Acrylic Monomers Research Articles

Biosensors in environmental analysis of microplastics and heavy metal compounds – A review on current status and challenges

Biosensors (biological sensors) are a promising alternative to standard analytical techniques for testing and monitoring in the environment, among others, heavy metals. Biological materials that detect heavy metals include enzymes, bacteria, fungi, and plant and animal cells. The paper aimed to evaluate the possibilities of biosensor usage in environmental analysis, considering an easy and environmentally friendly analysis of individual compounds (e.g., heavy metals) or their mixtures in various samples directly in the environment, as well as continuous monitoring of these compounds. The work considers biosensors' characteristics, classification, and operation principles. Attention is paid to the possibility of using bioluminescent bacteria as biological material in a biosensor. Examples of the study of heavy metals using various biological sensors were given. It also indicates the possibility of using biosensors to determine microplastics by applying specific hormones (estrogens) receptor use and peptides as a solution or incorporating them into living microbial cells. Additionally, support was given to the use of biosensors to monitor plastics' degradation in the water environment using recombinant whole-cell microbial biosensors as detectors for plastic monomers such as acrylic acid monomers. The application of the biosensors highlighted in the paper is to shorten the time of toxicity studies by using new indicators or acceptors. However, several challenges must be overcome, such as cell viability and activity. A continuous water-monitoring system that can handle a severely toxic sample has yet to be developed in toxicity monitoring.

Modeling of Electrochemical Impedance of Fuel Cell Based on Novel Nanocomposite Membrane

The new hybrid composite materials for PEM fuel cell were synthesized by the UV polymerization of acrylic monomers (acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and a sulfo aromatic monomer, i.e., sodium styrene sulfonate, and the tetraethoxysilane/3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane-based sol–gel system. By means of X-ray spectroscopy, the fractal structure of the obtained materials was characterized. Proton conductivity and viscoelasticity of the obtained materials were determined depending on the content of the inorganic component in nanocomposites. Based on impedance studies, an equivalent scheme is proposed that successfully describes the proton conductivity in the synthesized composite’s electrolyte membranes.

Emulsion copolymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) and acrylate monomers: Incorporation vs hydrolysis

The incorporation of polyester moieties to the backbone of waterborne polymer dispersions by the emulsion copolymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) and acrylate monomers (n-butyl acrylate and 2-octyl acrylate) is explored in this work. Due to the competition between the consumption of MDO by hydrolysis (MDO is very sensitive to water) and by copolymerization reactions, seeded semibatch emulsion copolymerizations were carried out varying the temperature of the reaction, the feeding rates of the comonomers, and maintaining a basic pH (∼pH = 8) that decreases notably the rate of hydrolysis of the MDO. Interestingly, we found that the lower the temperature of the reaction (T = 20 °C) and the higher the monomer addition flow rate, allowed the highest incorporation of MDO in the copolymer (up to 86 mol %). Unfortunately, the MDO incorporated in the closed formed (i.e., in the acetal form) and therefore, the acrylate copolymers produced did not contain ester groups in the backbone. Furthermore, increasing the MDO composition in the copolymers under the same polymerization conditions favored more hydrolysis than copolymerization and hence, incorporation content decreased. On the other hand, the ester size (2-octyl vs n-butyl) of the acrylate did not have any noticeable effect in the MDO incorporation content.

Low-Dimensional Perovskite in Acrylic Monomers for Underwater White LED

Low-Dimensional Perovskite in Acrylic Monomers for Underwater White LED

BC-g-PAA: Characterization and Establishment of the IPN Hydrogel

A study on the manufacture of bacterial cellulose IPN hydrogel crosslinked poly acrylic acid using the MBA crosslinker. This study aims to characterize and observe the reaction to form bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel IPN. The BC-g-PAA was characterized by the degree of cross-linking, swelling ratio, and FTIR analysis. The results of this study found predictions of the reaction process for the formation of IPN Hydrogel in several process stages, namely 1) The polymerization process of bacterial cellulose chains that form cross-linked networks independently, 2) The process of cross-linking Acrylate monomers with MBA crosslinkers in three steps, i.e. initiation, propagation and termination, 3) Reaction process Formation of IPN network. The results of the characterization test for the degree of crosslinking were 54.55%; Swelling ratio of 1631.25%. FTIR analysis shows that there is a peak that identifies the occurrence of crosslinking

