Polymerization Process Research Articles

Poly-m-aminophenol/CoFe2O4 (p-n) heterojunction: Sustainable decontamination of BPA, ciprofloxacin pollutants from water and its study of antimicrobial performance

The remarkable ability of magnetic p-n heterojunction catalyst constructed with p-type poly-m-aminophenol (PmAP)/n-type Cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) catalyst to degrade BPA, ciprofloxacin drug (CIF) and its antibacterial activity in killing the microbes was explored on Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli). The p-n heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized easily via hydrothermal reaction followed by chemical oxidative polymerization process. PXRD, FTIR, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, EDX, PL/TRPL, BET surface area, VSM and Uv-DRS techniques were used to confirm the synthesized catalyst's physicochemical characteristics and structural details. At ambient conditions, the synthesized catalyst showed rapid mineralisation of the organic pollutants by nearly 100 % at a concentration of 50 ppm in just one hour, with a catalyst loading of 0.1 g. The mineralisation pathways of the organics were illustrated through the GC–MS and TOC analysis. Furthermore, the disinfection capacity of the heterojunction had showed 5 fold quicker than the individual catalysts. This p-n heterojunction catalyst show excellent activity and quick magnetic separable quality which make it a catalyst for sustainable water purification process in future.

Green preparation of force-sensitive micro-capsules and their application in self-healing of cement sheath

Micro-capsule has been considered the most promising self-healing material, while the complex and high temperature polymerization process, and environmental unfriendly raw materials limits its wide application. Herein, the green micro-capsule composed of epoxy resin and calcium alginate were prepared at room temperature via needle drop method，O/W/O emulsion method and spraying method. The effects of preparation methods on the water absorption, encapsulation rate of micro-capsules were revealed, and the differences in the self-healing efficiency of cement containing these green micro-capsules were also studied. Among all samples, the micro-capsules prepared by O/W/O emulsion method (MCE-2) owned the highest water absorption 54.71 % and the highest epoxy resin content 48.1 %. Compared with the blank samples, adding micro-capsules improved the liquidity of cement slurry and facilitated the hydration process, related to the release of extra water. While, the micro-capsules caused additional defects in the cement matrix and weakened the compressive strength of cement. In the self-healing measurement, the composites with MCE-2 showed the biggest mass transfer pressure and least permeability before and after repair. The higher water absorption of MCE-2 significantly increased greater mass transfer resistance to block the erosion of external fluids before repair, and the higher epoxy resin content could ensure stronger sealing effect after repair, achieving the best self-healing performance.

Green bifunctional unsaturated fatty acid modulated interfacial polymerization for augmented nanofiltration performance

Facile and precise regulation of the selective layer structure is challenging but highly crucial for the development of nanofiltration (NF) technology. In this work, we present an innovative strategy to modulate the polyamide physicochemical structure by introducing oleic acid (OA) into the organic boundary during interfacial polymerization (IP) process. As a naturally extracted product, OA is a kind of unsaturated fatty acid with a carboxylic head and a C17 alkyl chain tail. The presence of OA in organic phase allows to diminish the interfacial tension and accelerate the diffusion of piperazine (PIP) towards the organic boundary. Meanwhile, in situ reaction of OA with PIP during IP process yields organic particles that are embedded in the selective layer and alter its morphology. These two effects can result in opposite influence on membrane performance. Under the optimized OA dosage of 1 %, the MgSO4 rejection boosted from 70.8 % to 97.4 % while maintaining a high pure water permeability up to 16.4 ± 0.1 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. This improvement is closely attributed to the augmented crosslinking degree and lessened MWCO/average pore size. In comparison to the control sample, the membrane surface changed from a smooth to a clustered morphology while the film thickness increased. This is mainly caused by the embedding of organic particles into the selection layer. This advancement provides a convenient and effective method for the design of high-performance NF membranes.

