POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Hang Shu,Tao Li,Jiating Liu,Yi Chen
In the field of advancing flexible sensor technologies, achieving both high conductivity and mechanical flexibility in hydrogel materials remains a critical challenge. To address this issue, a flexible conductive gel based on a synergistic P(AM-AMPS)-PVP network (PAAP) was developed. Through the formation of a hydrogen-bonding network and continuous ion transport pathways, the gel achieves a balanced improvement in electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility. The resulting PAAP gel exhibits an exceptional tensile strain capacity of up to 1811%, notable ionic conductivity (59.41 mS/cm), and a very low elastic modulus (< 10 kPa), indicating strong structural resilience and adaptability under strain. These characteristics make the gel particularly suitable for use in flexible strain sensing and Morse code signal recognition. When integrated with a support vector machine (SVM) classification model, the system enables precise identification of “dot-dash” signal patterns, achieving classification accuracy exceeding 95%. This work provides a promising approach and theoretical basis for the development of flexible hydrogels in intelligent sensing, information decoding, and wearable communication technologies. Highlights A stretchable, soft, and conductive P(AM-AMPS)-PVP hydrogel for sensing. Integration of SVM enables intelligent signal recognition and interfacing. The SVM achieves a high accuracy in recognizing dot-dash signal patterns.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
·
IF 3.6
Xiaopeng Li,Qixiong Zhang,Tian Fang,Renlu Han,Yafei Hou,Jing Cuan,Weiping Li
Dielectric capacitors for pulsed power require stable operation at elevated temperatures, but commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) shows sharp performance degradation above ~105°C. Polyetherimide (PEI) is a promising polymer with high glass transition temperature, yet its low dielectric constant and poor thermal management limit high-temperature energy storage. Here, low-loading 2D Al 2 O 3 nanosheets (AO NSs) are introduced into PEI to simultaneously regulate charge transport and heat dissipation while avoiding the high-loading drawbacks of conventional 0D/1D ceramic fillers. The optimal 0.6 wt.% AO/PEI composite exhibits a high breakdown strength of 571.2 MV·m −1 at 25°C and retains 540.7 MV·m −1 at 100°C and 513.6 MV·m −1 at 150°C. Consequently, a maximum recoverable energy density of 7.9 J·cm −3 ( η > 90%) is achieved at 25°C, and 5.5 J·cm −3 ( η > 80%) at 150°C. Experiments combined with electric-treeing and temperature-distribution simulations verify suppressed field concentration and reduced heat accumulation, enabling stable performance over 10 4 cycles. These results demonstrate that low-content two-dimensional fillers provide an effective strategy for high-temperature dielectric energy storage. Highlights Low-content AO NSs enhance electrical and thermal properties in composites. The 0.6 wt.% AO/PEI composite shows high dielectric strength and stability at elevated temperatures. AO NSs suppress electric-field concentration and heat accumulation. Achieves 7.9 J·cm −3 energy density at 25°C and 5.5 J·cm −3 at 150°C.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Jiaqi Guo,Qiuyue Wang,Yanxia Cao,Yanyu Yang,Jianfeng Wang,Wanjie Wang
Polyamide 1012 (PA1012) composites with balanced strength and toughness were fabricated by blending with lanthanum-neutralized polyolefin elastomer (POE) ionomers and nano-alumina grafted with nylon short chains (Al 2 O 3 -PA). Al 2 O 3 -PA was synthesized based on in situ polymerization, while POE ionomers with different glutamic acid/maleic anhydride mole ratios were prepared through melt-blending. The multiple interactions between La 3+ -carboxyl/amide groups and dynamic networks formed by chain entanglement of Al 2 O 3 -PA with PA1012 and POE ionomers significantly improved PA1012's mechanical properties. Compared with pure PA1012, the impact toughness (92.0 kJ/m 2 ) of PA1012/POE ionomer/Al 2 O 3 -PA composites was 14 times higher while the tensile strength (53.4 MPa) retained 86.1% of its value. Rheological characterization