Polyurethane elastomers through multi-hydrogen-bonded association of dendritic structures

Fabrication, Thermo-Mechanical, and Morphological Characterization of Hydroxyapatite-Reinforced Polyurethane Biocomposites as Dye Adsorbent for Effluent

Petrochemical costs, limited fossil fuel reserves, and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions have raised interest in developing renewable approaches for synthesizing biobased polyurethanes. This study aims to solve these problems by making nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) reinforcement from waste chicken eggshells and adding it to polyurethane synthesis through in situ polymerization. The novelty of the research lies in the utilization of HA as a reinforcement material and renewable resources for polyurethane production. The results confirm that HA was successfully added to the polyurethane backbone. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed that the NCO groups were changed to urethane linkages. TGA examination demonstrated that the samples exhibited thermal stability up to 457 °C with a mass loss of 61%, indicating enhanced thermal stability. DMA measurements showed improved mechanical properties of the synthesized polyurethanes, with storage modulus (E'), complex modulus (E*), and compliance complex (D*) values of 0.177, 22.522, and 0.660 MPa-1, respectively. SEM analysis confirmed the homogeneous surface and well-dispersed HA reinforcement. Swelling characteristics revealed an optimum absorption of 30% H2O, 35% CH3OH, and 45% CCl4. Polyurethane composites exhibited significant chemical resistance and hydrolytic stability in acidic and basic media. Additionally, the composites demonstrated efficient adsorption of methyl orange from wastewater, with the PUHCI series achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 85.50 mg/g under optimal conditions of 0.030 g/mL dose, 45 °C temperature, 2.5 h contact time, and pH 6.0..

Study on Toughening and Temperature Sensitivity of Polyurethane Cement (PUC)

Polyurethane cement (PUC) is now commonly used in the reinforcement of old bridges, which exhibit various issues such as poor toughness, temperature-sensitive mechanical properties, and brittle failure. These problems can lead to the failure of the reinforcement effect of the PUC on old bridges in certain operating environments, leading to the collapse of such reinforced bridges. In order to alleviate these shortcomings, in this study, the toughness of PUC is improved by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, carbon fiber, and steel fiber. In addition, we study the change law of the flexural strength of PUC between −40 °C and +40 °C. The control parameters evaluated are fiber type, fiber volume ratio, and temperature. A series of flexural tests and scanning electron microscope (SEM) test results show that the flexural strength first increases and then decreases with the increase in the volume-doping ratio of the three fibers. The optimum volume-mixing ratios of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, carbon fiber, and steel fiber are 0.3%, 0.04% and 1%, respectively. Excessive addition of fiber will affect the operability and will adversely affect the mechanical properties. The flexural strength of both fiber-reinforced and control samples decreases with increasing temperature. Using the flexural test results, a two-factor (fiber content, temperature) BP neural network flexural strength prediction model is established. It is verified that the model is effective and accurate, and the experimental value and the predicted value are in good agreement.

Au Nanoparticles Immobilized on Honeycomb-Like Polymeric Films for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Detection

We have successfully developed novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates with three-dimensional (3D) porous structures for effectively improving the sensitivity and reproducibility of SERS, which can rapidly detect small molecules (rhodamine 6G as an example). Periodical arrays of the honeycomb-like substrates were fabricated by self-assembling polyurethane-co-azetidine-2,4-dione (PU-PAZ) polymers. PU-PAZ comprising amphiphilic dendrons could stabilize the phase separation between the water droplets and polymer solution, and then organize into regular porous structures during the breath figure method. Subsequently, SERS substrates were fabricated by immobilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the honeycomb-like films with various 3D porous structures, controlled by the different PU-PAZ concentrations and relative humidities. Results show that surface enhancement factors of honeycomb-like substrates were 20 times higher than that of flat-film substrates (control group) due to enormous hot-spots resonance effects by the 3D porous structure, verified through Raman mapping at various positions of the z-axis. Furthermore, the particle size effects were evaluated by immobilized 12 and 67 nm of AuNPs on the honeycomb-like substrates, indicating larger AuNPs could induce more pronounced hot-spots effects. The generation of hot-spots resonance to enhance Raman intensity is strongly dependent on the diameter of AuNPs and the pore size of the honeycomb-like and 3D porous substrates for label-free and rapid SERS detection.

Enhanced mechanical properties of PLA/PLAE blends via well-dispersed and compatilized nanostructures in the matrix

The mechanical properties of PLA are significantly enhanced by the well-dispersed and compatilized nanostructures in the matrix of PLA/PLAE blends.

Tailored honeycomb-like polymeric films based on amphiphilic poly(urea/malonamide) dendrons

A series of hydrogen bond-rich poly(urea/malonamide) dendrons were utilized as surfactants to facilitate the formation of honeycomb-like porous structures from the breath figure (BF) process.

Tailoring the hard domain cohesiveness in polyurethanes by interplay between the functionality and the content of chain extender

Thermo-mechanical behavior of polyurethanes with diol/triol chain extension is reflected in a particular behavior in the glass transition and rubbery region and is ruled by the functionality and content of the chain extender.

