Binary Polymer Research Articles

Towards quantitative microplastic analysis using pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Microplastic pollution from everyday plastic items has increased tremendously worldwide. Pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) has been widely investigated for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics in environmental samples. However, there are several pitfalls to consider when developing an appropriate protocol for their analysis. This study aimed at the development of an in-house database of primary (single) polymers, binary (two) polymers and tertiary (three) polymer mixtures. In this context the potential occurrence of gas phase reactions during pyrolysis of binary and tertiary polymers were investigated. Further, different diluters were tested for the accurate preparation of calibration standards for quantification purposes.Seven different polymers were included in this study, which were chosen due to their prevalence in daily plastic appliances. For each single polymer specific peaks could be identified and recommendation for quantifier analytes given. The analysis of binary polymer mixtures revealed gas phase reactions for PET with PVC, PVC with MDI-PU and PE with PVC. For these binary polymers, several different novel pyrolysis products, specific for the according binary polymer mixture, could be identified. These results confirmed that especially PVC exhibits strong interactions during co-pyrolysis with ester- and ether-based polymers. Similar results were obtained for tertiary polymers.For accurate preparation of calibration standards different diluters (silica, deactivated silica, calcium carbonate, THF and HFIP) were tested. It was observed that deactivated silica had only an influence on the pyrolysis of PET. Whereas, dilution with silica affected PA-6/66, PE, PET and MDI-PU. Only PVC was not influenced by dilution with silica.In conclusion, our results highlight the necessity of an international standard of reference material as well as a standardized analytical protocol for the analysis and quantification of polymers in environmental samples. It is crucial to use diluters suitable for the specific polymer, to exclude potential interactions of diluters with the polymer. The present work has to be seen as a foundation, but future work is needed to adequately address the quantification of polymers in environmental samples.

Importance of Experiments That Can Test Theories Critically.

General dynamic and thermodynamic properties of complex materials, including amorphous polymers and molecular glass-formers, have been established from the wealth of experimental data accumulated over the years. Naturally, these general properties attract researchers to construct theories and models to address and explain them. Often more than one theory with contrasting or even conflicting theoretical bases can equally explain a general property rather well. The correct explanation becomes unclear, and progress is stopped. The resolution of the problem comes when an innovative experiment is performed with insightful results that can critically test the premise and assumptions of each theory. This important role played by experimentalists is exemplified by the contributions of Mark Ediger in several general properties considered in this paper: (1) dynamics of the components in binary polymer blends; (2) breakdown of the Stokes-Einstein and the Debye-Stokes-Einstein relations; (3) enhancement of surface mobility and in relation to formation of ultrastable glasses; and (4) the Johari-Goldstein β-relaxation in ultrastable glasses. Different theories proposed to explain these properties are discussed, including the Coupling Model of the author.

Low-voltage operatable top-gated organic transistors based on the solution-processed binary polymers dielectric for simplifying the manufacturing flow of arrayed AMOLED

The complex process flow is an important factor that hinders the development of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays. Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are one of the promising candidates as the pixel circuits for AMOLEDs. Both the architecture and the fabrication of OTFTs are crucial elements to determine the process flow and cost of the AMOLEDs. In this Letter, we develop a strategy to significantly simplify the process flow and reduce the cost of AMOLEDs by constructing top-gated OTFTs with a solution-processed vertically phase separated binary polymer dielectric as the pixel circuits. The design on the OTFTs considers both the process flow and the device performance in terms of mobility and operating voltages. The mechanism to improve device performances is discussed. Finally, a 3 × 4 arrayed AMOLED is demonstrated, in which a high mobility over 0.3 cm2/Vs is obtained on the switching and driving OTFTs, and luminance over 300 cd/m2 is achieved on the OLEDs at the supplied low operating voltages of 10 V. This strategy provides a competitive technological route for the manufacturing of AMOLEDs.

Exploring the Processing Potential of Polylactic Acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoate, and Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) Binary and Ternary Blends.

