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Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications
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Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2019) | Viewed by 94292

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gianluca Cicala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: additive manufacturing; polymers; composites; recycling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Pietro Russo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials Institute, Via Campi Flegrei 34, CNR, 80078 Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
Interests: recycling of polymer-based formulations and nanocomposites; green polymer composites involving bio-based matrix and/or natural reinforcing fibers; polymer materials with improved functional properties; mechanical and damage behavior of composite laminated structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The composites market is projected to grow from USD 72.58 billion in 2016 to USD 115.43 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 8.13% between 2017 and 2022. The scientific and technological innovations of polymer matrix composites may further drive and sustain the application of composites. Environmental concerns, rather than limiting the use of composites, pushed the identification of novel solutions like the development of cleavable thermosets, which can be easily transformed into thermoplastics or the development of novel approaches to produce carbon fibers from lignin. In the field of multifunctional composites many examples of composites exist with built in functions like: Energy harvest and storage, chemical reactions for self-healing, control of thermal conduction, sensing of internal and external threats and altering of structural shape on demand. Many of these approaches rely on novel polymer matrix composites. Recently, the development of novel additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have also allowed polymer matrix composites to be used in the AM field.

As Guest Editors of the Special Issue entitled “Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications”, of Polymers, is our great pleasure to invite you to contribute to this issue with your most recent results in such a fascinating field of research. Reviews and research articles on the topics of interest are both accepted for this Special Issue.

The official deadline for submission is 30 June 2019. We look forward to receiving your contribution for the “Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications” Special Issue in Polymers.

Prof. Gianluca Cicala
Dr. Pietro Russo
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

  • Composites
  • Ecocompatible
  • Nanoparticels
  • Recycling
  • Multifunctional composites
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Life Cycle Analysis

Published Papers (20 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1093 KiB  
Article
High-Temperature Performance of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Mixes: Preliminary Evaluation of the Usefulness of Standard Technical Index in Polymer-Modified Asphalt
by Kezhen Yan, Lingyun You and Daocheng Wang
Polymers 2019, 11(9), 1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11091404 - 27 Aug 2019
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4483
Abstract
The objectives of this study are to evaluate the high-temperature performance of polymer-modified asphalt and asphalt mixtures, and to investigate if the standard technical indexes are useful in the performance evaluation of the polymer-modified asphalt. There are four typically used polymer-modified asphalt types [...] Read more.
The objectives of this study are to evaluate the high-temperature performance of polymer-modified asphalt and asphalt mixtures, and to investigate if the standard technical indexes are useful in the performance evaluation of the polymer-modified asphalt. There are four typically used polymer-modified asphalt types employed in the study. The standard high-temperature rheological test, such as the temperature sweep test, was used to express the high-temperature performance of the polymer-modified asphalt. Also, considering the non-Newtonian fluid properties of the polymer-modified asphalt, the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) and zero-shear viscosity (ZSV) tests were employed for the characterizations. Besides, based on the mixture design of SMA-13, the high temperature of the polymer-modified asphalt mixture was evaluated via Marshall stability and rutting tests. The test results concluded that the ranking of the four kinds of polymer-modified asphalt was different in various laboratory tests. The TB-APAO has the best technical indexes in MSCR and ZSV tests, while the WTR-APAO performed best in the temperature sweep test. In addition, the correlation between the polymer-modified asphalt and the asphalt mixture was very poor. Thus, the present standard technical indexes for the profoundly polymer-modified asphalt mixtures are no longer suitable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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24 pages, 3876 KiB  
