Polydopamine hydrophilic modification of polypropylene separator for lithium ion battery

The modified polypropylene (PP) separators with self‐polymerization of dopamine on the surfaces are prepared by a simple solution‐immersion method to improve the interfacial hydrophilic and discharge performance. The contact angle test and the liquid electrolyte uptake capacity test results show that the wettability and the electrolyte‐retention ability of polydopamine‐modified separator are improved significantly. The robust and thin polydopamine layer on the surface also enhances thermal performance and tensile strength of the modified PP separator certified by DSC and tensile strength tests. The ionic conductivity of the modified PP separator is up to 3.08 mS·cm^?1, ～2.5 times of the bare separator. Good discharge capacity retention and C‐rate discharge performance are demonstrated by a 2025 coin half‐cell with the liquid electrolyte‐soaked polydopamine modified PP separator sandwiched between lithium metal anode and LiFePO₄ cathode. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40543.     

Preparation of oligochitosan via In situ enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan by amylase in [Gly]BF4 ionic liquid/water homogeneous system

The preparation of oligochitosan with excellent performance via in situ enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan by amylase in ionic liquid system is reported. It has been found that [Gly]BF₄ ionic liquid leads to the good solubility and assistant degradation for chitosan, as well as good biocompatibility for amylase. In the homogeneous system that contained 1.0 g chitosan (degree of deacetylation = 88.5%) and 99.0 g 2 wt % [Gly]BF₄ aqueous solution, oligochitosan with 2200 viscosity‐average molecular weight has been obtained after 0.12 g amylase being used for 3 h at 50°C and pH 5.0. This result is superior to that conducted in acetic acid system. Moreover, [Gly]BF₄ can be easily separated from the product and reused with only slight performance loss (oligochitosan product with 2700 viscosity‐average molecular weight has been obtained after [Gly]BF₄ being reused for five times). In addition, the mechanism for enzymatic hydrolysis of chitosan in [Gly]BF₄ ionic liquid has been described. The research on the moisture‐absorption, ‐retention, and antibacterial activity of oligochitosan product shows that the smaller molecular weight would bring the better moisture‐absorption and antibacterial properties. The oligochitosan product with 2200 viscosity‐average molecular weight exhibits preferable antibacterial properties to S. aureus and E. coli. At the same time, the moisture‐absorption and ‐retention capacity of the above product can reach 32% (relative humidity (RH) = 43%), 62% (RH = 81%), and 150% (RH = 43%), 35% (dry silica gel) respectively. The enzymatic preparation of oligochitosan through [Gly]BF₄ ionic liquid/water homogeneous system can be an efficient and environment‐friendly method for academics and industry. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41152.     

Enhanced degradation stability of poly(p‐dioxanone) under different temperature and humidity with bis‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) carbodiimide

The influences on the degradation of poly(p‐dioxanone) (PPDO) under different temperature and relatively humidity is initially investigated by adding bis‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) carbodiimide (commercial name: stabaxol^®‐1). The changes of intrinsic viscosity, mechanical properties, crystallinity, surface morphologies, and microstructure of PPDO and PPDO containing stabaxol^®‐1 for 6 weeks are monitored. With increasing the degradation time, the intrinsic viscosity and mechanical properties of PPDO decrease much faster than those of PPDO containing 0.6 wt % stabaxol^®‐1. During the degradation, PPDO containing 0.6 wt % stabaxol^®‐1 shows a better physical integrity than PPDO. It has been shown that stabaxol^®‐1 can retard the hydrolysis degradation of PPDO and enhance its hydrolytic stability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40026.     

Preparation and dielectric properties of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone)/acidified graphite nanosheet composites

Percolative dielectric composites of sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketone) (SPAEK) and acidified graphite nanosheets (AGSs) were fabricated by a solution method. The dielectric constant of the as‐prepared composite with 4.01 vol % AGSs was found to be 330 at 1000 Hz; this was a significant increase compared to that of pure SPAEK. Through the calculation, a low percolation threshold of the AGS/SPAEK composite was confirmed at 3.18 vol % (0.0318 volume fraction) AGSs; this was attributed to the large surface area and high conductivity of the AGSs. Additionally, our percolative dielectric composites also exhibited good mechanical performances and good thermostability, with a tensile strength of 71.7 MPa, a tensile modulus of 1.91 GPa, a breaking elongation of 16.4%, and a mass loss temperature at 5% of 336°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40028.     

Synthesis and thermal stability properties of boron‐doped silicone resin

In this article, a novel boron‐doped silicone resin (BSR) was synthesized by hydrolysis‐polycondensation method, with propyl‐triethoxysilane (PTES), dimethyl‐diethoxysilane (DMDES), and boric acid (BA) as starting materials, using absolute ethyl alcohol as solvent and hydrochloric acid as catalyst. The structures of the BSR were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). FTIR spectra showed characteristic B? O? Si and Si? O? Si stretching modes. XPS and NMR results confirmed further that boron element was doped successfully into the main chains of the silicone resin as Si? O? B bond motifs, and hydroxyl groups from BA were condensed properly with Si? OH or Si? OR to form cross‐linked structure of BSR with narrowed molecular weight distributions in optimum experimental condition. The thermal stability of the BSR was studied by thermogravimetry analysis and derivative thermogravimetry. The thermal degradation temperature of the silicone resin improved greatly after doping element boron into the main chain, and the thermal stability of the BSR was influenced by the content of boron. The thermal degradation mechanism of this BSR was also discussed. The degradation process can be divided into two stages, the weight loss in the first stages may be corresponding to the loss of the small groups and weaker bonds in the chains, such as ? CH₃, and ? C₃H₇, the weight loss in the second stage may be corresponding to the loss of the group as ? OC₂H₅. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40934.     

