Study of the Relationship between Haze Performance and Fractal Dimension in Micro-Sized Segregated Liquid Crystals Embedded in a Polymer Matrix Consisting of a Thiol-ene Prepolymer and a Multi-Functional Acrylate

Micro-sized segregated liquid crystals (MSLCs) surrounded by a polymer medium can be used for haze film applications. When incident light passes through the MSLC film, the microsized particles act as light scattering centers. In this study, the results of the addition of a multi-functional acrylate to a commercial thiol-ene prepolymer system, as well as the morphology of (LC) droplets, fractal dimension (D), and the optical haze performance of the micro-sized segregated LCs formed by UV-initiated photopolymerization, are reported. With increasing fraction of the multi-functional acrylate within the host polymer matrix, the small scattering centers (LC droplets) also increase, giving rise to a large optical haze in the prepared film. The optical haze can be characterized by the D of the associated LC droplet morphology in the films. The optical haze and D exhibit a strong correlation; thus, a qualitative prediction of the optical haze is possible via geometric fractal analysis.

Numerical Modelling of Compression Cure High-Filled Polimer Material

The article presents phenomenological constitutive relations for modeling the compression curing of a highly filled polymer medium, obtained in the framework of the mechanics of an almost incompressible viscoelastic solid using the modified Herrmann variational principle. The relations are based on the representation of the medium as a composition of a fluid and solidified material, taking into account the history of continuous nucleation and deformation of a new phase in the temperature range of phase transformations. During the manufacturing process, different mechanisms lead to process-induced deformations and stresses. These mechanisms depend on thermal expansion, shrinkage, nonlinear viscoelastic properties of the material, and variation in local temperatures. In critical cases, these residual stresses can lead to initial degradation and up to failure of the material. A stable numerical algorithm for the problem’s solution has been developed on the base of finite element method. Numerical investigation of the stress and deformation in system during the polymerization process has been carried out. The evolution of curing stresses in a singular zone of domain has been investigated

The Effect of Using Micro-Clustered Water as a Polymer Medium

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes within the physicochemical properties of gelatin, carrageenan, and sodium alginate hydrosols prepared on the basis of micro-clustered (MC) water. The rheological parameters, contact angle and antioxidant activity of hydrosols were investigated. Moreover, the pH, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured. The hydrosols with MC water were characterized by a lower pH, decreased viscosity, a lower contact angle, and only slightly lower antioxidant activity than control samples. The results showed that hydrosol’s properties are significantly changed by MC water, which can lead to enhancement of its applicability but requires further investigation.

Supramolecular cocrystals built through redox-triggered ion intercalation in π-conjugated polymers

Self-organization in π-conjugated polymers gives rise to a highly ordered lamellar structure, in which inter-chain stacking spontaneously forms two-dimensional conjugated sheets. This multi-layer stacked nature of semicrystalline polymers allows the inclusion of various functional molecules. In particular, redox-triggered ion-intercalation is an ideal system for molecular doping, for which extremely high charge carrier density has been achieved. Here, we conducted a detailed structural analysis and electron density simulation to pinpoint exactly where the guest dopants are located periodically in the void space in a polymer’s lamellae. Our findings are indicative of an intercalation compound of layered polymers and a guest intercalant. We show that a homogeneous cocrystal structure can be realized throughout the host polymer medium, which is proved by the observation of coherent carrier transport. The intercalation cocrystal nature gives the best achievable doping level in semicrystalline polymers and excellent environmental stability. These findings should open up possibilities for tuning the collective dynamics of functional molecules through intercalation phenomena.

Selected performance indices for assessment of polypropylene susceptibility to dyeing by pigments of different UV resistance

This study presents an assessment of the effects of usage time for polypropylene (PP) experimental samples including those dyed with pigments of different UV resistance. A standard double cavity mold was used to create the samples by injection molding. Selected indices were analyzed in terms of color change (UV resistance of pigments), and UV radiation resistance of a PP polymer medium. The experiment revealed a significant impact of the accepted usage time and the type of dye concentrates on the indices characterizing the sample color change (CIELab) and a change in the structure and state of the PP medium surface.

Supramolecular Cocrystals Built Through Redox-Triggered ion Intercalation in π-Conjugated Polymers

Self-organization in π-conjugated polymers gives rise to a highly ordered lamellar structure, in which inter-chain stacking spontaneously forms two-dimensional conjugated sheets. This multi-layer stacked nature of semicrystalline polymers results not only in effective charge transport, but also allows the inclusion of various functional molecules and ions. In particular, redox-triggered ion-intercalation in a polymer's lamellae is an ideal system for molecular doping, for which extremely high charge carrier density, corresponding to one carrier per monomer unit, has been achieved. We conducted a detailed structural analysis and electron density simulation to pinpoint exactly where the guest dopants are located periodically in the restricted void space in a polymer's lamellae. Our findings are indicative of an intercalation compound of layered polymers and a guest intercalant. In addition, we show that a homogeneous cocrystal structure can be realized throughout the host polymer medium, which is proved unambiguously by the observation of coherent carrier transport across microscopic-scale films. Also, the intercalation cocrystal nature gives the best achievable doping level in semicrystalline conjugated polymers and excellent environmental stability. These findings should open up new possibilities for tuning the collective dynamics of functional molecules and ions through intercalation phenomena.

Soft Template Electropolymerization of Polypyrrole for Improved pH-Induced Drug Delivery

Chronic wounds are characterized by a localized pH change from acidic (healthy) to alkaline (unhealthy), which can be harnessed to act as a switch for drug release from a polymer medium covering the wound for improved healing. To realize this, a new polymer dressing material is needed to help heal chronic wounds. Polypyrrole (PPy) is a biocompatible electroactive polymer that has been proven as a successful drug delivery mechanism, but currently lacks the capacity for scalable clinical applications due to its poor processability. In this study, PPy films with and without microstructures were produced using electrochemical oxidation and subsequently doped with fluorescein, a model drug molecule. To increase the drug loading capacity, microstructures were created through soft template polymerization of pyrrole around hydrogen gas bubbles. Fluorescein release was measured using UV spectroscopy over a pH range of 2 to 11, showing increased release at higher pH values. Microstructured films showed an increased doping capacity compared to flat PPy films, attributed to the increase in drug incorporation sites. The pH-activated release mechanism was shown to be successful and can be applied as a pH-sensitive biosensor and drug delivery system in vitro.