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Polymers
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State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021)
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State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021)

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 28730

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Il Kim

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Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busandaehag-ro 63-2, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Interests: polymer synthesis; polymerization catalysis; bionanotechnology; hyperbranched polymers; polypeptides; thermoplastic elastomers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Hyeonseok Yoon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
Interests: conducting polymers; nanoparticles; composites; sensors; electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Changwoon Nah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Polymer-Nano Science & Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Jeonju 54896, Korea
Interests: elastomer, rubber, nanocomposites, fracture of polymer
Dr. Changsik Song

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi 16419, Korea
Interests: molecular design; synthesis; stimuli-responsive materials; biomass-derived polymers; vitrimers; supramolecular polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ki Su Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
Interests: biomaterials; biomedical application; theranostics; nanomedicine; biosensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Polymer Society of Korea was founded by 180 attendants on October 8, 1976. About 200 members participated in the first annual meeting to present 19 papers. As of today, the society consists of 4 local sections, an advisory council, 7 operation committees, and officers including a president, a chief vice president, five vice presidents, two auditors, a managing director, a general director, 49 ordinary directors, and 22 operating directors. The number of total members of the society is now up to 4,500. In 2019, more than 4,000 members participated in the biannual meetings and more than 2,000 papers were presented. The Polymer Society of Korea aims to contribute to the development and propagation of science and technology of polymer-related chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, and, thereby, to promote the polymer science and polymer industry. The field of polymer science represents one of the most active and multidisciplinary research areas in Korea. Material scientists, chemists, physicists, and engineers are committing to promoting the scientific and technological advancement of polymer materials through a variety of research and developments at the service of the Polymer Society of Korea. This field includes polymer synthesis, functional polymers, polymer processing/composites, polymer structure and property, molecular electronics, biomedical polymers, colloid and molecular assembly, and elastomer and fiber technologies. Examples of the contributions of Korean research to the polymer science field can be easily found out in the top journals and conferences throughout the world.

This Special Issue is devoted to the development of polymer science research in Korea. It seeks to compile original articles, review articles, and state-of-the-art research papers. Research topics include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Polymer synthesis
  • Functional polymers
  • Polymer processing/composites
  • Polymer structure and property
  • Molecular electronics
  • Biomedical polymers
  • Colloid and molecular assembly
  • Elastomers and fibers

The only restriction is that the main part of the study has to have been conducted in Korea or by Korean researchers.

We are expecting that this Special Issue will depict the state of polymeric research in Korea and offer a bright image of what is being achieved in this field in Korea to the rest of the world.

Prof. Dr. Il Kim
Prof. Dr. Hyeonseok Yoon
Prof. Dr. Changwoon Nah
Dr. Changsik Song
Prof. Dr. Ki Su Kim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymer synthesis
  • functional polymers
  • polymer processing/composites
  • polymer structure and property
  • molecular electronics
  • biomedical polymers
  • colloid and molecular assembly
  • elastomers and fibers

