Crystallization Behavior and Mechanical Property of Biodegradable Poly(butylene succinate--2-methyl succinate)/Cellulose Nanocrystals Composites.

Biodegradable poly(butylene succinate--2-methyl succinate) (PBSMS)/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) composites were successfully prepared at low CNC loadings with the aims of improving crystallization and mechanical properties and extending the practical application of PBSMS. CNC is finely dispersed in the PBSMS matrix without obvious aggregations. The low content of CNC obviously promoted the crystallization behavior of PBSMS under different conditions.

A robust framework for enhancing cardiovascular disease risk prediction using an optimized category boosting model.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and it is of utmost importance to accurately assess the risk of cardiovascular disease for prevention and intervention purposes. In recent years, machine learning has shown significant advancements in the field of cardiovascular disease risk prediction. In this context, we propose a novel framework known as CVD-OCSCatBoost, designed for the precise prediction of cardiovascular disease risk and the assessment of various risk factors.

Synthesis, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Fully Biobased Poly (hexamethylene succinate--2,5-furandicarboxylate) Copolyesters.

Poly (hexamethylene succinate) (PHS) is a biobased and biodegradable polyester. In this research, two fully biobased high-molecular-weight poly (hexamethylene succinate--2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PHSF) copolyesters with low hexamethylene furandicarboxylate (HF) unit contents (about 5 and 10 mol%) were successfully synthesized through a two-step transesterification/esterification and polycondensation method. The basic thermal behavior, crystal structure, isothermal crystallization kinetics, melting behavior, thermal stability, and tensile mechanical property of PHSF copolyesters were studied in detail and compared with those of PHS.

Synthesis, Thermal Behavior, and Mechanical Properties of Fully Biobased Poly(Hexamethylene 2,5-Furandicarboxylate--Sebacate) Copolyesters.

In this research, three fully biobased poly(hexamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate--sebacate) (PHFSe) copolyesters with low contents of hexamethylene sebacate (HSe) unit (10 mol%, 20 mol%, and 30 mol%) were successfully synthesized through a two-step transesterification/esterification and polycondensation method. The chemical structure and actual composition of PHFSe copolyesters were confirmed by hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance. The thermal behavior and mechanical property of PHFSe copolyesters were investigated and compared with those of the poly(hexamethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PHF) homopolymer.

Significantly Enhanced Crystallization of Poly(ethylene succinate--1,2-propylene succinate) by Cellulose Nanocrystals as an Efficient Nucleating Agent.

Poly(ethylene succinate--1,2-propylene succinate) (PEPS) is a novel aliphatic biodegradable polyester with good mechanical properties. Due to the presence of methyl as a side group, the crystallization rate of PEPS is remarkably slower than that of the poly(ethylene succinate) homopolymer. To promote the potential application of PEPS, the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the crystallization behavior, crystalline morphology, and crystal structure of PEPS was investigated in this research with the aim of increasing the crystallization rate.

Fully Biodegradable Poly(hexamethylene succinate)/Cellulose Nanocrystals Composites with Enhanced Crystallization Rate and Mechanical Property.

Through a common solution and casting method, low contents of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) reinforced biodegradable poly(hexamethylene succinate) based composites were successfully prepared for the first time. CNC homogeneously dispersed in PHS matrix at low loadings, showing no obvious aggregation. PHS/CNC composites showed high thermal stability as PHS.

Effect of low loadings of cellulose nanocrystals on the significantly enhanced crystallization of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate).

Biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA)/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) nanocomposites were successfully prepared via a solution and casting method at low CNC loadings. The nonisothermal and isothermal melt crystallization behaviors of PBSA/CNC nanocomposites were significantly enhanced by low loading of CNC. The nonisothermal melt crystallization peak temperature obviously increased from 56 °C for neat PBSA to 63.

The melt-recrystallization behavior of highly oriented α-iPP fibers embedded in a HIPS matrix.

The melt-recrystallization behavior of α-iPP fibers embedded in an amorphous HIPS matrix has been studied by means of optical microscopy. The amorphous HIPS serving as a supporter of iPP fibers does not become involved in the nucleation and crystallization process of the molten highly oriented iPP fibers. It also does not provide any birefringence under the optical microscope with crossed polarizers.

Crystallization kinetics and thermal property of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/graphene oxide nanocomposites.

Biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/graphene oxide (PHB/GO) nanocomposites were prepared successfully via a solution mixing method. Transmission electron microscopy and wide angle X-ray diffraction results indicate that the GO sheets were homogeneously dispersed in the PHB matrix. Effect of GO on the thermal stability, nonisothermal melt crystallization behavior, isothermal melt crystallization kinetics, spherulitic morphology, and crystal structure of PHB in the nanocomposites was investigated in detail with various techniques.

Effect of low multi-walled carbon nanotubes loading on the crystallization behavior of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate).

The effect of low carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) loading on the crystallization behavior of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) was studied with various techniques in this work. For the nonisothermal melt crystallization, f-MWCNTs accelerate the crystallization process of PBA apparently due to the heterogeneous nucleation effect. The Ozawa method fails to describe the nonisothermal crystallization process of neat PBA and its nanocomposite.

Crystallization, mechanical properties, and controlled enzymatic degradation of biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites.

Biodegradable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes containing carboxylic groups (f-MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared via simple melt compounding at low f-MWNTs loading in this work. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations indicate a homogeneous and fine distribution of f-MWNTs throughout the PCL matrix. The effect of low f-MWNTs loading on the crystallization, mechanical properties, and controlled enzymatic degradation of PCL in the nanocomposites were studied in detail with various techniques.

Preparation and properties of biodegradable poly(L-lactide)/octamethyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes nanocomposites with enhanced crystallization rate via simple melt compounding.

Biodegradable poly(l-lactide) (PLLA)/octamethyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (ome-POSS) nanocomposites were prepared via simple melt compounding at various ome-POSS loadings in this work. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations indicate that ome-POSS were homogeneously dispersed in the PLLA matrix. Effect of ome-POSS on the nonisothermal crystallization behavior, isothermal melt crystallization kinetics, spherulitic morphology, crystal structure, dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal stability of PLLA in the nanocomposites was investigated in detail.

Study on the oriented recrystallization of carbon-coated polyethylene oriented ultrathin films.

It is confirmed that a layer of vacuum-evaporated carbon on the surface of a preoriented ultrathin polymer film can lead to an oriented recrystallization of the polymer film. This has been attributed to a strong fixing effect of vacuum-evaporated carbon layer on the film surface of the polymer. To study the origin of the strong fixing effect of vacuum-evaporated carbon layer on the polymer films, the melting and recrystallization behaviors of the preoriented ultrathin PE film with a vacuum-evaporated carbon layer were studied by using atomic force microscopy, electron diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

Biodegradable poly(butylene succinate)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite at low carbon nanotubes loading: morphology, crystallization and mechanical property.

Biodegradable nanocomposite based on poly(butylene succinate) (PBSU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was prepared by solution blending method at 1 wt% MWNTs loading. Scanning electron microscopic observation illustrates a homogeneous distribution of MWNTs in the PBSU matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy, and wide angle X-ray diffraction were used to study the nonisothermal crystallization, isothermal crystallization kinetics, spherulitic morphology, and crystal structure of neat PBSU and its nanocomposite.

Crystallization kinetics and morphology studies of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites.

Biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA)/carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared through solution casting method with different f-MWNTs contents ranging from 0.5 to 2 wt%. Scanning electron microscopic observations reveal a fine dispersion of f-MWNTs throughout the PBSA matrix.

Effect of comonomer content on the crystallization kinetics and morphology of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate).

Crystallization kinetics and morphology of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) containing 7, 10 and 18 mol% 3-hydroxyhexanoate (HHx) comonomer were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and wide angle X-ray diffraction in detail in this work. The experimental results indicate that overall isothermal crystallization rates of PHBHHx copolymers are reduced with increasing crystallization temperature and HHx content; however, the crystallization mechanism remains unchanged. Moreover, the equilibrium melting point temperatures of PHBHHx copolymers decrease with increasing the HHx content.

Effect of functionalization of multiwalled nanotubes on the crystallization and hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable poly(L-lactide).

Biodegradable poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared via solution blending using two kinds of MWNTs, i.e., pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (p-MWNTs) and carboxyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTs).

Various crystalline morphology of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) in its miscible blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride).

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) are crystalline/crystalline polymer blends with PVDF being the high-T(m) component and PBSA being the low-T(m) component, respectively. PVDF/PBSA blends are miscible as shown by the decrease of crystallization peak temperature and melting point temperature of each component with increasing the other component content and the homogeneous melt. The low-T(m) component PBSA presents various confined crystalline morphologies due to the presence of the high-T(m) component PVDF crystals by changing blend composition and crystallization conditions in the blends.