Zinc Methacrylate Research Articles

Improvement of water resistance for natural rubber/nanocellulose composites

Natural rubber/cellulose nanofiber (NR/CNF) composites exhibit improved dry tensile properties compared with neat NR sheets. However, the presence of hydrophilic CNFs in the composites causes low water resistance, resulting in high water content and low tensile strength when the composites are soaked in water at 70 °C for 7 d. Herein, water-resistant NR/CNF composites were developed by adding zinc methacrylate or aluminum acrylate, and the oven-dried NR/CNF/additive materials were counterion-exchanged with 0.1 M NH4OH. X-ray fluorescence analysis of the composite sheets indicates the reasons and mechanisms for the improved water resistance of the composites prepared with the tested additives by post-counterion exchange.

High strength and high damping CFRP composites with co‐curing viscoelastic sandwich film

AbstractThe high temperature co‐curing damping composite was investigated by co‐curing technology to improve the mechanical property and damping performance of the traditional fiber reinforced resin matrix composite. Fluororubber with stable chemical properties and high‐temperature resistance was used as the core layer of novel carbon fiber reinforced bismaleimide resin matrix High‐temperature Co‐curing Damping Sandwich Composites (HCDSC). The curing temperature and curing time of fluororubber were consistent with that of bismaleimide resin by adjusting the formula. The viscoelastic damping properties and thermal stability of zinc methacrylate reinforced fluororubber were investigated in detail. Static mechanical tests, modal tests and interfacial shear tests prove that HCDSC display excellent mechanical and damping properties. The interfacial microscopic analysis reveals that viscoelastic sandwich materials are closely bonded with the composites. The dynamic characteristics of damping sandwich composite plate with fixed support on four sides is analyzed theoretically, and the vibration equilibrium equation of composite plate is derived by combining first‐order shear deformation theory, variational principle, and Hamilton principle. The damping performance of the composite plate are discussed through modal tests to verify the accuracy of theoretical derivation. This research is of great significance to solve the problem of structural dynamics, and provides a new idea for the design of structural and functional composite materials.Highlights A viscoelastic damping material with large damping and high strength was prepared. The dynamic performance of co‐curing sandwich composite structures was studied. The free vibration of composite structures was explored via experiment and theory.

The impact of synergistic action of methacrylic acid/zinc oxide/carbon nanotubes on metal Friction and wear

The continuous operation of essential refining equipment, internal mixers, leads to wear on their end faces, resulting in an increased gap between the mixer chamber and the end face. This, in turn, causes material leakage, reducing mixing efficiency and adversely impacting rubber performance. Therefore, investigating metal wear on the mixer's end face during the mixing process is essential. Scholars have introduced dynamic covalent bonds into rubber molecular chains, bestowing self-repairing capabilities upon the materials. This innovation has significant implications for extending rubber lifespan and lowering production costs. It involves adding methacrylic acid (MAA) and excess zinc oxide (ZnO) to construct an ionic crosslinking network, limiting covalent crosslinking of rubber molecules and enabling in-situ polymerization of MAA/ZnO, resulting in self-repairing properties. However, it is crucial to consider corrosive wear induced by MAA's strong acidity on metals. This study combines MAA, ZnO, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through mechanical mixing to create a composite material called zinc methacrylate (ZDMA)/MWCNTs/rubber. The research investigates the in-situ synthesis mechanism of MAA and ZnO and the synergistic mechanism of ZDMA and MWCNTs. The study analyzes the impact of MWCNTs additive amount on the frictional wear of the internal mixer's metal end face. During the mixing process, ZDMA is grafted and polymerized onto rubber's macromolecular chains, forming ionic pairs with strong electrostatic interactions, creating a primarily reversible supramolecular network dominated by ion crosslinking. This ion crosslinking network, along with the three-dimensional mesh structure of MWCNTs, establishes a stable spatial structure within the rubber matrix. The study reveals that increasing the MWCNTs content to 3 phr reduces the aggregation of SiO2 particles and ZDMA granules within the rubber matrix, resulting in reduced friction coefficients, roughness, and wear rates of the metal. However, exceeding 3 phr of MAA content leads to excessive MWCNT aggregation within the rubber matrix, increasing wear rates, roughness, and friction coefficients due to hindrance of rubber macromolecular chain crosslinking and reduced SiO2 particle dispersion within the rubber matrix. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of frictional wear in internal mixers.

