Water Absorption Research Articles

Possibilities of Using Phaseolus Vulgaris and Phaseolus Lunatus Beans in Pasta Production

In last decade, in scientific literature, various pulses dominate as raw material of new pasta development. The production of pulse pasta is complex technological process, generally based on extrusion technology. The aim of the study was to produce spaghetti-type pasta from Phaseolus vulgaris (variety unknown) and Phaseolus lunatus (variety Kontra). The recipes made with xanthan gum and corn starch as a binder, the optimal cooking time and water absorption capacity was determined. In the experiment, wheat semolina spaghetti was used as a control sample. Four types of spaghetti were prepared using a single-screw extruder, then dried in a rotary oven and stored until analysis. Pasta cooking properties have been determined. The obtained data were compared using t-test. There were significant differences between obtained spaghetti and control sample. The results confirm that beans can be used in pasta production.

Bioinspired Photoelectronic Synergy Coating with Antifogging and Antibacterial Properties.

Optically transparent glass with antifogging and antibacterial properties is in high demand for endoscopes, goggles, and medical display equipment. However, many of the previously reported coatings have limitations in terms of long-term antifogging and efficient antibacterial properties, environmental friendliness, and versatility. In this study, inspired by catfish and sphagnum moss, a novel photoelectronic synergy antifogging and antibacterial coating was prepared by cross-linking polyethylenimine-modified titanium dioxide (PEI-TiO2), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The as-prepared coating could remain fog-free under hot steam for more than 40 min. The experimental results indicate that the long-term antifogging properties are due to the water absorption and spreading characteristics. Moreover, the organic-inorganic hybrid of PEI and TiO2 was first applied to enhance the antibacterial performance. The Staphylococcus aureus and the Escherichia coli growth inhibition rates of the as-prepared coating reached 97 and 96% respectively. A photoelectronic synergy antifogging and antibacterial mechanism based on the positive electrical and photocatalytic properties of PEI-TiO2 was proposed. This investigation provides insight into designing multifunctional bioinspired surface materials to realize antifogging and antibacterial that can be applied to medicine and daily lives.

Physicochemical characterisation and impact of Gryllus bimaculatus addition on gluten‐free flour blends

SummaryGryllus bimaculatus (field cricket) powder is a prospect in enriching gluten‐free food products' protein and mineral contents. However, the technological impacts of replacing common gluten‐free cereal flours with G. bimaculatus powder are still incipient. This study aimed to characterise nutritional composition, particle morphology, and particle size distribution of G. bimaculatus powder and the gluten‐free flours (maize, rice, finger millet and proso millet). Additionally, it investigated the effects of substituting these gluten‐free flours with 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% G. bimaculatus powder on proximate composition, hydration and colour properties. G. bimaculatus powder showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) high protein (44.8 g/100 g) content and essential minerals such as zinc (208.5 mg/kg) and iron (132.2 mg/kg). Micrographs of G. bimaculatus powder revealed compact and heterogenous particles while the flours' particles varied in sizes, and the starch granules had different shapes, sizes and arrangements. Flour particles exhibited bi‐and trimodal size distributions ranging from 1.5 μm to 1100 μm with minor peaks preceding major peaks. Finger millet flour had a greater span of 4.12, while proso millet flour had a lower span of 1.97. Particle size correlated negatively with water absorption capacity (WAC) (r = −0.938) and oil absorption capacity (OAC) (r = −0.955), respectively. G. bimaculatus powder addition significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) fat, protein and fibre contents, decreased (P ≤ 0.05) nitrogen‐free extracts, but had no effect on ash content. Hydration properties differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) except for WAC in proso millet blends. Samples exhibited significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) WAC than OAC in exception of G. bimaculatus powder and showed no emulsifying activities. Addition of G. bimaculatus powder significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased colour differences, reduced redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and lightness. The use of G. bimaculatus powder demonstrates the potential to enhance the nutritional properties and modify the colour and hydration of gluten‐free flours in the development of novel gluten‐free foods.

