Polymer modification using silicone rubber represents a promising avenue for enhancing physico-mechanical properties. However, achieving optimal performance through direct blending is hindered by the poor interface compatibility between silicone rubber and the matrix. In this study, we prepared super-tough thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) of polylactic acid/silicone rubber through dynamic vulcanization with PLA, methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVQ), glycidyl methacrylate grafted MVQ (MVQ-g-GMA), and fumed silica nanoparticles (SiO).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreparing a super-tough polylactic acid (PLA) material while maintaining its biodegradability is a significant challenge. This study synthesized a biodegradable unsaturated poly(butylene succinate-co-fumarate)-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymer (PBSFG) and dynamically vulcanized it with PLA to obtain super-tough blends. The PBSFG self-vulcanized and formed a crosslinked "hard-soft" core-shell rubber phase in the blending process, where the PBSF segment acted as the core and PEG as the shell.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPositive quantum spin Hall gap in mono-layer 1T'-WTe2 is consistently supported by density-functional theory calculations, ultrafast pump-probe, and electrical transport measurements. It is argued that monolayer 1T'-WTe2 , which was predicted to be a semimetallic quantum spin Hall material, is likely a truly 2D quantum spin Hall insulator with a positive quantum spin Hall gap.
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