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Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers
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Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 December 2021) | Viewed by 14025

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jaroslav Mosnacek

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Guest Editor
Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 41 Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: synthesis of well-defined polymers; reversible deactivation radical polymerizations; stimuli-responsive polymers; polymer-inorganic hybrids; modification of surfaces by polymers; synthesis of degradable polymers; polymers from renewable resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Martin Danko

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Guest Editor
Polymer Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
Interests: synthesis of well-defined polymers; ring-opening polymerizations; stimuli-responsive polymers and hydrogels; polymer chains dynamic, fluorescence spectroscopy; synthesis of degradable and biocompatible polymers; polymers from renewable resources
Dr. Dmitrij Bondarev

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Guest Editor
Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 41 Bratislava 45, Slovakia
Interests: controlled polymerizations; conjugated polymers; microplastics; supramolecular systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce a call for submissions to a Special issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences dedicated to “Degradation and Stabilization of Polymers”, and focused especially, but not only, on biopolymers and biocomposites. Various types of degradation, including thermal, mechanical, photo-oxidative, hydrolytic, and enzymatic, play an important role in the applicability of polymer materials. The stabilization of polymers is important to preserve their properties, and to ensure their overall performance for the required period of application and/or during reprocessing. However, from a biomedical or environmental point of view, a controlled triggering of degradation as well as a tailored degradation rate is desired. Therefore, knowledge of the mutual relationships between the polymer structure, additives, and polymer material morphology, and the effect of the external stimuli on the polymer material stability/degradability is crucial for achieving materials with targeted properties.

We encourage the submission of both original research articles and topical reviews on the degradation/stabilization of all types of polymer materials, degradation triggering, and/or control. All submitted articles will undergo peer review.

Dr. Jaroslav Mosnacek
Dr. Martin Danko
Dr. Dmitrij Bondarev
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • enzymatic degradation
  • hydrolytic degradation
  • thermos-oxidation
  • photooxidation
  • degradation analysis
  • thermal stabilization
  • photostabilization
  • controlled release
  • biomedicine
  • agriculture
  • packaging
  • environmental impact
  • functional polymers
  • renewable resources
  • polymers modification
  • vitrimers and polymer networks
  • controlled synthesis

