Open Access

Article

Article ID: 3315

Mechanical characterization of polymeric composites reinforced with para-aramid after thermal exposure

by Luiz Felipe Peruchi de Godoy Guidugli, Ariandy Botezini, Sidiney Peruchi de Godoy, Erika Peterson Gonçalves

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.2, 2025;

In this study, heat treatments were applied to samples of para-aramid fiber-reinforced epoxy at two different temperatures (250 and 500 ℃) for five (5) min. The effects on mass and mechanical properties were investigated by tensile tests according to ASTM-D3039-00 and compared with untreated samples. In addition, the fiber/matrix interface was verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At both exposure temperatures, a mass loss of 2.7% and 8.9% was observed for samples submitted to 250 ℃ and 500 ℃, respectively. However, the mechanical tensile strength in both cases was improved, being more significant in samples exposed to a temperature of 500 ℃, with an increase of more than 30% in tensile strength. Although the presence of delamination in the samples was not verified in the visual analysis, in the micrographs studied, it was observed that the decomposition of the fibers and the matrix causes localized delamination between the weft, the warp, and the matrix of the composites after the test.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 3164

Catalytic strategies for synthesizing disentangled ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene via homogeneous FI catalyst-based polymerization

by Lei Li

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a high-performance polymer renowned for its exceptional mechanical strength, wear resistance, and chemical stability, making it indispensable in medical, industrial, and protective applications. However, its highly entangled molecular structure severely limits processability due to its extreme melt viscosity. Recent advancements in homogeneous catalyst-based polymerization, particularly using bis(phenoxyimine) titanium (FI) catalysts, have enabled the synthesis of disentangled UHMWPE (dis-UHMWPE), offering a breakthrough in overcoming these challenges. FI catalysts exhibit unique advantages, including living polymerization behavior, single-site homogeneity, and tunable steric/electronic effects, allowing precise control over molecular weight, narrow polydispersity, and reduced entanglement density. These features facilitate solvent-free solid-state processing, significantly improving melt processability while enhancing mechanical properties compared to conventional Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) catalyst-derived UHMWPE. Notably, key strategies such as low-temperature polymerization, cocatalyst modification, and optimized reaction kinetics when using an FI catalyst further ensure controlled chain propagation and crystallization, minimizing entanglements. This review highlights the transformative potential of FI-catalyzed dis-UHMWPE, including its inherent properties, advantages, and technical implementation details, in the preparation of dis-UHMWPE, setting a new benchmark for sustainable and high-performance polyolefin materials.

Open Access

Perspective

Article ID: 2351

Fullerene hits for green energy—Marching towards solar cells

by Ayesha Kausar

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Since discovery and after decades of scientific endeavors on fullerene and derived nanomaterials, we note wide-span high-tech applications in the fields of energy/electronic devices—to—space/defense/engineering—to—medical areas. These days, conformist explorations on carbon nanoparticles, like fullerene, trend towards the use of green synthesis methods and sources, leading to the development of environmentally friendly nanomaterials and applications. Fullerene, as one of the most remarkable nanotechnological breakthroughs, has emerged as a leading competitor for designing ecofriendly or green energy devices and systems. Looking at the current scientific demand for fullerene in one of the most efficient ecological energy conversion systems, like solar cells, we plan this perspective manuscript to unveil the true state-of-the-art and progress on green-sourced fullerene nanomaterials for photovoltaics. As per expanded research over the past few decades, manufacturing/application of fullerene nanomaterials via sustainable ecological sources/techniques led to next-level utilization for green energy devices, especially for high-performance solar cells with notably high power conversion efficiencies, photovoltaic parameters, low price, light weight, nontoxicity, and fine processability. Despite the research progress so far, commercialization and real-world utilization of fullerene-derived green solar cells seem to be reliant upon overcoming challenges for integrating these nanomaterials into today’s most scorching next-generation green energy devices or assemblies.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 2951

Recent advances in Sodium-ion battery research: Materials, performance, and commercialization prospects

by Razu Shahazi, Mashrufa Akther, Joy Malo, Mahajabin Dayna, Joya Paul, Md. Rahim Uddin, Md. Mahmud Alam