Article
Mechanical, Electrical and Rheological Behavior of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites
by Nicoleta-Violeta Stanciu, Felicia Stan, Ionut-Laurentiu Sandu, Florin Susac, Catalin Fetecau and Razvan-Tudor Rosculet
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1300; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081300 - 02 Aug 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3913
Abstract
This paper investigates the rheological, mechanical and electrical properties of a Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) polymer filled with 1, 3 and 5 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The melt flow and pressure-volume-Temperature (pvT) behaviors of the EVA/MWCNT composites were investigated using a [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the rheological, mechanical and electrical properties of a Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) polymer filled with 1, 3 and 5 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The melt flow and pressure-volume-Temperature (pvT) behaviors of the EVA/MWCNT composites were investigated using a high-pressure capillary rheometer, while the electro-mechanical response was investigated on injection-molded samples. Rheological experiments showed that the melt shear viscosity of the EVA/MWCNT composite is dependent on nanotube loading and, at high shear rates, the viscosity showed temperature-dependent shear thinning behavior with a flow index n < 0.35. The specific volume of the EVA/MWCNT composite decreased with increasing pressure and MWCNT wt.%. The transition temperature, corresponding to the pvT crystallization, increased linearly with increasing pressure, i.e., about 20 to 30 °C when cooling under pressure. The elastic modulus, tensile strength and stress at break increased with increasing MWCNT wt.%, whereas the strain at break decreased, suggesting the formation of MWCNT secondary agglomerates. The electrical conductivity of the EVA/MWCNT composite increased with increasing MWCNT wt.% and melt temperature, reaching ~10−2 S/m for the composite containing 5 wt.% MWCNTs. Using the statistical percolation theory, the percolation threshold was estimated at 0.9 wt.% and the critical exponent at 4.95. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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12 pages, 4238 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Peelable Coating Films with a Metal Organic Framework (UiO-66) and Self-Crosslinkable Polyurethane for the Decomposition of Methyl Paraoxon
by Ngo Hoang Long, Hee-woong Park, Gyeong-seok Chae, Jung Hyun Lee, Se Won Bae and Seunghan Shin
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081298 - 02 Aug 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4515
Abstract
For the fabrication of a peelable coating material that decomposes methyl paraoxone (MPO), a nerve agent simulant, self-crosslinkable waterborne polyurethanes (PUs) containing silane groups at the ends and a metal organic framework (UiO-66) were synthesized. UiO-66 dispersed PU solutions for spray coating were [...] Read more.
For the fabrication of a peelable coating material that decomposes methyl paraoxone (MPO), a nerve agent simulant, self-crosslinkable waterborne polyurethanes (PUs) containing silane groups at the ends and a metal organic framework (UiO-66) were synthesized. UiO-66 dispersed PU solutions for spray coating were prepared by controlling the amount of silane in PU and the content of UiO-66. PUs with a large amount of silane (more than 7.2 wt.%) were easily gelated by adding UiO-66 because the solution was changed from neutral (pH = 7.3) to strongly acidic (pH = 2.5). Therefore, the silane content in PUs should be carefully controlled for the fabrication of composite films. When UiO-66 was added to the PU with a silane content of 2.7 wt.%, the reinforcing effect by UiO-66 was observed up to 15.3 wt.%, but a further increase in UiO-66 content decreased both the tensile strength and the elongation. The peel strength of the PU composite films on polyethylene (PET) and glass substrates decreased with increasing UiO-66 content, but their MPO conversion increased with increasing UiO-66 content. The PU composite film with 49.5 wt.% of added UiO-66 showed the MPO conversion of 63.2% and was easily peeled off from PET and glass substrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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15 pages, 4149 KiB  
Article
Rheological Characterization of Asphalt Fine Aggregate Matrix Using Dynamic Shear Rheometer
by Xiangbing Gong, Zejiao Dong, Haipeng Wang, Xianyong Ma, Huanan Yu and Kaikai Hu
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1273; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081273 - 31 Jul 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3623
Abstract
Asphalt fine aggregate matrix (FAM) is a predominant component directly related to field performances of hot asphalt mix (HMA), it is necessary to investigate material properties of FAM. Prior to preparing FAM specimens, the asphalt content was calculated by keeping the filler–bitumen ( [...] Read more.