showed decreased melt viscosity, helping with processing challenges in rubber-toughened plastics. The toughening mechanism was attributed to matrix yielding, elastomer particle deformation, and dynamic network destruction. This work provides an efficient strategy for designing high-performance polyamide composites with balanced mechanical properties and enlarging their applications in automotive, electronics and military fields. Highlights Preparation of POE ionomer and Al 2 O 3 -PA. Investigating synergistic interactions of POE ionomer with Al 2 O 3 -PA. Enhanced improvement in mechanical performance of PA1012 composites. Exhibiting a dynamic network based on rheological measurements.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Guantong Wang,Hongjie Kang,Hongli Zhu,Xiaoyue Hu,Shaoshuai Shi,Kuan Jiang,Shan Wang,Hongyu Gong
Considering the severity of electromagnetic pollution together with practical requirements in the real world, the development of versatile electromagnetic wave absorbers is imperative. Herein, phenyl silicone rubber/hollow microsphere/CNTs (SR/HM/CNTs) foams were successfully produced via a simple preparation process. Owing to the polarization mechanisms, leakage pathways, and 3D porous structure, SR/HM/CNT foams possess high dielectric loss capability for electromagnetic wave attenuation. Notably, the SR/HM/CNTs foam with 15 wt% filler content exhibits effective absorption across the entire X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) with a minimum reflection loss (RL min ) of −37.77 dB at 9.89 GHz. The mechanism of electromagnetic wave absorption shows that strong absorption performance stems from significant conductive loss, multiple attenuation pathways, and favorable impedance matching. Meanwhile, SR/HM/CNTs foams exhibit lightweight (0.301–0.356 g/cm 3 ) and possess low thermal conductivity (0.085–0.136 W·m −l ·K −l ) owing to their closed-cell structure. The suppressed heat transfer confers infrared stealth, underscoring their potential in defense-related uses. Overall, this work proposes an easily implemented strategy for constructing multifunctional, high-performance microwave absorbers. Highlights SR/HM/CNTs foams were prepared using expandable microspheres as foaming agent. SR/HM/CNTs foams had effective absorption bandwidth in the full X band. SR/HM/CNTs foams possess thermal insulation features for infrared stealth.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
·
2026
·
IF 3.6
Lei Gong,Yuesheng Zhang,Enyang Xu,Hongtao Lu,Junrui Duan,Jianna Bao
In this work, poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) copolymers with varying ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) contents that ranged from 0% to 10% were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide and ε-CL at 170°C for 1 h. Fully biodegradable PLCL/poly(D-lactide) (PDLA) blends with stereocomplex (SC) crystallites were fabricated through a solution blending approach. The effects of ε-CL content in PLCL on the crystallization behavior, thermal properties, mechanical performance, and degradation behavior of PLCL/PDLA blends were systematically investigated. The successful synthesis of PLCL was confirmed by 1 H NMR and FTIR analyses. The melting peaks observed in the high-temperature region and the characteristic diffractions in WAXD patterns provided evidence for the formation of SC crystallites in PLCL/PDLA blends. Compared with PLCL, the incorporation of PDLA significantly enhanced the crystallization rate, due to the nucleation function of SC crystallites. With increasing ε-CL content in the copolymer system, the T g and crystallinity of PLCL gradually reduced, and the melting peaks of HC and SC crystals shifted toward lower temperatures due to the reduced sequence regularity. A pronounced improvement in deformability was achieved by the presence of ε-CL segments. As the ε-CL content increased from 1.5% to 10%, the elongation at break rose from 12% to 192%, with the morphology of elongated fibrils. Higher ε-CL contents accelerated enzymatic degradation, with mass loss exceeding 75% after 7 days at 10% ε-CL, because the increased chain mobility may facilitate the penetration of water and Proteinase K into the blend, thereby promoting enzymatic erosion. Overall, high-performance PLA-based composites with excellent biodegradability were achieved via SC crystallization and modulation of ε-CL comonomer content. Summary PLCL copolymers with tunable ε-CL content were prepared and characterized. SC crystallization regulated the crystallization and thermal behavior. ε-CL segments enhance chain mobility and improve blend deformability. Enzymatic degradation kinetics were accelerated as ε-CL content increased.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Yunhe Xie,Qibin Zeng,Yifan Liu,Zhenglin Huang,Saile Chen,Minghua Liu