Liquid-solid interface polymerization: A simple approach for efficient polyamide/polyethylene thin film composite total heat exchange membranes construction

A simple liquid-solid interface polymerization (LSIP) strategy was developed to prepare high performance polyamide (PA) based thin film composite (TFC) total heat exchange membranes (THEMs) to avoid the use of organic solvents and surfactant during the inverse phase interface polymerization processes between piperazine (PIP) and 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride (TMC) on porous polyethylene (PE) substrates. The non-polar organic solvent in the TMC organic phase coated on the surface of the PE surfaces was completely removed beforehand by evaporation to form polar TMC solid coating on the PE surfaces and facilitate the quick spreading of lately added aqueous PIP solutions, forming dense and highly cross-linked PA separation layers with superior total heat recovery efficiency and CO2 barrier property. The effects of TMC loading level, PIP concentration, and LSIP reaction time on the structure and performance of PA/PE-TFC THEMs were systematically investigated, leading to the formation of THEMs 0.20P-0.10T-6 with ultra-low CO2 permeance of 0.9 GPU, and high sensible heat exchange efficiency of 94.3 %, water vapor flux of 2128 g m−2·24 h−1, and enthalpy exchange efficiency of 76.8 %.

Effect of Moisture Content in the Polymerization Process of Epoxy Adhesives on the Fracture Toughness Values of CFRP Joints

Effect of Moisture Content in the Polymerization Process of Epoxy Adhesives on the Fracture Toughness Values of CFRP Joints

Monitoring the curing, degradation and moisture ingress into alkyl 2-cyanoacrylate adhesives using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was employed in an attempt to gain insight into the mechanisms of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate (ECA) curing (polymerisation) and bonding on aluminium alloy 2024 metal. EIS can detect ionic movement, adsorption processes, charge transfer and storage occurring at an adhesive/substrate interface and/or in a bulk bond line during curing. Low-frequency capacitance measurements demonstrated sensitivity to surface polymerisation reactions and were modelled using an equivalent circuit model with two time constants in series. At a frequency of 1 kHz, changes in the dielectric polymer could be readily followed with time, confirmed by employing a crown ether to accelerate the polymerisation process. Hydrolytic degradation of poly-ECA bonds at a stainless steel interface was also investigated. An equivalent circuit model containing a number of circuit components comprising pore, charge transfer and diffusional impedances, along with polymer film, double layer and diffusional capacitances (represented by constant phase elements), was developed. Three regions were identified in the frequency domain and ascribed to processes taking place at the polymer/electrolyte and polymer/metal oxide interfaces. In short, EIS can be employed to follow the rate of polymerisation of ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate and also the degradation of the resulting polymer in saline solution.

Hierarchical 0D/1D/2D Au/PANI/WS2 ternary nanocomposite NH3 sensor with high performance and fast response/recovery for food spoilage detection

Ammonia (NH3) gas is regarded as a biomarker for clinical diagnosis of various diseases and a potential indicator for the spoilage of protein-rich foods. The acuate detection of the ammonia gas concentration depend on reliable gas sensor. In this paper, flexible room temperature ammonia gas sensor based on hierarchical Au/PANI/WS2 ternary composite was successfully prepared by in-situ polymerization, reduction and drop-coating process. The Au/PANI/WS2-based ammonia sensor was tested for its room temperature sensing property including response value, response/recovery time, selectivity, and long-term stability. The effects of flexible state, humidity and operating temperature on the sensor response were also investigated. The 0D/1D/2D Au/PANI/WS2-based sensor showed significantly enhanced ammonia sensing property both in response and response/recovery time as compared to that of pristine WS2. Gas sensing mechanism of the prepared sensor was investigated by complex impedance spectroscopy and in-situ fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Besides, the sensor was proved for its practical usability in seafood spoilage detection and warning. The construction of multidimensional materials into hierarchical structure may provide an instructive way for the sensibilization of layered two-dimensional nanomaterial of WS2.