Asphalt fine aggregate matrix (FAM) is a predominant component directly related to field performances of hot asphalt mix (HMA), it is necessary to investigate material properties of FAM. Prior to preparing FAM specimens, the asphalt content was calculated by keeping the filler–bitumen (FB) ratio the same as in the corresponding HMA. A non-destructive fabrication method instead of coring and cutting methods was developed to compact FAM cylinders, and the joint base was designed to be concentric with the loading axis of testing system. Rheological responses of FAM were studied using the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). Two repeated tests prove that the FAM compactor and the jointed base meet the requirement of data validation. Results show that rheological performances of FAM are significantly affected by asphalt content, gradation, air void content, and testing frequency. Air void is concluded to be the decisive factor which influences the stability of FAM, and the fiber is demonstrated to play a role on enhancing the flow resistance of FAM-F even though with the richest asphalt content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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12 pages, 7211 KiB  
Article
Controlling the Crack Propagation Path of the Veil Interleaved Composite by Fusion-Bonded Dots
by Guangchang Chen, Jindong Zhang, Gang Liu, Puhui Chen and Miaocai Guo
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081260 - 30 Jul 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3276
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of the fusion-bonded dots of veil interleaves on the crack propagation path of the interlaminar fracture of continuous carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin. Two thin fiber layers (i.e., nylon veil (NV) with fusion-bonded dots and Kevlar veil (KV) [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effect of the fusion-bonded dots of veil interleaves on the crack propagation path of the interlaminar fracture of continuous carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin. Two thin fiber layers (i.e., nylon veil (NV) with fusion-bonded dots and Kevlar veil (KV) physically stacked by fibers) were used to toughen composites as interleaves. Result shows that the existence of fusion-bonded dots strongly influenced the crack propagation and changed the interlaminar fracture mechanism. The Mode I fracture path of the nylon veil interleaved composite (NVIC) could propagate in the plane where the dots were located, whereas the path of the Kevlar veil interleaved composite (KVIC) randomly deflected inside the interlayer without the pre-cracking of the dots. The improvement of Mode I toughness was mainly based on fiber bridging and the resulting fiber breakage and pull-out. Fiber breakage was often observed for NVIC, whereas fiber pull-out was the main mechanism for KVIC. For the Mode II fracture path, the fusion-bonded NV dots guided the fracture path largely deflected inside the interlayer, causing the breakage of tough nylon fibers. The fracture path of the physically stacked KVIC occurred at one carbon ply/interlayer interface and only slightly deflected at fiber overlapped regions. Moreover, the fiber pull-out was often observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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20 pages, 5875 KiB  
Article
Characterisation of Polyamide (PA)12 Nanocomposites with Montmorillonite (MMT) Filler Clay Used for the Incremental Forming of Sheets
by Andrej Borić, Alena Kalendová, Michal Urbanek and Tomaž Pepelnjak
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1248; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081248 - 28 Jul 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6193
Abstract
In this paper, the preparation and characterisation of polymer materials suitable for single point incremental forming (SPIF) technology were performed. Three different kinds of mixtures were selected: a mixture of neat polyamide 12 (PA12), a nanocomposite with PA12 matrix and 1% clay (Cloisite [...] Read more.
In this paper, the preparation and characterisation of polymer materials suitable for single point incremental forming (SPIF) technology were performed. Three different kinds of mixtures were selected: a mixture of neat polyamide 12 (PA12), a nanocomposite with PA12 matrix and 1% clay (Cloisite 93A), and a nanocomposite with PA12 matrix and 3% clay (Cloisite 93A). Materials were produced using a melt intercalation method followed by compression moulding. According to the needs of SPIF technology, morphological and mechanical properties were investigated in the obtained mixtures. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize morphological properties. It was determined that the most desired obtained exfoliated structure of clay in the polymer matrix was achieved. Static tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis as well as the determination of glass transition temperature and crystallinity of all analysed materials were used to obtain mechanical and thermal properties of the mixtures. The results obtained for each mixture were compared with respect to the content of clay. The content of clay (Cloisite 93A) showed a strong influence on the properties of the obtained materials. The presence of clay (Cloisite 93A) affected the increase of tensile strength and Young’s modulus, while its influence on the attained elongation was not unique. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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9 pages, 3187 KiB  
Article
Use of a LHFB Device for Testing Mode III in a Composite Laminate
by Carlos Bertorello, Antonio Argüelles, Victoria Mollón, Jorge Bonhomme, Isabel Viña and Jaime Viña
Polymers 2019, 11(8), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11081243 - 26 Jul 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2014
Abstract
The present paper studies the fatigue delamination behaviour of an epoxy/carbon composite material under mode III loading using a longitudinal half fixed beam (LHFB) device initially designed for mode III static tests of composite materials formed by the stacking of plies. For this [...] Read more.
The present paper studies the fatigue delamination behaviour of an epoxy/carbon composite material under mode III loading using a longitudinal half fixed beam (LHFB) device initially designed for mode III static tests of composite materials formed by the stacking of plies. For this purpose, a series of tests was carried out at different levels of loading representative of the fatigue behaviour of the material, from the crack onset phase through the delamination phase to final fracture. The experimental results were treated statistically, obtaining the values of the fatigue limit for probabilities of fracture of 5% and 50%. Finally, a fractographic analysis of the fracture surfaces was performed which allowed us to identify the same characteristic patterns of static mode III fracture, namely broken fibres, cusps and saw-teeth, in addition to a new morphology consisting of the formation of agglomerations of resin produced by the friction between the lips of the specimen in the fracture zone that point to dynamic mode III fracture. These agglomerations eventually crack and become detached from the fibres, leaving these free of resin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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16 pages, 4488 KiB  
Article
Plasma Nanocoatings Developed to Control the Shear Strength of Polymer Composites
by Milan Zvonek, Veronika Sirjovova, Martin Branecky, Tomas Plichta, Josef Skacel and Vladimir Cech
Polymers 2019, 11(7), 1188; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071188 - 15 Jul 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3087
Abstract
All reinforcements for polymer-matrix composites must be coated with a suitable material in the form of a thin film to improve compatibility and interfacial adhesion between the reinforcement and the polymer matrix. In this study, plasma nanotechnology was used to synthetize such functional [...] Read more.