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) undergoes significant degradation and aging during prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation and oxidative environments, leading to a pronounced decline in performance. However, developing efficient and sustainable stabilization strategies to enhance the photostability of HDPE remains a major challenge. To address this issue, alkylated lignin (AL) was synthesized via chemical modification as a functional filler to improve compatibility with the nonpolar HDPE matrix, thereby maximizing the intrinsic anti-aging potential of lignin. The results revealed that at an AL content of 5 wt%, the HDPE-AL5 composite exhibited optimal tensile strength and elongation at break, even slightly outperforming neat HDPE. Oxidation induction time (OIT) analysis indicated that the OIT of HDPE-AL5 extended from 32.46 to 50.93 min, significantly outperforming neat HDPE. Ultraviolet – visible spectroscopy confirmed that the HDPE-AL composites nearly completely provided UV shielding throughout the entire ultraviolet spectrum. After 5 days of irradiation under a xenon lamp, the elongation at break of neat HDPE decreased to 8.77%, whereas HDPE-AL5 maintained nearly 100% of its original mechanical properties. In summary, the HDPE-AL5 composite preserves inherent mechanical strength while enhancing UV-shielding and antioxidant capabilities. This approach offers a promising route for developing sustainable, high-performance polyethylene materials suitable for outdoor applications. Highlights Alkylated lignin (AL) exhibits excellent interfacial bonding strength with HDPE. The HDPE-AL5 composite retains the original mechanical properties of HDPE. AL endows HDPE with excellent oxidation and UV resistance. After xenon-lamp aging, HDPE-AL5 retains excellent mechanical properties.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Yucheng Yin,Xin Jing,Wenzhi Wang,Peiyong Feng
High-melt-flow nylon 6 (HMF-PA6) offers excellent processability but suffers from poor interfacial bonding with reinforcements, reduced mechanical strength, and limited toughness, restricting its use in high-performance composites. In this study, nylon 66 (PA66) fiber cloth was employed as a homologous reinforcing skeleton, and its surface was modified with polydopamine (PDA) to enhance interfacial compatibility. PDA was deposited via oxidative self-polymerization, forming a thin coating that increased fiber surface roughness and introduced active functional groups capable of hydrogen bonding with the matrix. During hot pressing, the high fluidity of HMF-PA6 enabled the PDA-coated fibers to form a “mechanical interlocking” interface, thereby promoting efficient stress transfer and energy dissipation. As a result, the PDA-PA66/PA6 composites exhibited remarkable improvements in mechanical performance: tensile strength increased by 96% compared with pure HMF-PA6 and by 19% over unmodified PA66/PA6 composites, while elongation at break was enhanced by approximately 41%. Morphological observations confirmed that PDA improved fiber–matrix adhesion, and thermal analysis indicated enhanced stability despite partial PDA decomposition at high processing temperatures. These findings demonstrate a simple and scalable strategy to simultaneously reinforce and toughen HMF-PA6, highlighting the potential of PDA-modified homologous reinforcements for next-generation high-performance nylon-based composites. Summary The tensile strength of matrix nylon is greatly improved by reinforcing fibers. An effective “mechanical interlocking” structure is formed at the interface.