Biodegradable and bio-based polymers, including polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), stand out as sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics for a wide range of consumer applications. Studying binary and ternary blends is essential to exploring the synergistic combinations and efficiencies of three distinct biopolyesters. A comprehensive evaluation of melt-extruded binary and ternary polymer blends of PHA, PLA, and PBSA was conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a heterogeneous morphology characteristic of immiscible blends, with a predominant spherical inclusion morphology observed in the majority of the blends. An increased PBSA concentration led to an elevation in melt viscosity and elasticity across both ternary and binary blends. An increased PHA content reduced the viscosity, along with both storage and loss moduli in the blends. Moreover, a rise in PHA concentration within the blends led to increased crystallinity, albeit with a noticeable reduction in the crystallization temperature of PHA. PLA retained amorphous structure in the blends. The resultant bio-based blends manifested enhanced rheological and calorimetric traits, divergent from their pure polymer counterparts, highlighting the potential for optimizing material properties through strategic formulation adjustments.

Inhibiting interfacial transport loss for efficient organic nonfullerene solar cells and photodetectors

Nonfullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) and photodetectors have received tremendous interest due to their rapidly progressed power conversion efficiency (PCE) and wide range photoresponse to near-infrared region, respectively. Further optimization of the interfacial transport layer is one of the key factors toward enhanced performance. Herein, we reported a general multi-component electron transport layer (ETL) strategy to achieve better energy level alignments and interfacial contact for both OSCs and photodetectors. The binary polymer:molecule blend based ETL can overcome low crystallinity and self-aggregation issue in neat polymer and molecule ETL, respectively. The mixed blend provides a more tunable platform to optimize the interfacial morphology and creates more efficient charge-transporting pathways. We showcase that the PNDIT-F3N:PDINN binary ETL exhibits its strength in a series of nonfullerene OSCs with enhanced fill factor and current density, achieving a champion PCE approaching 19%. Additionally, self-powered organic photodetectors with lower dark current and high detectivity were achieved with the same binary ETL strategy. Detailed morphology and device characterizations reveal that the binary ETL modulates the interfacial interface to deliver a more favorable energy level alignment, facilitating carrier extraction and transport. We believe these findings could provide insight into the design of ETL with sufficient interfacial tunability for organic optoelectronic devices.

Surface Orthogonal Patterning and Bidirectional Self-Assembly of Nanoparticles Tethered by V-Shaped Diblock Copolymers.

We investigated the surface orthogonal patterning and bidirectional self-assembly of binary hairy nanoparticles (NPs) constructed by uniformly tethering a single NP with multiple V-shaped AB diblock copolymers using Brownian dynamics simulations in a poor solvent. At low concentration, the chain collapse and microphase separation of binary polymer brushes can lead to the patterning of the NP surface into A- and B-type orthogonal patches with various numbers of domains (valency), n = 1-6, that adopt spherical, linear, triangular, tetrahedral, square pyramidal, and pentagonal pyramidal configurations. There is a linear relationship between the valency and the average ratio of NP diameter to the polymers' unperturbed root-mean-square end-to-end distance for the corresponding valency. The linear slope depends on the grafting density and is independent of the interaction parameters between polymers. At high concentration, the orthogonal patch NPs serve as building blocks and exhibit directional attractions by overlapping the same type of domains, resulting in self-assembly into a series of fascinating architectures depending on the valency and polymer length. Notably, the 2-valent orthogonal patch NPs have the bidirectional bonding ability to form the two-dimensional (2D) square NP arrays by two distinct pathways. Simultaneously patching A and B blocks enables the one-step formation of 2D square arrays via bidirectional growth, whereas step-by-step patching causes the directional formation of 1D chains followed by 2D square arrays. Moreover, the gap between NPs in the 2D square arrays is related to the polymer length but independent of the NP diameter. These 2D square NP arrays are of significant value in practical applications such as integrated circuit manufacturing and nanotechnology.