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are becoming more popular as a budget-friendly and eco-friendly substitute for lithium-ion batteries, thanks to the plentiful supply of sodium and its reduced raw material expenses. Recent developments in sodium-ion battery research have concentrated on enhancing the performance of crucial elements such as cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. Important advancements have been achieved in the creation of high-capacity cathodes, including layered transition metal oxides, Prussian blue analogs, and polyanionic compounds, as well as anode materials like hard carbon and alloy-based compounds. Research on electrolytes, including solid-state and ionic liquid options, aims to improve ionic conductivity, cycle stability, and prevent issues like dendrite formation. Although sodium-ion batteries generally have a lower energy density compared to lithium-based batteries, they exhibit significant potential for large-scale uses such as grid energy storage, where cost and cycle life are more important than energy density. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in Na-ion technology and discusses the growing prospects for its commercialization in the near future.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 2851

Sinterability, structural evolution and pinhole elimination of high strength self-glazed glass-ceramics sintered from granite sludge by instant glaze firing

by Changyou Liu, Jian Zhou, Jinshan Lu

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Granite sludge from the cutting and polishing of granite blocks should be utilized to prevent environmental pollution. This study focuses on the preparation of high-strength self-glazed glass-ceramics from granite sludge by combining dense sintering and instant glaze firing. Thermal analyses including thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal expansion were used to evaluate the sinterability of the granite powder and to determine the dense sintering temperature. For the instant glaze firing of the sintered glass-ceramics, the structural evolution was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and solid-state nuclear resonance to clarify glaze formation and glass network stability, respectively. Glaze formation resulted from the dissolution of quartz and feldspars and the reduced glass viscosity, as indicated by the thermochemical calculation. As the glaze firing temperature was increased, the thickness of the surface glaze increased. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the glazed glass-ceramics indicates a residual compressive stress in the surface glaze. The elimination of glaze pinholes was achieved by reducing the amount of ferrous minerals and increasing the glaze firing rate. Under the optimum conditions, the flexural strength and surface glossiness of the glazed glass-ceramic were 112.5 MPa and 54.7 GU respectively, enabling the scalable production of high-strength self-glazed glass-ceramics from granite sludge for application in decorative tiles.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1400

3D-printed poly (lactic acid) scaffolds coated with cationic macro-biocide: Investigation of anti-biofilm activity and thermo-mechanical properties

by Figen Aynali, Gizem Urtekin, Levent Aydın, Huseyin Balci, Metin Cetin, Guralp Ozkoc

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

In this study, the primary goal was to combine surface modification and 3D printing technology to create materials with anti-biofilm action. In order to achieve this, first a two-step reaction procedure using ring-opening copolymerization and copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reaction was used to successfully fabricate poly (lactic acid) (PLA) bearing quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) as an antimicrobial agent on its backbone at rates of 5% by mole. Then, this synthesized PLA-based (co)polymer dissolved in acetone with a weight percentage of 30% was used to coat 3D-printed PLA by dipping for 10, 30, and 90 s. These coated samples encoded PLA/10/PLA-QAS, PLA/30/PLA-QAS, and PLA/90/PLA-QAS, respectively. The coated PLA scaffolds were then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria were used to assess the anti-biofilm activity of the samples. In addition, the thermal and mechanical properties of the samples were examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and three-point bending tests, respectively. Consequently, covering the 3D-printed PLA surfaces with synthesized antimicrobial polymer prevented the formation of biofilms against both bacteria, and all coated samples showed no toxicity in 25% and 10% extraction mediums. And, it was observed that the antimicrobial polymer solution had a plasticizing effect on the PLA scaffold. As the dipping times increased, the glass transition temperatures of the coated samples decreased. In terms of flexural behaviors, increasing the dipping time also improved the flexural strain of coated PLA scaffolds. These thermo-mechanical results are correlated with SEM morphologies because of the penetration and solution effect of antimicrobial polymer dissolved in acetone.