Meta-structure of amorphous-inspired 65.1Co28.2Cr5.3Mo lattices augmented by artificial intelligence.

Unlabelled: A hatching-distance-controlled lattice of 65.1Co28.2Cr5.

3D Temperature-Controlled Interchangeable Pattern for Size-Selective Nanoparticle Capture.

Patterned surfaces with distinct regularity and structured arrangements have attracted great interest due to their extensive promising applications. Although colloidal patterning has conventionally been used to create such surfaces, herein, we introduce a novel 3D patterned poly(isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) surface, synthesized by using a combination of colloidal templating and surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-PET-RAFT) polymerization. In order to investigate the temperature-driven 3D morphological variations at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of ∼32 °C, multifaceted characterization techniques were employed.

Interactions of Cells and Biomaterials for Nerve Tissue Engineering: Polymers and Fabrication.

Neural injuries affect millions globally, significantly impacting their quality of life. The inability of these injuries to heal, limited ability to regenerate, and the lack of available treatments make regenerative medicine and tissue engineering a promising field of research for developing methods for nerve repair. This review evaluates the use of natural and synthetic polymers, and the fabrication methods applied that influence a cell's behavior.

Hybrid Dynamic Covalent Network as a Protective Layer and Solid-State Electrolyte for Stable Lithium-Metal Batteries.

Lithium (Li) metal is a highly promising anode material for next-generation high-energy-density batteries, while Li dendrite growth and the unstable solid electrolyte interphase layer inhibit its commercialization. Herein, a chemically grafted hybrid dynamic network (CHDN) is rationally designed and synthesized by the 4,4'-thiobisbenzenamine cross-linked poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate--glycidyl methacrylate) and (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane-functionalized SiO nanoparticles, which is utilized as a protective layer and hybrid solid-state electrolyte (HSE) for stable Li-metal batteries. The presence of a dynamic exchangeable disulfide affords self-heability and recyclability, and the chemical attachment between SiO nanoparticles and the polymer matrix enables the homogeneous distribution of inorganic fillers and mechanical robustness.

Statistical methods for design and testing of 3D-printed polymers.

Different statistical methods are used in various fields to qualify processes and products, especially in emerging technologies like Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing. Since several statistical methods are being employed to ensure quality production of the 3D-printed parts, an overview of these methods used in 3D printing for different purposes is presented in this paper. The advantages and challenges, to understanding the importance it brings for design and testing optimization of 3D-printed parts are also discussed.

Chitosan-Based Scaffolds for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as myocardial infarction (MI), constitute one of the world's leading causes of annual deaths. This cardiomyopathy generates a tissue scar with poor anatomical properties and cell necrosis that can lead to heart failure. Necrotic tissue repair is required through pharmaceutical or surgical treatments to avoid such loss, which has associated adverse collateral effects.

Synthesis of hyperbranched polymer films via electrodeposition and oxygen-tolerant surface-initiated photoinduced polymerization.

Hypothesis: Hyperbranched polymers, not only possess higher functionality, but are also easier to prepare compared to dendrimers and dendric polymers. Combining electrodeposition and surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (SI-PET-RAFT) polymerization is hypothesized to be a novel strategy for preparing hyperbranched polymer films on conductive surfaces without degassing.

Experiments: Polymer brush grafted films with four different architectures (i.

Machine Intelligence-Centered System for Automated Characterization of Functional Materials and Interfaces.

Classic design of experiment relies on a time-intensive workflow that requires planning, data interpretation, and hypothesis building by experienced researchers. Here, we describe an integrated, machine-intelligent experimental system which enables simultaneous dynamic tests of electrical, optical, gravimetric, and viscoelastic properties of materials under a programmable dynamic environment. Specially designed software controls the experiment and performs on-the-fly extensive data analysis and dynamic modeling, real-time iterative feedback for dynamic control of experimental conditions, and rapid visualization of experimental results.

Unravelling the Influence of Surface Modification on the Ultimate Performance of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites.

The overall performance of polymer composites depends on not only the intrinsic properties of the polymer matrix and inorganic filler but also the quality of interfacial adhesion. Although many reported approaches have been focused on the chemical treatment for improving interfacial adhesion, the examination of ultimate mechanical performance and long-term properties of polymer composites has been rarely investigated. Herein, we report carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy composites with improved interfacial adhesion by covalent bonding between CFs and the epoxy matrix.

Anticorrosive epoxy coatings from direct epoxidation of bioethanol fractionated lignin.

The development of lignin-based anticorrosive epoxy coatings for steel protection is beneficial for both alleviating the fossil resource depletion and value-added utilization of lignin but remains a challenge due to the inherent heterogeneous structure of lignin. Here, we selectively extract the low molecular weight (MW) fraction of a crop residue-derived enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL) through a bioethanol fractionation process and prepare epoxy resin by direct epoxidation of the bioethanol fractionated lignin (BFL). The coatings are then fabricated using 20-100 wt% of BFL-based epoxy resin (LEp) as the commercial epoxy resin substitute.

On the Interfacial Behavior of Catenated Poly(l-lactide) at the Air-Water Interface.

Interfacial properties of polymeric materials are significantly influenced by their architectural structures and spatial features, while such a study of topologically interesting macromolecules is rarely reported. In this work, we reported, for the first time, the interfacial behavior of catenated poly(l-lactide) (C-PLA) at the air-water interface and compared it with its linear analogue (L-PLA). The isotherms of surface pressure-area per repeating unit showed significant interfacial behavioral differences between the two polymers with different topologies.

