Thermoplastic polyurethane and nitrile butadiene rubber blends with layered double hydroxide nanocomposites by solution blending

Antibacterial Host-Guest Intercalated LDH-Adorned Polyurethane for Accelerated Dermal Wound Healing

Curcumin has a limited clinical application because of its extremely poor accessibility. In the present study, improved curcumin bioavailability within a castor oil polyurethane/layered double hydroxide (LDH) wound cover was achieved by preparing a curcumin p-sulfonic acid calix[4]arene (SC4A) inclusion complex. Then, it was utilized to intercalate MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) nanosheets. The incorporation of the nanostructure into a PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH film provided bacteria-killing performance against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. This finding is due to an increase in curcumin bioavailability in the PU matrix. Furthermore, all PU nanocomposites exhibited appropriate cytocompatibility based on an MTT assay. Mainly, the proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells in contact with the PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH sample was significantly further enhanced than that for other nanocomposites within 7 days. This observation can be related to the better availability of curcumin on the film's surface, which causes an improvement in the proliferation rate of cells. Regarding the histological results, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images showed faster epidermal layer formation and a larger quantity of matured hair follicles for PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH-healed wounds in comparison with those for the negative control over a period of 28 days. Thus, this practical healing ability of the PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH nanocomposite makes it a promising candidate as a wound dressing film.

Effects of Modified Layered Double Hydroxides on the Thermal Degradation and Combustion Behaviors of Intumescent Flame Retardant Polyethylene Nanocomposites

The flame retardancy of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) correlates with their structure and dispersion in a polymeric matrix. To improve the flame retardant effectiveness of Mg-Al LDH in polyethylene (PE), 2-carboxy ethyl (phenyl) phosphinic acid (CEPPA) was adopted as a flame retardant modifier to prepare CEPPA-intercalated LDH (CLDH) by the regeneration method, which was then exfoliated in PE by melt blending in the form of a masterbatch prepared from solution mixing. By compounding CLDH with intumescent flame retardant (IFR) composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and pentaerythritol (PER), the thermal degradation and combustion behaviors of the flame retardant PE-based composites were investigated to reveal the flame retardant mechanism between CLDH and IFR in PE. The reactions between CLDH and IFR were revealed to make a predominant contribution to the compact and fully developed char of PE/IFR/CLDH, which enhanced the flame retardancy of the composites.

Systematic Literature Review of the Effect of Layered Double Hydroxides on the Mechanical Properties of Rubber

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have attracted interest as reinforcing fillers in elastomers due to their ease of synthesis and customisability. A systematic review was performed on the effect of LDHs on the mechanical properties of elastomers using the Scopus database. Of the 61 articles relevant to the search criteria, the majority were published on polyurethane (PU) and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). Mg-Al LDH was used in most of the studies and Zn-Al LDH was used second most common. LDH can act as a reinforcing filler, typically increasing tensile strength even at low concentrations, so it could be used as an alternative to traditional reinforcing fillers for elastomers. LDH can also be made a functional filler by selecting the right metals and interlayer anions. It was found that Mg-Al LDH and Zn-Al LDH can both participate in crosslinking reactions and can replace MgO and ZnO, respectively. Less Zn ions are required for crosslinking when LDH is used than when ZnO is used, making LDH more environmentally friendly. Organic modification is usually required to improve compatibility with the elastomer matrix, especially in non-polar elastomers. It enables exfoliation of the LDH and intercalation of polymer chains into the LDH interlayer to occur. Organic modifiers can also be used to functionalise the LDH. Stearic acid used in crosslinking systems can be replaced by stearate anions from stearate-modified LDH.

Effect of the Addition of Biobased Polyols on the Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Polyurethane and Poly(urea)urethane Elastomers

Due to the current trends in sustainable development and the reduction in the use of fossil fuels (Green Deal strategy and the circular economy), and thus, the increased interest of the polyurethane industry in polyols derived from renewable sources, it is important to study the impact of these polyols on the flammability of new bioelastomers. The goal of this study was to check the influence of biobased polyols, such as tall oil (TO)-based polyols, soybean oil (SO)-based polyol, and rapeseed oil (RO)-based polyol, on the reduction in the burning and fume emissions of polyurethane and poly(urea)urethane elastomers (EPURs and EPUURs). The thermal stability of these materials was tested using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In turn, the flame retardancy and smoke emissions were checked using a cone calorimetry test. The released gases were identified using TGA coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy (TGA/FT-IR). Moreover, the morphological and structural characteristics of the char residues were characterized using FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The obtained data were compared to the results received for elastomers produced with petroleum substrates. The addition of biobased polyols led to a reduction in the burning as a result of the formation of char, especially RO polyol. Moreover, the TO and RO polyols increased the thermal stability of the elastomers.