All reinforcements for polymer-matrix composites must be coated with a suitable material in the form of a thin film to improve compatibility and interfacial adhesion between the reinforcement and the polymer matrix. In this study, plasma nanotechnology was used to synthetize such functional nanocoatings using pure tetravinylsilane (TVS) and its mixtures with oxygen gas (O2) as precursors. The plasma-coated glass fibers (GFs) were unidirectionally embedded in a polyester resin to produce short composite beams that were analyzed by a short-beam-shear test to determine the shear strength characterizing the functionality of the nanocoatings in a GF/polyester composite. The developed plasma nanocoatings allowed controlling the shear strength between 26.2–44.1 MPa depending on deposition conditions, i.e., the radiofrequency (RF) power and the oxygen fraction in the TVS/O2 mixture. This range of shear strength appears to be sufficiently broad to be used in the design of composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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12 pages, 3428 KiB  
Article
Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane-/Silane-Modified Al2O3 Composite Fabricated via Melt Compounding
by Eyob Wondu, Zelalem Lule and Jooheon Kim
Polymers 2019, 11(7), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071103 - 29 Jun 2019
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 7831
Abstract
The increase of miniaturization and rise of powerhouses has caused a need for high-performing thermal interface materials (TIMs) that can transfer heat in electronic packaging. In this study, a thermoplastic polyurethane (PU)/alumina composite was produced via twin extrusion and was suggested as a [...] Read more.
The increase of miniaturization and rise of powerhouses has caused a need for high-performing thermal interface materials (TIMs) that can transfer heat in electronic packaging. In this study, a thermoplastic polyurethane (PU)/alumina composite was produced via twin extrusion and was suggested as a TIM. The surfaces of the alumina particles were modified by γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and then evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images revealed that the addition of surface-modified alumina was well adhered in the PU matrix. The tensile strength of the composite remained unchanged, while the Young’s modulus showed improvement as compared to the pure PU. The elongation at the break decreased as the filler loading increased, due to the brittle behavior of the composite. The viscoelastic elastic property analysis results revealed that there was an increase in the storage modulus of the composite and the glass transition temperature curve shifted to the right. The thermal conductivity of the composite showed that there was an 80.6% improvement in thermal conductivity with the incorporation of 40% APTES-treated alumina particles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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14 pages, 9624 KiB  
Article
Interlaminar Toughening of Epoxy Carbon Fiber Reinforced Laminates: Soluble Versus Non-Soluble Veils
by Giulia Ognibene, Alberta Latteri, Salvatore Mannino, Lorena Saitta, Giuseppe Recca, Fabrizio Scarpa and Gianluca Cicala
Polymers 2019, 11(6), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11061029 - 11 Jun 2019
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3881
Abstract
This work describes the evaluation of different interlaminar veils to improve the toughening of epoxy/carbon fiber composites manufactured by resin infusion. Three commercial veils have been used in the study: two electro spun thermoplastic nanofiber (Xantulayr® from Revolution Fibres) with different areal [...] Read more.
This work describes the evaluation of different interlaminar veils to improve the toughening of epoxy/carbon fiber composites manufactured by resin infusion. Three commercial veils have been used in the study: two electro spun thermoplastic nanofiber (Xantulayr® from Revolution Fibres) with different areal weight, and one micro carbon fibers veil (Optiveil® from TFP). Two laboratory made veils were also manufactured by electrospinning commercial polyethersulfone (PES) tougheners (Virantage by Solvay). The veils were selected to be either soluble or non-soluble in the epoxy resin matrix during curing. The solubility was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis testing on the cured laminates. The fracture energy was evaluated by double cantilever bending (DCB) testing under Mode I loading. The insoluble thermoplastic nanofibers showed the highest toughening efficiency, followed by the soluble nanofiber veils. The carbon fiber based veil showed no toughness improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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17 pages, 2485 KiB  
Article
Optimized Synthesis of Biodegradable Elastomer PEGylated Poly(glycerol sebacate) and Their Biomedical Application
by Yanxiang Wang, Haiwa Wu, Zihao Wang, Jingjing Zhang, Jing Zhu, Yifan Ma, Zhaogang Yang and Yuan Yuan
Polymers 2019, 11(6), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11060965 - 03 Jun 2019
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4505
Abstract
Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a biodegradable elastomer, has been extensively explored in biomedical applications for its favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Efforts have been made to fabricate multifunctional PGS copolymer in recent years, in particular PGS-co-PEG (poly(glycerol sebacate)-co-polyethylene glycol) polymers. [...] Read more.
Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a biodegradable elastomer, has been extensively explored in biomedical applications for its favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Efforts have been made to fabricate multifunctional PGS copolymer in recent years, in particular PGS-co-PEG (poly(glycerol sebacate)-co-polyethylene glycol) polymers. However, rare research has been systematically conducted on the effect of reactant ratios on physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of PGS copolymer till now. In this study, a serial of PEGylated PGS (PEGS) with PEG content from 20% to 40% and carboxyl to hydroxyl from 0.67 to 2 were synthesized by thermal curing process. The effects of various PEGS on the mechanical strength and biological activity were further compared and optimized. The results showed that the PEGS elastomers around 20PEGS-1.0C/H and 40PEGS-1.5C/H exhibited the desirable hydrophilicity, degradation behaviors, mechanical properties and cell viability. Subsequently, the potential applications of the 20PEGS-1.0C/H and 40PEGS-1.5C/H in bone repair scaffold and vascular reconstruction were investigated and the results showed that 20PEGS-1.0C/H and 40PEGS-1.5C/H could significantly improve the mechanical strength for the calcium phosphate scaffolds and exhibited preferable molding capability for fabrication of the vascular substitute. These results confirmed that the optimized PEGS elastomers should be promising multifunctional substrates in biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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18 pages, 4387 KiB  
Article
Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Biological Evaluation of a Novel Pearl Powder/Poly-Amino Acid Composite as a Potential Substitute for Bone Repair and Reconstruction
by Yanan Wu, Zhengwen Ding, Haohao Ren, Mizhi Ji and Yonggang Yan
Polymers 2019, 11(5), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11050831 - 08 May 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3060
Abstract
Many studies about fabricating organic-inorganic composite materials have been carried out in order to mimic the natural structure of bone. Pearl, which has a special block-and-mortar hierarchical structure, is a superior bone repair material with high osteogenic activity, but it shows few applications [...] Read more.
Many studies about fabricating organic-inorganic composite materials have been carried out in order to mimic the natural structure of bone. Pearl, which has a special block-and-mortar hierarchical structure, is a superior bone repair material with high osteogenic activity, but it shows few applications in the clinical bone repair and reconstruction because of its brittle and uneasily shaped properties. In this work, pearl powder (P)/poly (amino acid) (PAA) composites were successfully prepared by a method of in situ melting polycondensation to combine the high osteogenic activity of the pearl and the pliability of the PAA. The mechanical properties, in vitro bioactivity and biocompatibility as well as osteogenic activity of the composites were investigated. The results showed that P/PAA composites have both good mechanical properties and bioactivity. The compressive strength, bending strength and tensile strength of the composites reached a maximum of 161 MPa, 50 MPa and 42 MPa, respectively; in addition, apatite particles successfully deposited on the composites surface after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 days indicated that P/PAA composites showed an enhanced mineralization capacity and bioactivity due to incorporation of pearl powder and PAA. The cell culture results revealed that higher cell proliferation and better adhesion morphology of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) appeared on the composite surface. Moreover, cells growing on the surface of the composites exhibited higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, more calcium nodule-formation, and higher expression levels of osteogenic differentiation-related genes (COL 1, RunX2, OCN, and OPN) than cells grown on PAA surface. The P/PAA composites exhibited both superior mechanical properties to the pearl powder, higher bioactivity and osteogenic capability compared with those of PAA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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13 pages, 3893 KiB  
Article
Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Poly (Acrylic Acid)-B-Polycaprolactone as a Novel pH-sensitive Nanocarrier for Anti-Cancer Drugs Delivery: In-vitro and In-vivo Evaluation
by Huanhuan Liu, Hong Chen, Fuhu Cao, Daiyin Peng, Weidong Chen and Chuanling Zhang
Polymers 2019, 11(5), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11050820 - 07 May 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3691
Abstract
Gambogenic acid (GNA) has been demonstrated with outstanding antitumor activity as a potential antitumor drug in recent years. However, the low solubility and deficient bioavailability of GNA seriously hinder its practical application in the clinic area. In this study, a novel amphiphilic block [...] Read more.
