We present the results of combined experimental and theoretical (molecular dynamics simulations and integral equation theory) studies of the structure and effective interactions of suspensions of polymer grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs) in the presence of linear polymers. Due to the absence of systematic experimental and theoretical studies of PGNPs, it is widely believed that the structure and ef...

This chapter reviews recent studies on blends of conventional cellulose esters (CEs), such as cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose propionate (CP), and cellulose butyrate (CB), with non-crystalline vinyl (co)polymers mainly comprising the N-vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) unit. The mixing behavior of the CE/VP-containing copolymer blends is seriously affected by the chain length (i.e., carbon number) and d...

Knowledge of the glass transition temperatures (Tgs) as function of composition reflects miscibility (or lack of it) and is decisive for virtually all properties of polymer-based materials. In this article, we analyze single blend-average and effective Tgs of miscible polymer blends in full concentration ranges. Shortcomings of the extant equations are discussed to support the need for an alter...

In this research, the efficiency of Recycled Glass Powder (RGP) is evaluated for improvement of polymer-modified bitumen and asphalt mixture performance. An extensive laboratory programm was undertaken for polymer-modified bitumen including Crumb Rubber (CR), Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) and Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR). Rheological and mechanical proper...

We report a facile and general strategy for enhancing the photostability of organic fluorophores for bioimaging applications. As a proof of concept, bright and robust fluorescence was observed in solid states of a well-defined synthetic polymer polycaprolactone consisting of di(thiophene-2-yl)-diketopyrrolopyrrole covalently linked in the middle of the polymer chain as a biocompatible and biore...

Design of polymer properties, especially the relation between tensile and dynamic moduli in terms of chain conformational statistics was considered. Data on new elastomer blends with gradient properties enabling mixing on the molecular level were analysed in parallel to classical commodity materials. A new model describing the rheological behaviour of immobilized biopolymers was developed and t...