To minimize the brittleness of polylactic acid (PLA), the epoxidized rubber seed oils (ERO) or epoxidized ester rubber seed oils (EERO) are blended with PLA. The mechanical properties of ERO bioblend are higher than that of EERO bioblend and significantly improved compared to that of the PLA sample. Elongation at break is increased by 9.1 times, and impact strength and tensile toughness improved by 139% and 1370%, respectively. The morphological study showed the microdroplets of epoxidized oils distributed in the ERO bioblend are much smaller than those in the EERO bioblend. This means that the ERO is better compatible with PLA, and both ERO and EERO are partially miscible with PLA. This compatibility is confirmed by the decrease in the glass transition temperature, <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-5.52898pt" id="M1" height="14.4911pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.96212 12.0754 14.4911" width="12.0754pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-85" d="M620 675H597C578 656 570 650 541 650H144C112 650 104 653 94 675H72C59 618 42 552 23 493L53 491C71 534 88 564 105 585C124 608 144 615 238 615H290L197 121C182 40 174 34 88 28L82 0H361L367 28C275 34 266 38 281 121L374 615H441C522 615 543 608 553 583C562 560 566 531 565 493L597 494C603 551 612 629 620 675Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,7.176,3.132)"><path id="g190-104" d="M463 437C426 431 375 425 327 422C297 440 264 449 231 449H230C153 449 51 396 51 283C51 215 94 168 139 149C123 129 91 103 51 88C50 78 53 60 62 46C75 25 100 2 136 -9C112 -28 73 -59 53 -79C38 -94 29 -113 29 -135C30 -192 91 -257 203 -257C336 -257 452 -160 452 -59C452 39 371 59 309 59C275 59 240 58 203 58C158 58 140 77 140 96C140 110 157 129 170 138C186 135 205 133 221 133C306 133 396 185 396 293C396 328 384 360 366 381L423 378C439 387 459 413 468 429L463 437ZM219 418C277 418 314 362 314 284C314 205 275 166 231 165C176 165 137 221 137 299C137 376 177 418 219 418ZM241 -11C285 -11 314 -14 339 -24C367 -36 384 -61 384 -95C384 -157 335 -206 240 -206C166 -206 108 -165 108 -110C108 -82 128 -54 154 -32C172 -17 195 -11 241 -11Z"/></g></svg>, from 65.7 to 60.5°C. The TGA analysis shows a sharp increase in an initial decomposition temperature (from 261.8 to 311.9°C) meaning an improvement in thermal properties. The NMR analysis proves that the epoxidized vegetable oils are linked to PLA chains, so both the melt flow index and an acid value of ERO or EERO bioblend decrease while the thermal stability is improved. The NMR peak area of some signals shows that the ERO is more attached to PLA, proving better compatibility of ERO with PLA, resulting in higher mechanical properties of ERO bioblend. The plasticizing effect of plasticizers is not dependent on the oxygen-oxirane content of the epoxidized oil but is strongly influenced by the acid value. Overall results show that both ERO and EERO can be used as a biodegradable, renewable plasticizer to replace petroleum-based plasticizers for PLA. In addition, the successful modification of PLA by using ERO or EERO promotes the use of this polymer as a potential material for researchers working on PLA applications.

Nguyen Thi Thuy

Pham Ngoc Lan

Investigation of the Impact of Two Types of Epoxidized Vietnam Rubber Seed Oils on the Properties of Polylactic Acid

Polymer laser sintering is an elaborate additive manufacturing technique because it is subject to process parameters and material properties. In this regard, each polymeric material necessitates a different set of process conditions. To this end, testing was done to determine the most suitable process parameters for a new commercially available polymer (Laser PP CP 60), from Diamond Plastics GmbH. It was established that the material requires slightly different settings from those provided by the supplier for the values for the removal chamber temperature, building chamber temperatures, and laser power to achieve the best mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength). The preliminary testing indicates that the process parameters that yielded the best mechanical properties for the laser PP CP 60 powder were 125&#x00B0;C, 125&#x00B0;C, 0.15&#x2009;mm, 250&#x2009;&#x03BC;m, 4500&#x2009;mm/s, 34.7&#x2009;W, 1500&#x2009;mm/s, and 21.3&#x2009;W for the removal chamber temperature, building chamber temperature layer thickness, hatch distance, scanning speed fill, laser power fill, scanning speed contour, and laser power contour, respectively.