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 5867 KiB  
Article
Properties and Degradation of Novel Fully Biodegradable PLA/PHB Blends Filled with Keratin
by Katarína Mosnáčková, Alena Opálková Šišková, Angela Kleinová, Martin Danko and Jaroslav Mosnáček
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9678; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21249678 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3272
Abstract
The utilization of keratin waste in new materials formulations can prevent its environmental disposal problem. Here, novel composites based on biodegradable blends consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and filled with hydrolyzed keratin with loading from 1 to 20 wt % [...] Read more.
The utilization of keratin waste in new materials formulations can prevent its environmental disposal problem. Here, novel composites based on biodegradable blends consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and filled with hydrolyzed keratin with loading from 1 to 20 wt % were prepared and their properties were investigated. Mechanical and viscoelastic properties were characterized by tensile test, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and rheology measurements. The addition of acetyltributyl citrate (ATBC) significantly affected the mechanical properties of the materials. It was found that the filled PLA/PHB/ATBC composite at the highest keratin loading exhibited similar shear moduli compared to the un-plasticized blend as a result of the much stronger interactions between the keratin and polymer matrix compared to composites with lower keratin content. The differences in dynamic moduli for PLA/PHB/ATBC blend filled with keratin depended extensively on the keratin content while loss the factor values progressively decreased with keratin loading. Softening interactions between the keratin and polymer matrix resulted in lower glass transitions temperature and reduced polymer chain mobility. The addition of keratin did not affect the extent of degradation of the PLA/PHB blend during melt blending. Fast hydrolysis at 60 °C was observed for composites with all keratin loadings. The developed keratin-based composites possess properties comparable to commonly used thermoplastics applicable for example as packaging materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers)
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12 pages, 1900 KiB  
Article
One-Dimensional Nanostructures of Polypyrrole for Shielding of Electromagnetic Interference in the Microwave Region
by Robert Moučka, Michal Sedlačík, Hayk Kasparyan, Jan Prokeš, Miroslava Trchová, Fatima Hassouna and Dušan Kopecký
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(22), 8814; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21228814 - 21 Nov 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2233
Abstract
Polypyrrole one-dimensional nanostructures (nanotubes, nanobelts and nanofibers) were prepared using three various dyes (Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Eriochrome Black T). Their high electrical conductivity (from 17.1 to 60.9 S cm−1), good thermal stability (in the range from 25 to 150 [...] Read more.
Polypyrrole one-dimensional nanostructures (nanotubes, nanobelts and nanofibers) were prepared using three various dyes (Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Eriochrome Black T). Their high electrical conductivity (from 17.1 to 60.9 S cm−1), good thermal stability (in the range from 25 to 150 °C) and resistivity against ageing (half-time of electrical conductivity around 80 days and better) were used in preparation of lightweight and flexible composites with silicone for electromagnetic interference shielding in the C-band region (5.85–8.2 GHz). The nanostructures’ morphology and chemical structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface measurement and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. DC electrical conductivity was measured using the Van der Pauw method. Complex permittivity and AC electrical conductivity of respective silicone composites were calculated from the measured scattering parameters. The relationships between structure, electrical properties and shielding efficiency were studied. It was found that 2 mm-thick silicone composites of polypyrrole nanotubes and nanobelts shield almost 80% of incident radiation in the C-band at very low loading of conductive filler in the silicone (5% w/w). Resulting lightweight and flexible polypyrrole composites exhibit promising properties for shielding of electromagnetic interference in sensitive biological and electronic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers)
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17 pages, 5176 KiB  
Article
Occurrence and Analysis of Thermophilic Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)-Degrading Microorganisms in Temperate Zone Soils
by Jana Šerá, Markéta Kadlečková, Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh, Veronika Kučabová and Marek Koutný
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 7857; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21217857 - 23 Oct 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2479
Abstract
The ubiquity and character of thermophilic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-degrading microorganisms in soils were investigated and compared to the process in an industrial composting plant. PBAT degraders were sought in 41 temperate zone soils. No mesophilic degraders were found by the employed method, but [...] Read more.
The ubiquity and character of thermophilic poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-degrading microorganisms in soils were investigated and compared to the process in an industrial composting plant. PBAT degraders were sought in 41 temperate zone soils. No mesophilic degraders were found by the employed method, but roughly 102 colony-forming units (CFUs) of thermophilic degraders per gram of soil were found in nine soils, and after an enrichment procedure, the PBAT-degrading consortia were isolated from 30 out of 41 soils. Thermophilic actinomycetes, Thermobispora bispora in particular, together with bacilli proved to be the key constituents of the isolated and characterized PBAT-degrading consortia, with bacilli comprising from about 30% to over 90% of the retrieved sequences. It was also shown that only consortia containing both constituents were able to decompose PBAT. For comparison, a PBAT film together with two types of PBAT/starch films were subjected to biodegradation in compost and the degrading microorganisms were analyzed. Bacilli and actinobacteria were again the most common species identified on pure PBAT film, especially at the beginning of biodegradation. Later, the composition of the consortia on all three tested materials became very similar and more diverse. Since waste containing PBAT-based materials is often intended to end up in composting plants, this study increases our confidence that thermophilic PBAT degraders are rather broadly present in the environment and the degradation of the material during the composting process should not be limited by the absence of specific microorganisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers)
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13 pages, 1144 KiB  
Article
Oxidized Oligosaccharides Stabilize Rehydrated Sea Cucumbers against High-Temperature Impact
by Jingyi Liu, Yanan Xu, Tianhang Xia, Changhu Xue, Li Liu, Pengtao Chang, Dongfeng Wang and Xun Sun
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(15), 5204; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21155204 - 23 Jul 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2457
Abstract
Small-molecule crosslinkers could diffuse into and stabilize protein hydrogels without damaging their appearance, but they are absent from the food industry due to the high safety and efficacy requirements for foods. Oxidized oligosaccharides are non-toxic small polyaldehydes previously found capable of crosslinking proteins [...] Read more.
Small-molecule crosslinkers could diffuse into and stabilize protein hydrogels without damaging their appearance, but they are absent from the food industry due to the high safety and efficacy requirements for foods. Oxidized oligosaccharides are non-toxic small polyaldehydes previously found capable of crosslinking proteins by premixing. In this study, we managed to diffuse various oxidized oligosaccharides into the protein wall of rehydrated sea cucumbers, and the texture profile analysis, total soluble material assay and SEM (scanning electron microscope) images all suggested the treated sea cucumbers acquired significantly enhanced stability against high-temperature-promoted deterioration. The stabilization was positively correlated with the aldehyde content of oxidized oligosaccharides but negatively correlated with molecular size. The mechanism of stabilization was found to include both covalent and hydrogen bond crosslinking. These results have demonstrated that oxidized oligosaccharides could enter food protein hydrogel by free diffusion and stabilize the 3D network effectively and thereby has great potential in food-related industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers)
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Review

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17 pages, 3692 KiB  
Review
Progress in the Preparation of Functional and (Bio)Degradable Polymers via Living Polymerizations
by Si-Ting Lin, Chung-Chi Wang, Chi-Jung Chang, Yasuyuki Nakamura, Kun-Yi Andrew Lin and Chih-Feng Huang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9581; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21249581 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2865
Abstract
This review presents the latest developments in (bio)degradable approaches and functional aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates prepared by typical ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones and trimethylene carbonates. It also considers several recent innovative synthetic methods including radical ring-opening polymerization (RROP), atom transfer radical polyaddition [...] Read more.
This review presents the latest developments in (bio)degradable approaches and functional aliphatic polyesters and polycarbonates prepared by typical ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones and trimethylene carbonates. It also considers several recent innovative synthetic methods including radical ring-opening polymerization (RROP), atom transfer radical polyaddition (ATRPA), and simultaneous chain- and step-growth radical polymerization (SCSRP) that produce aliphatic polyesters. With regard to (bio)degradable approaches, we have summarized several representative cleavable linkages that make it possible to obtain cleavable polymers. In the section on functional aliphatic polyesters, we explore the syntheses of specific functional lactones, which can be performed by ring-opening copolymerization of typical lactone/lactide monomers. Last but not the least, in the recent innovative methods section, three interesting synthetic methodologies, RROP, ATRPA, and SCSRP are discussed in detail with regard to their reaction mechanisms and polymer functionalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stabilization and Degradation of Polymers)
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