Photostable selenium-assisted ZnS nanocomposite with efficient visible light photocatalytic activity

Selenium-assisted ZnS nanocomposite has been successfully prepared through a simple soft chemical route and their photocatalytic activity was also investigated for degradation of methylene and rhodamine B dye under ultraviolet and sunlight irradiation. Various surface analysis techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-visible, XPS, and photoluminescence were used to analyze the formation of Se/ZnS nanocomposites. XRD studies confirmed the formation of the selenium phase along with ZnS and zinc methacrylate. SEM images showed that ZnS and Se nanoparticles self-aggregated to form three-dimensional spherical nano-assemblies of an average size of about 527 nm. The presence of a different type of defect in Se/ZnS was analyzed from PL spectra. The photocatalytic study revealed the complete degradation of methylene blue in 75 min with a rate constant of 0.073 min−1 under UV light irradiation. In contrast, rhodamine B (RhB) degraded in 90 min with a corresponding rate constant of 0.038 min−1 under the same time duration. Further, this nanocomposite was also efficient under natural sunlight, and almost 85% degradation was achieved after 180 min. Thus, the synergistic effect of strong absorption under UV and visible light source of Se/ZnS nanocomposite minimizes the photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination., which makes them excellent photocatalysts towards the degradation of dyes. Also, this nanocomposite reduced the photo-corrosion under light irradiation and improved photocatalytic stability. In addition, scavenger studies and electron spin resonance in combination with spin trapping technique were used to analyze the contribution of reactive species involved in photocatalysis process.

Effect of in situ synthesis reaction of methacrylic acid (MAA)/zinc oxide (ZnO) on frictional wear of metals during compounding

During prolonged operation, the end face of the internal mixer, a crucial component in rubber processing, experiences wear, resulting in an increased gap between the mixing chamber and the end face. This gap can lead to material leakage and reduced mixing efficiency, negatively impacting rubber properties. To address this issue, researchers have introduced dynamic covalent bonds into the molecular rubber chains, giving the material self-healing properties. This advancement is essential for extending rubber lifespan and reducing production costs. One common approach involves adding methacrylic acid (MAA) and excess zinc oxide (ZnO) to create ionic crosslinking networks, limiting covalent crosslinking and enabling in-situ polymerization of MAA/ZnO, resulting in self-healing capabilities. However, the strong acidity and corrosive nature of MAA can cause metal wear. In our study, we mechanically blend MAA with ZnO to produce zinc methacrylate (ZDMA)/rubber composites. We investigate the in-situ synthesis mechanism of MAA and ZnO and assess the impact of MAA on the friction and wear of the internal mixer's end face. Our findings reveal that ZDMA ion pairs form an “ion cross-linked network” within the rubber chain, hindering SiO2 particle dispersion and increasing aggregation within the rubber matrix. This compromises dispersion and leads to abrasive wear from SiO2 particles, corrosive wear from high-temperature water vapor, and corrosive wear from MAA. Additionally, excessive ZDMA self-polymerization alters SiO2 particle agglomerates. The strong acidity of MAA and the “ion cross-linked network” within the rubber matrix significantly affect SiO2 particle dispersion, friction coefficients, metal surface roughness, and metal wear. Our comprehensive analysis, including SEM, dispersion, RPA, metal surface morphology, and CSM friction wear tests, identifies the optimal cross-linking effect with the addition of 15 phr of MAA, resulting in a well-defined “ion cross-linked network” within the rubber matrix, enhancing rubber performance. However, SiO2 particle dispersion is compromised, leading to increased agglomeration and heightened metal wear.

