Effect of molecular weight distribution on polymer diffusion during film formation of two-component high-/low-molecular weight latex particles

Recycling and 3D-Printing Biodegradable Membranes for Gas Separation-toward a Membrane Circular Economy

Polymer membranes employed in gas separation play a pivotal role in advancing environmental sustainability, energy production, and gas purification technologies. Despite their significance, the current design and manufacturing of these membranes lack cradle-to-cradle approaches, contributing to plastic waste pollution. This study explores emerging solutions, including the use of biodegradable biopolymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and membrane recycling, with a focus on the specific impact of mechanical recycling on the performance of biodegradable gas separation membranes. This research represents the first systematic exploration of recycling biodegradable membranes for gas separation. Demonstrating that PHB membranes can be recycled and remanufactured without solvents using hot-melt extrusion and 3D printing, the research highlights PHB's promising performance in developing more sustainable CO2 separations, despite an increase in gas permeability with successive recycling steps due to reduced polymer molecular weight. The study emphasizes the excellent thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability of PHB membranes, albeit with a marginal reduction in gas selectivity upon recycling. However, limitations in PHB's molecular weight affecting extrudability and processability restrict the recycling to three cycles. Anticipating that this study will serve as a foundational exploration, we foresee more sophisticated recycling studies for gas separation membranes, paving the way for a circular economy in future membrane technologies.

100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Enabling Advances in Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques

In the past few decades there has been a revolution in the field of optical microscopy with emerging capabilities such as super-resolution and single-molecule fluorescence techniques. Combined with the classical advantages of fluorescence imaging, such as chemical labeling specificity, and noninvasive sample preparation and imaging, these methods have enabled significant advances in our polymer community. This Viewpoint discusses several of these capabilities and how they can uniquely offer information where other characterization techniques are limited. Several examples are highlighted that demonstrate the ability of fluorescence microscopy to understand key questions in polymer science such as single-molecule diffusion and orientation, 3D nanostructural morphology, and interfacial and multicomponent dynamics. Finally, we briefly discuss opportunities for further advances in techniques that may allow them to make an even greater contribution in polymer science.

Light and latex: advances in the photochemistry of polymer colloids

Unparalleled temporal and spatial control of colloidal chemical processes introduces immense potential for the manufacturing, modification, and manipulation of latex particles.

The Properties of Solvent-Based and Water-Borne Butyl Acrylate/Styrene Copolymer Films

With the increasing demands of environmental protection, the properties of water-borne coatings film must meet or exceed current solvent-based coatings. It is an important part of coating science for characterizing the film properties of polymers which was used in the water-borne and the solvent-based coating. In this study, UV-visible spectroscopy, gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the properties of the water-borne and the solvent-based poly(butyl acrylate/styrene) (P(BA/St)) copolymer films. The water-borne and the solvent-based P(BA/St) copolymer was synthesized by two methods. The copolymer had a Tg of approximately 14.4°C, which was close to room temperature. The water-borne copolymers were prepared via a three-step film formation process, while the solvent-based copolymer films were prepared in two steps. Comparing the properties of the water-borne and the solvent-based films, the water absorption capacities decreased with increasing film formation times, and the film barrier properties and electrochemical properties of both films improved as the film formation time increased.

Understanding particle formation in surfactant-free waterborne coatings prepared by emulsification of pre-formed polymers

Concern for the environment has been driving major changes in the coatings industry.