Study on thermal stability and flame retardancy of polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites based on POE and POE‐g‐MAH

Ethylene‐octene elastomer (POE)/organo‐montmorillonite (OMT) and maleic anhydride‐grafted POE (POE‐g‐MAH)/OMT composites were prepared through melt mixing and influence of clay dispersion on thermal, dynamic mechanical, and flammability properties were investigated. The results showed that OMT forms intercalated/exfoliated structures in POE‐g‐MAH/OMT and agglomerated structure in POE/OMT microcomposites, resulting in more significant improvements of storage modulus and glass transition temperature in the POE‐g‐MAH/OMT rather than the POE/OMT composites. The POE‐g‐MAH/OMT nanocomposites have better thermal stability and significantly reduced flammability than the POE/OMT microcomposites, which was discussed on the basis of cone colorimeter test of the composites and energy dispersive X‐ray spectrum analysis of the combustion chars. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2911–2917, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation of PVDF/PVP core–shell nanofibers mats via homogeneous electrospinning

The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) core–shell nanofiber mats with superhydrophobic surface have been prepared via electrospinning its homogeneous blending solutions, and the formation of the core–shell structure was achieved by the thermal induced phase separation assisted with the low surface tension of PVDF. The electrospinnability of the blending solutions was also investigated by varying the blending ratio of the PVP and PVDF, and it enhanced with the increase of PVP content. SEM and TEM results showed that the fibers size was varied in the range of 100 nm–600 nm with smooth surface and core–shell structure. The composition of the shell layer was determined by the XPS analysis, and further confirmed by water contact angle (WCA) testing. As the fraction of PVDF exceeding PVP in the electrospinning solutions, the nanofiber mats showed superhydrophobic property with the WCA above 120°. It indicated that the PVDF was concentrated in the shell layer of the fibers. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) analysis indicated that the PVDF was aggregated with the β-phase crystallite as dominant crystallite. The nanofiber mats with the gas breathability and watertightness ability due to the porous structure and superhydrophobic would be potential applied in wound healing.     

Injection‐molded porous hydroxyapatite/polyamide‐66 scaffold for bone repair and investigations on the experimental conditions

Hydroxyapatite/polyamide‐66 (HA/PA66) composite scaffolds were prepared using injection‐molding technique and also analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and mechanical testing. Compared with common methods to fabricate scaffolds, this process can fabricate composite scaffolds in a rapid and convenient manner by adjusting the experimental conditions of foaming agent and shot size. The interactions between PA66 and HA particles affect the crystallization behavior of PA66 and the pore structure of scaffolds. HA particles can increase the stiffness of composite scaffolds accompanied by the reduction of impact strength, pore size and porosity. The obtained 40 wt% HA/PA66 composite scaffolds with a pore size ranging from 100–500 μm and a porosity more than 65% can simultaneously meet the requirements of porous structure and mechanical performance. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1003–1012, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of the particle size of expandable graphite on the thermal stability,flammability, and mechanical properties of high‐density polyethylene/ethylene vinyl‐acetate/expandable graphite composites

In this article, high‐density polyethylene/ethylene vinyl‐acetate copolymer (HDPE/EVA) composites filled with two different particle sizes (45 and 150 µm) of expandable graphite (EG) were prepared by using a twin‐screw extruder. The thermal stability, flammability, and mechanical properties of HDPE/EVA/EG composites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), cone calorimeter test (CCT), tensile test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results from TGA and CCT indicated that EG significantly enhanced the thermal stability and fire resistance of HDPE/EVA blend. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of HDPE/EVA/EG composites were improved with decreasing particle size of EG. Although the onset of weight loss of the flame‐retardant composites occurred at a lower temperature than that of HDPE/EVA blend, the flame‐retardant composites produced a large amount of char residue at a high temperature. The consolidated char layer formed a barrier, which could reduce heat, low‐molecular transfer, and air incursion, and thus enhanced the flame retardancy. The data from the tensile test showed that the addition of EG deteriorated the mechanical properties; however, the tensile stress and strain of HDPE/EVA/EG composites increased with decreasing the particle size of EG owing to the strong interface adhesion between polymer matrix and inorganic particles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1162–1169, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Microporous gel electrolyte for quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cell

The extension of electrocatalytic reaction of I^?/I₃^? from counter electrode/gel electrolyte interface to gel electrolyte can significantly enhance the redox kinetics and therefore conversion efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cells. Microporous gel electrolyte from polypyrrole integrated poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate/cetytrimethylammonium bromide) [PPy‐integrated poly (HEMA/CTAB)] is successfully synthesized by in‐situ polymerization of pyrrole monomers in three‐dimensional framework of porous poly(HEMA/CTAB) matrix. An ionic conductivity of 12.72 mS cm^?1 and activation energy of 8.65 kJ mol^?1 are obtained from PPy‐integrated poly(HEMA/CTAB) gel electrolyte. Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are employed to characterize the electrocatalytic behaviors of the gel electrolytes. The resultant quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cell shows a light‐to‐electrical conversion efficiency of 6.68%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2531–2535, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers