The effects of organoclay loading and chloroprene rubber (CR) concentration on the cure characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical and rheological properties of isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR)/CR blend were investigated. Different compositions of CR (10, 20, and 40 wt%) with Cloisite15A as organo modified nanoclay (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) were used for blends by a two-roll mill. Samples were vulcanized at 175 °C using a hot press. The cure and scorch times and also the maximum torque of the composites increased with the incorporation of organoclay. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus (100%, 200%, and 300%), and resilience improved with increasing nanoclay loading. The structure of the nanocomposites was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD results of nanocomposites indicated that the intercalation of polymer chains into the clay gallery was deduced from increasing the interlayer distance of silicate layers. TEM and SEM also directly confirmed XRD results.

SYNOPSISThis paper is devoted to the synthesis and characterization of superabsorbent polymers based on acrylic acid. These hydrogels were prepared by carrying the inverse suspension polymerization in an aromatic hydrocarbon. The dispersion is stabilized by the mixture of micromolecular and macromolecular emulsifiers. To obtain high swelling and appropriate absorption kinetics, parameters such as initial monomer and cross-linker concentration, range of neutralization, monomer addition rate, temperature, initiating system, stabilizing system, and nature of the organic phase were studied but not reviewed here. Thus, based on these topics a basic formula is obtained to display the effect of some structural parameters on behaviour of superabsorbents utilized.

SYNOPSISThis article is devoted to the synthesis, characterization, and modification of acrylic-based superabsorbents which are synthesized by inverse suspension and solution polymerization techniques. Distilled and saline water absorbency of these hydrogels and the effects of varying process nature on their absorbency characteristics (capacity and rate) are graphically discussed.

The absorption of protein and formation of biofilms on the surface of ophthalmic lenses is one of the factors that destroy their useful performance by causing severe visual impairment, inflammation, dryness and ultimate eye discomfort. Therefore, eye lenses need to be resilient to protein absorption, which is one of the opacity factors in minimizing protein absorption on the lenses. The purpose of this study was to investigate and reduce sediment biotransformation on the surface of the semi-hardened lens based on acrylate by bulk-free radical polymerization method. In this respect, the effect of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) with two different molecular weights of 200 and 600 g/mol on the surface roughness, protein absorption, and hydrophilicity of the lenses were studied. The surface hardness of the lenses, on shore D scale, was measured using a durometer hardness test. The presence of higher molecular weight of PEGDA hydrophilic polymeric monomers reduced the hardness of the lenses. The effect of introducing PEGDA, with two molecular weights, into lens fabrication formulations was studied with respect to their water content parameters and hydrophilicity. The presence of a crosslinker such as poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylates, at two different molecular weights, increased the water content and hydrophilicity of the produced lenses. Surface roughness is associated with the formation of bio-film and accumulation of microorganisms on the surface. Due to the roughness of the lens surface developed in this research, the lenses containing PEGDA 600 exhibited less roughness compared to that of PEGDA 200, which could also affect the absorption of protein. Therefore, according to the results of protein absorption test, the PEGDA 600 lenses showed lower protein absorption, which could be due to their high degree of water absorption and hydrophilicity.

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SYNOPSISThis article is devoted to the synthesis, characterization, and modification of acrylic-based superabsorbents which are synthesized by carrying out the well-known process of inverse suspension polymerization. The dispersion is stabilized by using a mixture of micromolecular and macromolecular stabilizers. High swelling and appropriate absorption kinetics are obtained, provided that parameters (including initial monomer and crosslinker concentration, range of neutralization degree, initiating and stabilizing system, monomer addition rate, temperature and nature of the organic phase) are being considered. Modifications of crosslinker and comonomer nature and their effects on absorbency characteristics (capacity and rate) of the above-mentioned superabsorbents are graphically presented. Finally, diffusion behavior of superabsorbents is briefly discussed.

A series of segmented poly(urethane‐urea) block copolymers were synthesized with varying proportions of polydimethylsiloxane diols in combination with polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG) using 4,4'‐methylenediphenyl diisocyanate followed by chain extension with a (50:50 mol %) mixture of 4,4'‐methylene‐bis(3‐chloro‐2,6‐diethylaniline) (M‐CDEA) and 1,4‐butanediol (BD). The molecular structures of polydimethylsiloxane urethane‐ureas were characterized by ATR‐FTIR and 1H‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. Distribution of siloxane domain and its influence on surface roughness were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic forced microscopy (AFM), respectively. The mechanical and thermal properties of the elastomers were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamical mechanical thermal analysis, and tensile measurement. The results showed that by incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane diol and M‐CDEA chain extender in polyurethane formulation, some improvements in thermal stability, fire resistance and surface hydrophilicity were achieved. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1743–1751, 2013

Considering the utility of cyclodextrin nanosponges for the encapsulation of drugs, in this study, the effect of drug loading method on the release property of the resulting complex is studied. To this purpose, curcumin as a model substrate was loaded into the cyclodextrin nanosponge via three different methods, including freeze drying, impregnation and physical mixing.All three complexes were characterized and the release profile of curcumin from them was investigated.[a] M. Gharakhloo, M. Rezaeetabar, Dr. A. Rahimi