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Hafiza Aroosa Aslam Khan,Naveed Ramzan,Asif Jamil,Ghulam Rasool,Muneerah Alomar,Muhammad Sarfraz
Decarbonization is essential to address climatic variations caused by greenhouse effects. Membrane-based separation processes present an energy-efficient and scalable pathway for flue gas purification. Permeability-selectivity trade-off of polymeric membranes can be mitigated through combined impregnation of bi-fillers within polymer matrix coupled with applying ultrathin secondary polymer coating to fabricate efficacious dual-layer composite membrane. Microporous activated MOF-5 nanocrystals with high surface area and CO 2 affinity, combined with graphene nanoplatelets possessing exceptional CO 2 uptake, were synergistically embedded into flexible polysulfone matrix. Biodegradable poly(vinyl alcohol) coating layer was uniformly deposited onto doped polysulfone substrate, yielding novel class of anisotropic dual-layer mixed matrix composite membranes, rendering drastically improved CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 70 and upgraded CO 2 permeability of 92 Barrer as compared to bare polysulfone membrane. Advanced characterizations verified uniform nanofiller dispersion, strong interfacial bonding, and enhanced thermal stability. Five percent PVA coating boosted thermal stability and improved mechanical robustness by 84%, markedly strengthening membrane structural and thermal resilience. An effective strategy is introduced to produce dual-layer membranes with remarkable CO 2 capture performance via optimized bi-filler loading and PVA based surface modification. Highlights Solvothermal synthesis of highly microporous activated MOF-5 nanocrystals. Preparation of Zn-BDC MOF- and graphene nanoplates-embedded composite membranes. Enhanced nanofiller-polymer interfacial compatibility furnishing uniform filler dispersal. Constructing a dual-layer composite membrane by depositing an ultrathin poly(vinyl alcohol) layer. Marked improvement in decarbonization performance of prepared multilayered membranes.
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
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IF 3.6
Dezhi Pan,Qingyun Chu,Xuelian He
Polyethylene wax is widely used for its unique physical properties, and metallocene structures are a key focus of research aimed at regulating product properties. In this study, the effects of bridge structures and ligand properties on ethylene polymerization are investigated, with H 2 as the chain-transfer agent. The results indicate that the bridge and ligands primarily influence ethylene polymerization through electronic and steric effects. The bridge creates a crowded ligand space, increasing resistance to monomer insertion and reducing catalytic activity. The dimethylsilyl bridge, with its electron-withdrawing effect, inhibits chain transfer, whereas the ethylene bridge, with its electron-donating effect, does not. Dimethylsilyl bridges also provide greater rigidity, enhance polymer chain regularity, and significantly broaden the molecular weight distribution. For ligands, larger volume effectively prevents chain transfer and results in a broader molecular weight distribution; electron-donating groups on the ligand can also enhance reactivity, compensating for the loss of reactivity caused by steric hindrance from large ligands. In summary, under identical H 2 pressure conditions, bridged metallocene catalysts with different structures significantly influence catalyst activities and the properties of the synthesized polyethylene wax. Highlight The effect of the metallocene catalyst structure on the initiation of ethylene polymerization using hydrogen as a chain-transfer agent has been investigated.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
·
IF 3.6
Xiaoji Fu,Feng Zhou,Yu Song,Hui Chen,Dan Fang,Yating Chen,Xiri Chen,Dong Lu,Xianyan Ren
At low temperatures, the performance of polymeric adsorbents in remediating oil spills and organic-solvent leakage can be severely compromised by restricted segmental mobility within the polymer network. To address this limitation, an acrylate-based oil-adsorption resin with a low glass-transition temperature ( T g ) was prepared through solution polymerization by regulating the solvation environment of the growing polymer chains. An ethyl acetate/isopropanol mixture (3:1 v/v) was used as the polymerization medium, with stearyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate as comonomers and divinylbenzene as the crosslinker. KH570-modified SiO 2 nanoparticles were incorporated in situ to construct an organic–inorganic network, denoted PSDB@SiO 2 . The PSDB@SiO 2 exhibited a T g of −29.35°C and a static water contact angle of 109.73°, providing a favorable basis for low-temperature segmental responsiveness and organic-liquid wetting. PSDB@SiO 2 maintained a high chloroform adsorption capacity of 40.75–51.60 g·g −1 from room temperature to −40°C. At −20°C, 82.92% of the initial adsorption capacity was retained after 10 adsorption–desorption cycles. Moreover, the material retained 99% of the adsorbed chloroform after centrifugation at 12000 rpm for 5 min and exhibited selective capture of organic liquids under simulated application conditions. Highlights Solvation-regulated polymerization enables high-capacity adsorption at low temperatures. PSDB@SiO 2 combined a T g of −29.35°C with solvent-induced relaxation. Adsorption capacity remained 40.75–51.60 g·g −1 from −40°C to 20°C.