Catalyst-Free synthesis of sulfonamide-functionalized Poly(phosphonate)s and Poly(phosphate)s using Bis(aziridine)s

We present an efficient step-growth polymerization method for synthesizing sulfonamide-functionalized poly(phosphonate)s and poly(phosphate)s. The polymerization process involves treating bis(aziridine) with organophosphorus acid in toluene, without the need for any catalyst, yielding the desired polymers in high yields. Six different types of organophosphorus acids and inorganic phosphoric acid were found to be suitable for this method. Thermal analysis of the resulting poly(phosphonate)s and poly(phosphate)s revealed a decomposition temperature (Td,5%) of up to 330 °C at 5 % weight loss, while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranging from 54 to 98 °C. Microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) analysis demonstrated that the cross-linked poly(phosphate) derived from inorganic phosphoric acid exhibited the lowest peak heat release rate (HRR) and total heat release (THR) compared to the linear ones. These findings are expected to provide a straightforward approach for synthesizing novel phosphorus-containing polymers.

Pd-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclobutanols through C(sp3)-C(sp3) Bond Cleavage.

A new approach to ring-opening polymerization (ROP) based on C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond cleavage is reported. This process is based on the ability of Pd to promote both the β-carbon elimination of a bifunctional cyclobutanol precursor and the C-C coupling process with the resulting Pd-alkyl intermediate. Consequently, novel polyketone materials are obtained. Owing to the modular synthesis of the used cyclobutanol monomers, the present ROP reaction allows the introduction of substitution patterns in the polymeric chain that are not accessible by current polyketone synthesis methodologies. We have explored in detail the initiation, propagation, and termination steps of this new polymerization process.

Polymeric laser rods based on modified poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix synthesized by FeIII complex catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization with enhanced optical gain and Photostability

AbstractThe investigation of fabricating ultra‐compact solid‐state dye laser (SSDL) using N'N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) modified poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the polymeric matrix was carried out. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was introduced to manipulate the polymerization process of PMMA. By adjusting the additive amount of the FeIII complex (mixture of FeCl3 and 2,2’‐Bipyridyl (bPy)), the polymerization degree of PMMA was coordinated to gain better amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) properties of the embedded laser dye, Lumogen Orange 240 (LO). The ASE threshold of the FeIII complex catalyzed sample decreased as high as ~75%, from 225.3 ± 11.2 μJ cm−2 to 57.2 ± 2.9 μJ cm−2, comparing to that measured in common PMMA matrix. Additionally, a secondary dye, Stilbene 420 was added in the system for sharing excess excitation energy and oxidization damage, to overcome the photostability problem caused by the oxygen‐rich solvent, DMF. The operational lifetime of the resulted sample increased 200%, to the similar level of that without DMF component. Finally, by mechanical polishing and coating a thin film of silver at one end of the PMMA rod, an analogous Fabry‐Perot resonator was structured within the rod. Decent laser emission was obtained from the resulted SSDL without complex external cavities.

Microgels with controlled network topologies by photocrosslinking-assisted continuous precipitation polymerization

In this study, we present a new synthesis methodology based on photo-crosslinking-assisted continuous precipitation polymerization which allows controlling the distribution of crosslinks in microgels. In our approach we substituted conventional crosslinking agent by a comonomer carrying photo-crosslinkable 4-oxocyclopent-2-en-1-yl group. Microgel size, morphology, distribution of crosslinks and packing density of the polymer chains are studied as a function of retention time (Rt) in the flow reactor. Dynamic and static light scattering (DLS and SLS) as well as small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) proved an excellent level of control over the distribution of crosslinks in microgels during the polymerization process. These results were confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), indicating a difference in microgel stiffness and arrangement of the polymer network as resulting from increased Rt.

Electrochemical chiral sensor developed using nanofibrous polyaniline chiral Structures: Detection and differentiation of D- and L-tryptophan