Synthesis, structural characterization, fluorescence properties and antimicrobial activities of dinuclear zinc(II) methacrylate complexes with N-donor ligands

Two new dinuclear Zn(II) methacrylate complexes, [Zn2(µ-maa)3(2-IPim)2]·NO3 (1), [Zn2(µ-maa)4(2-vpy)2] (2) [maaH = methacrylic acid, 2-IPim = 2-Isopropylimidazole and 2-vpy = 2-vinylpyridine] have been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TG/DTG, DTA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In complex 1 each Zn(II) atom has a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry, while in complex 2 each Zn(II) atom is in a distorted square pyramid geometry. The X-ray crystallographic studies of both complexes revealed that the Zn(II) ions are μ-bridged by the maa ligands to generate dinuclear structures. Quantum chemical calculations were carried out to ascertain the ground state optimization of both complexes and the calculated bond lengths and bond angles of the complexes were presented. To study in more detail the properties of these complexes, we also investigated their antibacterial and antifungal activity by in vitro agar diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Candida, respectively. Additionally, the fluorescence properties of the complexes are discussed herein.

Synthesis and characterization of zinc(II) methacrylate monomer complex and adsorption properties of zinc(II) ion-imprinted polymer

A zinc(II) centred [Zn(maa)2(vim)2] complex was synthesised using methacrylic acid (maaH) and 1-vinylimidazole (vim) containing vinylic groups suitable for polymerization. The structure of the monomer complex was elucidated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. A new Zn(II)-based imprinted polymer (Zn(II)-IIP) was prepared with [Zn(maa)2(vim)2] as monomer complex and ethylen glikol dimethacylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker in the presence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator to eliminate Zn(II) from aqueous solutions. The prepared Zn(II)-IIP was characterized by FT-IR, TGA, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption performance of Zn(II)-IIP in aqueous solutions was investigated too. The maximum adsorption of Zn(II) ions on to the Zn(II)-IIP particles was 41.5 mg/g at pH: 6.0. The zinc(II) ion content of the solutions was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied comparatively to experimental results.

Enhancing welding strength of thermoplastic vulcanizate/aluminum alloy via adding zinc methacrylate

Welding of metals and polymer materials has always been one of the difficult problems. In this work, we incorporated zinc methacrylate (ZDMA) to polypropylene/ethylene propylene diene rubber thermoplastic vulcanizate (PP/EPDM TPV) to improve the welding performance of the TPV and A6061-t6 aluminum alloy (6061). We firstly processed a welding simulation experiment on a flat vulcanizer. In the experiment of simulating heat source, ZDMA effectively improved the strength of TPV/6061 joints, and the strength of the joints with 30 phr (parts per hundreds of rubber) ZDMA increased tenfold compared to that with 5 phr ZDMA. The increase of joint strength was the result of the combined effect of TPV's polarity, dimensional stability, and interfacial chemical bonds. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that: during the welding process, the carboxylate ions (-COO-) of ZDMA in TPV migrated to the interface of TPV/6061 joints and constructed chemical bonds (C–O–Al) with 6061. Then, we welded the TPV and 6061 using a Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW) machine, the strong interface strength (tension-shear load = 1.2 kN) between TPV and 6061 verified our simulation experiment. Furthermore, the knowledge in this work will benefit the research in welding of TPV and lightweight metals to improve the strength of the interface between plastics and metals.

Tough Hydrogel Coating on Silicone Rubber with Improved Antifouling and Antibacterial Properties

Silicone rubber catheters have a wide range of medical applications. However, silicone rubber is subject to biofouling, biofilm formation, and microbial infection, which can decrease its success and performance because of lipophilicity. In this report, a tough hydrogel was grafted onto the surface of silicone rubber to endow it with antifouling and antibacterial properties. First of all, an acrylamide (AAm)-, 2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-, and zinc methacrylate (ZMA)-derived poly(AAm-MPC-ZMA) hydrogel was coated on the surface of silicone rubber mediated by a poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) primer layer. Second, the composition and hydrophilicity of the hydrogel-coated rubber were evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a contact angle analyzer. The results indicated the success of the poly(AAm-MPC-ZMA) hydrogel coating, inducing a decrease in the contact angle from 107.01 to 23.22°. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was further used to test the nonspecific protein absorption of the modified silicone rubber. It was found that BSA deposition on the surface of silicone rubber decreased from 0.33 to 0.07 mg/cm2 after coating, indicating an antifouling effect. In addition, the incorporation of ZMA gave silicone rubber significant antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. As a preliminary application test, a silicone rubber catheter was coated with the poly(AAm-MPC-ZMA) hydrogel, which showed improved hydrophilicity and reduced adhesion against biological soft tissues. Taken together, the poly(AAm-MPC-ZMA) hydrogel coating generated a highly hydrophilic silicone rubber with excellent antifouling and antibacterial properties, which has great potential in the application of medical catheters.

