3-Pentadecylphenol (PDP) as a Novel Compatibilizer for Simultaneous Toughened and Reinforced PA10,12 Composites.

The utilization of polyamide 10,12 (PA10,12) composites in various industries has been limited constrained by their inherent low toughness, making it a challenge to achieve a balance between toughness and structural integrity through conventional elastomer addition strategies. Herein, we introduce a straightforward method for the concurrent toughening and reinforcement of PA10,12 composites. This is accomplished by blending polyolefin elastomer (POE) and 3-pentadecylphenol (PDP) with the PA10,12 matrix.

Molecular dynamics simulation of the 3-15alkyphenol compatibilizer in highly toughened and robust polyamide 10,12/MWCNT composites.

Highly toughened and stiff polyamide 10,12 (PA10,12) composites present a promising alternative to metal products for high-impact environments. However, it is challenging to toughen PA10,12 composites without compromising their robustness. Herein, we report a facile and scalable route to simultaneously develop reinforced and toughened PA10,12 composites compounding PA10,12, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 3-15alkyphenol (PDP).

Ratiometric detection of I using a dysprosium-based metal-organic framework with a single emission center.

In this study, a dysprosium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) sensor (Dy-MOF) was developed for the ratiometric detection of I in aqueous medium. Upon excitation at 230 nm, Dy-MOF shows two dominant emission bands at 464 nm and 574 nm assigned to (F, D) → H + F and F → H transition of Dy, respectively, which have different sensitivities toward iodide ions. The introduction of I slightly weakened the blue emission at 464 nm and significantly quenched the yellow emission at 574 nm.

Polybutadiene Dielectric Elastomers with High Dielectric Constant and Ultralow Dielectric Loss via Tuning Grafted Polar Groups.

This work describes an easy and effective process for preparing a homogeneous polybutadiene (PB) dielectric elastomer with improved actuated strain by utilizing a photochemical thiol-ene click reaction. The carboxyl groups and various ester groups are used for grafting on the PB. Since the length of the alkyl chains of the ester groups will significantly influence the polarities of the carbonyl groups and hydrogen bonding effect, the influence of polarity and hydrogen bonding effect on the dielectric properties and mechanical properties of the modified polybutadienes is carefully discussed.

A ratiometric luminescence sensing platform based on lanthanide-based silica nanoparticles for selective and sensitive detection of Fe and Cu ions.

Detection of Fe(III) and Cu(II) in water is highly desirable because their abnormal levels can cause serious harm to human health and environmental safety. In this work, a ratiometric luminescence sensing platform based on lanthanide-based silica nanoparticles was constructed for the detection of Fe and Cu ions. The terbium-silica nanoparticles (named SiO@Tb) with dual-emission signals were successfully prepared by grafting Tb ions onto trimellitic anhydride (TMA) functionalized silica nanospheres.

Janus Hydrogel to Mimic the Structure and Property of Articular Cartilage.

Designing hydrogels with adequate strength, remarkable swelling resistance, low friction coefficient, excellent biocompatibility, and osseointegration potential is essential for replacing articular cartilage. However, it remains challenging to integrate all these properties into one material. In this work, a Janus hydrogel was prepared from polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, and sodium hyaluronate, followed by a one-sided dipping in situ precipitation mineralization to form a layer of hybridized hydroxyapatite (HAp), wherein the two surfaces had distinct compositions and functions.

Confined Crystallization and Melting Behaviors of 3-Pentadecylphenol in Anodic Alumina Oxide Nanopores.

To explore the effects of end groups on the confined crystallization of an alkyl chain, 3-pentadecylphenol (PDP) was infiltrated into the anodic aluminum oxide template (AAO) to investigate the melting and crystallization behaviors of PDP in a nanoconfined environment. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) found that the solid-solid phase transition of PDP occurred under confined conditions, and the absence of the (00L) reflections indicated that the stacking of the end groups of the alkyl chain layered structure was seriously disturbed. Thermal analysis (TG) showed that the thermal stability of the confined samples decreased due to the confinement effect, and the introduction of end groups made the confinement effect more obvious.

A review on nanocellulose as a lightweight filler of polyolefin composites.

Nanocellulose (NC) possesses low density, high aspect ratio, impressive mechanical properties, nanoscale dimensions, which shows huge potential applications as a reinforced filler. Polyolefin (PO), represented by polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), has been widely used in industries. Recently nanocellulose/polyolefin nanocomposites (NC/PO nanocomposites) have caught more attention from the application of automotive components, aerospace, furniture, building, home appliances, and sport.

Graphene Oxide-Supported Catalyst with Thermoresponsive Smart Surface for Selective Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde.

In this study, a graphene oxide (GO)-based thermoresponsive smart catalytic material with a phase-transition temperature of approximately 37 °C was developed by growing poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) on GO sheets (i.e., GO-PNIPAM).

Lamellae Assembly in Dendritic Spherulites of Poly(l-lactic Acid) Crystallized with Poly(-Vinyl Phenol).

Lamellar assembly with fractal-patterned growth into dendritic and ringed spherulites of crystallized poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), of two molecular weight (MW) grades and crystallized at (temperature of crystallization) = 120 and 130 °C, respectively, are evaluated using optical and atomic-force microscopies. The results of surface-relief patterns in correlation with interior microscopy analyses in this work strongly indicate that the observed birefringence changes in PLLA polymer dendritic or ringed spherulites (from blue to orange, or to optical extinction) need not be definitely associated with the continuous helix twisting of lamellae; they can be caused by sudden and discontinuous lamellae branching at intersected angles with respect to the original main lamellae, as proven in the case of dendritic and zig-zag rough-ringed spherulites. Intersection angles between the main stalks and branches tend to be governed by polymer crystal lattices; for PLLA, the orthorhombic lattice (α-form) usually gives a 60° angle of branching and hexagonal growth.

Miscibility, Morphology and Crystallization Behavior of Poly(Butylene Succinate-co-Butylene Adipate)/Poly(Vinyl Phenol)/Poly(l-Lactic Acid) Blends.

Amorphous poly(vinyl phenol) (PVPh) is introduced into poly(butylene succinate--butylene adipate)/poly(l-lactic acid) (PBSA/PLLA) blends via solution casting. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis verifies that intermolecular hydrogen bonding formed in PBSA/PVPh/PLLA blends. The miscibility between PBSA and PLLA is improved with PVPh incorporation as evidenced by approaching s of the two components.

Solid-solid phase transition of n-alkanes in multiple nanoscale confinement.

The crystallization behavior of n-C(19)H(40)/SiO(2) nanosphere composites was investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction (XRD). Three kinds of confined alkanes with different solid-solid phase transition supercoolings and a surface (or interface) freezing monolayer of n-C(19)H(40) at the bulk liquid/SiO(2) interface were found in the composites at high SiO(2) loading. The surface freezing monolayer induces the chain packing of bulk alkanes by forming a 2D close-packed arrangement without long-range positional ordering in 3D space.