A low mobility UV-LED benzophenone photoinitiator

With the increase frequency of food safety incidents caused by migrating photoinitiators over the past few years, as well as people’s growing awareness of safety and environmental protection, the development of low-migration UV-LED photoinitiators has become increasingly crucial. A photoinitiator 3-vinyl-4-dimethylaminobenzophenone (NVBP) with both hydrogen donor and polymerizable double bond group was prepared and characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. A systematic study of the photopolymerization kinetics of NVBP was explored by the Real-Time Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer. The results showed a good initiation efficiency of acrylate monomers under 365 nm/405 nm light source with double bond conversion up to 94.6 % and 79.7 %. In addition, NVBP has low mobility, which is important to facilitate photoinitiator applications. This work proves that NVBP is an excellent UV-LED photoinitiator.

Coffee ring-free inkjet printing using UV-curable quantum dot-acrylate solution for high resolution displays

We report the coffee ring-free inkjet printing using a UV curable quantum dot (QD)-acrylate coating solution. The main objective of this study is to utilize UV curable acrylate monomers to prevent formation of coffee rings and hence to obtain uniform QD patterns using inkjet printing. For the UV curing reaction, cyclohexylmethacrylate (CHMA) was selected as the acrylate monomer, 1-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-1,2-octanedione 2-(o-benzoyloxime) (OXE-01), 2-isopropylthioxanthone (ITX), and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) were tested as photoinitiators (PIs), and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) was used as a crosslinker. When the QDs were used with CHMA monomers without UV curing, inkjet printing resulted in the formation of coffee rings or cracks during monomer evaporation. However, UV curing with ITX as a PI produced inkjet droplets with uniform surfaces owing to the balance between evaporation and UV curing rates. By optimizing the compositions of the monomer, PI, and crosslinker, we successfully obtained uniform QD patterns on the micrometer scale using inkjet printing. We also demonstrated that this technique could be applied to inkjet printing of the 400 ×100 μm patterned epoxy molds. These results will be useful for the inexpensive and rapid fabrication of high-resolution QD displays using inkjet printing.

Biomass-Derived Optically Clear Adhesives for Foldable Displays.

Novel acrylate monomers, derived from terpenes are synthesized for use in optically clear adhesives (OCAs) suitable for foldable displays. These OCAs are prepared using visible-light-driven polymerization, an eco-friendly method. Through physical, rheological, and mechanical characterization, the prepared OCAs possess low modulus and exhibit outstanding creep and recovery properties, making them suitable for foldable devices.

"Dissolve-on-Demand" 3D Printed Materials: Polymerizable Eutectics for Generating High Modulus, Thermoresponsive and Photoswitchable Eutectogels.

Solvent-free photopolymerization of vinyl monomers to produce high modulus materials with applications in 3D printing and photoswitchable materials is demonstrated. Polymerizable eutectic (PE) mixtures are prepared by simply heating and stirring various molar ratios of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), acrylamide (AAm) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The structural and thermal properties of the resulting mixtures are evaluated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). UV photocuring kinetics of the PE mixtures is evaluated via in situ photo-DSC and photorheology measurements. The PE mixtures cure rapidly and display storage moduli that are orders of magnitude greater than equivalent copolymers cured in an aqueous medium. The versatility of these PE systems is demonstrated through the addition of a photoswitchable spiropyran acrylate monomer, as well as applying the PE formulation as a stereolithography (SLA)-based 3D printing resin. Due to the hydrogen-bonding network in PE systems, 3D printing of the eutectic resin is possible in the absence of crosslinkers. The addition of a RAFT agent to reduce average polymer chain length enables 3D printing of materials which retain their shape and can be dissolved on demand in appropriate solvents.

Прививочная полимеризация акриловых мономеров на полиэтиленовую поверхность (обзор)

A search and review of English-language scientific literature about the graft copolymerization of acrylic monomers onto a solid-phase polymeric surface has been carried out. Grafting onto plates and films of high- and low-density polyethylene is considered. The monomers used were acrylic and methacrylic acids, glycidyl acrylate and glycidyl methacrylate, etc., and the main method was UV photopolymerization with an initiator – benzophenone, etc. Problems of graft polymerization in terms of surface modification of polymeric materials are touched upon, and possible areas of their application are outlined.

