This work aimed to develop a facile and broadly applicable method for fabricating multistimuli responsive triple-shape memory polymers (SMPs). Hence, herein the SMPs were prepared through the simple physical blending of two commercially available biopolymers, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), in the presence of robust and conductive graphene nanoplatelets. Interestingly, atomic force microscopy observations and thermal analyses revealed that the presence of nanofillers led to phase separation and appearance of two well-separated transition temperatures in the blend of these two miscible polymers. Consequently, shape memory results showed that the unfilled blend of PLA/PVAc with a single thermal transition can only show moderate heat triggered dual-shape memory behavior. While, PLA/PVAc/graphene nanocomposite blends demonstrated excellent thermally and electrically actuated triple-shape memory effects besides their remarkable dual-shape memory behavior. In addition, electrical conductivity of the blend was enhanced by ∼14 orders of magnitude in the presence of graphene. More interestingly, electroactive shape recovery experiments exhibited that depending on the applied voltage, temporary shapes in each region of sample can be either individually or simultaneously recovered.

This review aims to provide a concise insight into the rapidly growing anionic ring‐opening copolymerization of nylon 6/12 and its related structures. This study analyzes the relationship between the structures of polymerization components and the relevant properties to achieve optimum copolymerization formulation. Specific emphasis is placed on how the catalyst type and temperature influence the final copolymer structure. The present work reviews available literature about nylon 6/12 synthesis published between 1960 and 2017 and investigates structures linked to polymerization mechanisms behind them. Moreover, experimental results derived from direct/indirect identification methods of structures are presented. The crystalline morphology of different structures was also evaluated. The thermal behaviors of synthesized copolymers are explored comprehensively. Finally, mechanical properties alteration and enhanced water absorption results are reported. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1529–1543 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers

High oxygen barrier films were prepared based on low‐density polyethylene (LDPE)/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/ nanoclay and polyethylene‐grafted‐maleic anhydride (LDPE‐g‐MA) as a compatibilizer. Box–Behnken statistical experiment design methodology was employed to study the effects of nanoclay, LDPE‐g‐MA, and EVOH presence and their contents on various properties of the final films. The R2 parameter varied between 0.89 and 0.99 for all the obtained responses. The morphology of the samples was evaluated. Results of oxygen transfer rate (OTR) test indicated that the addition of EVOH up to 30 wt% to neat LDPE can decrease oxygen permeability significantly. The addition of nanoclay also decreased the permeability of resulting films but, LDPE‐g‐MA reduced the permeability of the films only at an optimal content. Elastic modulus was increased with the addition of nanoclay, EVOH, and LDPE‐g‐MA to the matrix. An increase in EVOH content in the samples improved the tensile strength. Effect of nanoclay on tensile strength was highly dependent on the presence of a compatibilizer. The addition of compatibilizer to the samples and increasing its content enhanced the tensile strength of the specimens. Incorporation of nanoclay, EVOH, and LDPE‐g‐MA to the LDPE matrix and increasing the amount of these components in the samples led to higher storage modulus, zero shear rate viscosity, and shear thinning exponent, but, lowered the terminal slope and the frequency of intersection point of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″). The only exception was that EVOH increment resulted in a lower shear thinning exponent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.