Crosslinked epoxy microspheres: Preparation, surface-initiated polymerization, and use as macroporous silica porogen

Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Chitosan/Saccharomycetes Adsorption Microspheres

Porous chitosan/saccharomycetes adsorption microspheres were successfully prepared by using silica gel as porogen. The morphology of porous chitosan/saccharomycetes microspheres was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, the interaction between molecules was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the crystallization property of the microspheres was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the adsorption sites of amino and hydroxyl groups had been provided by the porous chitosan/saccharomycetes microspheres for the removal of preservatives, pigments, and other additives in food. The surface roughness of microspheres could be improved by increasing the mass ratio of saccharomycetes. The increase in silica gels could make the microsphere structure more compact. The porous chitosan/saccharomycetes microspheres could be used as adsorbents to adsorb doxycycline in wastewater.

Enhancing the mechanical and thermal properties of waterborne polyurethane composites with thermoset epoxy resin microspheres

A facile way to prepare WPU with good mechanical and thermal properties by adding epoxy microspheres.

Optical properties of silica microspheres with different functional groups

Silica microspheres with different functional groups can be used as diagnostic material. Here, differently functionalized group (NH₂-, COOH-, SiOH-, and epoxy-) silica microspheres of approximately 5 μm in diameter are prepared on garnet substrates by a self-assembly method. The surface morphologies of the silica microspheres are observed by an optical microscope. The pressure generated from the glass/silica microsphere/graphite interface is measured by a resistance strain sensor as a function of an external direct current (DC) voltage. A PAX5710 IR3 polarimeter and slit beam profiler give information on the optical polarization and optical spot distance of the polarized laser beams reflected from the differently functionalized group silica microspheres. The results reveal that the relationships between the optical polarization properties, the optical spot position of the polarized laser beam, the reflectivity of the differently functionalized group silica microspheres using circularly polarized and linearly polarized laser beams, and the external pressure show different trends. The optical properties of the differently functionalized group silica microspheres are consistent with the experimental data pressure.

Surface-Initiated Controlled Radical Polymerization: State-of-the-Art, Opportunities, and Challenges in Surface and Interface Engineering with Polymer Brushes

The generation of polymer brushes by surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization (SI-CRP) techniques has become a powerful approach to tailor the chemical and physical properties of interfaces and has given rise to great advances in surface and interface engineering. Polymer brushes are defined as thin polymer films in which the individual polymer chains are tethered by one chain end to a solid interface. Significant advances have been made over the past years in the field of polymer brushes. This includes novel developments in SI-CRP, as well as the emergence of novel applications such as catalysis, electronics, nanomaterial synthesis and biosensing. Additionally, polymer brushes prepared via SI-CRP have been utilized to modify the surface of novel substrates such as natural fibers, polymer nanofibers, mesoporous materials, graphene, viruses and protein nanoparticles. The last years have also seen exciting advances in the chemical and physical characterization of polymer brushes, as well as an ever increasing set of computational and simulation tools that allow understanding and predictions of these surface-grafted polymer architectures. The aim of this contribution is to provide a comprehensive review that critically assesses recent advances in the field and highlights the opportunities and challenges for future work.

Photoluminescent epoxy microspheres: preparation, surface functionalization via grafting polymerization and photophysical properties

Photoluminescent epoxy microspheres with the size of 1–3 μm were prepared. Their surfaces were functionalized with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) via RAFT polymerization.