Preparation and properties of azobenzene liquid crystal networks with stable and reversible deformation, self-healing characteristics

Photo-responsive liquid crystal networks (LCNs) can respond to optical stimuli and show significant macroscopic reversible deformation, which is promising for applications in flexible actuators, artificial muscles, and other fields. To date, most of the photo-responsive LCNs have been constructed using azobenzene as photo-responsive group. However, how to prepare azobenzene-LCNs (azo-LCNs) with stable deformation remains a challenge. In this article, we provide a new strategy for preparing azo-LCNs with stable and reversible deformation. We copolymerize azobenzene monomer M6AZ1, commercially butyl acrylate monomer BA, and dynamic covalent cross-linker monomer M6HABI to obtain azo-LCNs. When irradiated with 365 nm light, the uniaxially oriented LCNs fibers undergo bending towards light attributed to the photo-isomerization of azobenzene, and the bending angle increases with azobenzene component content in LCNs. With the highly reversible process of dynamic C–N bonds dissociation-reconjugation, the rearrangement and regeneration of covalent crosslinked network can be realized. Hence, the newly formed cross-linked network locks the deformation of azo-LCNs, and this deformation can be maintained for more than 90 days. When heated, the deformation can return to the original state. In addition, the azo-LCNs also exhibit self-healing and reprocessing properties.

Preparation and characterization of long carbon chain based polyacrylate latexes and their pressure sensitive adhesive application

Aqueous emulsion homo- and co-polymerization of lauryl methacrylate (LMA), a strong hydrophobic monomer with long carbon chain, is quite challenging. In this study, a long carbon chain emulsifier N-390 was used as the primary emulsifier to facilitate the emulsion copolymerization of LMA with other acrylate monomers through the mutual hydrophobic interaction between N-390 and LMA, and ultimately polyacrylate latex pressure sensitive adhesives modified by LMA via pre-emulsified semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization process were synthesized. The effects of LMA on the resulting latex and PSA properties was comprehensively examined. Both FTIR and 1H NMR spectra indicated that LMA has been successfully introduced into copolymer chain with the aid of long carbon chain emulsifier N-390. The results also showed that the introduction of LMA will contribute to decrease in particle size and zeta potential, while increase viscosity and gel content of the acrylate PSA latex. Moreover, as the LMA content increased, the latex PSA films demonstrated gradual improvements in both water resistance and thermal stability. Finally, for the long carbon chains adhesive film, the shear strength was improved greatly while at the sacrifice of loop tack and peel strength, when compared to counterparts without LMA.

The effect of doping sulphhydryl-functionalised silica with different diameters on the electro-optical properties of PDLC

ABSTRACT In this study, we synthesised two kinds of spherical SiO2-SH particles with uniform and non-uniform morphologies, and investigated their effects on the electro-optical properties of PDLC. Compared with uniform SiO2-SH nanoparticles, we found that the samples doped with non-uniform SiO2-SH regulate the electro-optical properties of PDLC better. The electro-optical properties test results demonstrated that doping a small amount of SiO2-SH with different sizes significantly reduced the driving voltage of PDLC and maintained a high contrast ratio. SEM results indicated that the size of the polymer meshes was broadened with increasing SiO2-SH doping. This phenomenon can be attributed to the larger specific surface area and higher concentration of sulphhydryl groups in SiO2-SH particles of different sizes. These characteristics enable SiO2-SH to better react with acrylate monomers, thereby improving modulation effects on the electro-optical properties of PDLC. However, when the doping amount exceeded a certain value, the driving voltage of PDLC began to rise, and its electro-optical properties deteriorated because of the agglomeration of nanoparticles at higher doping levels. This study demonstrated that doping SiO2-SH particles of different sizes can optimise the properties of PDLC, which provided new ideas and directions for doping PDLC with nanomaterials.

Exploiting the advantages of cationic copolymers and AgBr nanoparticles to optimize the antibacterial activity of chitosan

Recently, the chitosan (CS)-based composites have attracted increasing attention for controlling and preventing the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. Herein, an amphiphilic copolymer containing epoxy and quaternary ammonium groups (PBGDBr) was synthesized via three common acrylate monomers. The epoxy groups of this copolymer were then crosslinked with the amino groups of CS to synthesize a natural/synthetic (PBGDBr-C) composite to increase the water solubility of CS under alkaline conditions and enhance its antibacterial activity based on chemical contact-type modes. Moreover, silver bromide nanoparticles (AgBr NPs)-decorated PBGDBr-C (AgBr@PBGDBr-C) composite was prepared, which aimed to endow the final AgBr@PBGDBr-C composite with a photodynamic antibacterial mode relying on the formation of Ag/AgBr nanostructures catalyzed by visible light on AgBr NPs. The results showed that the final composite possessed satisfactory bactericidal effects at concentrations higher than 64 and 128 μg/mL against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Additionally, The L929 cells treated with the final composite retained high cell viability (>80 %) at a concentration of 128 μg/mL, indicating its low toxicity to L929 cells. Overall, our synthetic strategy exploits a multi-modal system that enables chemical-photodynamic synergies to treat infections caused by pathogenic bacteria while delaying the development of bacterial resistance.

