Cytotoxicity studies and antibacterial modification of poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) nonwoven

Novel poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) PEF nonwovens were produced by solution electrospinning and further modification. To improve the wettability of the hydrophobic nonwovens with water, they were treated with sodium hydroxide. Cytotoxicity tests carried out with human keratinocytes confirmed that the nonwovens did not have a toxic effect on healthy cells. The hydrophilicity of the sodium hydroxide treated nonwoven favored the adherence of the cells and their growth. In turn, the two-step modification of the nonwovens by reactions with (3-mercaptopropyl)methyldimethoxysilane and silver nitrate permitted to deposit silver particles on the fiber surfaces. The bacteria growth inhibition zones around the tested specimens were observed evidencing their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Melt-spun bio-based PLA-co-PET copolyester fibers with tunable properties: Synergistic effects of chemical structure and drawing process

The fabrication of bio-based copolyester fiber with adjustable crystallization, orientation structure and mechanical property still remains a great challenge. In this study, a series of copolyester fibers based on terephthalic acid (PTA), ethylene glycol (EG) and l-Lactide (L-LA) were prepared via melt copolymerization and spinning. The resultant PLA-co-PET (PETLA) fibers exhibited tunable structure and property due to the synergistic effects of chemical structure and drawing process. The chemical structure of PETLA was confirmed by NMR, FTIR and XRD, which suggested that the random degree of copolymer increased with LA content and the viscosity decreased with the increase of LA content. The crystallization behavior, melting characteristic, thermal stability and rheological property were investigated by DSC, TGA and rheometer, the results indicated that all the PETLA exhibited the crystallization capacity, melting temperature and thermal stability were slightly affected by LA segment. The synergistic effects of LA segment and spinning process on PETLA structure and property were analyzed by WAXD and SAXS. The breaking strength of PETLA fibers dropped from 5.3 cN/dtex of PET to 2.8 cN/dtex of PET₈₅LA₁₅, which still met the requirements of most textile applications. Therefore, our work presented a feasible approach to prepare bio-based polyester fibers with tunable property.

Recent advances in the development of green furan ring-containing polymeric materials based on renewable plant biomass

Fossil resources are rapidly depleting, forcing researchers in various fields of chemistry and materials science to switch to the use of renewable sources and the development of corresponding technologies. In this regard, the field of sustainable materials science is experiencing an extraordinary surge of interest in recent times due to the significant advances made in the development of new polymers with desired and controllable properties. This review summarizes important scientific reports in recent times dedicated to the synthesis, construction and computational studies of novel sustainable polymeric materials containing unchanged (pseudo)aromatic furan cores in their structure. Linear polymers for thermoplastics, branched polymers for thermosets and other crosslinked materials are emerging materials to highlight. Various polymer blends and composites based on sustainable polyfurans are also considered as pathways to achieve high-value-added products.

New bio-based polyester with excellent spinning performance: poly(tetrahydrofuran dimethanol-co-ethylene terephthalate)

With the excessive consumption of fossil energy, technologies that transform bio-based resources into materials have received more and more attention from researchers in recent decades. In this paper, a series of poly(ethylene 2,5-tetrahydrofuran dimethyl terephthalate; PEFTs) with different components were synthesized from 2,5-tetrahydrofuran dimethanol (THFDM), terephthalic acid (TPA), and ethylene glycol (EG). Their chemical structures and compositions were determined by FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. With the increase in THFDM content, the crystallization, T m, and tensile strength of PEFTs gradually decrease because the introduced THFDM breaks the order of molecular chains, while the thermal stability and T g remain stable. PEFTs seem to present a significant shear thinning phenomenon, which was indicated by the rheological test. Electrospinning technology was used to explore the spinnability of PEFT; it was found that PEFTs have better spinning performance than PET. In addition, due to the good hydrophobicity and porosity of PEFT nanofiber films, they have potential application value in the manufacture of hydrophobic nanofiber and filter films.

Tuning the Properties of Furandicarboxylic Acid-Based Polyesters with Copolymerization: A Review

Polyesters based on 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) are a new class of biobased polymers with enormous interest, both from a scientific and industrial perspective. The commercialization of these polymers is imminent as the pressure for a sustainable economy grows, and extensive worldwide research currently takes place on developing cost-competitive, renewable plastics. The most prevalent method for imparting these polymers with new properties is copolymerization, as many studies have been published over the last few years. This present review aims to summarize the trends in the synthesis of FDCA-based copolymers and to investigate the effectiveness of this approach in transforming them to a more versatile class of materials that could potentially be appropriate for a number of high-end and conventional applications.