3D Printed Parahydrophobic Surfaces as Multireaction Platforms.

Parahydrophobic surfaces (PHSs) composed of arrays of cubic μ-pillars with a double scale of roughness and variable wettability were systematically obtained in one step and a widely accessible stereolithographic Formlabs 3D printer. The wettability control was achieved by combining the geometrical parameters ( = height and = pitch) and the surface modification with fluoroalkyl silane compounds. Homogeneous distribution of F and Si atoms onto the pillars was observed by XPS and SEM-EDAX.

Polymer-solvent interaction and conformational changes at a molecular level: Implication to solvent-assisted deformation and aggregation at the polymer surface.

Hypothesis: We hypothesize that varying the chemical structure of the monomeric unit in a polymer will affect the surface structure and interfacial molecular group orientations of the polymer film leveraging its response to solvents of different chemical affinities.

Experiments: Poly (2-methoxy ethyl methacrylate) and poly (2-tertbutoxy ethyl methacrylate) thin films exposed to either deuterated water (DO) or deuterated chloroform (CDCl) were studied by sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, contact angle goniometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the polymer-solvent interface, supported with molecular simulation studies.

Findings: SFG spectral analysis of the polymer thin films corroborated molecular re-organization at the surface when exposed to different chemical environments.

Additively manufactured high-performance polymeric materials and their potential use in the oil and gas industry.

The oil and gas industry has been tagged as among the largest revenue-generating sectors in the world. High-performance polymers (HPPs), on the other hand, are among the most useful industrial materials, while the utility of 3D printing technologies has evolved and transitioned from rapid prototyping of composite materials to manufacturing of functional parts. In this prospective, we highlight the potential uses and industrial applications of 3D-printed HPP materials in the oil and gas sector, including the challenges and opportunities present.

Electropolymerized-molecularly imprinted polymers (E-MIPS) as sensing elements for the detection of dengue infection.

A straightforward in situ detection method for dengue infection was demonstrated through the molecular imprinting of a dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) epitope into an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polyterthiophene (E-MIP) film sensor. The key enabling step in the sensor fabrication is based on an epitope imprinting strategy, in which short peptide sequences derived from the original target molecules were employed as the main template for detection and analysis. The formation of the E-MIP sensor films was facilitated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and monitored in situ by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EC-QCM).

On the progress of 3D-printed hydrogels for tissue engineering.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing or more commonly known as 3D printing, is currently driving innovations and applications in diverse fields such as prototyping, manufacturing, aerospace, education, and medicine. Recent technological and materials research breakthroughs have enabled 3D bioprinting, where biomaterials and cells are used to create scaffolds and functional living tissues (e.g.

Superhydrophobic μ-pillars via simple and scalable SLA 3D-printing: the stair-case effect and their wetting models.

In nature, superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) exhibit microstructures with several roughness scales. Scalable fabrication and build-up along the X-Y plane represent the promise of 3D printing technology. Herein we report 3D printed microstructures with a dual roughness scale that achieves SHS using a readily available Formlabs stereolithography (SLA) printer.

Characterize traction-separation relation and interfacial imperfections by data-driven machine learning models.

Interfacial mechanical properties are important in composite materials and their applications, including vehicle structures, soft robotics, and aerospace. Determination of traction-separation (T-S) relations at interfaces in composites can lead to evaluations of structural reliability, mechanical robustness, and failures criteria. Accurate measurements on T-S relations remain challenging, since the interface interaction generally happens at microscale.

3D printing of biomedically relevant polymer materials and biocompatibility.

Abstract: Research on polymer materials for additive manufacturing technology in biomedical applications is as promising as it is numerous, but biocompatibility of printable materials still remains a big challenge. Changes occurring during the 3D-printing processes itself may have adverse effects on the compatibility of the completed print. This prospective will put emphasis on the different additives and processes that can have a direct impact on biocompatibility during and after 3D printing of polymer materials.

Additive manufacturing for COVID-19: Devices, materials, prospects, and challenges.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has caused the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) where improvised manufacturing in particular 3D printing has addressed many needs. This prospective discusses the current global crisis, then follows the wide interest in addressing the shortage of medical devices and PPEs used for treatment and protection against pathogens. An overview of the 3D printing process with polymer materials is given followed by the different 3D printing projects of PPEs and medical devices that emerged for the pandemic (including validation/testing).

4D Printing via an Unconventional Fused Deposition Modeling Route to High-Performance Thermosets.

An unprecedented four-dimensional (4D) printing process allowing high-performance and shape memory thermoset to be printed, for the first time, by fused deposition modeling (FDM) with isotropic properties has been achieved. Bisphenol A-based epoxy and benzoxazine were formulated to a low-temperature thermoplastic and high-temperature thermoset resin, which is melt-extrudable and can be postcured into covalently cross-linked material. Carbon nanotube (CNT) was added in the resin to work as both mechanical enhancement filler and rheology modifier to prevent shape deformation during postcuring process.

On the Effect of Ultralow Loading of Microwave-Assisted Bifunctionalized Graphene Oxide in Stereolithographic 3D-Printed Nanocomposites.

Surface functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) is one of the best ways to achieve homogeneous dispersions of GO within polymeric matrices and composites. Nonetheless, studies regarding how the level of GO functionalization affects the macroscopic properties of three-dimensional (3D) printed nanocomposites are still few. Furthermore, the bifunctionalization of GO with the NH/NH groups to obtain improved thermomechanical macroscopic properties at ultralow loads has not been reported.