FT-IR surface analysis of poly [(4-hydroxybenzoic)-ran-(2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid)] fiber – A short review

Instrumental techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) constitute well-studied methodologies for polymer characterization, including polymeric fibers. However, a relatively short number of scientific publications involve the characterization of commercial Poly [(4-hydroxybenzoic)-ran-(2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid)] (Vectran™) fiber and its surface species. The majority of the published infrared studies uses the medium infrared region (MIR) associated to the Attenuated total reflection (ATR) method. In this scenario, this short review addresses the characteristics of Vectran™ fiber, sample depth data of each FT-IR spectrum mode, reflection and photo-acoustic spectroscopy (PAS), including near infrared (NIR) analysis. This paper addresses also researches on the characterization of Vectran™ by several FT-IR analysis conditions aiming to contribute to future studies. This brief review deals with methodologies developed in the last decade and published by several scientific research groups, emphasizing studies conducted in the last five years. A critical assessment and trends are also included.     

Ultrastretchable and conductive core/sheath hydrogel fibers with multifunctionality

Conductive hydrogels with ionic compounds possess great potential for the development of soft smart devices. A dielectric scarfskin is typically required for these devices to prevent short circuiting, leading to devices with lower stretchability than the hydrogel. Henceforth, commonly used dielectric materials, such as PDMS and Ecoflex, cannot be largely stretched. Hydrogel devices with ultrastretchability are required to accommodate hostile application environments. Herein, we propose a hydrogel fiber coated with a dielectric layer that can be stretched to over 2000% of its initial length. The fiber remains conductive when stretched to ~1300%. In addition, the core/sheath hydrogel fiber can be endowed with a variety of functional properties, such as electroluminescence (EL), photoluminescence (PL), and magnetic‐responsiveness, demonstrating scalability of the resultant fiber. The present work can pave the way for numerous next‐generation soft devices, such as smart textiles and wearable electronics. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 272–280     

Investigation into stress recovery behavior of shape memory polyurethane fiber

In this work, the stress recovery behavior of shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) fiber was investigated. The as‐spun SMPU fibers were subjected to various programing‐recovery conditions. It was observed that recovering at 100 °C generated higher recovery stress than recovering at 150 °C. It was also found that, while hot‐drawn programed fiber has higher recovery stress than cold‐drawn programed fiber if recovered at 100 °C, cold‐drawn programed fiber has higher stabilized recovery stress than hot‐drawn programed counterpart when recovered at 150 °C. A morphological model was proposed based on the results from differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction to understand the physics behind the different stress recovery behaviors. It is found that SMPU experiences different phase transitions and phase separations under different programing and stress recovery conditions. It is concluded that the two sequential phase separations taking place at 100 and 150 °C are primarily responsible for the differences in the stress recovery behavior. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1429–1440     

软体操作器结构设计及植入式光纤传感方法

为解决微创手术软体机器人的形状实时监测问题,将刻有三个光纤布拉格光栅的单根光纤植入软体操作器中,利用其研究柔性硅胶软体操作器光纤传感和三维形状重构方法。进行了软体操作器的结构设计及模型建立,并对光纤光栅波长漂移量和软体操作器弯曲曲率之间的关系进行了理论分析;通过实验验证了软体操作器结构设计及其模型建立的有效性,测试了软体操作器不同弯曲状态下三个FBG传感器的反射谱特征及其变化规律;通过分析三个FBG传感器的中心波长漂移量,利用线性插值算法计算出软体操作器在不同弯曲状态下的曲率等参数,并结合曲线拟合方法实现软体操作器的三维形状重构。实验结果表明:植入式光纤光栅传感方法可以实现硅胶软体手术操作器的三维形状传感,在微创外科手术领域具有广阔的应用前景。     

Recent developments concerning the investigation of exocytosis with amperometry

In this article, we have summarized the recent important results related to the electrochemical detection of vesicular exocytosis by amperometry with microelectrodes over the past three years. In this fascinating scientific field that began 40 years ago, the historical carbon fiber amperometry method still continues to be used to address biological questions by the pioneered groups of the field but also by other research groups thus showing this has become an indispensable routine technique for analyzing exocytosis. Furthermore, new methodologies (coupling with fluorescence, use of nanoelectrodes, microarrays) have blossomed and demonstrated how new analytical methods could be built to push back the limits of the initial technique.     

Impact of surface adaptation and Acacia nilotica biofiller on static and dynamic properties of sisal fiber composite

Nowadays, the awareness of the public along with strict legitimate forces over the use of polymers, the manufacturing and automotive industries started using the renewable materials. Since, natural fiber reinforced composites play vital role in developing lightweight structural materials, this study focuses on utilizing sisal fiber as reinforcement in polyester matrix along with natural filler. The influence of fiber length and fiber volume fraction on the mechanical properties of sisal fiber was studied initially. Test results revealed that the composite with 20?mm fiber length and 20-volume fraction composite has better mechanical properties. Furthermore, the effect of fiber surface modification has been analyzed using various chemical solutions such as NaOH, KMnO₄, stearic acid, and maleic acid. Of these, NaOH treatment enhances the mechanical properties of composite compared to all other cases. Finally, the influence of Acacia nilotica, a natural filler addition into the alkali-treated sisal fiber composite has been evaluated by mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. It is found that the addition of natural filler and surface treatment has enhanced the properties of composites due to their synergetic effect. This effect improves the adhesion and uniform stress transfer among the reinforcements. The fiber surface morphology was evaluated using micrographs obtained from scanning electron microscope.     

Surface treatment of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene fibers using potassium permanganate and mechanical properties of its composites

Potassium permanganate was applied to improve the surface properties of the ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. The results suggested that the surface oxygen atoms increased dramatically and the O/C ratio increased from 0.030 to 0.563 after treatment. The increased surface roughness and the O‐containing groups on the treated fiber surface decreased the contact angles with water and ethylene glycol. The crystallinity and the crystallite size of the treated fibers increased, and the DSC results indicated that chain scission and the formation of ―C═O chemical defects in the amorphous region were the main mechanisms of the deterioration of the treated UHMEPE fibers. The breaking strength and the elongation at break of the fibers decreased, but the modulus increased after treatment. The treated fibers exhibited better adhesion with epoxy matrix. An improvement of 27.6% from 101.4 to 129.4 MPa in ILSS confirmed the improvement in the interfacial adhesion strength of composites. The impact and bending strength of composites were both improved.     

The interfacial adhesion of wood fiber–reinforced UHMWPE composite filled with acid‐treated clay

Wood fiber–reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (wood fiber/UHMWPE) composites have been filled with acid‐treated clay to enhance the adhesion. According to the modification, the interlaminar shear strength of composites has been greatly improved. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy are used to examine the microscopic properties of resultant composites. The enhanced interlaminar shear strength is attributed to the clay interlock, which improves the wetting between wood fibers and resins.     

Plasma treatment of bamboo fibers on the tribological property of polyimide composite filled with graphite

This paper is concerned with the effects of the air plasma surface treatment of bamboo fiber on the tribological properties of the bamboo fiber reinforced polyimide (bamboo/polyimide) composites filled with graphite. Plasma treatment and graphite bring positive effect on the improvement of friction reducing and antiwear of bamboo/polyimide composites. And Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis shows that the bamboo fibers have been oxidized and etched by the air plasma treatment. The presence of active groups makes the polarity of the fiber increase, and so the bond property between the fiber and matrix is improved.