The evaluation of cytotoxicity and cytokine IL-6 production of root canal sealers with and without the incorporation of simvastatin: an invitro study

BackgroundFreshly mixed root canal sealers when proximate the periapical tissues, trigger varying degrees of cytotoxicity/inflammatory reactions. Simvastatin, a class of the drug statin, is a widely used cholesterol-lowering agent with additional anti-inflammatory activities. This study assessed the effects of simvastatin on cytotoxicity and the release of IL-6 (Interleukin-6) production when incorporated in zinc oxide eugenol and methacrylate resin-based sealers.MethodsExperimental groups consisted of conventional zinc oxide eugenol and methacrylate based-EndoREZ sealers (ZE & ER respectively) and 0.5 mg/mL simvastatin incorporated sealers (ZES & ERS). L929 mouse fibroblast cells were exposed to freshly mixed experimental sealers and evaluated for cytotoxicity (MTT assay) and inflammation levels (inflammatory marker IL-6 for ELISA) at various time intervals (0h, 24h and 7th day). The values were compared to the cell control (CC; L929 cells alone) and solvent control (SC; L929 cells + DMSO) groups. All the experiments were conducted in triplicates and subjected to statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Non parametric tests were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests for inter-group and intra-group comparisons respectively. Pairwise comparison was conducted by post hoc Dunn test followed by Bonferroni correction. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsAll the experimental groups (ZE, ER, ZES, ERS) exhibited varying degree of cytotoxicity and IL-6 expression compared to the control groups CC and SC. The cell viability for ZE and ER decreased on day 7 as compared to 24 h. ZES and ERS had higher viable cells (75.93% & 79.90%) compared to ZE and ER (54.39% & 57.84%) at all time periods. Increased expression of IL-6 was observed in ZE & ER (25.49 pg/mL & 23.14 pg/mL) when compared to simvastatin incorporated ZE & ER (ZES-12.70 pg/mL & ERS-14.68 pg/mL) at all time periods. Highest level of cytotoxicity and inflammation was observed in ZE compared to all the other groups on day 7.ConclusionsAddition of 0.5 mg/mL of simvastatin to the sealers (ZES and ERS) decreased the cytotoxicity in the freshly mixed state and reduces their inflammatory effect.

Permeability of a Zinc-Methacrylate-Based Self-Polishing Copolymer for Use in Antifouling Coating Materials by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the solubility and permeability of H2O in a self-polishing copolymer (SPC) with two zinc methacrylate (ZMA) contents (Z2: 2 mol% ZMA; Z16: 16 mol% ZMA) and ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, and butyl acrylate as antifouling agents. Water was found to be more soluble in hydrated Z16 than Z2 because ZMA interacts strongly with H2O. In contrast, the diffusion coefficient of H2O in Z16 is lower than that of Z2 because H2O molecules are more constrained in the former due to strong ZMA/H2O interactions. Z16 was found to be significantly more permeable than Z2 over time. The SPC hydrated region in Z2 tends to expand toward the SPC region, while the analogous region in Z16 swelled toward both the SPC and H2O regions to leach SPC owing to the higher permeation of H2O into the SPC. These results reveal that H2O permeability can be controlled by adjusting the ZMA content, which provides insight into antifouling performance.

Bio‐based Eucommia ulmoides gum/low density polyethylene shape memory composites reinforced by zinc methacrylate

AbstractIn this paper, we present an efficient and green extraction process for Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) to solve the tricky problems in separation and precipitation, providing a new idea for the industrialization of EUG extraction. Subsequently, the obtained EUG was blended with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and zinc methacrylate (ZDMA) to fabricate novel shape memory composites with both covalent and ionic crosslinking networks. It was found that the improvement in mechanical performance and enhancement in shape recovery ability of the EUG/LDPE/ZDMA composites was attributable to the Zn2+‐based ionic crosslinks. The EUG/LDPE/ZDMA shape memory composites could be candidates in the production of medical fixing materials, hot‐shrinkable tubes and packaging products. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry

What’s new for the clinician? - Excerpts from and summaries of recently published papers

Choosing an endodontic sealer clinical use is a decision that contributes to the long-term success of non-surgical root canal treatment. Sealers are used as a thin tacky paste which function as a lubricant and luting agent during obturation, allowing the core obturation material, such as gutta-percha points or other rigid materials, to slide in and become fixed in the canal. Sealers can fill voids, lateral canals, and accessory canals where core obturation materials cannot infiltrate. If the sealer does not perform its function, microleakage may cause root canal failure via clinically undetectable passage of bacteria, fluids, molecules or ions between the tooth and restorative material. It has been reported that extrusion of the sealer during root canal filling has cytotoxic effects on periapical tissues, causing periapical inflammation, necrosis and pain. Endodontic sealers are categorized by composition based on setting reaction and composition: zinc oxide eugenol, salicylate, fatty acid, glass ionomer, silicone, epoxy resin, tricalcium silicate, and methacrylate resin sealer systems. Aslan &amp; Özkan (2021) reported on a trial that sought to evaluate the effect of two calcium silicate-based root canal sealers, Endoseal MTA and EndoSequence BC Sealer, on postoperative pain following single-visit root canal treatment on molar teeth compared to their epoxy/ amine resin-based counterpart AH Plus. The null hypotheses tested in this study were as follows:1. The type of sealer used would not change the incidence and the intensity of post-treatment endodontic pain2. The analgesic intake of patients following single-visit root canal treatment

Robust and Antiswelling Hollow Hydrogel Tube with Antibacterial and Antithrombotic Ability for Emergency Vascular Replacement.

Infection and thrombosis are the two major complications in almost any indwelling intravascular catheters, leading to adverse consequences. Here, we report a robust and antiswelling hollow hydrogel tube that is prepared by copolymerizing a hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) monomer and a zinc methacrylate (ZMA) monomer in the absence of any chemical cross-linker. The strong H-bonding interactions from the side chain of N-acryloylsemicarbazide (NASC) endow the hydrogel with high mechanical strength and swelling stability. Introduction of ZMA affords a superhydrophilic surface, and the release of a zinc ion (Zn2+) from the hydrogel can kill nearly 100% both of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, indicating its excellent antibacterial ability. Importantly, the P(NASC-co-ZMA) hydrogel exhibits better antithrombosis ability due to the resistant adhesion of fibrinogen protein and platelets, as well binding calcium ions (Ca2+) from the blood. The hydrogel tube is used to connect the ex vivo arteriovenous shunt circuit or implanted into the left carotid artery in the rabbit model, showing a better patency rate. All of these results suggest that this hydrogel tube may mitigate infection and thrombosis complications, thus holding potential as an artificial blood vessel for emergency vascular replacement.

Zinc-methacrylate passivation enables an efficient and stable perovskite nanocrystal-polymer composite for LED applications

Zinc methacrylate passivation and crosslinking provide efficient and stable perovskite nanocrystal–PMMA nanocomposite films for light down-conversion applications.

Combined sulfur and peroxide curing systems applied in cross-linking of rubber magnets

In the present work, barium ferrite in constant loading was dosed to the rubber matrices based on NR, SBR and NBR. Sulfur, peroxide and mixed sulfur and peroxide curing systems were applied for cross-linking of rubber magnetic composites. The application of sulfur or peroxide curing system leads to the formation of different types of linkages between rubber chain segments. As the structure of the formed cross-links plays a significant role in determining the final properties of rubber articles, the main aim of the work was to use the combination of curing systems in order to suppress the disadvantages of both systems and possibly to highlight their benefits. The results showed that composition of curing system has considerable influence on cross-link density of composites, which was subsequently reflected in typical change of physical-mechanical properties and glass transition temperature. The tensile strength was improved with increasing amount of peroxide curing system. The reason can be attributed to the presence of co-agent zinc methacrylate, which exhibits strong adhesion to magnetic filler and thus it contributes to the improvement of compatibility and homogeneity on the interphase filler–rubber. On the hand, there was observed no influence of curing system composition or type of rubber matrix on magnetic characteristics of composites.

Coupling Dynamic Covalent Bonds and Ionic Crosslinking Network to Promote Shape Memory Properties of Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Copolymers.