Fredrick M. Mwania

Maina Maringa

Jakobus. G. van der Walt

Preliminary Testing to Determine the Best Process Parameters for Polymer Laser Sintering of a New Polypropylene Polymeric Material

Poly(1,5-diaminonaphthalene) has been electropolymerized on the screen-printed device with a three-electrode configuration. The modified electrodes have been developed as the new electrode for electrochemical determination of trace levels of lead ions (Pb2+). The poly(1,5-diaminonaphthalene) film prevents the deposition of Pb2+ into the surface defects of the bare carbon screen-printed electrode and possesses sensitivity to heavy metal ions thanks to amine and secondary amino groups on the polymer chain. The square wave anodic stripping voltammetry was applied to detect Pb2+ ions, showing a sharp stripping peak with the linear range from 0.5 μg·L-1 to 5.0 μg·L-1 (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24.361pt" style="vertical-align:-0.2063999pt" id="M1" height="11.7978pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -11.5914 24.361 11.7978"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-83" d="M610 18C585 26 567 34 540 68C517 97 499 128 476 171C452 215 425 276 413 304C496 332 570 394 570 494C570 555 545 595 509 619S419 650 364 650H139L133 622C216 615 219 612 203 527L129 132C112 40 105 36 23 28L17 0H279L285 28C199 34 194 40 211 132L239 284H284C320 284 334 275 351 236C374 182 394 140 420 93C459 23 495 -1 592 -8H600L610 18ZM480 485C480 424 449 372 403 342C374 323 338 316 293 316H245L291 562C296 589 301 601 311 608S337 618 358 618C432 618 480 575 480 485Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,8.151,-5.741)"><path id="g50-51" d="M414 144C384 79 371 75 317 75H135L276 221C367 316 408 376 408 465C408 570 327 635 237 635C179 635 131 609 100 575L42 494L67 471C94 510 138 565 205 565C277 565 321 517 321 435C321 348 258 270 195 195C146 137 88 81 33 26V0H411C423 44 433 88 446 135L414 144Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,16.73,0)"><path id="g117-34" d="M535 323V373H52V323H535ZM535 138V188H52V138H535Z"/></g></svg><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="34.451pt" style="vertical-align:-0.2063999pt" height="11.7978pt" version="1.1" viewBox="27.942183800000002 -11.5914 34.451 11.7978"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,27.992,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,34.232,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,37.196,0)"><path id="g113-58" d="M244 635C114 635 38 519 38 422C38 317 111 240 217 240C236 240 255 244 277 256L345 292C311 140 203 39 59 15L64 -15C89 -15 150 -5 204 17C339 72 440 202 440 386C440 521 368 635 244 635ZM228 602C326 602 352 479 352 390C352 370 351 347 348 324C327 308 293 296 258 296C174 296 124 369 124 458C124 517 152 602 228 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,43.438,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-58"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,49.679,0)"><path id="g113-51" d="M412 140C382 77 369 73 315 73H129L270 222C362 320 402 379 402 466C402 571 322 635 234 635C177 635 130 609 99 576L42 495L64 475C90 514 133 568 201 568C274 568 318 519 318 435C318 349 255 267 193 193C144 135 87 78 32 23V0H405C417 45 427 89 440 131L412 140Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,55.919,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-58"/></g></svg>). The limit of detection was found to be 0.30 μg·L-1. The sensors were applied to the analysis of Pb2+ in the tap water sample matrix with satisfactory results.

Mai T. T. Nguyen

Huy L. Nguyen

Dung T. Nguyen

Poly(1,5-Diaminonaphthalene)-Modified Screen-Printed Device for Electrochemical Lead Ion Sensing

A nanocomposite comprising cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) and polypyrrole (PPy) was fabricated onto a microelectrode for cholesterol sensing application. The cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was immobilized on the CeO2 NPs/PPy/electrode by the physical adsorption route. The structure and morphology of the CeO2 NPs/PPy nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results showed that the ChOx/CeO2 NPs/PPy/electrode was linearly related with cholesterol in the range of 50 to 500 mg/dL. The sensitivity of ChOx/CeO2 NPs/PPy/electrode was <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="25.983pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499002pt" id="M1" height="11.9413pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -11.5914 25.983 11.9413"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,9.204,0)"><path id="g113-56" d="M447 623H65C61 580 56 530 47 475H76C100 541 106 550 172 550H388C308 376 196 170 91 -1L98 -12L172 -2C268 204 360 408 455 611L447 623Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,18.352,0)"><path id="g117-42" d="M528 54L331 254L528 455L492 493L294 291L96 493L60 455L257 254L60 54L96 16L294 217L492 16L528 54Z"/></g></svg><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="23.238pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499002pt" height="11.9413pt" version="1.1" viewBox="28.838183800000003 -11.5914 23.238 11.9413"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.888,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,35.128,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,41.415,-5.741)"><path id="g54-33" d="M556 236V289H56V236H556Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,46.975,-5.741)"><path id="g50-55" d="M141 347C171 480 264 541 327 570C364 587 403 599 436 605L429 641C389 634 339 622 300 609C191 570 37 458 37 239C37 86 126 -12 245 -12C367 -12 454 89 454 210C454 314 380 397 272 397C252 397 230 390 208 380L141 347ZM231 338C323 338 366 257 366 174C366 108 340 27 263 27C180 27 129 123 129 244C129 268 130 292 135 310C158 323 193 338 231 338Z"/></g></svg> mA/mg⋅dL−1. The optimal parameters, including pH value and temperature, and selectivity, storage stability, and reproducibility of ChOx/CeO2 NPs/PPy/electrode were investigated.