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1964 KiB  
Article
Self-Healable and Recyclable Biomass-Derived Polyurethane Networks through Carbon Dioxide Immobilization
by Seohyun Baek, Juhyen Lee, Hyunwoo Kim, Inhwan Cha and Changsik Song
Polymers 2021, 13(24), 4381; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13244381 - 14 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3412
Abstract
Due to growing environmental issues, research on carbon dioxide (CO2) use is widely conducted and efforts are being made to produce useful materials from biomass-derived resources. However, polymer materials developed by a combined strategy (i.e., both CO2-immobilized and biomass-derived) [...] Read more.
Due to growing environmental issues, research on carbon dioxide (CO2) use is widely conducted and efforts are being made to produce useful materials from biomass-derived resources. However, polymer materials developed by a combined strategy (i.e., both CO2-immobilized and biomass-derived) are rare. In this study, we synthesized biomass-derived poly(carbonate-co-urethane) (PCU) networks using CO2-immobilized furan carbonate diols (FCDs) via an ecofriendly method. The synthesis of FCDs was performed by directly introducing CO2 into a biomass-derived 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan. Using mechanochemical synthesis (ball-milling), the PCU networks were effortlessly prepared from FCDs, erythritol, and diisocyanate, which were then hot-pressed into films. The thermal and thermomechanical properties of the PCU networks were thoroughly characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic (thermal) mechanical analysis, and using a rheometer. The self-healing and recyclable properties of the PCU films were successfully demonstrated using dynamic covalent bonds. Interestingly, transcarbamoylation (urethane exchange) occurred preferentially as opposed to transcarbonation (carbonate exchange). We believe our approach presents an efficient means for producing sustainable polyurethane copolymers using biomass-derived and CO2-immobilized diols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021))
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10 pages, 1755 KiB  
Article
N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Catalyzed Random Copolymerization of N-Carboxyanhydrides of α-Amino Acids
by Kuen Hee Eom, Seokhyeon Baek and Il Kim
Polymers 2021, 13(21), 3674; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213674 - 25 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2415
Abstract
Synthetic polypeptides prepared from N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) of α-amino acids are useful for elucidating the relationship between the primary structure of natural peptides and their immunogenicity. In this study, complex copolypeptide sequences were prepared using a recently developed technique; specifically, the random copolymerization [...] Read more.
Synthetic polypeptides prepared from N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) of α-amino acids are useful for elucidating the relationship between the primary structure of natural peptides and their immunogenicity. In this study, complex copolypeptide sequences were prepared using a recently developed technique; specifically, the random copolymerization of l-alanine NCA with NCAs of l-glutamic acid 5-benzylester (Bn-Glu NCA), S-benzyl-cysteine (Bn-Cys NCA), O-benzyl-l-serine (Bn-Ser NCA), and l-phenylalanine (Phe NCA) was performed using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts. The NHC-initiated Ala NCA/Bn-Glu NCA and Ala NCA/Bn-Cys NCA copolymerization reactions achieved 90% conversion within 30 min. The reactivity ratio values estimated using the Kelen and Tüdos method show that poly(Bn-Glu-co-Ala) and poly(Bn-Cys-co-Ala) have random repeating units with rich alternating sequences, whereas poly(Bn-Ser-co-Ala) and poly(Phe-co-Ala) contain a larger proportion of Ala-repeating units than Bn-Ser and Phe in random placement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021))
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14 pages, 3752 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Flexible pH-Responsive Agarose/Succinoglycan Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Release
by Yiluo Hu, Yohan Kim, Inki Hong, Moosung Kim and Seunho Jung
Polymers 2021, 13(13), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13132049 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3338
Abstract
Agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels were prepared as pH-responsive drug delivery systems with significantly improved flexibility, thermostability, and porosity compared to agarose gels alone. Agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels were made using agarose and succinoglycan, a polysaccharide directly isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Mechanical and physical properties of agarose/succinoglycan [...] Read more.
Agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels were prepared as pH-responsive drug delivery systems with significantly improved flexibility, thermostability, and porosity compared to agarose gels alone. Agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels were made using agarose and succinoglycan, a polysaccharide directly isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti. Mechanical and physical properties of agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels were investigated using various instrumental methods such as rheological measurements, attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results showed that the agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels became flexible and stable network gels with an improved swelling pattern in basic solution compared to the hard and brittle agarose gel alone. In addition, these hydrogels showed a pH-responsive delivery of ciprofloxacin (CPFX), with a cumulative release of ~41% within 35 h at pH 1.2 and complete release at pH 7.4. Agarose/succinoglycan hydrogels also proved to be non-toxic as a result of the cell cytotoxicity test, suggesting that these hydrogels would be a potential natural biomaterial for biomedical applications such as various drug delivery system and cell culture scaffolds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021))
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13 pages, 2965 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Ionic Domains on a Proton Exchange Membrane Using a Numerical Approximation Model Based on Electrostatic Force Microscopy
by Byungrak Son, JaeHyoung Park and Osung Kwon
Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081258 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1952
Abstract
Understanding the ionic channel network of proton exchange membranes that dictate fuel cell performance is crucial when developing proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, it is difficult to characterize this network because of the complicated nanostructure and structure changes that depend on water [...] Read more.
Understanding the ionic channel network of proton exchange membranes that dictate fuel cell performance is crucial when developing proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, it is difficult to characterize this network because of the complicated nanostructure and structure changes that depend on water uptake. Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) can map surface charge distribution with nano-spatial resolution by measuring the electrostatic force between a vibrating conductive tip and a charged surface under an applied voltage. Herein, the ionic channel network of a proton exchange membrane is analyzed using EFM. A mathematical approximation model of the ionic channel network is derived from the principle of EFM. This model focusses on free charge movement on the membrane based on the force gradient variation between the tip and the membrane surface. To verify the numerical approximation model, the phase lag of dry and wet Nafion is measured with stepwise changes to the bias voltage. Based on the model, the variations in the ionic channel network of Nafion with different amounts of water uptake are analyzed numerically. The mean surface charge density of both membranes, which is related to the ionic channel network, is calculated using the model. The difference between the mean surface charge of the dry and wet membranes is consistent with the variation in their proton conductivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021))
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14 pages, 3685 KiB  
Article
Hardness Modulated Thermoplastic Poly(ether ester) Elastomers for the Automobile Weather-Strip Application
by Su Hyeon Jeon, Jae Eon Jeong, Seongkyun Kim, Sungwan Jeon, Jin Woo Choung and Il Kim
Polymers 2021, 13(4), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040525 - 10 Feb 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3351
Abstract
As a means of developing new material for automobile weather-stripping and seal parts replacing the conventional ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber/polypropylene vulcanizate, a series of poly(ether ester) elastomers are synthesized. The hardness is modulated by controlling chain extender composition after fixing the hard [...] Read more.
As a means of developing new material for automobile weather-stripping and seal parts replacing the conventional ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber/polypropylene vulcanizate, a series of poly(ether ester) elastomers are synthesized. The hardness is modulated by controlling chain extender composition after fixing the hard segment to soft segment ratio. Targeted hardness is achieved by partly substituting conventional chain extender 1,4-butandiol for soybean oil-originated fatty acid amide diol that bears a long chain branch. The crystallinity and phase separation behavior resultant elastomer are also tunable simply by modulating chain extender composition and hard to soft segment ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021))
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Review