Combined effect of silica nanoparticles and binary surfactants in enhancing oil recovery: An experimental investigation

Modern oil fields extensively utilize enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques to optimize production. This investigation evaluates the potential of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) when combined with the SDS-TX100/xanthan gum (XG) binary surfactant/polymer mixture for enhancing oil recovery. The study focuses on examining the synergistic effects of the SDS-TX100 + XG combination and SiO2 NPs on reducing interfacial tension (IFT), altering wettability, and improving viscosity. Core flooding experiments were conducted on low-permeability San Saba sandstone cores. The dispersion and stability of SiO2 NPs in the SDS-TX100 surfactant mixture were evaluated through stability analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–VIS), and turbidity meter. Notably, the NPs exhibited a significant reduction in IFT between the SDS-TX100 surfactant mixture and crude oil, while the addition of the SDS-TX100 surfactant mixture improved the stability of nanofluids. Core flooding experiments revealed a synergistic effect of SiO2 NPs with the SDS-TX100 + XG mixture, leading to higher incremental oil recovery compared to the SDS-TX100 + XG mixture alone. The study elucidates various mechanisms contributing to oil recovery, including wettability alteration and IFT reduction. The flooding outcomes indicate that injecting SiO2 NPs with the SDS-TX100 + XG mixture increases oil recovery by up to 16 % of the original oil in place (OIIP) after conventional water flooding. This research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the application of SiO2 NPs with binary surfactant and polymer as a chemical-EOR (CEOR) agent and assists in identifying sandstone reservoirs where nanofluids could be effectively deployed.

Predictive Approach to the Phase Behavior of Polymer–Water–Surfactant–Electrolyte Systems Using a Pseudosolvent Concept

A predictive approach to the phase behavior of four-component polymer–water–surfactant–electrolyte systems is formulated by viewing the four-component system as a binary polymer–pseudosolvent system, with the pseudosolvent representing water, surfactant, and the electrolyte. The phase stability of this binary system is examined using the framework of the lattice fluid model of Sanchez and Lacombe. In the lattice fluid model, a pure component is represented by three equation-of-state parameters: the hard-core volume of a lattice site (v*), the number of lattice sites occupied by the component (r), and its characteristic energy (ε*). We introduce the extra-thermodynamic postulate that r and v* for the pseudosolvent are the same as for water and all surfactant–electrolyte composition-dependent characteristics of the pseudosolvent can be represented solely through its characteristic energy parameter. The key implication of the postulate is that the phase behavior of polymer–pseudosolvent systems will be identical for all pseudosolvents with equal values of characteristic energy, despite their varying real compositions. Based on the pseudosolvent model, illustrative phase diagrams have been computed for several four-component systems containing alkyl sulfonate/sulfate surfactants, electrolytes, and anionic or nonionic polymers. The pseudosolvent model is shown to describe all important trends in experimentally observed phase behavior pertaining to polymer and surfactant molecular characteristics. Most importantly, the pseudosolvent model allows one to construct a priori phase diagrams for any polymer–surfactant–electrolyte system, knowing just one experimental composition data for a system at the phase boundary, using available thermodynamic data on surfactants and electrolytes and without requiring any information on the polymer.

Drag reduction and degradation of binary polymer solutions

Polymer-induced drag reduction has yielded great potential benefits for industrial processes after more than 70 years of research. However, the limitation of low shear stability has hindered further applications. This study investigates the rheology, drag reduction rate (DR), and degradation of binary polymer mixtures comprising a rigid polymer (diutan gum, DG) and a flexible polymer (polyethylene oxide, PEO). The solutions all exhibited shear-thinning behavior, and the mixed solution was less viscous than the pure PEO or DG solutions at the total concentration of 100 ppm. When fixing the PEO concentration at 50 ppm, the mixed solution viscosity significantly increased with the DG concentration. The drag reduction performance of the pure PEO solution, pure DG solution, and various proportions of binary polymer mixtures was analyzed using an in-house rotor device. The DRs of the solutions increased with the Reynolds number (Re), and decreased with shearing time. The binary solution significantly improved the shear stability of the solution without loss of DR compared to the pure PEO solution. The theoretical model for molecular degradation in turbulent flow excellently fitted the experimental data of relative drag reduction with time. Furthermore, the synergistic interaction parameter was calculated, and it was positive for most cases in the mixtures. Additionally, when Re was fixed, the synergistic interaction parameter, related to the composition of binary polymer mixtures, initially decreased and then increased with time.

Efficient and Robust Dynamic Crosslinking for Compatibilizing Immiscible Mixed Plastics through In Situ Generated Singlet Nitrenes.

Creating a sustainable economy for plastics demands the exploration of new strategies for efficient management of mixed plastic waste. The inherent incompatibility of different plastics poses a major challenge in plastic mechanical recycling, resulting in phase-separated materials with inferior mechanical properties. Here, this study presents a robust and efficient dynamic crosslinking chemistry that effectively compatibilizes mixed plastics. Composed of aromatic sulfonyl azides, the dynamic crosslinker shows high thermal stability and generates singlet nitrene species in situ during solvent-free melt-extrusion, effectively promoting C─H insertion across diverse plastics. This new method demonstrates successful compatibilization of binary polymer blends and model mixed plastics, enhancing mechanical performance and improving phase morphology. It holds promise for managing mixed plastic waste, supporting a more sustainable lifecycle for plastics.

Coupled Computational and Laboratory Investigations of Interface Interactions between Binary Polymers, Hydroxypropyl Guar, and Potassium Formate for Crosslinked Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids

Summary Guar gum is an economically and environmentally important material. However, reduced rheological properties of hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) in saline conditions of potassium formate (PF) impeded its hydraulic fracturing (HF) applications. In this study, we coupled molecular dynamics simulation and bench experiments to design binary polymers that can be used to mitigate the reduced viscosity of the HPG-PF system and investigate the relevant physiochemical processes in the fluid. The modeling showed that binary polymer P(AM-AA) with acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) monomers had the highest ability to bind water molecules in the HPG-PF solution among four representative binary polymers. Multiple analyses showed that adding P(AM-AA) decreased the number of formate ions around the HPG molecules, bonded with the HPG molecule through hydrogen bonds, and mitigated the coiling of the HPG molecular chain in PF solutions. Further experiments and characterization at the macro- and microscale showed that adding P(AM-AA) indeed improved the viscosity, microrheology, viscoelasticity, and thermal tolerance [>120°C (248°F)] of the HPG-PF solution (1.47 g/cm3) and its associated gel system. Our study indicates the potential application of HPG-PF-P(AM-AA) weighting crosslinked HF fluids (HFFs) for wells with stringent wellbore pressure constraints. It also highlights the significant role of binary polymers in enhancing rheological properties in gel-based crosslinked HFF and addressing complex fluid interface interactions through molecular dynamics simulations.

Biocompatability chitosan /Aloe barbadensis miller loaded moxifloxacin composite film: A multifunctional bio-platform for the treatment of breast cancer

Binary biodegradable polymers exhibit excellent functional behavior but the limited mechanical integrity for regulating drug release within the polymeric matrix, hence it needs modification in the polymer network to overcome the limitations. The compatibility of bipolymer blends with incorporation of drugs within their matrices to enhance physicochemical properties and drug delivery kinetics have garnered significant attention in recent research. Herein, we examine the influence of the film produced by the casting technique, which consists of chitosan (CS) and Aloe barbadensis miller (ABM) gel, embedded with moxifloxacin (MoF), on attenuating the breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line. Firstly, spectroscopy confirmed the intermolecular interactions between the matrixes and the grafting of components. Notably, the addition of ABM produces significant changes in the film properties, such as decreased elongation. The pivotal moment resulted in the generation of more stable films that displayed enhanced stability at temperatures below 200 °C, as confirmed by TGA analysis. Additionally, film surfaces exhibiting strong water affinity were found to be more favorable for cell adhesion, subsequently hindering the proliferation of compromised cells. Remarkably, the In vitro cytotoxicity study showed the antibiotic-grafted CS-ABM/MoF scaffolds exhibited high cell adhesion and improved the rate of cell death was higher compared to other films. The antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli results strongly suggests the enhanced antibiotic ability of the polymeric CS- ABM/MoF film. These results findings indicated that the CS- ABM/MoF scaffolds' hydrophilic surface significantly contributes to the improved cell adhesion efficiently used for biomedical applications.