Fully bio‐based flax/furan versus carbon/glass epoxy composites: Scope and limitations in terms of fire and physico‐mechanical performances

AbstractFire and mechanical performances of a bio‐based flax/furan resin composite are evaluated and, in order to assess their commercial potential, compared with those of conventional carbon/glass fiber‐reinforced composites. Fire retardant (FR) variants of flax/furan were obtained by adding FRs to the resin and using (i) flax or (ii) FR‐treated flax fabrics. With (i), the fire hazard of the composite could be reduced to minimum, without detrimental effect on the mechanical properties. However, use of FR‐flax fabric (ii) led to impairment of mechanical properties. This indicated that for optimized fire and mechanical properties, use of a FR in the resin matrix suffices; there is no advantage in using a FR‐treated flax fabric. Natural aging of the samples for 10 years followed by water aging indicated that water absorption in flax/furan composites was much higher than in comparable carbon/epoxy composites. While there was evidence of released acidic components such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, and so forth, in flax/furan composites, mainly from oxidative degradation of furan resin, there was no evidence of leaching of FR additives from the matrix. However, FR treatment of flax fabric affected the fiber–matrix interfacial adhesion, leading to considerable water absorption during aging and disintegration of the reinforcement.Highlights Furan resins are naturally fire retardant, burn only under forced combustion. FR flax/furan composites obtained by adding FRs to the resin or the flax fabric. FR treatment of the flax impairs mechanical properties and water tolerance. FRs in the resin neither affect mechanical properties nor leach out in water.

Investigating the role of steel and polypropylene fibers for enhancing mechanical properties and microstructural performance in mitigating conversion effects in calcium aluminate cement

Fiber reinforcement is widely employed in numerous industries due to its exceptional mechanical properties; however, its specific role in enhancing the strength of calcium aluminate cement (CAC) composites remains inadequately understood. This study investigates the influence of fiber addition on the mechanical characteristics of CAC composites during curing. Two types of fibers, steel and polypropylene, were incorporated into CAC composites, and their mechanical properties, chemical composition, and microstructural performance were evaluated using various methods. Assessments including flowability, bulk density, volume of permeable voids, water absorption, and mechanical strength tests were conducted, alongside X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis. Results reveal a significant enhancement in mechanical strengths with the inclusion of fibers in CAC composites. The addition of 1% fibers to the composites resulted in significant improvements. Steel fibers (SF) led to notable enhancements of approximately 19.7%, 68%, and 26.4% in compressive, direct tensile, and flexural strengths, respectively, while polypropylene fibers (PF) resulted in enhancements of 1.9%, 20%, and 16.7%, respectively. Microstructural analysis revealed that SF and PF contribute to pore refinement, enhancing strength and durability. Findings suggest that SF addition effectively mitigates strength loss induced by the conversion effects of stable phase C3AH6 in CAC, thereby fostering the development of an environmentally friendly, quick-setting, high-performance concrete system. This research offers valuable insights for the design and potential enhancement of CAC-based composites to improve performance and durability under severe conditions.

Study on the characteristics of Napier grass fibre reinforced porcelain filler particulates poly lactic acid matrix biocomposite

This study investigates the complex properties of a novel biocomposite by a conventional process, which is composed of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) as the matrix, porcelain particles as fillers, and Napier grass fibre as reinforcement. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanical, crystalline, water absorption, morphological, and antibacterial properties of the biocomposites in relation to the individual components and their synergistic impacts. When 25 g porcelain particles were added to PLA with Napier grass fibre, mechanical tests demonstrated a 25% increase in tensile strength (maximum tensile strength of 39.76 MPa) and a 30% increase in flexural strength (maximum flexural strength of 41.29 MPa). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a strong interfacial bond between the fibre and matrix, with porcelain particles serving as bridges to facilitate stress transmission. The biocomposite exhibited reduced water absorption due to the inherent hydrophobic nature of porcelain, which enhances its resistance to bacterial growth. The study demonstrates that combining Napier grass fibre with porcelain filler particles synergistically enhances the properties of PLA, creating a viable biocomposite material suitable for use in packaging, automotive, and sustainable building industries.