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49 pages, 18083 KiB  
Review
Fire-Safe Polymer Composites: Flame-Retardant Effect of Nanofillers
by Yukyung Kim, Sanghyuck Lee and Hyeonseok Yoon
Polymers 2021, 13(4), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040540 - 12 Feb 2021
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 12506
Abstract
Currently, polymers are competing with metals and ceramics to realize various material characteristics, including mechanical and electrical properties. However, most polymers consist of organic matter, making them vulnerable to flames and high-temperature conditions. In addition, the combustion of polymers consisting of different types [...] Read more.
Currently, polymers are competing with metals and ceramics to realize various material characteristics, including mechanical and electrical properties. However, most polymers consist of organic matter, making them vulnerable to flames and high-temperature conditions. In addition, the combustion of polymers consisting of different types of organic matter results in various gaseous hazards. Therefore, to minimize the fire damage, there has been a significant demand for developing polymers that are fire resistant or flame retardant. From this viewpoint, it is crucial to design and synthesize thermally stable polymers that are less likely to decompose into combustible gaseous species under high-temperature conditions. Flame retardants can also be introduced to further reinforce the fire performance of polymers. In this review, the combustion process of organic matter, types of flame retardants, and common flammability testing methods are reviewed. Furthermore, the latest research trends in the use of versatile nanofillers to enhance the fire performance of polymeric materials are discussed with an emphasis on their underlying action, advantages, and disadvantages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Korea (2020,2021))
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