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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 19538

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Prof. Dr. Francesco Paolo La Mantia

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Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, RU INSTM, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: polymer processing; mechanical behaviour of polymer-based systems; rheological behaviour of polymer-based systems; green composites; biocomposites; nanocomposites; biodegradable polymers; polymer blends; degradation and recycling of polymer-based systems
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Prof. Dr. Giulio Malucelli

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Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, I-10129 Torino, Italy
Interests: hybrid O/I systems; sol–gel processes; biomacromolecules; biopolymers; flame retardance; structure–property–processing relationships; thermal degradation; polymer (nano)composites
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Quite recently, MDPI and INSTM (National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology) established a strong scientific collaboration, which, among different scientific initiatives already taken, gave rise to the first Special Issue devoted to Italian researchers affiliated with INSTM. In this regard, considering the success of the first SI, we would like to propose a new Special Issue entitled “Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops”, aiming at collecting significant contributions from scientists working in polymer research within the Consortium.

This Special Issue aims to cover recent progress and trends in the preparation, characterization, applications, processability, and sustainability of polymer systems. Submissions are welcome but not limited to the topics listed below. Types of contributions to this Special Issue can be full research articles, short communications, and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Paolo La Mantia
Prof. Dr. Giulio Malucelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

polymer nano-, micro-, and macro-composites
bio-based polymer systems
interfaces in polymer systems
characterization of polymer systems
modeling of polymer systems
mechanical behavior
thermal behavior
advanced applications of polymer systems
advanced polymer processing operations
durability
fire behavior
degradation and stabilization
recycling of polymer systems
circular economy in polymer science

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling the Hidden Properties of Tomato Peels: Cutin Ester Derivatives as Bio-Based Plasticizers for Polylactic Acid

by Grazia Isa C. Righetti, Rita Nasti, Giangiacomo Beretta, Marinella Levi, Stefano Turri and Raffaella Suriano

Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1848; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081848 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most important biopolymers employed on the market due to its good mechanical strength and barrier properties. On the other hand, this material presents a rather low flexibility, limiting its employment. The valorization of bio-based agro-food waste for the modification of bioplastics is a highly appealing approach for the replacement of petrol-based materials. The aim of this work is to employ cutin fatty acids derived from a biopolymer (i.e., cutin), present in waste tomato peels and its bio-based derivatives as new plasticizers to enhance PLA flexibility. In particular, pure 10,16-dihydroxy hexadecanoic acid was extracted and isolated from tomato peels and then functionalized to give the desired compounds. All the molecules developed in this study were characterized by NMR and ESI-MS. Blends at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40% w/w) the flexibility (T_g measurements with differential scanning calorimetry—DSC) of the final material. Furthermore, the physical behavior of two blends obtained by mechanical mixing of PLA and 16-methoxy,16-oxohexadecane-1,7-diyl diacetate was investigated through thermal and tensile tests. The data collected by DSC show a lowering in the T_g of all the blends of PLA with functionalized fatty acids, in comparison with pure PLA. Lastly, the tensile tests highlighted how PLA blended with 16-methoxy,16-oxohexadecane-1,7-diyl diacetate (20% w/w) can efficiently enhance its flexibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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26 pages, 9697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of Unprecedented Transparent Epoxy–Nanomica Composites—New Model Insights for Mechanical Properties

by Greta Ongaro, Alessandro Pontefisso, Elena Zeni, Francesco Lanero, Alessia Famengo, Federico Zorzi, Mirco Zaccariotto, Ugo Galvanetto, Pietro Fiorentin, Renato Gobbo, Roberta Bertani and Paolo Sgarbossa

Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061456 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2183

Abstract

Two nanomicas of similar composition, containing muscovite and quartz, but with different particle size distributions, have been used to prepare transparent epoxy nanocomposites. Their homogeneous dispersion, due to the nano-size, was achieved even without being organically modified, and no aggregation of the nanoparticles was observed, thus maximizing the specific interface between matrix and nanofiller. No exfoliation or intercalation has been observed by XRD, despite the significant dispersion of the filler in the matrix which produced nanocomposites with a loss in transparency in the visible domain of less than 10% in the presence of 1% wt and 3% wt of mica fillers. The presence of micas does not affect the thermal behavior of the nanocomposites, which remains similar to that of the neat epoxy resin. The mechanical characterization of the epoxy resin composites revealed an increased Young’s modulus, whereas tensile strength was reduced. A peridynamics-based representative volume element approach has been implemented to estimate the effective Young’s modulus of the nanomodified materials. The results obtained through this homogenization procedure have been used as input for the analysis of the nanocomposite fracture toughness, which has been carried out by a classical continuum mechanics–peridynamics coupling approach. Comparison with the experimental data confirms the capability of the peridynamics-based strategies to properly model the effective Young’s modulus and fracture toughness of epoxy-resin nanocomposites. Finally, the new mica-based composites exhibit high values of volume resistivity, thus being excellent candidates as insulating materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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14 pages, 3246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fine Tuning of the Mechanical Properties of Bio-Based PHB/Nanofibrillated Cellulose Biocomposites to Prevent Implant Failure Due to the Bone/Implant Stress Shielding Effect

by Martina Ferri, Emanoele Maria Santos Chiromito, Antonio Jose Felix de Carvalho, Davide Morselli, Micaela Degli Esposti and Paola Fabbri