Epoxy resin bioactive dental implant capped with hydroxyapatite and curcumin nanoparticles: a novel approach

Epoxy resin bioactive dental implant capped with hydroxyapatite and curcumin nanoparticles: a novel approach

The Influence of Substrate and Strain on Protein Quality of Pleurotus ostreatus

Background: The effect of substrate and strain on the nutritional and functional properties of mushroom flours and protein concentrates (PCs) has not thoroughly been investigated. Methods: The proteins of P. ostreatus flours (strains AMRL144 and 150) were isolated following alkaline extraction (pH 12) and isoelectric precipitation (pH 4) as it was determined by the solubility curves. The protein quality of the flours and PCs were evaluated by determining the protein solubility index (PSI) and their functional properties, such as water (WAC) and oil absorption capacity (OAC), foam capacity (FC), foam stability (FS) and emulsion stability (ES). The amino acid (AA) composition of the flours was determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography after protein hydrolysis and o-phthalaldehyde derivatization. Results: The PSIs of the flours and PCs of P. ostreatus were comparable to those of soy protein flours and protein concentrates. The highest AA concentration was found for both strains when cultivated on the barley and oat straw (BOS) substrate, showing a similar trend as the protein content. A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated an impact of the strain on the functional properties. Conclusions: Both strains can produce high quality proteins especially when cultivated on wheat straw (WS). The FS was positively correlated with the P. ostreatus strain AMRL150 whereas the FC was positively correlated with AMRL144.

Variation in amylose content in three rice variants predominantly influences the properties of sushi rice

AbstractSushi rice is a ready-to-eat traditional Japanese dish seasoned with vinegar, sugar and salt that has gained popularity worldwide. There are many rice cultivars grown in the world which vary in their cooking, sensory, and processing quality. The aim of this study was to analyse chemical, physical, and functional properties of three rice varieties (Vietnamese, Italian, and Australian) to determine their suitability for sushi rice production. Rice was cooked using industry norms and vinegar was then added; samples with no vinegar were prepared for comparison. The rice was stored during 5 days at 4 °C after cooking for texture profile analysis and samples were taken on day 1 and day 5. Flour composition as well as amylose content, gelatinisation properties using differential scanning calorimeter, pasting properties using Rapid Visco Analyser, water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC) and swelling power of extracted starch were determined. Results showed that the amylose content (16.51 to 21.37%) had a large impact on the functional and quality characteristics of the rice variants including texture, pasting, gelatinisation and WAC properties. Australian starch showed the highest amylose content, setback viscosity, final viscosity, pasting temperature and lowest gelatinisation temperature. The lower amylose content and gelatinisation temperature contributed to a softer texture in the Vietnamese rice samples over life. The added vinegar aided in keeping the texture soft during the shelf-life of the rice. Since sushi rice is usually prepared with vinegar, Italian and Vietnamese rice are better candidates for sushi rice based on their lower hardness after 5 days of storage when compared to the Australian variety.

Performance evolution of alkali-activated phosphorus slag paste filling material: Effect of hemihydrate phosphogypsum content

The stockpiling issues of phosphorus slag (PS) and hemihydrate phosphogypsum (HPG) have become vital technical obstacles limiting the economic development of enterprises. The synergistic substitution of PS and HPG for ordinary Portland cement in preparing alkali-activated phosphorus slag paste filling material (AAPS-PM) is essential to realize the high-value utilization of PS and HPG and reduce carbon emissions. HPG was selected as a sulfate activator for this research due to its metastable qualities and chemical composition benefits. The effect of HPG on the properties of AAPS-PM was systematically investigated by setting time, fluidity, strength development, water resistance, and pore solution pH experiments. The evolution of hydration products and pore size characteristics was elaborated employing X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results demonstrated that the addition of HPG displayed remarkable procoagulant thickening characteristics on AAPS-PM. Additionally, HPG was conducive to developing early uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), whereas 90% content of HPG had a negative impact on the enhancement of later UCS. The softening coefficient and water absorption exhibited duality with 80% HPG content as the critical point, obtaining a maximum value of 0.73 and a minimum value of 6.63%, respectively. It is noteworthy that the decrease in pore solution pH was primarily correlated with the acidity carried by HPG. Herein, the alkali activator accelerated the depolymerization of PS vitreous and generated H3SiO4- and H3AlO42- and Al(OH)63-. Furthermore, the active ions combined with Ca2+ and SO42- supplied by HPG, which contributed to the formation of dihydrate gypsum, ettringite and C-(A)-S-H gels. Encouragingly, microscopic analysis confirmed the macroscopic performance changes of AAPS-PM. The gel network created by the interweaving of hydration products refined the pore structure and improved the microstructure morphology, which is the primary source of mechanical strength. Nevertheless, the high content of HPG provided a driving force for the development of capillary pores, resulting in a rapid reduction in later strength. Overall, this research can contribute new ideas to the large-scale integrated disposal of solid waste.