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DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
·
IF 3.6
Yan Lyu,Ying Zhu,Guigan Fang,Shufang Wu,Yutao Yan,Jiongjiong Li
Developing formaldehyde-free lignin-based wood adhesives with balanced bonding strength, fracture resistance, and water resistance remains a considerable challenge. Herein, we propose a synergistic modification strategy integrating energy dissipation by grafted flexible polyacrylamide chains, epoxy-mediated network formation, and wood interfacial reinforcement. Polyacrylamide-grafted alkali lignin (PAMAL) was prepared through H 2 O 2 /CaCl 2 -initiated free-radical graft polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of alkali lignin. The introduced flexible polyacrylamide side chains were designed to enhance chain entanglement, hydrogen-bonding interactions, and energy-dissipation capability. Subsequently, the epoxy crosslinker triglycidylamine (TGA) was incorporated to regulate adhesive viscosity, improve coating and penetration into wood, and promote epoxy-mediated network formation during curing. Consequently, the optimized 2PAMAL/TGA adhesive exhibited a dry shear strength of 2.88 MPa, compared with 0.21 MPa for the unmodified lignin adhesive, while the bonded-joint debonding work increased from 0.010 to 1.096 J. In addition, the moisture absorption decreased by 83.2%, the residual rate increased by 331.5%, and the wet shear strength reached 1.26 MPa after immersion in water at 63°C for 3 h when hot-pressed at 190°C. These improvements are attributed to the synergistic effects of flexible-chain energy dissipation, enhanced wood interfacial wetting/penetration, and epoxy-mediated network stabilization. Highlights Polyacrylamide graft modification improved the adhesive performance of alkali lignin. Flexible polyacrylamide side chains enabled efficient energy dissipation. TGA regulated adhesive viscosity and promoted epoxy-mediated network formation. Dry shear strength increased from 0.21 to 2.88 MPa after modification. The adhesive balanced bonding strength, fracture resistance, and water resistance without formaldehyde.
✓ 已验证
DOI
高影响因子
POLYMER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
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2026
·
IF 3.6
Jianhui Li,Ruoke Liu,Zichen Wang,Qi Wang,Wei Guan,Canjie Zhang,Xiaochun Chen
Developing efficient and recyclable catalysts is crucial for advancing the chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In this study, a series of ionic liquids derived from methylpiperidine (MP) with adjustable structures were constructed, and their application in PET glycolysis was evaluated. By adjusting the substitution positions on the MP framework, introducing alkyl chains, and changing the coordinating metal center, the catalytic system was optimized to enhance reaction activity and durability. The optimized catalyst (1-C 6 -2MP/Zn(OAc) 3 ) enabled PET to degrade rapidly, achieving a BHET yield of 93.27% within 60 min at 185°C using 4 wt% catalyst. Moreover, this system demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining a BHET yield above 90% after 10 consecutive cycles. Kinetic analysis indicated that the reaction followed a pseudo-first-order model, with an apparent activation energy of 79.59 kJ mol −1 , suggesting a relatively low energy barrier. The catalyst also showed good applicability in commercial PET glycolysis. Overall, this study revealed clear structure-performance relationships and provided guidance for the rational design of robust ionic liquid catalysts for sustainable PET recycling. Highlights MP-based ionic liquids were rationally designed for PET glycolysis. Optimized 1-C 6 -2MP/Zn(OAc) 3 achieved a 93.27% BHET yield. BHET yields remained > 90% after 10 recycling cycles. First-order kinetics with a low activation energy of 79.59 kJ·mol −1 . DFT reveals the catalyst effectively activated EG.
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DOI
高影响因子
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