Gambogenic acid (GNA) has been demonstrated with outstanding antitumor activity as a potential antitumor drug in recent years. However, the low solubility and deficient bioavailability of GNA seriously hinder its practical application in the clinic area. In this study, a novel amphiphilic block copolymer, poly (acrylic acid)-b-polycaprolactone (PAA-b-PCL) is prepared and assembled into pH-responsive polymeric micelles (PMs) as one mold of drug delivery system (DDS) with unique properties. Relevant investigation on PMs exhibits excellent carrying potential and pH-dependent release performance for GNA. The drug loading capacity (DLC) and drug loading efficiency (DLE) for GNA-loaded PMs can be achieved as high as 15.20 ± 0.07% and 83.67 ± 0.49%, respectively. The in vitro experiments indicate that the GNA releasing time, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake are significantly enhanced. Especially, the peak concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC) are promoted sharply in the GNA-loaded PMs concentration-time curve. This study not only provides a novel way to widen the application of anticancer GNA in the future, but also extends the potential of stimuli-responsive copolymers to biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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17 pages, 26508 KiB  
Article
Sound Absorption Properties of DFs/EVA Composites
by Lihua Lyu, Yingjie Liu, Jihong Bi and Jing Guo
Polymers 2019, 11(5), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11050811 - 06 May 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4569
Abstract
Using discarded feather fibers (DFs) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, the DFs/EVA composites with good sound absorption performance were prepared by hot-pressing method. The effects of hot-pressing temperature, mass fraction of DFs, density and thickness of composites on the sound absorption properties [...] Read more.
Using discarded feather fibers (DFs) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, the DFs/EVA composites with good sound absorption performance were prepared by hot-pressing method. The effects of hot-pressing temperature, mass fraction of DFs, density and thickness of composites on the sound absorption properties were studied by the controlling variable method. The sound absorption properties of the composites were studied by the transfer function method, and under the optimized technological conditions, the sound absorption coefficient of the composites was above 0.9 and the sound absorption band was wide. According to the box counting method based on the fractal theory, the fractal dimension of DFs/EVA sound absorption composites was calculated through Matlab programming, and the relationship between the fractal dimension and the mass fraction of DFs, the volume density of the composites were analyzed, then the quantitative relationship between the fractal dimension and the maximum sound absorption coefficient was deduced, which played a major role in the sound absorption design of porous sound absorption materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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17 pages, 9646 KiB  
Article
Durability of Basalt/Hemp Hybrid Thermoplastic Composites
by Claudia Sergi, Jacopo Tirillò, Maria Carolina Seghini, Fabrizio Sarasini, Vincenzo Fiore and Tommaso Scalici
Polymers 2019, 11(4), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11040603 - 02 Apr 2019
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5417
Abstract
The Achilles heel of thermoplastic natural fibre composites is their limited durability. The environmental degradation of the mechanical properties of hemp and hemp/basalt hybrid-reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites has been investigated with a special focus on the effects of water ageing and accelerated [...] Read more.
The Achilles heel of thermoplastic natural fibre composites is their limited durability. The environmental degradation of the mechanical properties of hemp and hemp/basalt hybrid-reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites has been investigated with a special focus on the effects of water ageing and accelerated ageing, including hygrothermal and UV radiation. Modification of the matrix was carried out using a maleic anhydride high-density polyethylene copolymer (MAPE) as a compatibilizer. Hybridization of hemp fibres with basalt fibres and the incorporation of MAPE were found to significantly decrease the water uptake (up to 75%) and increase the retention of mechanical properties after accelerated ageing. Secondary crystallization phenomena occurring in the composites, as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, were able to counteract the severe combined effects of hygrothermal stress and UV radiation, with the exception of hemp-fibre composites where permanent damage to the fibres occurred, with 2% and 20% reduction in tensile strength and modulus, respectively, for a 30 wt % hemp fibre-reinforced HDPE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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11 pages, 2766 KiB  
Article
Shape Memory Behavior of Natural Eucommia ulmoides Gum and Low-Density Polyethylene Blends with Two Response Temperatures
by Lin Xia, Shuai Chen, Wenxin Fu and Guixue Qiu
Polymers 2019, 11(4), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11040580 - 01 Apr 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2772
Abstract
A series of shape memory blends of natural Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a bicontinuous cross-linked structure were prepared by a physical blending method, which could be used in the field of thermal response with two different temperatures. We [...] Read more.
A series of shape memory blends of natural Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a bicontinuous cross-linked structure were prepared by a physical blending method, which could be used in the field of thermal response with two different temperatures. We report the shape memory properties of these blended materials with two response temperatures for the first time. The mechanical, curing, thermal and shape memory properties of the blends were studied in this manuscript. Schematic diagrams are proposed to illustrate the dual shape memory behaviors of the EUG/LDPE blends. Our study focused on observing the relationship between the shape memory behavior and the microscopic crystalline phase states in the blends. In the blends, both the cross-linked network and the LDPE crystalline regions could act as fixed domains, while the crystalline regions of LDPE or EUG could act as the reversible domain. The shape memory properties were mainly determined by the components of the fixed and reversible domains. We focused on the shape memory behavior of blends at 60 °C and 130 °C in this manuscript. The results showed that when the peroxide dicumyl peroxide (DCP) dosage was 1.0 phr, the blends exhibited acceptable shape behavior at 60 °C (R1f = 74.8%, R1r = 63.3%). At the same time, when DCP dosage was 0.4 phr, the shape memory behavior of the blends at 130 °C was good and much better than that at 60 °C (R2f = 91.1%, R2r = 89.4%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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13 pages, 2739 KiB  
Article
3D-Printable PP/SEBS Thermoplastic Elastomeric Blends: Preparation and Properties
by Shib Shankar Banerjee, Stephen Burbine, Nischay Kodihalli Shivaprakash and Joey Mead
Polymers 2019, 11(2), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11020347 - 17 Feb 2019
Cited by 88 | Viewed by 10246
Abstract
Currently, material extrusion 3D printing (ME3DP) based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) is considered a highly adaptable and efficient additive manufacturing technique to develop components with complex geometries using computer-aided design. While the 3D printing process for a number of thermoplastic materials using [...] Read more.
Currently, material extrusion 3D printing (ME3DP) based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) is considered a highly adaptable and efficient additive manufacturing technique to develop components with complex geometries using computer-aided design. While the 3D printing process for a number of thermoplastic materials using FDM technology has been well demonstrated, there still exists a significant challenge to develop new polymeric materials compatible with ME3DP. The present work reports the development of ME3DP compatible thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) materials from polypropylene (PP) and styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers using a straightforward blending approach, which enables the creation of tailorable materials. Properties of the 3D printed TPEs were compared with traditional injection molded samples. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the 3D printed sample were lower than the injection molded samples. However, no significant differences could be found in the melt rheological properties at higher frequency ranges or in the dynamic mechanical behavior. The phase morphologies of the 3D printed and injection molded TPEs were correlated with their respective properties. Reinforcing carbon black was used to increase the mechanical performance of the 3D printed TPE, and the balancing of thermoplastic elastomeric and mechanical properties were achieved at a lower carbon black loading. The preferential location of carbon black in the blend phases was theoretically predicted from wetting parameters. This study was made in order to get an insight to the relationship between morphology and properties of the ME3DP compatible PP/SEBS blends. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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13 pages, 7436 KiB  
Article
An Easy Route to Wettability Changes of Polyethylene Terephthalate–Silicon Oxide Substrate Films for High Barrier Applications, Surface-Modified with a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Fluoroalkylsilanes
by Paola Scarfato, Nicola Schiavone, Gabriella Rossi and Loredana Incarnato
Polymers 2019, 11(2), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11020257 - 03 Feb 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4123
Abstract
Inorganic–organic multilayer films consisting of polymers coated with thin inorganic oxidic layers (e.g., SiOx) ensure very high barrier performances against gas and vapor permeation, what makes them packaging materials suitable for sophisticated technical applications, including the encapsulation of photovoltaic devices or quantum dots, [...] Read more.
Inorganic–organic multilayer films consisting of polymers coated with thin inorganic oxidic layers (e.g., SiOx) ensure very high barrier performances against gas and vapor permeation, what makes them packaging materials suitable for sophisticated technical applications, including the encapsulation of photovoltaic devices or quantum dots, barrier films for optical displays, and transparent greenhouse screens. In these fields, surface coating or texturing of the multilayer protective films are effective technologies to improve their self-clean ability, thus reducing the required maintenance and ensuring longer durability and better performances. In this work, we used the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technique to modify the surface and wetting properties of commercial polyethylene terephthalate-silicon oxide substrate (PET-SiOx) films developed for technical applications requiring a combined high barrier and transparency. The selected surface modifier was the 1H,1H,2H,2H-per-fluorodecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS). The reagent mixture composition was optimized for the lowest water and oil wettability, as well as the highest self-cleaning capacity and performance stability. In particular, for the used PET-SiOx film the best FDTS/film surface for both the lowest water and oil wettability was found to be equal to 26.5 mM/dm2, which changes the surface behavior from very hydrophilic (static water contact angle (CAw) = 21.5°) to hydrophobic (CAw = 101°), and gives a significant increment of the static oil contact angle (CAo) from 27° to 60°. Interestingly, the results demonstrated that the SAM reaction occurred also on the uncoated the PET side. After the SAM treatment, a small increase of the water vapor permeability is observed, probably due to a crack or defect onset of the SiOx coating of the SAM modified films. On this point, atomic force measurements demonstrated an increment of the SiOx coating layer roughness after the SAM treatment execution. Finally, the transparency changes of the SAM treated films, measured in the wavelength range 400–800 nm, were always small, so that the results were acceptable for the films’ use in applications where high transparency is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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13 pages, 4991 KiB  
Article
Integrating Nano-Cu2O@ZrP into In Situ Polymerized Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Fibers with Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Antibacterial Activities
by Jialiang Zhou, Xiang Fei, Congqi Li, Senlong Yu, Zexu Hu, Hengxue Xiang, Bin Sun and Meifang Zhu
Polymers 2019, 11(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11010113 - 10 Jan 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4506
Abstract
The approach of in situ polymerization modification has proven to be an effective route for introducing functions for polyester materials. In this work, Cu2O@ZrP nanosheets with excellent dispersity and high antibacterial activity were integrated into in situ polymerized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [...] Read more.
The approach of in situ polymerization modification has proven to be an effective route for introducing functions for polyester materials. In this work, Cu2O@ZrP nanosheets with excellent dispersity and high antibacterial activity were integrated into in situ polymerized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, revealing an enhanced mechanical performance in comparison with the PET fibers fabricated directly via a traditional melt blending method. Additionally, such an in situ polymerized PET/Cu2O@ZrP fibers displayed highly enhanced mechanical properties; and great antibacterial activities against multi-types of bacterium, including S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans. For the as-obtained two types of PET/Cu2O@ZrP fibers, we have detailed their molecular weight (detailed molecular weight) and dispersibility of nano-Cu2O@ZrP and fibers crystallinity was investigated by Gel chromatography (GPC), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD), respectively. The results showed that the aggregation of the nano-Cu2O@ZrP in the resultant PET matrix could be effectively prevented during its in situ polymerization process, hence we attribute its highly enhanced mechanical properties to its superior dispersion of nano-Cu2O@ZrP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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19 pages, 2868 KiB  
Article
Effects of Fabric Counts and Weave Designs on the Properties of Laminated Woven Kenaf/Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites
by H.A. Aisyah, M.T. Paridah, A. Khalina, S.M. Sapuan, M.S. Wahab, O.B. Berkalp, C.H. Lee and S.H. Lee
Polymers 2018, 10(12), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10121320 - 28 Nov 2018
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 7366
Abstract
The effects of different fabric materials namely weave designs (plain and satin) and fabric counts (5 × 5 and 6 × 6) on the properties of laminated woven kenaf/carbon fibre reinforced epoxy hybrid composites were evaluated. The hybrid composites were fabricated from two [...] Read more.
The effects of different fabric materials namely weave designs (plain and satin) and fabric counts (5 × 5 and 6 × 6) on the properties of laminated woven kenaf/carbon fibre reinforced epoxy hybrid composites were evaluated. The hybrid composites were fabricated from two types of fabric, i.e., woven kenaf that was made from a yarn of 500tex and carbon fibre, by using vacuum infusion technique and epoxy resin as matrix. The panels were tested for tensile, flexural, and impact strengths. The results have revealed that plain fabric is more suitable than satin fabric for obtaining high tensile and impact strengths. Using a fabric count of 5 × 5 has generated composites that are significantly higher in flexural modulus as compared to 6 × 6 which may be attributed to their structure and design. The scanned electron micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the composites demonstrated that plain woven fabric composites had better adhesion properties than satin woven fabric composites, as indicated by the presence of notably lower amount of fibre pull out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Matrix Composites for Advanced Applications)
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