Novel L-DOPA-derived poly(ester amide)s: monomers, polymers, and the first L-DOPA-functionalized biobased adhesive tape

The synthesis, characterization, and testing of a range of novel bio-inspired L-DOPA-derived poly(ester amide)s is presented, using a widely applicable, straightforward chemistry. A model system is used to study and establish the monomer and polymer synthetic protocols, and to provide a set of optimum reaction conditions. It is further shown that fully biobased L-DOPA-containing adhesive tapes can be fabricated, which are positively evaluated in terms of their adhesive properties. The newly developed synthetic protocol constitutes a versatile platform for accessing and tailoring a plethora of relevant structures, including a variety of potentially biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol)-based materials.

In vitro bioactivity of Polyurethane/85S Bioglass composite scaffolds

In the present work Polyurethane (PU)/Bioglass (BG) composite materials were synthesized with different content of BG (10 and 20 mol.%) as filler. The 85S Bioglass was synthesized via polystep sol-gel method. The chemical composition of BG is 85SiO2-10CaO-5P2O5 (wt.%). The synthesis of PU was carried out by a two-step polyaddition reaction. The 85S BG was added in situ during the polymerization reaction. In vitro bioactivity of the prepared composites was examined in the presence of 1.5 SBF for 7 days in static conditions. The structure of synthesized PU/BG composites before and after in vitro test was determined by XRD, FTIR and SEM. XRD of the samples before in vitro test proved that the phase of γCa2P2O7 in the PU/20BG is visible. FTIR revealed the presence of urethane bond between OH-(from BG) and NCO groups (from PU). Based on FTIR results after in vitro test in 1.5 SBF solutions, A/B-carbonate containing hydroxyapatite (CO3HA) was formed. XRD proved that HA was formed on the surface of the samples, but Ca2P2O7 does not undergo any changes in the 1.5 SBF solution. SEM depicted the nano-HA agglomerated in spherical particles after immersion in 1.5 SBF for 7 days.

Heterocyclic and aromatic based polyurethane scaffolds: morphology and crystallinity studied by X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry

The morphology, crystallinity and X-ray diffraction of speciality heterocyclic and aromatic based polyurethane and poly(urethane–urea) elastomers synthesized via a one-shot polymerization method were studied. The samples were chain extended by mixtures of aliphatic diols and furanic or aromatic diamine chain extenders. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements confirmed the results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and revealed the presence of phases with sharp phase boundaries. The SAXS patterns are best fitted with a model that consists of liquid-like ordered polydisperse spheres. Most of the samples were shown to be poorly crystalline, but some soft-phase crystals do exist and these melted at about 353 K as confirmed by DSC and temperature-dependent wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Annealing at 273 K did not affect the thermal stability but influenced the morphology of the samples. The effect of annealing on the samples of poly(urethane–urea) extended using diamine chain extenders was smaller than that for polyurethane samples, which indicates a much higher thermal stability of the poly(urethane–urea) samples owing to the formation of bidentate hydrogen-bond networks across the urea groups.

Poly(urethane/malonamide) dendritic structures featuring blocked/deblocked isocyanate units

Novel reactive dendritic structures possessing terminal blocked isocyanates were synthesized, which allows further replacement of reactive exterior groups with desired functionality.

Orderly arranged NLO materials based on chromophore-containing dendrons on exfoliated layered templates

Three chromophore-containing dendrons were intercalated into montmorillonite layered silicates via an ion-exchange process. Enlarged d spacings ranging from 50 to 126 A were achieved for these novel organoclays. After the organoclays were blended with a polyimide, the steric bulkiness of the dendrons and the interaction between dendron and polyimide resulted in an ordered morphology. The orderly arranged nanocomposites were characterized by a UV-visible spectrophotometer, a variable-temperature infrared spectrometer, and electro-optical modulation. The dendrons in layered silicates were capable of undergoing a critical conformational change into an ordered structure, indicated by the drastic changes of interlayer distances at certain packing densities. Electro-optical coefficients increased sharply from 0 to 6 pm/V while the conformational change occurred. Furthermore, the addition of a polyimide capable of interaction-induced orientation was found to exert an enhancing effect on the degree of the noncentrosymmetric alignment.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis of Polyurethane-Epoxy Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

A series of semi-interpenetrated polymer networks based on bisphenol A epoxy resin and polyurethane was synthesized by sequential procedure. The molecular dynamics of polyurethane incorporated in the resin network with increasing amounts of resin was followed by dynamic mechanical analysis. All phenomena that concur in the material are evaluated by cross-examination of the storage modulus ( E'), loss modulus ( E'') and loss factor (tan δ) variation with temperature. Complex aspects were elucidated in consecutive heating-cooling-heating cycles and by calculating the apparent activation energy of relaxations in multiplex experiments.

Effect of the microstructure of a hyperbranched polymer and nanoclay loading on the morphology and properties of novel polyurethane nanocomposites

Novel polyurethane nanocomposites based on toluene diisocyanate, poly(propylene glycol), various hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), and layered silicate were synthesized with the aim of determining the effect of the layered silicate loading and the functionality of HBP on the structure and properties of polyurethane nanocomposites. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was found that exfoliated morphology and good dispersion were obtained up to 8 phr clay loading for all of the nanocomposites. approximately 100% increment in tensile strength, approximately 2-fold increase in the lap shear strength, approximately 200% increment in the peel strength, and 120% increment in the storage modulus along with a dramatic improvement in thermal stability were observed with the addition of 8 phr clay, over the pristine polyurethane. The higher the level of functionality of the HBP, the higher is the property enhancement. These properties were correlated with the state of dispersion of the clay platelets in the polyurethane matrix, the structure of the matrix, and clay-polymer interaction.