Structure-properties relationships of defined CNF single-networks crosslinked by telechelic PEGs

The high structural anisotropy and colloidal stability of cellulose nanofibrils' enable the creation of self-standing fibrillar hydrogel networks at very low solid contents. Adding methacrylate moieties on the surface of TEMPO oxidized CNFs allows the formation of more robust covalently crosslinked networks by free radical polymerization of acrylic monomers, exploiting the mechanical properties of these networks more efficiently. This technique yields strong and elastic networks but with an undefined network structure. In this work, we use acrylate-capped telechelic polymers derived from the step-growth polymerization of PEG diacrylate and dithiothreitol to crosslink methacrylated TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (MATO CNF). This combination resulted in flexible and strong hydrogels, as observed through rheological studies, compression and tensile loading. The structure and mechanical properties of these hydrogel networks were found to depend on the dimensions of the CNFs and polymer crosslinkers. The structure of the networks and the role of individual components were evaluated with SAXS (Small-Angle X-ray Scattering) and photo-rheology. A thorough understanding of hybrid CNF/polymer networks and how to best exploit the capacity of these networks enable further advancement of cellulose-based materials for applications in packaging, soft robotics, and biomedical engineering.

Tailoring the Holocellulose Fiber/Acrylic Resin Composite Interface with Hydrophobic Carboxymethyl Cellulose to Enhance Optical and Mechanical Properties.

Interface engineering is essential for cellulosic fiber-reinforced polymer composites to achieve high strength and toughness. In this study, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) functionalized with hydrophobic quaternary ammonium ions (QAs) were utilized to modify the interface between holocellulose fibers (HF) and acrylic resin. The wet HF/CMC papers were prepared by vacuum filtration, akin to papermaking, followed by cationic ion exchange with different hydrophobic QAs. Subsequently, the modified papers were dried, impregnated with an acrylic resin monomer, and cured to produce transparent composite films. The effect of the hydrophobic QA moieties on the structure and optical and mechanical properties of the HF/CMC/acrylic resin composites were investigated. The composite film with cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA)-functionalized CMC showed high optical transmittance (87%) with low haze (43%), while the composite film with phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA)-functionalized CMC demonstrated high Young's modulus of 7.6 GPa and high tensile strength of 180 MPa. These properties are higher than those of the composites prepared through covalent interfacial modification strategies. The results highlighted the crucial role of hydrophobic functionalized CMCs in facilitating homogeneous resin impregnation in the HF fiber network, producing a composite with enhanced interfacial adhesion strength, increased optical transparency, and mechanical strength. This facile use of hydrophobic CMCs as interfacial compatibilizers provides an energy-efficient route for preparing transparent, thin, and flexible composite films favorable in optoelectronic applications.

A Smart Window with Passive Radiative Cooling and Switchable Near-Infrared Light Transmittance via Molecular Engineering.

Smart windows with synergetic light modulation have heightened demands for applications in smart cars and novel buildings. However, improving the on-demand energy-saving efficiency is quite challenging due to the difficulty of modulating sunlight with a broad bandwidth in an energy-saving way. Herein, a smart window with switchable near-infrared light transmittance and passive radiative cooling is prepared via a monomer design strategy and photoinduced polymerization. The effects of hydrogen bonds and fluorine groups in acrylate monomers on the electro-optical properties as well as microstructures of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films have been systematically studied. Some films show a high contrast ratio of 90.4 or a low threshold voltage (Vth) of 2.0 V, which can be roll-to-roll processed in a large area. Besides, the film has a superior indoor temperature regulation ability due to its passive radiative cooling and controllable near-infrared light transmittance properties. Its radiative cooling efficiency is calculated to be 142.69 W/m2 and NIR transmittance could be switched to below 10%. The introduction of a carboxylic monomer and fluorinated monomer into the system endows the film with a highly efficient temperature management capability. The film has great potential for applications in fields such as flexible smart windows, camouflage materials, and so on.

