Enhancing the Delamination Efficiency of Polyimide-Copper Bilayers with UV/Heat-Activated Foamable Adhesive: Insights and Applications

This study explores the adhesive properties of copolymers comprising glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPTMS), focusing on their suitability for adhesive applications. Peel resistance measurements revealed a substantial impact of the GMA/MPTMS ratio on adhesion capabilities, identifying an optimal ratio of 30/70 for copolymerization with tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) to improve foaming performance. tBA, a foaming monomer activated by a photoacid generator and heat, enhances the copolymerized adhesive's adhesion strength and foamability for postuse delamination. Chemical structure analysis through Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed successful polymerization, while rheological properties indicated decreased complex viscosity and adhesive strength with an increasing tBA content. The deprotection of the t-butyl group facilitated foam formation, supported by morphology analysis. These findings provide insights into foamable adhesive development with potential applications in delamination processes and implications for further exploration in polymer adhesion.

Electrochemically-initiated polymerization of reactive monomers via 4-fluorobenzenediazonium salts

We report on the electrochemically-initiated polymerization of reactive monomers using a fluorine-labelled aromatic diazonium salt in an undivided cell setup with subsequent post-polymerization modifications of the intact reactive moieties.

Engineering Antifouling Conducting Polymers for Modern Biomedical Applications

Conducting polymers are considered to be favorable electrode materials for implanted biosensors and bioelectronics, because their mechanical properties are similar to those of biological tissues such as nerve and brain tissues. However, one of the primary challenges for implanted devices is to prevent the unwanted protein adhesion or cell binding within biological fluids. The nonspecific adsorption generally causes the malfunction of implanted devices, which is problematic for long-term applications. When responding to the requirements of solving the problems caused by nonspecific adsorption, an increasing number of studies on antifouling conducting polymers has been recently published. In this review, synthetic strategies for preparing antifouling conducting polymers, including direct synthesis of functional monomers and post-functionalization, are introduced. The applications of antifouling conducting polymers in modern biomedical applications are particularly highlighted. This paper presents focuses on the features of antifouling conducting polymers and the challenges of modern biomedical applications.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals a new mechanism based on competitive binding between Tris and protein on a conductive biomimetic polydopamine surface

A novel mechanism was developed to study the interaction of mussel inspired polydopamine surfaces with bovine serum albumin using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

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.

Synthesis of chitosan capped copper oxide nanoleaves using high intensity (30kHz) ultrasound sonication and their application in antifouling coatings

The synthesis of chitosan capped copper oxide nanoleaves (CCCO NLs) was carried out under three different reaction conditions viz. 1) room temperature, 2) 70°C and 3) high intensity ultrasound (30kHz) sonication method and it has been found that the high intensity ultrasound (30kHz) sonication is the best method when compared to other two methods. The advantages of the present synthetic method are: i) easy one step process, ii) lesser reaction time, iii) good yield, iv) reproducible and v) calcination is not required. The resulting chitosan capped copper oxide nanoleaves were characterized by Diffuse Reflectance UV-Visible Spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The CCCO NLs were blended with commercial paints such as polyurethane clear, polyurethane white and acrylic emulsion and applied on to three different surfaces (wood, mild steel and cement slab panels). The hydrophilicity of CCCONP coated panels was analyzed by water contact angle measurement and their antifouling behavior was investigated against three different green and marine algae viz. Arthrospira, Chlorella and Amphora. The antifouling efficiency of the CCCO NLs against the algae was found to be 78-92%.

Antifouling coatings based on covalently cross-linked agarose film via thermal azide-alkyne cycloaddition

Coatings based on thin films of agarose-poly(ethylene glycol) (Agr-PEG) cross-linked systems are developed as environmentally-friendly and fouling-resistant marine coatings. The Agr-PEG cross-linked systems were prepared via thermal azide-alkyne cycloaddition (AAC) using azido-functionalized Agr (AgrAz) and activated alkynyl-containing poly(2-propiolamidoethyl methacrylate-co-poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate) P(PEMA-co-PEGMEMA) random copolymers as the precursors. The Agr-PEG cross-linked systems were further deposited onto a SS surface, pre-functionalized with an alkynyl-containing biomimetic anchor, dopamine propiolamide, to form a thin film after thermal treatment. The thin film-coated SS surfaces can effectively reduce the adhesion of marine algae and the settlement of barnacle cyprids. Upon covalent cross-linking, the covalently cross-linked Agr-PEG films coated SS surfaces exhibit good stability in flowing artificial seawater, and enhanced resistance to the settlement of barnacle cyprids, in comparison to that of the surfaces coated with physically cross-linked AgrAz films.

Effects of Grafting Density and Film Thickness on the Adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to Poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) and Poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) Brushes

Thin polymer films that prevent the adhesion of bacteria are of interest as coatings for the development of infection-resistant biomaterials. This study investigates the influence of grafting density and film thickness on the adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) (PPEGMA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brushes prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). These brushes are compared with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) brushes, which are obtained by grafting PEG onto an epoxide-modified substrate. Except for very low grafting densities (ρ = 1%), crystal violet staining experiments show that the PHEMA and PPEGMA brushes are equally effective as the PEG-modified surfaces in preventing S. epidermis adhesion and do not reveal any significant variations as a function of film thickness or grafting density. These results indicate that brushes generated by SI-ATRP are an attractive alternative to grafted-onto PEG films for the preparation of surface coatings that resist bacterial adhesion.

Synthesis of hybrid zinc/silyl acrylate copolymers and their surface properties in the microfouling stage

Development of an environmentally friendly and efficient marine antifouling coating is a central goal in marine antifouling.

Adjusting the Proportion of Electron-Withdrawing Groups in a Graft Functional Polymer for Multilevel Memory Performance

A polymer containing aldehyde active groups (PVB) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), acting as a polymer precursor to graft a functional moiety via nucleophilic addition reaction. DHI (2-(1,5-dimethyl-hexyl)-6-hydrazino-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3-dione) and NPH (nitrophenyl hydrazine) groups, which contain naphthalimides that act as narrow traps and nitro groups that act as deep traps, were anchored onto the PVB at different ratios. A series of graft polymers were obtained and named PVB-DHI, PVB-DHI4 -NPH, PVB-DHI-NPH4 , and PVB-NPH. The chemical composition of the polymers was analyzed by (1) H-NMR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Memory devices were prepared from the polymers, and I-V characteristics were measured to determine the performance. By adjusting the ratio of different electron acceptors (DHI and NPH) to 4:1, ternary memory behavior was achieved. The relationship between memory behavior of PVB-DHIx NPHy and acceptor groups as well as their conduction mechanism were studied in detail.

Layer-by-layer deposition of antifouling coatings on stainless steel via catechol-amine reaction

The PEI/P(DMA-co-PEGMEMA) multiple bilayer-coated surfaces can effectively reduce microfouling and macrofouling.