Sustainable Engineering of Human Hair Fiber-Composite in Engineering Application

Abstract The hybrid composite material, resulting from the fusion of human hair and Kevlar 29 synthetic fiber in a 10:1 ratio, reinforced with epoxy resin using the hand layup technique, underwent meticulous mechanical and thermal testing. The investigation encompassed tensile, flexural, and impact property evaluations, elucidating a notable enhancement in mechanical strength with a diminishing synthetic fiber content. Concomitantly, the composite exhibited commendable heat resistance in heat deflection tests, making it potentially suitable for applications in elevated temperature environments. Water absorption properties were scrutinized, revealing a correlation between reduced synthetic fiber content and diminished water absorption, implying heightened durability in diverse conditions. Microstructure analysis through SEM provided intricate insights into the internal composition. In summation, the composite, featuring a higher proportion of natural fibers and a lower proportion of synthetics, demonstrated superior mechanical attributes, optimal heat resistance, and reduced water absorption, showcasing its applicability in automotive and engineering domains, particularly in the fabrication of vehicle panels and components. The aim of this research represents a significant advancement in composite materials, offering a cost-effective solution that balances mechanical strength and thermal resistance. It suggests the potential for high-performance materials by combining natural and synthetic fibers, promising versatility across various applications.

Flower Extract–Polyvinyl Alcohol‐Based Biocomposites for Sustainable Food Packaging Applications

The proliferation of single‐use plastics has led to widespread pollution and ecological harm, prompting a concerted effort to develop sustainable alternatives. Among them, biocomposite plastic films have emerged as a promising solution for food packing applications. Herein, the preparation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) biocomposite films incorporating Clitoria ternatea (CT) flower extracts is reported. The obtained films are subjected to various analytical techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis reveals the intense peak of hydrogen bonding at 3321 cm−1 in the composite film. CT‐PVA films possess less opacity and UV light‐blocking capabilities. The PVA‐CT films are examined for water absorption, UV barrier, soil degradability, and water‐soluble properties, greater propensity to dissolve in water during the water absorption test is noticed. Enzymatic oxidation followed by hydrolysis of functional groups enhances the soil degradation rate in biocomposite films. Further, the colorimetric study of CT‐PVA solution at different pH shows colored CT–PVA films. From the results and observations, the CT‐PVA biocomposite film (8 mL) proves to be a promising candidate for utilization in the food industry as a packaging material.

(Ca0.25La0.5Dy0.25)CrO3 Ceramic Fiber@Biomass-Derived Carbon Aerogel with Enhanced Solute Transport Channels for Highly Efficient Solar Interface Evaporation

The use of solar interface evaporation for seawater desalination or sewage treatment is an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach; however, achieving efficient solar energy utilization and ensuring the long-term stability of the evaporation devices are two major challenges for practical application. To address these issues, we developed a novel ceramic fiber@bioderived carbon composite aerogel with a continuous through-hole structure via electrospinning and freeze-casting methods. Specifically, an aerogel was prepared by incorporating perovskite oxide (Ca0.25La0.5Dy0.25)CrO3 ceramic fibers (CCFs) and amylopectin-derived carbon (ADC). The CCFs exhibited remarkable photothermal conversion efficiencies, and the ADC served as a connecting agent and imparted hydrophilicity to the aerogel due to its abundant oxygen-containing functional groups. After optimizing the composition and microstructure, the (Ca0.25La0.5Dy0.25)CrO3 ceramic fiber@biomass-derived carbon aerogel demonstrated remarkable properties, including efficient light absorption and rapid transport of water and solutes. Under 1 kW m−2 light intensity irradiation, this novel material exhibited a high temperature (48.3 °C), high evaporation rate (1.68 kg m−2 h−1), and impressive solar vapor conversion efficiency (91.6%). Moreover, it exhibited long-term stability in water evaporation even with highly concentrated salt solutions (25 wt%). Therefore, the (Ca0.25La0.5Dy0.25)CrO3 ceramic fiber@biomass-derived carbon aerogel holds great promise for various applications of solar interface evaporation.

Observations on the Tritiated Water and TEWL Skin Integrity Tests: Relevance to In Vitro Permeation Testing (IVPT).