Highly stretchable alginate/methylcellulose hydrogels for 3D bio-printing: photopolymerization approach enhancing structural integrity

In recent years, 3D hydrogels based on alginate (Alg) have undergone substantial advancements, holding transformative potential for biomedicine and regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, the viscosity of Alg needs to be further increased, in order to print complex 3D structures. Attempts to adjust printability often employ rheological modifiers like methylcellulose (MC), but these still lack mechanical integrity for broader biomedical applications. Our study sought to chemically modify Alg/MC to create a photopolymerizable hydrogel by incorporating acrylate-based monomers, which would enhance the curing ability of the base hydrogel, leading to better mechanical properties of Alg/MC, such as stretchability and stability with shape recovery. Comprehensive mechanical assessments unveiled remarkable tensile properties, achieving a notable specific strength benchmark of 44.72 kPa/(g.cm-3) before reaching the point of fracture. This represents a substantial 250 % improvement compared to samples lacking the acrylate monomer. Biomedical assessments confirmed the hydrogel's promising potential, especially with the MG-63 cell line, underscoring its suitability for advanced applications like tissue engineering.

Enhanced antifouling performance with a synergistic effect of self-renewal antifouling and contact bacteriostasis via the ionic exchange

It is extremely difficult for traditional coatings for antifouling constructed around a single antifouling strategy to adapting to the demands of complex marine environment. Herein, a poly-ionic liquid-based germicidal polyacrylate-3 coating (AFC-3) was prepared via free radical photo-copolymerization using isooctyl acrylate (2-EHA), butyl acrylate (BA) and ionic liquid monomer (IL-PF6) as monomers. Besides the contact bacteriostasis mechanisms, the introduction of IL-PF6 achieved the switch between self-renewal and hydrophilic surface by the exchange of PF6− and Cl− in artificial seawater. Regarding E. coli and S. aureus, the AFC-3 coating showed anti-bacterial efficiency of 100 % and 99.96 %, respectively. Moreover, with the continuous ionic exchange between PF6− and Cl−, the angle towards the water contact (WAC) of the coating became 11.356 °C, contributing to the enhancement of anti-protein property on the surface of the coating. The AFC-3 coating thus exhibited significantly effective antifouling performances, and is a highly promising coating for a broader range of marine anti-fouling and biomedical materials. Besides, the transmittance of the coating was above 92 % between 400 and 800 cm−1, conferring it great potentials for applications on the surface of optical devices like underwater cameras.

Contribution of graphene oxide (GO)-containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) binder to the surface modification of electrospun PVDF membrane towards development of photothermal vacuum membrane distillation (PVMD)

Given the scarcity of water and energy resources and their potential to escalate into future crises, water and energy have emerged as the paramount challenges of the present century. To address these challenges, simultaneously, a novel membrane distillation (MD) technique named photothermal MD (PMD) has come to the forefront in recent years. The PMD is rapidly advancing, particularly in the field of desalination, towards increasing the use of sustainable solar energy. In this work, the surface of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) electrospun membrane was turned into a photothermal surface by binding graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets using a binder solution made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 wt%). Subsequently, the environmentally-friendly low-pressure plasma polymerization method was employed to polymerize perfluorodecyl acrylate (PFDA) monomers on the surface of coated electrospun membrane to achieve an omniphobic surface. In this regard, the contact angles of water, oil, and ethanol/water (70/30 v/v) solution on the surface of the coated membranes were measured to be 144°, 124.4°, and 120.8°, respectively. Compared to the uncoated electrospun membrane, the one coated with GO-containing binder solution with optimum PDMS concentration of 0.1 wt%, showed a significant increase in flux by 41 % at 1 sun irradiation during photothermal vacuum MD (PVMD). In the PVMD process, the conventional method of feed heating was substituted with membrane surface heating utilizing solar energy. Additionally, vacuum was employed to facilitate the passage of water vapor through the membrane pores. This increment was further highlighted by salt rejection remained constant at 99.9 %. It was also found that PDMS concentration in the GO-containing binder solution adversely affects the membrane efficiency, exhibiting a decreasing trend from 54.1 % to 17.5 % when PDMS concentration increases from 0.1 to 3 wt%. Additionally, the long-term performance assessment of the prepared membrane coated with the binder solution with optimum PDMS concentration of 0.1 wt% demonstrated its acceptable resistance against wetting by the NaCl aqueous solution (35 g/L) containing 0.3 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).