Design of Dual Hybrid Network Natural Rubber-SiO2 Elastomers with Tailored Mechanical and Self-Healing Properties

The preparation of natural rubber (NR)-silica (SiO2) elastomeric composites with excellent mechanical properties along with better self-healing ability remains a key challenge. Inspired by the energy dissipation and repairability of sacrificial bonds in biomaterials, a strategy for combining covalent and noncovalent sacrificial networks is engineered to construct a dual hybrid network. Here, the approach used to fabricate the composites was self-assembly of NR, bearing proteins and phospholipids on its outer bioshell, with SiO2 via metal-ion-mediated heteroaggregation effected by reversible electrostatic and H-bonds. Further, covalent cross-links were incorporated by a silane coupling agent, bis [3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl] tetrasulfide. The intrinsic self-healing ability of the composite at the molecular level was studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy that unraveled the mechanism of the healing process. The synergistic effect between the molecular interdiffusion of the cross-linked NR chains and the electrostatic and H-bonding interactions imparted an exceptional self-healing characteristic to the liquid-liquid-mixing-prepared NR-SiO2 composites with improved mechanical performance. Specifically, the segmental relaxation dynamics of the healed composite was largely restricted due to increased number of ion-dipole interactions and S-S cross-links at the junction of the cut surface. We envisage that this extraordinary healing property, unreported yet, would be of great importance toward the design of novel NR-SiO2 elastomeric hybrids with superior mechanical properties.

Flame Retardant Behavior of Ternary Synergistic Systems in Rigid Polyurethane Foams

In order to explore flame retardant systems with higher efficiency in rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs), aluminum hydroxide (ATH), [bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-methyl-phosphonic acid dimethyl ester (BH) and expandable graphite (EG) were employed in RPUF for constructing ternary synergistic flame retardant systems. Compared with binary BH/EG systems and aluminum oxide (AO)/BH/EG, ATH/BH/EG with the same fractions in RPUFs demonstrated an increase in the limited oxygen index value, a decreased peak value of heat release rate, and a decreased mass loss rate. In particular, it inhibited smoke release. During combustion, ATH in ternary systems decomposed and released water, which captured the phosphorus-containing products from pyrolyzed BH to generate polyphosphate. The polyphosphate combined with AO from ATH and the expanded char layer from EG, forming a char layer with a better barrier effect. In ternary systems, ATH, BH, and EG can work together to generate an excellent condensed-phase synergistic flame retardant effect.

Development and Characterization of Polyurethane and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene and their Compatibilized Blends

Novel blends of polyurethane and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, in both forms, compatibilized and uncompatibilized, were developed by melt reactive extrusion technique in a twin-screw extruder. This technique involved acrylonitrile butadiene styrene grafted maleic anhydride (ABS-g-MAH) as the compatibilizer. The objective of this study was to enhance the rigidity characteristics of polyurethane by melt blending acrylonitrile butadiene styrene into polyurethane using a compatibilizer. The blends were analyzed using different techniques to confirm the occurrence of compatibilization reaction between the parent polymers and the compatibilizer. It is observed that addition of the compatibilizer has improved the mechanical properties of the resultant blends.

Panoptically exfoliated morphology of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)/ethylene methacrylate copolymer (EMA)/layered silicate nanocomposites by novel in situ covalent modification using poly(ε-caprolactone)

Exfoliated morphology of covalently modified Cloisite 20A and 30B leading to phenomenal mechanical and thermal properties of C60E40/layered silicates.

Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)/ethylene methacrylate copolymer (EMA)/sepiolite nanocomposite via a facile one-step covalent modification technique

Facile one-step organo-modification of sepiolite improves polymer–filler interfacial adhesion, thereby advances mechanical properties and thermal stability of the CPE/EMA/sepiolite nanocomposite.