Dynamic crosslinking networks based on Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry and ionic interactions were introduced to maleic anhydride modified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (mEVA) via in situ melt processing. The dual dynamic crosslinking networks were characterized by temperature-dependent FTIR, and the effects on the shape memory properties of mEVA were evaluated with dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and cyclic tensile testing. A crosslinking density was achieved at 2.36 × 10−4 mol·cm−3 for DA-crosslinked mEVA; as a result, the stress at 100% extension was increased from 3.8 to 5.6 MPa, and tensile strength and elongation at break were kept as high as 30.3 MPa and 486%, respectively. The further introduction of 10 wt % zinc methacrylate increased the dynamic crosslinking density to 3.74 × 10−4 mol·cm−3 and the stress at 100% extension to 9.0 MPa, while providing a tensile strength of 28.4 MPa and strain at break of 308%. The combination of reversible DA covalent crosslinking and ionic network in mEVA enabled a fixing ratio of 76.4% and recovery ratio of 99.4%, exhibiting an enhanced shape memory performance, especially at higher temperatures. The enhanced shape memory and mechanical performance of the dual crosslinked mEVA showed promising reprocessing and recycling abilities of the end-of-life products in comparison to traditional peroxide initiated covalent crosslinked counterparts.

Sulfur and peroxide curing of rubber magnetic composites with the application of zinc methacrylate

Rubber magnetic composites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and strontium ferrite were cured with standard sulfur-based vulcanization systems as well as an organic peroxide. Zinc methacrylate (ZDMA) as a coagent was applied in both sulfur and peroxide vulcanization of rubber magnets. The aim was to evaluate the influence of ZDMA on curing characteristics and cross-link density of the prepared materials. Subsequently, physical-mechanical and magnetic properties were investigated. The results showed that ZDMA takes an active part in the cross-linking process of composites cured with an organic peroxide. Due to the presence of free radicals formed from peroxide decomposition, molecules of ZDMA polymerize into the nanostructures which can be physically adsorbed or chemically grafted onto rubber chains. Moreover, owing to zinc ions, ZDMA exhibits strong adhesion to ferrite filler and thus it contributes to the improvement of adhesion between the rubber and the filler on the interphase. The overall reinforcement of rubber magnetic composites was subsequently achieved. In the case of rubber magnets cured with the sulfur-based system, ZDMA acts as a conventional filler with a slight reinforcing effect due to the lack of free radicals required for its polymerization.

Enhanced light emission of quantum dot films by scattering of poly(zinc methacrylate) coating CdZnSeS/ZnS quantum dots and high refractive index BaTiO3 nanoparticles.

Quantum dots (QDs) have received considerable attention in information displays owing to their high quantum yield, high colour purity and low-cost fabrication. However, light emission for ultra-thin QD films with low mass percentage of QDs still need to be improved because the blue light can directly transmit the films, leading to insufficient energy to excite the QDs. In this study, we report QD films based on a poly(zinc methacrylate) coating with alloyed green-emitting CdZnSeS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs@PZnMA) together with high refractive-index BaTiO3 nanoparticles to enhance the scattering coefficient of the QD films. Results demonstrate a 7.5-fold increase in the absorption coefficient, 11.3-fold increase in the scattering coefficient, 8.5-fold increase in the optical density (OD) and 8.6-fold increase in the green-light emission of QD films, compared with films that have the same mass percentage of pristine QDs. This approach provides a promising strategy for developing QD optical films with high scattering and enhanced light emission for flexible displays.

Decomposition mechanisms of self-polishing copolymers for antifouling coating materials through first-principles approach

Density functional theory calculations were performed to explain the decomposition mechanisms of selected self-polishing copolymer (SPC) molecules like tributyltin (TBT), zinc methacrylate (ZMA), copper methacrylate (CMA), and triisopropylsilyl acrylate (TIPSA). The comparison between the different activation energies of the SPC molecules indicated that ZMA and CMA could be polished faster than TBT and TIPSA; moreover, ZMA and CMA exhibited stronger adsorption energy and lower activation energy than TBT and TIPSA. The results also indicate that the configuration and chemical species of the pendant atoms in the functional group of the SPC molecules are essential for their antifouling performance.