Polymers 2023, 15(6), 1438; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15061438 - 14 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1977

Abstract

A significant mechanical properties mismatch between natural bone and the material forming the orthopedic implant device can lead to its failure due to the inhomogeneous loads distribution, resulting in less dense and more fragile bone tissue (known as the stress shielding effect). The addition of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) to biocompatible and bioresorbable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is proposed in order to tailor the PHB mechanical properties to different bone types. Specifically, the proposed approach offers an effective strategy to develop a supporting material, suitable for bone tissue regeneration, where stiffness, mechanical strength, hardness, and impact resistance can be tuned. The desired homogeneous blend formation and fine-tuning of PHB mechanical properties have been achieved thanks to the specific design and synthesis of a PHB/PEG diblock copolymer that is able to compatibilize the two compounds. Moreover, the typical high hydrophobicity of PHB is significantly reduced when NFC is added in presence of the developed diblock copolymer, thus creating a potential cue for supporting bone tissue growth. Hence, the presented outcomes contribute to the medical community development by translating the research results into clinical practice for designing bio-based materials for prosthetic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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21 pages, 4235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sorption of CO₂, CH₄ and Their Mixtures in Amorphous Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)oxide (PPO)

by Valerio Loianno, Antonio Baldanza, Giuseppe Scherillo, Pellegrino Musto and Giuseppe Mensitieri

Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051144 - 24 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1504

Abstract

Sorption of pure CO₂ and CH₄ and CO₂/CH₄ binary gas mixtures in amorphous glassy Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene) oxide (PPO) at 35 °C up to 1000 Torr was investigated. Sorption experiments were carried out using an approach that combines barometry with FTIR spectroscopy in the transmission mode to quantify the sorption of pure and mixed gases in polymers. The pressure range was chosen to prevent any variation of the glassy polymer density. The solubility within the polymer of the CO₂ present in the gaseous binary mixtures was practically coincident with the solubility of pure gaseous CO₂, up to a total pressure of the gaseous mixtures equal to 1000 Torr and for CO₂ mole fractions of ~0.5 mol mol⁻¹ and ~0.3 mol mol⁻¹. The Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics for Glassy Polymers (NET-GP) modelling approach has been applied to the Non-Random Hydrogen Bonding (NRHB) lattice fluid model to fit the solubility data of pure gases. We have assumed here that no specific interactions were occurring between the matrix and the absorbed gas. The same thermodynamic approach has been then used to predict the solubility of CO₂/CH₄ mixed gases in PPO, resulting in a deviation lower than 9.5% from the experimental results for CO₂ solubility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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11 pages, 2633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Biodegradable, Bio-Based Polymer for the Production of Tools for Aquaculture: Processing, Properties and Biodegradation in Sea Water

by F. Carfì Pavia, V. Brucato, M. C. Mistretta, L. Botta and F. P. La Mantia

Polymers 2023, 15(4), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15040927 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2332

Abstract

Bio-based, biodegradable polymers can dramatically reduce the carbon dioxide released into the environment by substituting fossil-derived polymers in some applications. In this work, prototypes of trays for aquaculture applications were produced via injection molding by using a biodegradable polymer, Mater-Bi^®. A characterization carried out via calorimetric, rheological and mechanical tests revealed that the polymer employed shows properties suitable for the production of tools to be used in aquaculture applications. Moreover, the samples were subjected to a biodegradation test in conditions that simulate the marine environment. The as-treated samples were characterized from gravimetrical, morphological and calorimetric point of views. The obtained data showed a relatively low biodegradation rate of the thick molded samples. This behavior is of crucial importance since it implies a long life in marine water for these manufacts before their disappearing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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12 pages, 3111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Segregation of Benzoic Acid in Polymer Crystalline Cavities

by Antonietta Cozzolino, Guglielmo Monaco, Paola Rizzo and Gaetano Guerra

Polymers 2023, 15(1), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010177 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

Benzoic acid (BA) and its derivatives are very attractive because of their pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, radical-regulating, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal. Syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene)oxide (PPO) films exhibiting co-crystalline phases with BA were prepared and characterized by WAXD, FTIR and polarized FTIR measurements. The FTIR measurements clearly showed that BA was present mainly as a dimer in the crystalline channels of the ε form of sPS as well as in the α form of PPO, as generally occurs not only in the solid state but also in organic dilute solutions. BA was instead present as isolated molecules in the crystalline cavities of the δ form of sPS. In fact, the FTIR spectra of BA guest molecules exhibited vibrational peaks close to those of BA in its vapor phase. Hence, the nanoporous-crystalline δ form of sPS not only avoids additive aggregation but also leads to the separation of dimeric molecules and the segregation of monomeric BA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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18 pages, 4805 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchically Structured Hybrid Membranes for Continuous Wastewater Treatment via the Integration of Adsorption and Membrane Ultrafiltration Mechanisms

by Roberto Scaffaro, Michele Gammino and Andrea Maio

Polymers 2023, 15(1), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010156 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2097