Thermal stability of binary and ternary biodegradable polymer blends assessed by isoconversional kinetic analysis

Here we report on kinetic analysis of thermal degradation of polymer blends based on incremental isoconversional method coupled with mathematical deconvolution of thermogravimetric curves based on Fraser–Suzuki peak function. The measured kinetic envelope was decomposed into contributions approximately corresponding to degradation of each constituent of a polymer blend. Kinetic parameters from isoconversional analysis were further used for estimating the effect of blending on thermal stability of the constituents. Compared to routinely used parameters such as degradation onset temperature or DTG-peak temperature, the deconvolution analysis allows to determine stability of all components in a mixture regardless of their relative content. Here we also show that deconvolution analysis can be carried out directly on integral α(T) curves, thus bypassing the work with differential data dα/dt. Isoconversional analysis of deconvoluted α(T) curves allows to calculate various parameters for assessing the potentially accelerating or inhibiting effect on thermal degradation, for example, by means of decomposition half-time t0.5. The results can be made more robust by utilizing relative criteria for stability such as t0.5(blend)/t0.5(neat polymer). Using this approach, detrimental effect of PHBV and PBAT on thermal stability of PLA above 300 °C was confirmed. On the other hand, stability of PHBV in both binary and ternary mixtures was improved compared to neat polymer.

Microphase Separation 3D Printing of Binary Inorganic Polymer Precursors to Prepare Nanostructured Carbon‐Ceramic Multimaterials

AbstractTraditionally, combining carbon and ceramic materials has been challenging due to their different chemical and physical properties. Despite the development of numerous methodologies for their synthesis, these techniques frequently necessitate intricate, multi‐stage protocols and specialized equipment. This study introduces a novel approach for fabricating nanostructured carbon‐ceramic multimaterials through polymerization‐induced microphase separation 3D printing. By combining inorganic precursors, polycarbosilane, and acrylonitrile (AN) within a photocurable resin, heterogeneous nanostructured materials composed of PAN‐preceramic and sacrificial polymer phases are 3D printed. Upon pyrolysis, PAN‐preceramic domains transformed into a carbon‐ceramic matrix while sacrificial polymer domains thermally decomposed to yield nanoscale voids. The utilization of synchrotron X‐ray spectroscopy and microscopy techniques revealed that the phase compositions and microstructure of the resulting multi‐materials are significantly influenced by the initial composition of the resins. The co‐existence of ceramic and carbon phases within a single 3D printed material brought together a combination of properties from both phases, such as the low thermal conductivity of ceramics and the relatively high electrical conductivity of carbon, along with the exceptional chemical resistance. The insights into the microstructure, atomic configuration, and property relationships of the resulting materials have broad implications for the development of multi‐phase nanostructured hybrid materials.

Engineering properties of hybrid polymer composites produced with different unsaturated polyesters and hybrid epoxy

