Revisiting poly(vinyl chloride) reactivity in the context of chemical recycling

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the highest production volume polymers due to its many applications, and it is one of the least recycled due to its chemical structure and frequent formulation with additives. Developing efficient PVC recycling techniques would enable PVC waste to be reused or repurposed in other processes. Within this context, the literature on PVC modification offers considerable insight into versatile reaction pathways, potentially inspiring new approaches for repurposing PVC waste into value-added products. This perspective provides an overview of PVC functionalization through a lens of chemical recycling, discussing various PVC reactivity trends and their applications with a critical assessment and future outlook of their recycling implications.

Strategies for Potential Toughening of Acrylic Denture Bases Polymerized With Microwave Energy

Thiourethane additives have been shown to improve properties in several dental polymer applications. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of the addition of thiourethane oligomers and acrylamide or isobornyl-based plasticizers on the physical properties of the denture base acrylic resin polymerized with microwaves. Thiourethane oligomer (TU) was synthetized and added to microwaved acrylic resin in proportions varying between 3 and 14 wt%. Separate experimental groups included the addition of dimethyl acrylamide (DMAM) and isobornyl methacrylate as plasticizers, at concentrations varying from 5 to 20 wt%. Samples were polymerized using microwave energy at 500 Watts for 3 min, deflasked at room temperature, stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h, and evaluated for: linear dimensional change, gloss, Knoop hardness, surface roughness, impact strength, yield strength, elastic modulus, toughness, yield strength, viscosity, glass transition temperature and network heterogeneity, and water sorption/solubility. Data were analyzed with ANOVA/Tukey's post-hoc test (a=5%). The addition of TU led to properties that were similar or worse than the materials to which it was not added, except for dimensional stability. The impact on properties was statistically significant for all materials above 20% addition of TU. The addition of DMAM at 5 wt% or isobornyl methacrylate at 10 wt% improved yield strength and modulus, but increased water sorption and solubility. Except for dimensional stability, the addition of thiourethane oligomers to acrylic denture base materials compromised most tested properties. The use of DMAM and isobornyl methacrylate improved properties for selected compositions.

Microwave and ultrasound-assisted synthesis of poly(vinyl chloride)/riboflavin modified MWCNTs: Examination of thermal, mechanical and morphology properties

This study focused on the preparation and investigation of physicochemical features of new poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) nanocomposites (NCs) including different amounts of carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH) functionalized with riboflavin (RIB). Firstly, to increase the hydrophilicity of MWCNTs, the surface of them was functionalized by incorporating and formation of ester groups with RIB as a low cost and environmentally friendly biomolecule through ultrasound and microwave irradiations. Afterwards, PVC/RIB-MWCNTs NCs were fabricated via the solution casting and ultrasonic dispersion methods. Prepared NCs were examined by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron micrograph, and Raman spectroscopy. The PVC/RIB-MWCNTs NCs (12wt%) showed the higher mechanical and thermal behavior as compared to other concentration of MWCNTs.

Self-Assembled Colloidal Particle Clusters from In Situ Pickering-Like Emulsion Polymerization via Single Electron Transfer Mechanism

A simple route is reported to synthesize colloidal particle clusters (CPCs) from self-assembly of in situ poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(styrene-co-tert-butyl acrylate) [PVDF/P(St-co-tBA)] Janus particles through one-pot seeded emulsion single electron transfer radical polymerization. In the in situ Pickering-like emulsion polymerization, the tBA/St/PVDF feed ratio and polymerization temperature are important for the formation of well-defined CPCs. When the tBA/St/PVDF feed ratio is 0.75 g/2.5 g/0.5 g and the reaction temperature is 35 °C, relatively uniform raspberry-like CPCs are obtained. The hydrophobicity of the P(St-co-tBA) domains and the affinity of PVDF to the aqueous environment are considered to be the driving force for the self-assembly of the in situ formed PVDF/P(St-co-tBA) Janus particles. The resultant raspberry-like CPCs with PVDF particles protruding outward may be promising for superhydrophobic smart coatings.