The in vitro permeation test (IVPT) using ex vivo human skin is a sensitive and robust model system that has been vital in elucidating the fundamental parameters surrounding the absorption of both therapeutic agents and industrial chemicals through skin. FDA and OECD IVPT Guidances recommend that each skin section selected for study should be screened prior to use to ensure that the stratum corneum integrity is retained. Three methods are currently considered acceptable: 1) transepidermal water loss (TEWL), 2) electrical resistance, and 3) tritiated water (3H2O) absorption. A retrospective analysis of data from the authors' laboratory has been performed with the objective of addressing a number of questions regarding the 3H2O and TEWL integrity tests, and the population attributes of a large database consisting of 17,330 individual skin sections obtained from 459 skin donors. The applicability and usefulness of these tests, when compared to companion permeation data obtained from 25 topical drug products, has also been examined. Both integrity tests found water permeability to be equal in White and Hispanic races but higher than in Blacks, 3H2O being more discriminating than TEWL. Male skin is more permeable than female and there is a slight decrease in permeability with advancing age in both groups. Correlation between 3H2O absorption and drug absorption revealed a minimal relationship between the two in most cases, the Pearson correlation coefficient ranging from -0.417 to 0.953. Additionally, drug outliers were not always identified with a failing integrity test. The results call for a critical reexamination of the value of the 3H2O integrity test, and by extension, TEWL, for use in IVPT studies.

Speleothem-Inspired Copper/Nickel Interfaces for Enhanced Liquid-Vapor Transport by Marangoni and Soret Effects.

Geological formations have superior wickability and support the absorption of water and oils into narrow spaces of Earth's crust without external assistance. In this study, we present speleothem inspired heterogeneous porous and wicked copper (Cu)/nickel (Ni) interfaces for enhanced nucleate boiling of water/ethanol mixtures for energy-efficient separation processes. The incorporation of Ni strands within the copper particle matrix significantly enhanced heat transfer. Compared to plain copper, the Cu/Ni speleothem surfaces exhibited a 61% increase in the heat transfer coefficient for water/ethanol mixtures and a 332% increase for water, with a 58% faster onset of nucleate boiling. This enhancement was attributed to Marangoni and Soret effects at the Cu/Ni interfaces, driven by surface tension and concentration gradients. Furthermore, the synergistic wicking action of the Ni strands facilitated rewetting of the surface, replenishing liquid to the porous nucleation sites and preventing surface dry-out, thereby improving the overall heat transfer performance.

Investigation of the Impacts of Nonpolar Amino Acids on Air Lime Mortars

ABSTRACT Natural protein-based additives have been frequently added to lime-based mortars to enhance their properties. However, the possible mechanism underlying this effect is not well understood. All proteins are built up by the basic units of amino acids, which may be viewed as a useful starting point for the research topic. The present study focused on the impacts of nonpolar amino acids on air lime mortars. The results obtained from the present study highlighted that some nonpolar amino acids (represented by glycine, alanine, valine and proline) decrease mortar water retention, decrease consistency, delay and prolong setting, increase compressive strength, and decrease water absorption. However, other nonpolar amino acids (such as leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and tryptophan) showed almost opposite results. The addition of all the nonpolar amino acids slowed mortar drying and carbonation, decreased the carbonation degree, inhibited calcite formation, and tended to form metastable calcium carbonate phases, such as vaterite. Studying the effects of single amino acids on lime mortars could contribute to the design of repair mortars with more specific requirements, and the results of the present study could open up a series of future topics to be investigated.

Physicochemical characteristics of tannia cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) corm flour compared to flours and starches of other grains and tubers

Tannia cocoyam corm is a less popular pantropical carbohydrate source, whereas it has the potential to support food and nutrition security, especially in dry areas. Processing tannia cocoyam corm into flour can increase its use in various food products. This study aimed to determine the yield, nutrition, color, tap bulk density, water absorption capacity (WAC), oil absorption capacity (OAC), swelling capacity, and emulsion activity and stability of tannia cocoyam corm flour compared to sago starch, cassava flour and starch, mung bean starch, corn starch, wheat flour, rice and glutinous rice flours, and potato flour. The significant characteristics of tannia cocoyam corm flour were rather low in calories (dry basis), relatively high in WAC and swelling capacity, low in OAC, and showed emulsion activity and stability. Based on these data, it is suitable for use in mixed and processed food products that require juicy, elastic, and volume expansion characteristics; recommended for food products that are lower in calories and oil content; and can also help to maintain viscosity and form emulsions.

