Polypropylene-Rendered Antiviral by Three-Dimensionally Surface-Grafted Poly(-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide).

To inhibit viral infection, it is necessary for the surface of polypropylene (PP), a polymer of significant industrial relevance, to possess biocidal properties. However, due to its low surface energy, PP weakly interacts with other organic molecules. The biocidal effects of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have inspired the development of nonwoven PP fibers with surface-bound quaternary ammonium (QA).

Multifaceted property tailoring of polyamide 6 by blending miscible and immiscible components: ternary blends of polyamide 6/polyethylene terephthalate/phenol novolac.

Ternary polymer blends comprising miscible and immiscible components are examined to improve the mechanical properties of polyamide 6 (PA6) under humid and high-temperature conditions. Miscible polymers increase the glass transition temperature ( ), owing to their strong inter-molecular interactions, while phase-separated immiscible polymers reinforce the physical properties of PA6 as filler materials. Ternary blends exhibit these combined miscible and immiscible component contributions.

Self-assembly of precursors in single-crystal growth of biopolymers.

Self-assembly of precursors in dilute solution single-crystal growth of poly[(R)-3-hydroxyvalerate] (PHV) and the fungal polysaccharide mycodextran were studied by transmission electron microscopy, especially at the early stages of crystallization. Precursors for PHV, such as small primary nuclei and tiny square tiles, consolidate to a large square crystal composed of orthogonally arranged tiles. By contrast, the precursors of mycodextran were lath-shaped, which suggests that the crystal growth is mainly in the longitudinal direction.

Physical properties of microbial polythioesters: characterization of poly(3-mercaptoalkanoates) synthesized by engineered Escherichia coli.

Physical properties of chiral poly(thioesters), PTEs, prepared by engineered Escherichia coli, were examined by GPC, 13C CP/MAS solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. Microbial homopolymers of PTEs, poly(3-mercaptopropionate), PMP, and poly(3-mercaptovalerate), PMV, showed different solubility characteristics compared to poly(hydroxyalkanoates), PHAs. Generally, PTEs required higher temperatures for dissolution.

Cocrystallization model for synthetic biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate).

Synthetic biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate), P(BA-co-BT), with 56 mol % butylene adipate, BA, was characterized by solid-state NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, computer modeling, and polarization microscopy. The NMR study showed the presence of BA and butylene terephthalate, BT. T(1C) NMR measurements proved that some BA and BT units were in crystalline regions.

Biosynthesis of novel thermoplastic polythioesters by engineered Escherichia coli.

The development of non-petrochemical sources for the plastics industry continues to progress as large multinationals focus on renewable resources to replace fossil carbon. Many bacteria are known to accumulate polyoxoesters as water-insoluble granules in the cytoplasm. The thermoplastic and/or elastomeric behaviour of these biodegradable polymers holds promise for the development of various technological applications.

Characterization of microbial polythioesters: physical properties of novel copolymers synthesized by Ralstonia eutropha.

Various samples of polythioesters with different contents of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MP) or 3-mercaptobutyric acid (3MB) as one comonomer and with 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3HB) as the second constituent were produced by cultivating cells of Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 in mineral salts medium containing 3MP or 3MB plus gluconate as carbon sources. Fermentations were done also at the 30-L scale. The various samples were cast as films from chloroform and the following were recorded: melting point, solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction.