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Polymers and Soft Matter: From Synthesis to Structure & Dynamics

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 April 2022) | Viewed by 9398

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ester Verde-Sesto

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Guest Editor

Centro de Física de Materiales (CSIC, UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Interests: single-chain nanoparticles; mechano-responsive polymers; deuterated polymers; synthesis; catalysis

Dr. Jon Maiz

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Guest Editor

Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) (CSIC–UPV/EHU) – Materials Physics Center (MPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
Interests: polymers, neutron scattering, glass transition, phase transitions, crystallization and melting; relaxations, ferroelectricity, energy storage

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers and Soft matter systems in general show a fascinating variety of different structures and properties and have been deeply studied for many years. However, innovative synthetic routes to prepare polymers, co-polymers and soft matter systems is promoting their use for a wide range of applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, packaging and medical devices. Physical properties and final performance of polymers and soft matter systems are in direct relationship with their structure, self/assembly, morphology, and crystallinity. However, for a complete understanding of those systems, it is not only necessary to understand their structure, but also their dynamics due to the complexity of the systems. Therefore, scattering techniques are especially well appropriated to investigate and understand the above-mentioned interconnection. Furthermore, to optimize the performance of polymers and soft matter systems depending on their application, a combination of simulations to guide the morphological design, and complementary experimental tools to probe details of their self/assembly, morphology and properties is required.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect full papers and/or reviews that consider from the synthesis of polymers, co-polymers and soft matter systems to the study of their morphology and structure, and/or their dynamic properties and self/assembly.

Dr. Ester Verde-Sesto
Dr. Jon Maiz
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

Polymeric materials
Soft Matter
Synthesis
Structure
Molecular dynamics
Morphology
Scattering techniques
Simulations
Self/assembly

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Processes and Mechanisms Involved in Relaxations of Single-Chain Nano-Particle Melts

by Jon Maiz, Ester Verde-Sesto, Isabel Asenjo-Sanz, Paula Malo de Molina, Bernhard Frick, José A. Pomposo, Arantxa Arbe and Juan Colmenero

Polymers 2021, 13(14), 2316; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13142316 - 14 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2098

Abstract

We present a combined study by quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS), dielectric and mechanical spectroscopy, calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction on single-chain nano-particles (SCNPs), using the corresponding linear precursor chains as reference, to elucidate the impact of internal bonds involving bulky cross-links on the properties of polymer melts. Internal cross-links do not appreciably alter local properties and fast dynamics. This is the case of the average inter-molecular distances, the β-relaxation and the extent of the atomic displacements at timescales faster than some picoseconds. Contrarily, the α-relaxation is slowed down with respect to the linear precursor, as detected by DSC, dielectric spectroscopy and QENS. QENS has also resolved broader response functions and stronger deviations from Gaussian behavior in the SCNPs melt, hinting at additional heterogeneities. The rheological properties are also clearly affected by internal cross-links. We discuss these results together with those previously reported on the deuterated counterpart samples and on SCNPs obtained through a different synthesis route to discern the effect of the nature of the cross-links on the modification of the diverse properties of the melts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers and Soft Matter: From Synthesis to Structure & Dynamics)

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17 pages, 1692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diffusion Coefficients and Activation Energies of Diffusion of Organic Molecules in Polystyrene below and above Glass Transition Temperature

by Frank Welle

Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081317 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 3921

Abstract

General Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is used in packaging food as well as for technical products. Knowledge of the diffusion behavior of organic molecules in polystyrene (PS) is important for the evaluation of the diffusion and migration process. Within this study, diffusion coefficients were determined in GPPS and HIPS below and above the glass transition temperature. Diffusion coefficients were determined from desorption kinetics into the gas phase using spiked GPPS and HIPS sheets as well as from permeation kinetics through a thin GPPS film. Overall, 187 diffusion coefficients were determined in GPPS and HIPS at temperatures between 0 °C and 115 °C. From the temperature dependency of the diffusion coefficients 45 activation energies of diffusion E_A and the pre-exponential factor D₀ were determined. As expected, the activation energies of diffusion E_A show a strong dependency from the molecular volume of the investigated substances. At the glass transition temperature, only a slight change of the diffusion behavior were observed. Based on E_A and D₀, prediction parameters for diffusion coefficients were established. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers and Soft Matter: From Synthesis to Structure & Dynamics)

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Review

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44 pages, 5087 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Dynamics & Spectroscopy with Neutrons—Recent Developments & Emerging Opportunities

by Kacper Drużbicki, Mattia Gaboardi and Felix Fernandez-Alonso

Polymers 2021, 13(9), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091440 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5171

Abstract

This work provides an up-to-date overview of recent developments in neutron spectroscopic techniques and associated computational tools to interrogate the structural properties and dynamical behavior of complex and disordered materials, with a focus on those of a soft and polymeric nature. These have and continue to pave the way for new scientific opportunities simply thought unthinkable not so long ago, and have particularly benefited from advances in high-resolution, broadband techniques spanning energy transfers from the meV to the eV. Topical areas include the identification and robust assignment of low-energy modes underpinning functionality in soft solids and supramolecular frameworks, or the quantification in the laboratory of hitherto unexplored nuclear quantum effects dictating thermodynamic properties. In addition to novel classes of materials, we also discuss recent discoveries around water and its phase diagram, which continue to surprise us. All throughout, emphasis is placed on linking these ongoing and exciting experimental and computational developments to specific scientific questions in the context of the discovery of new materials for sustainable technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers and Soft Matter: From Synthesis to Structure & Dynamics)

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