In this work, a simple strategy for electrochemical detection and differentiation of D- and L- forms of tryptophan is demonstrated using nanofibrous structures of chiral polyaniline (CP). Basically, CP with desired chirality is prepared using a chiral acid namely, ± camphor sulfonic acid (±CSA) in presence of either a cationic (or) anionic surfactant (CTAB / SDS) through a simple oxidative polymerization process. Structure, morphology and phase purity of the resultant CP materials are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. Moreover, the chiral properties of these conducting polymers are evaluated using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies. From these analyses it is found that CP exhibited twisted nanofibrous morphology and possesses the chirality whereas the non-chiral polyaniline (PANI), prepared in the absence of chiral acid, displayed the formation of a simple fibrous structures without any twists or chirality. Interestingly, such CP materials are found to be electrochemically selective for the detection and differentiation of D- and L- forms of tryptophan (Trp). Among the different chiral materials, CP-CT(−) prepared using CTAB displayed a much better sensing characteristics with higher IL/ID ratio, wider concentration range of detection and lower detection limit of 0.98 µM for l-Trp and 1.2 µM for d-Trp respectively. On the other hand, non-chiral PANI does not display any sensing behavior towards the differentiation of amino acid, Trp. Further, chronoamperometric studies reveal the selectivity of this chiral sensor for the detection of Trp among the other potentially interfering analytes. Although the difference in the measured peak current value is smaller, a significant difference of 70 mV peak potential is observed for the differentiation of L- and d-Trp. Moreover, the proposed CP-based sensing platform exhibits excellent stability and reproducibility with statistically negligible error values suggesting the potential use of the developed material towards electrochemical chiral detection and differentiation of amino acid, Trp.

Integrated Hydrogel-Zn Structure with Modified Interface Realizing Fast Ion Transfer for Long Cycling Zn-ion Battery

Fabrication of gel electrolytes are effective strategy to solve the side reactions and dendrite growth of Zn anodes in aqueous rechargeable zinc batteries (ARZBs). However, complicated synthesis and ex-situ assembled processes lead to poor electrode–electrolyte interfacial contact, which hinders ion transfer. Herein, compatible and stable electrode–electrolyte structure is constructed by in-situ polymerization process. The tightly coupled electrode–electrolyte interface reduces the mass transfer impedance, balances electric field distribution, and thus inhibits dendrites. What’s more, the −SO3H groups in gel electrolyte play a significant role which performs as cation transport channels to regulate the deposition behavior of Zn along (002) crystal plane. The intercanected and porous structure of this electrolyte promote the desolvation process of [Zn(H2O)6]2+ and inhibit the side reaction. As a result, the symmetric cell exhibits ultra-long lifespan over 4,530 h (＞188 days), Zn||Cu cell delivers an average coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.85 % with 1,000 cycles. Zn||MVO cell operates stably for over 2,700 cycles with CE of 99.91 %. This integrated hydrogel-Zn structure provides broad application prospect in wearable devices.

Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Thermally Sensitive Polymeric Derivatives of N-vinylcaprolactam.

Six derivatives of poly-N-vinylcaprolactam (PNVCL) P1-P6 were synthesized via surfactant-free precipitation polymerization (SFPP) at 70 °C, with potassium persulfate (KPS) as the initiator. P5 and P6 were synthesized using the cross-linker N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA). The conductivity was measured to monitor the polymerization process. The hydrodynamic diameters (HDs) and polydispersity indexes (PDIs) of aqueous dispersions of P1-P6 were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential (ZP) using electrophoretic mobilities. At 18 °C for P1-P6, the HDs (nm) were 428.32 ± 81.30 and PDI 0.31 ± 0.19, 528.60 ± 84.70 (PDI 0.42 ± 0,04), 425.96 ± 115.42 (PDI 0.56 ± 0.08), 440.34 ± 106.40 (PDI 0.52 ± 0.09), 198.39 ± 225.35 (PDI 0.40 ± 0.19), and 1201.52 ± 1318.05 (PDI 0.71 ± 0.30), the and ZPs were (mV) 0.90 ± 3.23, -4.46 ± 1.22, -6.44 ± 1.82, 0.22 ± 0.48, 0.18 ± 0.79, and -0.02 ± 0.39 for P1-P6, respectively. The lower critical solution temperature ranged from 27 to 29 °C. The polymers were characterized using the ATR-FTIR method. The study concluded that the physicochemical properties of the product were significantly affected by the initial reaction parameters. Polymers P1-P4 and P6 have potential for use as drug carriers for skin applications.

