Despite all the technical and economic problems and the public discussions on the environmental dangers and hazards of chlorine chemistry, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is the second most produced plastic (with a worldwide capacity of about 31 million tons), placing after polyolefins and before styrene polymers. Presently, PVC production worldwide is growing at a rate of more than 4% per year. The...

Lignin is an aromatic heteropolymer, abundantly present in the walls of secondary thickened cells. Although much research has been devoted to the structure and composition of the polymer to obtain insight into lignin polymerization, the low-molecular weight oligolignol fraction has escaped a detailed characterization. This fraction, in contrast to the rather inaccessible polymer, is a simple an...

The surface functionalization of conjugated polymers such as the poly(alkoxythiophenes) poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT) provides a potential means for systematically tailoring their physical properties. We previously reported the synthesis of an alkene-functionalized 3,4-propylenedioxy-thiophene (ProDOT) derivative that could be readily mo...

A similarity between chemical reactions and self-assembly of nanoparticles offers a strategy that can enrich both the synthetic chemistry and the nanoscience fields. Synthetic methods should enable quantitative control of the structural characteristics of nanoparticle ensembles such as their aggregation number or directionality, whereas the capability to visualize and analyze emerging nanostruc...

The effect of microwaves on the functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by the diazonium method was studied. The usage of a new approach led to the identification of the strength of the interaction (physical or chemical) between the functional groups and the carbon nanotube surface. Moreover, the nature (chemical formula) of the adsorbed/grafted functional groups was determi...

of chemical bonds but can also catalyze the radical-based re-polymerization of lignin fragments. In contrast, nonradical lignolytic enzymes selectively cleave chemical bonds in lignin and lignin model compounds and, thus, show promise for use in the preparation of high valueadded chemicals. In this mini-review, recent developments on non-radical lignolytic enzymes are discussed. These include r...

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a polymer that expansively employed in denture base construction due to its low cost, aesthetics, lightweight, reparability, and processability. Nevertheless, this material not ideal fulfill the mechanical physical characteristics of dental restorations. Despite popularity thermal polymerization method, main shortcoming prolonged curing period. Thus, correctly ...

The effect of chemical treatment of hemp hurds slices in three solutions (EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), NaOH and Ca(OH)₂) on the properties of natural material was discussed in this paper. Changes in the morphology, chemical composition and structure as well as thermal stability of hemp hurds before and after their modification were investigated by using FTIR (Fourier transform infrar...

Single-site polymerization catalysts enable exquisite control over alkene polymerization reactions to produce new materials with unique properties. Knowledge of catalyst speciation and fundamental kinetics are essential for full mechanistic understanding of zirconocene-catalyzed alkene polymerization. Currently the effect of activators on fundamental polymerization steps is not understood. Prog...

This work highlights the rational design of recognitive networks via polymerization reaction analysis and detailed kinetic analysis for application in novel diagnostic or robust point-of-care devices. Non-covalent complexation interactions between template or ‘guest' biomolecules and functional monomers during polymerization can create networks with selective binding sites for biomolecules with...