Abstract

Growing environmental concerns are stimulating researchers to develop more and more efficient materials for environmental remediation. Among them, polymer-based hierarchical structures, attained by properly combining certain starting components and processing techniques, represent an emerging trend in materials science and technology. In this work, graphene oxide (GO) and/or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were integrated at different loading levels into poly (vinyl fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) and then electrospun to construct mats capable of treating water that is contaminated by methylene blue (MB). The materials, fully characterized from a morphological, physicochemical, and mechanical point of view, were proved to serve as membranes for vacuum-assisted dead-end membrane processes, relying on the synergy of two mechanisms, namely, pore sieving and adsorption. In particular, the nanocomposites containing 2 wt % of GO and CNTs gave the best performance, showing high flux (800 L × m⁻² h⁻¹) and excellent rejection (99%) and flux recovery ratios (93.3%), along with antifouling properties (irreversible and reversible fouling below 6% and 25%, respectively), and reusability. These outstanding outcomes were ascribed to the particular microstructure employed, which endowed polymeric membranes with high roughness, wettability, and mechanical robustness, these capabilities being imparted by the peculiar self-assembled network of GO and CNTs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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16 pages, 2723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Hazelnut Perisperm as an Antioxidant for Production of Sustainable Biodegradable Active Films

by Paola Scarfato, Maria Luisa Graziano, Arianna Pietrosanto, Luciano Di Maio and Loredana Incarnato

Polymers 2022, 14(19), 4156; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14194156 - 4 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1805

Abstract

Utilization of food-waste-derived bioactive compounds with biodegradable polymers is an attractive strategy leading innovation in the food packaging sector and contributing to reduce the environmental concerns of plastic packaging disposal. In this field, this work is aimed to use hazelnut perisperm as an antioxidant agent in the production of biodegradable polymeric films for active packaging applications. For this purpose, hazelnut perisperm of a selected particle size (<250 μm) at different percentages (0%, 5% and 10% by weight) was added to a bioderived and compostable polymer suitable for food contact, known as Ecovio^®. The blends were produced by a twin-screw extrusion process, while active films were prepared with a pilot lab-scale film blowing plant. The films were characterized in terms of physical–mechanical properties (thermal, tensile, oxygen barrier, optical, sealing ability) and antioxidant activity (DPPH), to investigate their potential use as active packaging. The results showed that the presence of the hazelnut perisperm confers significant antioxidant activity to the films, which is useful in counteracting lipid oxidation and preserve the quality of lipophilic foods, e.g., nut-dried fruits. An extension of the sealability temperature range of the films without compromising their strength was also highlighted. Moreover, the hazelnut perisperm causes a gradual decrease in the stiffness and mechanical strength of the films and an increase in the ductility of the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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21 pages, 2797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Novel EPDM Foams Containing a Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage Applications

by Marica Bianchi, Francesco Valentini, Giulia Fredi, Andrea Dorigato and Alessandro Pegoretti

Polymers 2022, 14(19), 4058; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14194058 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2542

Abstract

In this paper Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer rubber (EPDM) foams were filled with different amounts of paraffin, a common phase change material (PCM) having a melting temperature at about 70 °C, to develop novel rubber foams with thermal energy storage (TES) capabilities. Samples were prepared by melt compounding and hot pressing, and the effects of three foaming methods were investigated. In particular, two series of samples were produced through conventional foaming techniques, involving physical (Micropearl^® F82, MP, Lehvoss Italia s.r.l. Saronno, Italia) and chemical (Hostatron^® P0168, H, Clariant GmbH, Ahrensburg, Germany) blowing agents, while the salt leaching method was adopted to produce another series of foams. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and density measurements showed that MP led to the formation of a closed-cell porosity, while a mixed closed-cell/open-cell morphology was detected for the H foamed samples. On the other hand, foams produced through salt leaching were mainly characterized by an open-cell porosity. The qualitative analysis of paraffin leakage revealed that at 90 °C only the foams produced through salt leaching suffered from significant PCM leakage. Consequently, the thermo-mechanical properties were investigated only in samples produced with H and MP. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that EPDM/paraffin foams were endowed by good TES properties, especially at higher PCM contents (up to 145 J/g with a paraffin amount of 60 wt%). Tensile and compressive tests demonstrated the addition of the PCM increased the stiffness at 25 °C, while the opposite effect was observed above the melting temperature of paraffin. These results suggest that the EPDM foams produced with H and MP show an interesting potential for thermal management of electronic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Research in INSTM—National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology—Never Stops)

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