Atomic-molecular perspectives on local high-temperature structure and transport properties of CaCO3-foamed glass

Significant gaps remain in understanding of gas-melt interfaces in foamed glass systems. We attempt to address these gaps by reporting on the transition of local structure, ionic (molecular) diffusion, and melt viscosity of CaCO3-foamed soda-lime-silica glass using molecular dynamics calculations and experimental analyses. Our calculations show that despite the continual increase in network modifying CaO, the melt network experiences an abnormal polymerization process in the initial stage because of Na ion penetration from the melt skeleton to the interface. The percolation probability decays from the surface to the center of melt because of the gradual polymerized network structure, boosting nonmonotonic changes in the [SiO4] species, equilibrium constants, and average residual charge per O atom. Furthermore, the diffusion capacities of melt ions and CO2 molecules peak at 6 wt% CaCO3 addition, attributed to the combined effects of melt depolymerization and interface constraint. The viscosity jump occurring at 1 wt% CaCO3 addition results in the optimal sample with an even cellular glass framework and strong matrix. These findings contribute to the precise control of foamed glass with optimal performance.

Unveiling Solvent Effects on β-Scissions through Metadynamics and Mean Force Integration.

This study introduces a methodology that combines accelerated molecular dynamics and mean force integration to investigate solvent effects on chemical reaction kinetics. The newly developed methodology is applied to the β-scission of butyl acrylate (BA) dimer in polar (water) and nonpolar (xylene and BA monomer) solvents. The results show that solvation in both polar and nonpolar environments reduces the free energy barrier of activation by ∼4 kcal/mol and decreases the pre-exponential factor 2-fold. Employing a hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics approach with explicit solvent modeling, we compute kinetic rate constants that better match experimental measurements compared to previous gas-phase calculations. This methodology presents promising potential for accurately predicting kinetic rate constants in liquid-phase polymerization and depolymerization processes.

Molecular heterostructured interlayer for fabrication of high-performance thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes

To solve the scarcity of fresh water, reverse osmosis (RO) technology for seawater desalination and wastewater reuse has been developed rapidly. However, the performance of RO is limited by poor selectivity towards certain harmful small molecule constituents (e.g., boron in seawater and N-nitrosodimethylamine in wastewater) and the permeability-selectivity trade-off. Herein, a metal polyphenol network interlayer including both hydrophobic zone and monomer adsorption zone is proposed to optimize interfacial polymerization (IP) process for fabrication of RO membrane. This heterogeneous characteristic is endowed by well-chosen phenol (i.e. TTSBI) and metal (Ni). The physicochemical properties of the substrate are also optimized. An ultra-selective RO membrane with thinner separation layer, higher crosslinking degree and larger surface area is obtained. The RO membranes exhibit separation performance beyond the upper selectivity limit for NaCl and hazardous small molecules. The membrane water permeance is 3.50 L m−2h−1bar−1while the NaCl rejection is 99.5 %. Meanwhile, the mechanism of the interlayer influencing IP process is investigated by combining molecular simulation and experimental methods. Our work provides a novel design direction of substrate used for fabricating RO membrane with outstanding performance.

An innovative approach to fly ash-based geopolymer concrete mix design: Utilizing 100 % recycled aggregates

Concrete is a widely used construction material globally, known for its ability to incorporate substantial quantities of industrial by-products such as fly ash (FA) and construction and demolition (C&D) debris. These by-products, originating from thermal power plants and construction activities, often pose environmental challenges when disposed of improperly. To address this issue, recycled aggregate geopolymer concrete (RAGPC) has emerged as a promising solution. However, the lack of a suitable mix design method has hindered the structural application of RAGPC. This study aims to introduce a novel mix design method utilizing 100 % recycled aggregate (RA) combined with FA through geopolymer technology, offering a simpler and more rational approach than previous methodologies. The proposed approach was validated through various concrete tests, utilizing a sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide ratio of 1.5 and a concentration of sodium hydroxide of 16 M as alkaline activation content (AAC), with an AAC to binder (B) ratio ranging from 0.3 to 0.8. Results indicate that incorporating FA and RA into concrete, coupled with elevated curing at 60 °C for 24 h for RAGPC hardening, yields compressive strengths (CS) ranging from approximately 14 to 35 MPa after a 28-day curing period. SEM and XRD tests were also conducted to analyse the polymerization processes, revealing the significant positive influence of FA on RAGPC performance. The findings suggest that fly ash has a superior synergistic influence on recycled aggregate geopolymer concrete performance. Moreover, due to its excellent resistance to chloride ingress and seawater corrosion, geopolymer concrete is well-suited for marine applications, including the construction of ports, harbours, offshore platforms, and coastal protection structures.