Ta Thi Nhat Anh

Vu Van Thu

Hai-Son Dang

Vuong-Hung Pham

Phuong Dinh Tam

Cerium Oxide/Polypyrrole Nanocomposite as the Matrix for Cholesterol Biosensor

This study reports a scalable green electrochemical synthesis of novel biogenic silver nanoparticles colloid (biogenic AgNPs) in large scale up to 5 liters using the bulk silver bar and the green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) extract (GTE) as reducing agent during the electrochemical process. Under a direct-current voltage source, the biomolecules in GTE can release electrons to promote the reducing process of Ag+ to Ag0. More interestingly, the formation of the intermediate complex helps to cap on the nanoparticles, which leads to stabilizing AgNPs. The as-synthesized biogenic AgNPs with the size of 34&#x2009;nm exhibit the outstanding electrochemical properties due to the presence of biomolecules on the biogenic AgNPs surface, which facilitates the effective attaching of AgNPs on the carbon surface of the screen-printed carbon electrode (SPE) through the formation of the strong C-O coordinate bonds between O atom of oxygen functional groups and C atom of SPE. The electrochemical properties of the biogenic AgNPs-modified SPE are enhanced significantly in comparison with bare SPE and pure AgNPs-SPE. The biogenic AgNPs-SPE is applied successfully to the detection of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The electrochemical sensor using biogenic AgNPs can reliably detect 4-NP in the linear range from 0.1 to 25&#x2009;&#x03BC;M with the sensitivity about 6.69&#x2009;&#x03BC;A&#x2009;&#x03BC;M-1 cm-2. The present work reveals, as the greener synthesis method with ultra-large scalable ability, high purity, and excellent electrochemical properties of biogenic AgNPs is very promising for technological applications in high-sensitive electrochemical chemosensors, nanopharmaceuticals, and other fields.

Van-Tuan Hoang

Ngo Xuan Dinh

Tuyet Nhung Pham

Tran Vinh Hoang

Pham Anh Tuan

Tran Quang Huy

Anh-Tuan Le

Scalable Electrochemical Synthesis of Novel Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles and Its Application to High-Sensitive Detection of 4-Nitrophenol in Aqueous System

Supramolecular biopolymers (SBPs) are those polymeric units derived from macromolecules that can assemble with each other by noncovalent interactions. Macromolecular structures are commonly found in living systems such as proteins, DNA/RNA, and polysaccharides. Bioorganic chemistry allows the generation of sequence-specific supramolecular units like SBPs that can be tailored for novel applications in tissue engineering (TE). SBPs hold advantages over other conventional polymers previously used for TE; these materials can be easily functionalized; they are self-healing, biodegradable, stimuli-responsive, and nonimmunogenic. These characteristics are vital for the further development of current trends in TE, such as the use of pluripotent cells for organoid generation, cell-free scaffolds for tissue regeneration, patient-derived organ models, and controlled delivery systems of small molecules. In this review, we will analyse the 3 subtypes of SBPs: peptide-, nucleic acid-, and oligosaccharide-derived. Then, we will discuss the role that SBPs will be playing in TE as dynamic scaffolds, therapeutic scaffolds, and bioinks. Finally, we will describe possible outlooks of SBPs for TE.

Rosario P&#x00E9;rez-Pedroza

Alan &#x00C1;vila-Ram&#x00ED;rez

Zainab Khan

Manola Moretti

Charlotte A. E. Hauser

Supramolecular Biopolymers for Tissue Engineering

Polyurethane (PU) foam is known as the popular material for the applications in many fields of industry and life. To improve the mechanical and thermal properties of this material, in this research, PU foam was reinforced with aniline-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrum of modified MWCNTs showed the aniline was grafted on the surface of MWCNTs through the appearance of &#x2013;NH2 stretches. The effect of MWCNTs with and without modification on the density, porosity, compressive strength, and heat conductivity of PU/MWCNT foam nanocomposites was investigated. The dispersibility of MWCNTs in the PU matrix was enhanced after modification with aniline. Compressive strength of PU nanocomposite reached the highest value after adding 3&#x2009;wt.&#x0025; of modified MWCNTs into PU foam. Besides, the water uptake of PU nanocomposites using 3&#x2009;wt.&#x0025; of MWCNTs was decreased to 13.4&#x0025; as compared to that using unmodified MWCNTs. The improvement in thermal conductivity of PU/aniline-modified MWCNT nanocomposite was observed due to the change in the cellular size of PU foam in the presence of MWCNTs as shown by SEM images.

Huynh Mai Duc

Dat Nguyen Huu

Trung Tran Huu

Lu Le Trong

Hai Luong Nhu

Hong Phan Ngoc

Thao Nguyen Van

Quynh Hoa Kieu Thi

Giang Nguyen Vu

The Effect of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Thermal Conductivity and Cellular Size of Polyurethane Foam

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Advances in Polymer Technology publishes articles reporting important developments in polymeric materials, their manufacture and processing, polymer product design and considering the economic and environmental impacts of polymer technology.

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Advances in Polymer Technology