through analytical comparison. The results showed that after the graphene was added to the rubber matrix as a reinforcing material, the elastic modulus and shear modulus were increased by 110% and 94.8%, respectively, the tensile property was increased by 178%, the overall thermal conductivity of the composite system was increased by 59%, the glass transition temperature increased from 223 K to 236 K, and the rigidity of the material matrix was significantly improved. The inherent interactions and wear mechanisms of the polymer nanocomposites were discussed at the atomic scale by analyzing the changes in temperature, atomic velocity, relative atomic concentration, and radial distribution functions at the friction interface in the thickness direction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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14 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Biobased Hydroxyl-Terminated Oligomers by Metathesis Degradation of Industrial Rubbers SBS and PB: Tailor-Made Unsaturated Diols and Polyols

by Manuel Burelo, Selena Gutiérrez, Cecilia D. Treviño-Quintanilla, Jorge A. Cruz-Morales, Araceli Martínez and Salvador López-Morales

Polymers 2022, 14(22), 4973; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14224973 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3093

Abstract

Biobased hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) was successfully synthesized in a one-pot reaction via metathesis degradation of industrial rubbers. Thus, polybutadiene (PB) and poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) were degraded via metathesis with high yields (>94%), using the fatty alcohol 10-undecen-1-ol as a chain transfer agent (CTA) and the second-generation Grubbs–Hoveyda catalyst. The identification of the hydroxyl groups (-OH) and the formation of biobased HTPB were verified by FT-IR and NMR. Likewise, the molecular weight and properties of the HTPB were controlled by changing the molar ratio of rubber to CTA ([C=C]/CTA) from 1:1 to 100:1, considering a constant molar ratio of the catalyst ([C=C]/Ru = 500:1). The number average molecular weight (M_n) ranged between 583 and 6580 g/mol and the decomposition temperatures between 134 and 220 °C. Moreover, the catalyst optimization study showed that at catalyst loadings as low as [C=C]/Ru = 5000:1, the theoretical molecular weight is in good agreement with the experimental molecular weight and the expected diols and polyols are formed. At higher ratios than those, the difference between theoretical and experimental molecular weight is wide, and there is no control over HTPB. Therefore, the rubber/CTA molar ratio and the amount of catalyst play an important role in PB degradation and HTPB synthesis. Biobased HTPB can be used to synthesize engineering design polymers, intermediates, fine chemicals, and in the polyurethane industry, and contribute to the development of environmentally friendly raw materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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18 pages, 6420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanohybrid of Co₃O₄ Nanoparticles and Polyphosphazene-Decorated Ultra-Thin Boron Nitride Nanosheets for Simultaneous Enhancement in Fire Safety and Smoke Suppression of Thermoplastic Polyurethane

by Yizhang Tong, Wei Wu, Wanjing Zhao, Yurui Xing, Hongti Zhang, Cheng Wang, Timothy B. Y. Chen, Anthony C. Y. Yuen, Bin Yu, Xianwu Cao and Xiaohong Yi

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4341; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204341 - 15 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2015

Abstract

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is widely used in daily life due to its characteristics of light weight, high impact strength, and compression resistance. However, TPU products are extremely flammable and will generate toxic fumes under fire attack, threatening human life and safety. In this article, a nanohybrid flame retardant was designed for the fire safety of TPU. Herein, Co₃O₄ was anchored on the surface of exfoliated ultra-thin boron nitride nanosheets (BNNO@Co₃O₄) via coprecipitation and subsequent calcination. Then, a polyphosphazene (PPZ) layer was coated onto BNNO@Co₃O₄ by high temperature polymerization to generate a nanohybrid flame retardant named BNNO@Co₃O₄@PPZ. The cone calorimeter results exhibited that the heat release and smoke production during TPU combustion were remarkably restrained after the incorporation of the nanohybrid flame retardant. Compared with pure TPU, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreased by 44.1%, the peak smoke production rate (PSPR) decreased by 51.2%, and the peak CO production rate (PCOPR) decreased by 72.5%. Based on the analysis of carbon residues after combustion, the significant improvement in fire resistance of TPU by BNNO@Co3O4@PPZ was attributed to the combination of quenching effect, catalytic carbonization effect, and barrier effect. In addition, the intrinsic mechanical properties of TPU were well maintained due to the existence of the PPZ organic layer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Processing and Application of Polymer and Its Composites II)

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