In this study, the mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites produced with different unsaturated polyesters and hybrid epoxy resins are investigated. The composites were produced by blending unsaturated polyester resins (i.e., orthophthalic, isophthalic, and terephthalic) and bisphenol-A-based epoxy-vinyl ester resin to produce single, binary and ternary blends. In doing this, a total of 14 different combinations were produced. The results show that the binary and ternary polymer blends tend to improve almost all the tested properties of the polymer composites. Further, the fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirmed that the reason for enahcned properties is due to better crosslinking and longer chains of polymers produced in binary and ternary mixtures. The absence of peaks determining the styrene polymerization character for all mixtures also demonstrates that the polymerization reaction takes place in all mixtures. It is also believed that the binary and ternary resin mixtures have developed higher energy absorption compared to single resin composites. All of the mentioned has been achieved while the gelation temperatures of the hybrid resin mixtures were not changed significantly and they began gelation at the expected temperature values. In addition to the gelation, peak exotherm temperatures, and barcol hardness values demonstrated that all mixtures achieved sufficient curing. The result of this study is significant and point to the great potential of producing high performance polymer composites through the use of binary or ternary resin mixtures.

Sorption of the Cu, Gd, V, Mn, and Fe elements by hydrogels with identification of their complexes in the solid phase of the polymer ligand using EPR

The search for new sorbents for the concentration of substances is among the important tasks of analytical chemistry regarding the monitoring of water bodies in modern times. It is necessary to regularly control water supply sources, and the quality of natural water is also an indicator of the health of ecosystems. The use of sorbents when collecting water for analysis simplifies the preparation of complex samples, allowing to use a solid concentrate to determine the absorbate and quickly record the results using multi-element in situ instrumental methods. We suggested using cross-linked polyacrylates (CLPs) based on polyacrylamide as a new type of sorbent for these purposes. Unlike traditional sorbents, hydrogels noticeably swell in water (рН 4-7), which allows conducting the sorption of elements not only on the surface but also inside CLP granules. Sorption is conducted in a static mode by placing a weighed portion of CLP in a certain volume of water sample and by further drying in air at 70-100°C. The purpose of this work was to obtain and study solid polymer concentrates of CLP using EPR spectroscopy in order to confirm the sorption of elements in CLP for the further development of methods for the preparation of samples of various water bodies. To do this, we obtained individual and binary polymer complexes of paramagnetic elements Cu(II), Gd(III), V(IV), Mn(II), and Fe(III) from model solutions of their salts (from 10-7 (INAA) to 10-3 (EPR) mol/dm3) and dried them To confirm the sorption and reliable binding of elements into polymer complexes, we used ESR spectroscopy at 293 K. The experimentally obtained new EPR spectra were compared with the theoretical ones. Complex EPR spectra were simulated using original software developed at the Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It was shown that upon drying CLPs completely disengaged from water molecules, while the sorption of metals depended on the рН and grew with an increase in the solution’s рН. In case of joint presence, metal ions formed more complex compounds as compared to individual sorption. The hyperfine structure constant (HSC) was calculated for the spectra of complexes with CLPs and g-factor was calculated for all samples. It was determined that in the course of the formation of metal complexes with CLPs, the nearest coordination sphere was greatly distorted, while the nature of the distortion of the ligand environment depended on the element. In case of the Cu(II) and V(IV) system, we observed additivity of the EPR spectra, but in case of Cu and Gd(III) it was not recorded. In any case, the formation of strong and stable polymer complexes was confirmed. Sorption concentration using CLPs was proposed as a method of sample preparation of natural and technogenic water systems by transferring the determined ions into a solid hydrogel concentrate in order to be further analysed using multi-element instrumental methods (for example, X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), etc.).

Phase inversion detection in immiscible binary polymer blends via zero‐shear viscosity measurements

AbstractIn the present work, we demonstrate that zero‐shear viscosity is a sensitive rheological function to detect phase inversion in immiscible binary polymer blends characterized by a viscosity ratio larger than one. The phase inversion of poly(propylene) (PP)/low‐density poly(ethylene) (LDPE) and poly(styrene) (PS)/LDPE, at various compositions, was assessed via our novel approach. For both blends, three distinctive regions could be determined through zero‐shear viscosity measurements; the LDPE matrix, the co‐continuous phase, and the PS or PP matrix. For PP/LDPE blends, the co‐continuous structure was between 50 and 75 wt.% PP, and for PS/LDPE blends the co‐continuous structure was between 45 and 75 wt.% PS, in agreement with scanning electron microscopy analysis, empirical model predictions, and literature data.Highlights Phase inversion revealed via viscosity measurements. Limitations of linear viscoelastic models for immiscible blends assessed.