A sustainable Poly (deep eutectic solvents) based molecular imprinting strategy with experimental and theoretical elucidation: Application for removal of atrazine in agricultural wastewater

In this research, a fabrication of Poly(deep eutectic solvent) composed of choline chloride-methacrylic acid (ChCl-MAA) was developed to cross-link and polymerize through molecular imprinting technology (MIT). The results were analyzed using a simple syringe solid phase extraction (SPE) device combined with Poly(DES)-MIT strategy, with the aim of specifically removing atrazine (ATZ) from agricultural wastewater. Density functional theory was applied for the rapid prediction of optimal molar ratio (1:4) between the template (ATZ) and monomer (DES), yielding highly consistent results with experimental findings. The electrostatic potential (ESP) distributions and the independent gradient model (IGMH) were employed to investigate the types and strengths of weak interactions in Poly(DES). Due to the participation of DES in the polymerization reaction, Poly(DES) exhibited rapid adsorption equilibrium time (120 min) and excellent specificity recognition ability (selectivity factor of 14.02). The HPLC-DAD analysis system exhibited a good linear response in the range of 0.5∼500 mg L−1, with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.26 mg L−1 and a quantitation limit (LOQ) of 0.87 mg L−1. The admirable feasibility for the removal of ATZ (with a recovery rate of 99.93 %) from real agricultural wastewater substantiated the outlook of practical application of Poly(DES)-MIT strategy. In addition, the adsorption rate of Poly(DES) on ATZ only decreased by 5.80 % (from 96.60 % to 90.80 %) after five adsorption–desorption cycles, demonstrating its significant sustainability. This study combined computer-aided design with a novel green DES-mediated polymerization process to construct an environmentally friendly adsorbent with high selectivity for ATZ. From a quantum chemistry perspective, it was demonstrated that Poly(DES) selectively captures ATZ from agricultural wastewater mainly through hydrogen bonding interactions and van der Waals forces. The combined method of theoretical simulation and experimental verification showed vast potential in the field of safe cultivation of medicinal herbs and crops, opening up new possibilities for the precise monitoring of other pollutants in the environment.

The Effect of Sub-Acute Inhalation Exposure to Polyethylene Micro-Nano Plastics on the Histopathological Features of the Mammary Glands in Female Wistar White Rats (Rattus Norvegicus)

The majority of household appliances are made of plastic derived from synthetic petroleum and the result of polymerization processes. One type of plastic is Polyethylene (PE). Polyethylene (PE) contains antimony trioxide compounds that are carcinogenic in the body if ingested in excessive amounts, triggering cancer and oxidative stress, which can be observed by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the body. This study aims to determine the proliferation of abnormal cells in the lactiferous ducts and mammary gland acini as well as the increase in MDA levels. The research method used is a true experimental design with a Randomized Post Test Only Group Design. This study used the mammary organs and blood of female white rats that had been exposed to PE for 28 days. The number of samples used in this study was 12 female white rats. The results showed that there were significant differences in the histopathological features and MDA levels in the mammary glands. Based on the results of the Independent T-Test on the number of cell layers in the lactiferous ducts, acini, and the number of acini (p<0.05) and the Mann-Whitney test on MDA levels (p<0.05). There were significant changes in the histopathological features and MDA levels in the mammary glands exposed to Polyethylene (PE) plastic. Exposure to micro-nano plastics of PE type at a dose of 15 mg/m3 for 28 days differed significantly in the MDA levels of mammary glands, histopathological picture of mammary glands at cell proliferation events, both in the lactiferous ducts and acini cells. In addition, exposure to PE plastic has the potential to cause health problems in the breast organs if exposed for a long time and in excess doses.