Journal of Research Updates in Polymer Science

Compositional Study of Polymer Blend PVA, Pectin, Sodium Alginate, and Gelatin Electrospun Nanofiber for Wound Dressing Application

Song Jeng-Huang — 2025-01-21

Electrospun nanofibers are a biomaterial effective for wound healing due to their high surface area, tunable properties, and resemblance to the extracellular matrix. Nanofibers from the mixture of polymeric materials like gelatin, sodium alginate, pectin, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were investigated in this study. Pectin, sodium alginate, and gelatin are selected for their nature of being applied as tissue carriers, and they have the properties of being biocompatible and biodegradable while inducing cell proliferation. Unfortunately, these polymers have some drawbacks: most of them have poor mechanical strength or poor processing ability through electrospinning. To enhance these properties, PVA was incorporated. The result showed that an optimal blend ratio of 20% PVA, 40% pectin, 25% sodium alginate, and 15% gelatin yielded a fibrous structure with an average diameter of the fibers equal to 174.82 ± 13 nm, surface tension of 33.29 mN/m, and viscosity at 7,378 cP, which facilitated the uniform fiber formation and a porous structure for enhanced gas exchange and moisture retention, significantly aiding wound healing.

Synergistic Effect of Zinc Oxide and Magnesium Oxide Co-Cure Activators on Polybutadiene Rubber Vulcanization: Mechanical Properties and Thermal Characteristics

Gnanu G. Bhatt — 2025-03-25

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely recognized as an effective cure activator in the sulphur vulcanization of polybutadiene rubber (PBR). However, its high toxicity to aquatic organisms has raised environmental concerns, prompting the search for non-toxic alternatives. Despite this, no industrially viable substitute has been identified. This study explores the potential of using a combination of ZnO and magnesium oxide (MgO) to reduce ZnO levels while enhancing vulcanization performance. The crosslinking density and thermal stability of the vulcanized PBR were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of MgO. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of MgO as a co-activator significantly accelerates the vulcanization rate. Specifically, formulations with 60% MgO exhibited a tensile strength of 1.1 MPa, elongation at break of 111%, and hardness of 46 Shore A. When using MgO exclusively, the material achieved a tensile strength of 1.4 MPa, elongation at break of 212%, and hardness of 43 Shore A, with an abrasion loss of 64.82 mm³. Swelling studies revealed that crosslink density was highest in the PBR formulation with 3 phr MgO and 2 phr ZnO, exhibiting the lowest swelling index (3.10). As MgO content increased, the swelling index also rose, indicating reduced crosslink density. The highest swelling index (4.24) was observed in the formulation with 5 phr MgO, confirming weaker crosslink formation. These results highlight that MgO alone lacks the ability to form an effective sulfurating complex, but when combined with ZnO, it enhances crosslinking efficiency and vulcanization performance. The use of MgO, either alone or in combination with ZnO, presents a viable approach for developing environmentally friendly PBR compounds with potential applications in high-performance elastomers such as tires.

Synthesis, Purification and Modification of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Microspheres for Prosthetic Dental Applications

Konstantin K. Shirshin — 2025-03-25

A large number of polymers are used for various applications in prosthodontics. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres are commonly used for prosthetic dental applications, including the fabrication of artiﬁcial teeth, dentures, denture bases, obturators, orthodontic retainers, temporary or provisional crowns, and for the repair of dental prostheses. Obviously, one can find a lot of articles dedicated to PMMA synthesis. On the other hand, the materials used in prosthodontics are subject to very specific requirements. Thus, in this work, influence of all the stages of PMMA microspheres production (including synthesis and, especially, purification) on the polymers characteristics is detected.