This cover image designed by Sarath P.S. in consultation with Dr. Soney C. George features a Silicone rubber (QM) loaded with silane modified graphene oxide (SiGO) that exhibits superior mechanical, thermal, and tribological capabilities. The lubricating effect of graphene oxide played a major role in improving the tribological features of QMSiGO composites. The friction coefficient is dramatically reduced when SiGO is added, largely due to the creation of a lubricant film that smooths the material surfaces and reduces frictional heat, lowering the COF and specific wear rate. DOI: 10.1002/app.52299

The cationic lignin was prepared by the etherification reaction of lignin and used to modify bentonite by ion exchange. After modified with cationic lignin, the hydrophobicity and the adsorption capacity of bentonite for alachlor had been remarkably enhanced. Meanwhile, the electrostatic attraction between cationic lignin and alginate made bentonite better dispersed in alginate gel and significantly reduced the permeability of alginate gel. Finally, the modified bentonite-alginate nanocomposite gel obtained better sustained release property.

Amorphous structural CO₂-polyol was used to modify oligoesterol-based water-borne polyurethanes (WPUs, PU₀CO₂), resulting in improved low temperature film forming, and comprehensive hydrolysis/oxidation resistance properties. Excellent intact films can be easily formed even at 3 ºC by adding CO₂-polyol into the oligoesterol-based WPUs. Moreover, WPUs modified by CO₂-polyol show superior hydrolysis/oxidation resistance properties than that of control samples based on castor oil or poly(propylene oxide) glycol. Notably, the all-around aging resistance of oligoester-based WPUs intensified with an increase of CO₂-polyol content. This work indicates that the CO₂-polyol may be a promising modified material to improve comprehensive aging resistance and low temperature film forming for oligoester-based WPUs.

This study demonstrates the preparation of hybrid fibers out of cellulose and carbon nanomaterials in ionic liquid, including analysis of their rheological properties, which strongly influence their spinning process. Carbon nanotubes are shown to only subtly thicken the dispersion, while graphene oxide can interact more strongly with cellulose and produce a more rigid network.

Novel thermostable polyimidazolium nanocomposite was prepared based on modified nano silica particles with terminated amine groups and used to removal of nitrate ions from water with high removal efficiency (90.56%), maximum adsorption capacity (Q_max = 37.73 mg g⁻¹) and strong cytotoxic agent against HL60 cells.

The internal topology of an epoxy-phenolic resin is controlled using only the cure schedule, and its effect on moisture uptake is investigated using dynamic vapor sorption. Absorption isotherms shows that the presence of heterogeneously cross-linked nanostructures has no effect on the overall extent, or kinetics, of water sorption. In contrast, minimal surface oxidation results in significantly increased moisture content.

Two grafted polymer layers with tunable thickness and Young's modulus are deposited on silicon wafer by a photoactivated polymerization with 4-(N,N-diphenyl-amino)benzaldehyde as organocatalyst. The middle damping layer is soft crosslinked polythioether with trimethylolpropane tris(2-mercaptoacetate) and pentaerythritol triallyl ether as monomer and top protecting layer is stiff poly(methyl methacrylate).

Structural diagram of interaction positions: a and b, hydrogen–hydrogen interactions; c, hydrogen bond; d, van der Waals interaction.

CaSt₂/ESO were incorporated into the self-made PVDC-MA film with excellent initial whiteness, whiteness retention to enhance thermal stability. Generalized master plot methods showed that after adding CaSt₂/ESO, the kinetic model followed by PVDC-MA transformed from three-dimensional diffusion to two-dimensional diffusion model in the initial thermal degradation stage.

Zwitterionic poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) was successfully grafted onto traditional polyamide membrane via atom transfer radical polymerization for antifouling forward osmosis process. The grafted membrane retained the salt rejection performance of the pristine membrane and showed much improved antifouling properties when treating organic foulants-contained feed solutions.

The immiscible copolymers that is, ethylene-octene random block (Engage, E) and ethylene-octene multi-block (Infuse, I) enhanced the impact strength for polypropylene significantly while the miscible one that is, ethylene-propylene copolymer (Versify, V) delivered insignificant effects. Immiscible copolymer particles act as reinforcing factor to resist and dissipate the impact load over the matrix, and thereby, improve the impact strength for the resultant blends.