MODIFICATION OF PINDIGA BENTONITE CLAY WITH DIDODECYLDIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDES SURFACTANT FOR FOUNDRY USE

Bentonite clay from Pindiga, Gombe State, Nigeria, was surface modified with didodecyldimethylammonium bromides (DDAB) by the Base Exchange (cation exchange capacity) method for its possible use in foundries. The surfaces of the unmodified and modified Pindiga bentonite clay were characterised by means of spectroscopic, diffraction, and scanning methods (X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF)Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).XRF showed that unmodified sample was rich of montmorillonite (MMt) with ca +2 as exchangeable cation, FTIR analysis revealed that unmodified water absorption causes stretching and bending vibrations for hydroxyl groups, with the most intense bands in the low-frequency region, while DDAB organo-bentonites showed slight changes in wave bands, with a strong methyl band and a weak methyl band indicative of long-chain linear aliphatic structure. The basal spacing of the unmodified bentonite sample was 1.52 nm, and after modification with DDAB, it improved to 2.1 nm as determined from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Results of the SEM images revealed rougher surfaces with uniformly dispersed small particles of grain-like structures characteristic of the unmodified, while theorgano-modified bentoniterevealed clusters of different sizes and shapes, larger Fe 3+ ions replacing smaller Al 3+ ions at octahedral sites, discontinuous layers enveloping large grains, polygonal growth foams with octahedral and tetrahedral shapes, mixed layers of calcium bentonite, and particle sizes less than 200nm. The study concluded that modified bentonite with didodecyldimethylammonium bromides gives good microstructure, increases rigidity, and improve thermal stability, to the organoclays. Therefore, it is recommended that DDAB bentonite be used as binder for foundries.

Comparative Assessments of Dental Resin Composites: A Focus on Dense Microhybrid Materials.

The performance of dental resin composites is crucially influenced by the sizes and distributions of inorganic fillers. Despite the investigation of a variety of functional particles, glass fillers and nanoscale silica are still the predominant types in dental materials. However, achieving an overall improvement in the performance of resin composites through the optimization of their formulations remains a challenge. This work introduced a "dense" microhybrid filler system with 85 wt % filler loading, leading to the preparation of self-developed resin composites (SRCs). Comparative evaluations of these five SRCs against four commercial products were performed, including mechanical property, polymerization conversion, and shrinkage, along with water sorption and solubility and wear resistance. The results showed that among all SRC groups, SRC3 demonstrated superior mechanical performance, high polymerization conversion, reduced shrinkage, low water absorption and solubility, and acceptable wear resistance. In contrast to commercial products, this optimal SRC3 material was comparable to Z350 XT in flexural and diametral tensile strength and better in flexural modulus and surface hardness. The use of a "dense" microhybrid filler system in the development of resin composites provides a balance between physicochemical property and wear resistance, which may be a promising strategy for the development of composite products.

Synthesis and Properties of Bio-Based Polycarbonates Containing Silicone Blocks

This study aims to investigate the effects of different hydroxy-terminated silicones on the properties of polycarbonate-silicone copolymers (ICS-PC) by introducing flexible and hydrophobic silicone into isosorbide-based polycarbonate through melt transesterification- polycondensation method. Through compatibility and transesterification experiments, it is confirmed that the alcohol-hydroxyl polydimethylsiloxane (a-PDMS) has higher reactivity and silicone conversion than the phenol-hydroxyl polydimethylsiloxane (p-PDMS), but the conversion does not exceed 81%. Polyether-modified silicone (PEMS) exhibits better compatibility and higher reactivity, thus resulting in higher conversion that can reach 86%. Effects of the type and content of silicone on the glass transition temperature (Tg), optical transparency, saturated water absorption, and mechanical strength of ICS-PCs were also discussed. It is found that p-PDMS has higher Tg, hydrophobicity, and mechanical strength with similar silicone content, but the total transmittance does not exceed 60%. In contrast, the PEMS system exhibits better optical transparency due to its improved compatibility with the PC matrix, with a total transmittance of up to 73%, Tg exceeding 150 °C while maintaining excellent flexibility and hydrophobicity. These results are helpful to further improve the comprehensive properties of bio-based polycarbonates.