Management of the plastic industry is a momentous challenge, one that pits enormous societal benefits against an accumulating reservoir nearly indestructible waste. A promising strategy for recycling polyethylene (PE) and isotactic polypropylene ( i PP), constituting roughly half produced annually worldwide, melt blending reformulation into useful products. Unfortunately, such blends are generally brittle useless due to phase separation mechanically weak domain interfaces. Recent studies...

Block polymer self-assembly affords a versatile bottom-up strategy to develop materials with the desired properties dictated by specific symmetries and dimensions. Owing distinct compared linear counterparts, bottlebrush block polymers side chains densely grafted on backbone have attracted extensive attention. However, morphologies found in so far are limited, only lamellar cylindrical ordered phases been reported diblock bottlebrushes. The absence of complex morphologies, such as networks,...

Abstract Here, low‐energy poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) chemical recycling in water: PET copolymers with diethyl 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalate (DHTE) undergo selective hydrolysis at DHTE sites, autocatalyzed by neighboring group participation, is demonstrated. Liberated oligomeric subchains further hydrolyze until only small molecules remain. Poly(ethylene terephthalate‐ stat ‐2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalate) were synthesized via melt polycondensation and then hydrolyzed 150–200 °C water 0–1...

Block polymer self-assembly provides a versatile platform for creating useful materials endowed with three-dimensional periodic network morphologies that support orthogonal physical properties such as high ionic conductivity and elastic modulus. However, coil configurations limit conventional linear block polymers to finite ordered dimensions, which are further restricted by slow kinetics at molecular weights. A bottlebrush architecture can circumvent both shortcomings owing extended...

This study presents an innovative three-dimensional (3D) printing method for fabricating hybrid-hardness polyurethane (PU) thermosets via direct-ink writing (DIW). features unprecedentedly long pot life of at least 16 months uncured material, achieved by employing internally blocked polymeric uretdione as the isocyanate source. innovation not only extends but also broadens preprint processing temperature range. Surface-modified fumed silica, used a rheology modifier, ensures maintenance...

Increasing demand for safe, convenient, and affordable packaging has prompted tremendous growth in single-use plastics, with attendant increases carbon dioxide emissions environmental waste. This study presents a family of engineering polyesters featuring biobased naphthalate rigid segments. The proposed can serve as an eco-friendly substitute existing materials, such poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Bio-PET analogs using 2,7-naphthalate-based segments dimethyl...

We report a series of novel poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) copolymers with improved properties through the incorporation bioadvantaged dimethyl 2,7-naphthalenedicarboxylate (2,7-N) as comonomer. PET is among most commonly used engineering thermoplastics, ubiquitous in food packaging industry. However, its application limited by poor thermal (low Tg) and oxygen barrier performance. A terephthalate-stat-2,7-naphthalate) were synthesized from ethylene glycol (EG), terephthalic acid (TPA),...

Here we report dynamic and thermodynamic aspects of the self-assembly in a series branched-chain soybean-oil-derived styrenic block copolymers produced via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. These biobased materials display unusual domain expansion which has not been seen conventional petroleum-based copolymers. The architecture poly(styrene-b-acrylated epoxidized soybean oil) (PS–PAESO) varies from star-like to star-brush-like owing bulk...

Herein, 3D printable polymer-toughened epoxy resin composites are reported. Epoxy resins widely used due to their excellent properties, such as thermal and chemical stability. However, applications limited by traditional mold-based manufacturing high brittleness. Mixtures of homopolymers, diblock copolymers, triblock copolymers composed poly(phenylene ether), poly(styrene), poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethylene oxide) that self-assemble into micelles in the uncured employed, providing a...

There is a rapidly expanding need for economically viable approaches ameliorating the wasteful disposal of post-consumer plastics in landfills and leakage these materials into environment. Here, we assess efficacy poly(ethylene)-block-poly(ethylene-ran-ethyl ethylene)-block-poly(ethylene) (EXE) triblock copolymers as compatibilizers recycled poly(ethylene) (rPE) isotactic polypropylene (rPP) containing ca. 10–15% PP PE impurities, respectively. E67X138E67 was prepared by anionic...

Here we report microphase-separated poly(styrene-block-dimethylsiloxane) (PS-b-PDMS) as a reinforcing filler in PDMS thermosets that overcomes the long-standing problem of aging processing silica-reinforced silicone. Surprisingly, PS-b-PDMS reinforced composites display comparable mechanical performance to silica-modified analogs, even though modulus PS is much smaller than silica and there no evidence percolation with respect rigid domains. We have found few unique characteristics...

Kinetics of passivating oxide growth can drive nanoscale surface order/speciation. Combined with and thermal expansion, trapped crystals (‘ship-in-a-bottle’) or extrusion metal fingerlings (‘spiky particles’) be achieved.

Here, we report all-polymer polysiloxane composites that overcome the long-standing processing problems of silica-reinforced silicone rubbers. Polystyrene fillers are dispersed with styrene/dimethylsiloxane symmetric diblock and triblock copolymers control filler morphology, filler–matrix interactions, filler–filler interactions. Surprisingly, not only rival traditional in mechanical properties cured materials but also have better processability stability than silica-filled compound before...

Here, we present an approach for developing the next generation of bio(meth)acrylates using glycerol ketals as a platform property differentiation. Crude glycerol, biodiesel byproduct, and ketones, derived from biomass valorization, are building blocks these polymeric materials. Biobased materials witnessing prominent boom in research commercialization due to increased awareness about carbon footprint depletion petroleum resources. Biodiesel biopolymers major linchpins improve sustainable...

Pesticides are extensively applied globally. Pesticide residues induce calamitous effects on the environment and untargeted organisms. Public concerns for safety of freshwater organisms challenges posed by aquatic contaminants remain high. In present study, acute toxicity avermectins (AVMs) to crayfish, Procambarus clarkii was evaluated. We also evaluated potential AVM biochemical transcriptomic status hepatopancreas gastrointestinal tract in P. clarkii.The 24, 48, 72, 96 h median lethal...

Chemically Recyclable Plastics In article number 2210154, Ting-Han Lee, George Kraus, Eric Cochran, and co-workers report dihydroxyterephthalate (DHTE) as a "Trojan horse" co-unit in poly(ethylene terephthalate) to produce highly recyclable plastics. The DHTE enables chemical recycling via hydrolysis monomers pure water by acting an internal catalyst through neighboring group participation.

We report a facile method to produce isolatable hollow-core elastomeric vesicles, "nanoballoons", prepared via block copolymer self-assembly in polymer blend. Poly(isoprene-block-dimethylsiloxane) (PI–PDMS) diblock copolymers are blended with PDMS homopolymers (h-PDMS) as "solvent" phase template the of PDMS-tethered vesicles PI walls. The walls subsequently crosslinked yield mechanically stabilized vesicles. h-PDMS inner core and matrix separated from by dialysis matrix-free nanoballoons....