Study on the mobility control ability of a quaternary ammonium salt active polymer for oil flooding

Mobility control ability is an important property of polymer used in oil displacement. This work initially investigates the temperature and salt resistance, steady-state rheology, dynamic viscoelasticity, and long-term stability of a quaternary ammonium salt active polymer (AM/AMPS/DMCA). Subsequently, an examination was conducted to evaluate the static adsorption ability of AM/AMPS/DMCA on the surface of quartz sand, as well as the dynamic retention property within cores. Finally, the mobility control ability and oil displacement capacity of AM/AMPS/DMCA under various injection conditions was investigated in this study. The findings illuminate the superior attributes of AM/AMPS/DMCA, including its remarkable temperature and salt endurance, alongside its long-term stability, presenting a significant advancement over traditional binary polymers like AM/AMPS. Notably, AM/AMPS/DMCA exhibits a predominantly elastic modulus, which enhances its movement and deformation inside porous media. Furthermore, it has been shown that the resistance factor and residual resistance factor achieved by the 2000 mg/L AM/AMPS/DMCA solution in the core of 96.6 mD were 184.50 and 46.95, respectively. The enhanced oil recovery (EOR) value of 0.6 PV of AM/AMPS/DMCA achieved 30.48% in the core of 588.8 mD. This study not only demonstrates the capability of AM/AMPS/DMCA in EOR but also facilitates the understanding of the mobility control mechanism of polymers in porous media, offering valuable empirical guidance for the field application of polymers.

Tailored binary polymer system PCL-PEO for advanced biomedical applications: Optimization, characterization and in vitro analysis

Combining a hydrophobic polymer such as polycaprolactone (PCL) with a hydrophilic polymer polyethylene oxide (PEO) in a binary polymer system can enable a range of novel applications in biomedical engineering by permitting exceptional therapeutic release, antimicrobial possibilities, and heterogeneous tissue engineering scaffolds. In this work, both PCL and PEO were dissolved in chloroform at 15 w/v % at six different ratios to prepare binary polymer solutions. The rheological properties of the singular and binary polymer solutions were measured, and fibers were spun using pressurized gyration. The fiber morphologies of the prepared materials were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). By immersing samples in deionized water, binary polymeric fibers with varying swelling behaviors were developed and analyzed using optical microscopy. The results were used to identify an optimum PCL:PEO binary mixture in chloroform. Chemical compositions of singular/binary polymer composites loaded with ibuprofen (IBP) were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis was examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro studies on PEO–IBP exhibited an instant release rate of 90 % in 40 s, whereas PCL–IBP and PCL:PEO–IBP revealed a sustained release of 87–96 % in 72 h, respectively. The results were used to discuss the potential use of binary polymer systems in biomedical applications.

High performance carboxymethyl cellulose- polyethylene oxide polymer binder for black phosphorus anode in lithium-ion batteries

Black phosphorus (BP) is regarded as a promising anode material due to its high theoretical specific capacity and fast charging safety. However, the problems of huge volume expansion and moderate electrical conductivity may restrict its performance. In this work, we present a novel 3D network binary polymer binder synthesized from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) for adapt to lithium-ion batteries of BP and graphite (G) composite anode (BP-G). There are the following characteristics of the binder: CMC and PEO are crosslinked through intermolecular forces; while CMC and PEO are connected to BP through strong intermolecular forces, respectively; BP and graphite are connected through PC and POC bonds to form composite anode. So as to form a sturdy structure and effectively accommodate the volume expansion of BP during charging-discharging processes, while avoiding loss of electrical contact between electrode components. Accordingly, the lithium-ion battery shown an excellent electrochemical performance, such as a high initial discharge capacity of 1602 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A/g.