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Subburayan Manickavasagam Suresh Kumar¹, Sundaravel Balachandran², Seong Cheol Kim³, Balamurugan Rathinam^4,*, Vanaraj Ramkumar^3,5,*
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 207-218, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.057901 - 16 December 2024
Abstract The present study focuses on sustainable biopolymer composites created from coconut sheath and basalt fibres, which are biodegradable, environmentally benign, and have low carbon footprints. High specific strength, superior mechanical performance, reduced weight, and improved thermal stability are all displayed by these materials. Four hybrid epoxy composites (C1–C4) were produced utilizing five stacking sequences and compression moulding, demonstrating that hybridization considerably enhances mechanical characteristics. The hybrid and pure basalt fibre composites have larger storage moduli than untreated coconut sheath fibre-reinforced epoxy (2.1 GPa). The greatest glass transition temperature (Tg) for C4 has been determined to More >

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Somasundaram Karthiyaini¹, Mohan Sasikumar^2,*, Abraham Jebamalar³, P. A. Prasob²
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 219-237, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.053829 - 16 December 2024
Abstract This manuscript presents the projectile impact behavior of hybrid jute/epoxy composite laminates using an instrumented air gun impact setup with the projectile moving in the vertical direction. An approach based on the stiffness change is used to predict the projectile impact response of hybrid jute epoxy-filled laminates impacted with a stainless-steel projectile. The experimental validation of the parameters like dynamic hardness (Hd) coefficient of restitution (COR), natural frequency, damping factor, and loss factor was used to analyze the impact behavior of jute/epoxy composites strengthened with fillers ZrO₂, ZnO, and TiO₂. The free vibration tests of the More >

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Muhammad Faiz Aizamddin^1,2,*, Nazreen Che Roslan², Ayu Natasha Ayub², Awis Sukarni Mohmad Sabere³, Zarif Mohamed Sofian⁴, Yee Hui Robin Chang⁵, Mohd Ifwat Mohd Ghazali^6,7, Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni⁸, Mohamad Arif Kasri⁹, Muhamad Saipul Fakir¹⁰, Mohd Muzamir Mahat^2,*
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 239-261, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.057420 - 16 December 2024
Abstract Poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene: polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT/PSS) has revolutionized the field of smart textiles as an advanced conductive polymer, offering an unprecedented combination of high electrical conductivity, solution processability, and mechanical conformability. Despite extensive research in PEDOT/PSS-coated fabrics over the past decade, a critical challenge remains in finding the delicate balance between enhanced conductivity and washing durability required for real-world wearable applications. Hence, this study investigates the electrical conductivity and durability properties of PEDOT/PSS-based conductive fabrics for wearable electronics. By carefully controlling the doping concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), an optimal conductivity of 8.44 ± 0.21 × 10⁻³ S… More >

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Xiaojuan He¹, Chanyuan Li¹, Shaokang Wang¹, Jingyi Zhu¹, Yabin Zhang^1,*, Zhen Guo², Lihua Wu^3,*
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 263-279, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.055821 - 16 December 2024
Abstract Eye drops are the usual method to treat eye diseases, and gel polymer provides the carrier which could be used for ophthalmic drug delivery. However, the stable and sustained release is the main issue for the ophthalmic drug and is concerned by many researchers. In this study, composite hydrogels were prepared using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) used for ophthalmic drug loading and release. According to the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the disappearance of the C=C bond in hydrogel indicated that the copolymerization reaction between HEMA and NVP was successful. The… More >

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Yvonne Achieng Ouma¹, Supriti Sundari Nayak¹, Smrutirekha Mishra², Harekrishna Panigrahi^1,*
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 281-297, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.056470 - 16 December 2024
Abstract Fuller earth (FE) nanoclay is a naturally occurring mineral with a high surface area, is highly abundant, and has a low purchasing cost, making it an excellent candidate for nanocomposite production. The study highlights the novelty of using FE nanoclay in combination with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to create a bio-nanocomposite that meets the need for sustainable packaging solutions, underscoring its potential to reduce environmental impact while maintaining product quality in food packaging applications. The solvent casting process, a reliable way to evenly disperse nanofillers in polymer matrices, has been employed in this work to incorporate… More >

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Aswinraj Anbazhagan¹, Piyali Roy Choudhury¹, Sahila Sambandam², Jayakumari Lakshmanan Saraswathi^1,*
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 299-313, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.056261 - 16 December 2024
Abstract Petroleum-based cured epoxy polymers, used widely in aerospace, marine, and automotive industries, pose environmental threats due to their toxicity. Therefore, developing alternative curing systems for epoxy resin is crucial. This study explores the use of bio-based phenalkamines as curing agents for epoxy resin to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer composites and fiber-reinforced laminates. The functional groups, morphology, and thermal properties of the composites were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties of two epoxy systems—EP-TETA (triethylenetetramine-cured) and EP-PA (phenalkamine-cured)—were evaluated according to ASTM standards. More >

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Junxiao Qiu^1,2, Sanmei Liu^3,4,*
Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 315-327, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.057951 - 16 December 2024
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Multifunctional Conductive Hydrogels and Their Applications)
Abstract Integration of solar-driven interfacial evaporation and photocatalysis is one of the most promising technologies for generating fresh water and removing pollutants. In this work, TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ photocatalysis is loaded on a hydrogel containing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). Due to the excellent water evaporation channel of hydrogel and the excellent photothermal conversion performance of SWCNT, as well as the good visible light absorption ability of TiO₂/g-C₃N₄, TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/SWCNT hydrogel exhibits good hydrothermal evaporation and photocatalytic activity. The optimum water evaporation rate of 1.43 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. In particular, the optimized TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/SWCNT hydrogel can also remove more than 90% methylene blue (MB) More >

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