The dispersion state of PEEK and PEI in carbon fiber-reinforced composites with a PEEK/PEI blend matrix was investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed a continuous coexistence, on a submicron scale, of crystalline PEEK, amorphous PEEK compatible with PEI, and isolated PEI domains near the carbon fiber surface. This submicron-scale morphology accounts for the enhancement of both the glass transition temperature of PEEK and the interfacial shear strength with carbon fiber upon blending PEI with PEEK.

The molecular structure of natural rheological modifiers determines their network conformation, which mediates intermolecular interactions with emulsifiers and governs the arrangement of both components at the oil-water interface, thereby influencing emulsification performance. This thickening behavior, dictated by molecular conformation, also regulates the migration rate of emulsifiers to the interface. Furthermore, this study utilized rheological simulations to replicate the thermodynamic and kinetic conditions inherent in the emulsification process. Under a consistent set of simulation parameters, the influence of variations in modifier network conformation on the resulting droplet size distribution was systematically investigated.

Schematic illustration of tissue adhesives composed of decanoyl group-modified Alaska pollock gelatin (C10-ApGltn) and pentaerythritol poly(ethylene glycol) ether tetrasuccinimidyl glutarate (4S-PEG), and the effects of 4S-PEG molecular weight and decanoyl group modification on its physico-chemical and biological properties. The 23C10-ApGltn/4S-PEG10k adhesive showed controlled swelling, high burst strength, biodegradability, and good biocompatibility without severe inflammation, indicating its potential for cardiovascular applications.

Spin-cast polymer film formation is a nonequilibrium process controlled by competing hydrodynamic flow and solvent evaporation. By incorporating time-dependent viscosity into a spin-casting model, we identify a crossover point where hydrodynamic thinning becomes negligible. The film thickness at this crossover serves as a robust indicator of the final dried thickness, providing a unified physical framework for understanding process–structure relationships in polymer thin films.

Two new urea-containing polysilsesquioxane-based membranes were prepared. One of these membranes demonstrated impressive performance, achieving a CO₂ permeance of 4000 GPU and a CO₂/N₂ permselectivity of 13. A prediction model was generated using machine learning based on previous data to predict membrane performance. The model exhibited potential for membrane design, despite limited accuracy owing to the small number of explanatory variables used.

The origins of the excellent hydrophilicity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The hydrations around the side chains of the constituent pentamer of PVP and its analogs and the self-associations between them were evaluated at the molecular level. In addition to the robust hydration around the side chains, the high-level suppression of self-association, originating from the well-defined chemical structure of the PVP side chain, is also a key origin of the excellent PVP hydrophilicity.

Time-resolved SAXS/WAXS reveals that nanoscale density fluctuations govern the fracture behavior of amorphous polymers. PMMA exhibits DB-type fluctuations with small amplitude that evolve into anisotropic OZD-type fluctuations under deformation. In contrast, PS shows large fractal-like fluctuations that transform into Porod-type scattering with fibrillar signatures, resulting in numerous surface crazes. These findings demonstrate that nanoscale density fluctuations govern the distinct brittle-like fracture modes of PMMA and PS.

In this study, we examined the effects of interfacial interactions on the crystallization behavior and properties of PP composites containing unmodified silica, hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)-modified silica, and aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-modified silica. Through DMA, DSC, and DFT calculations, and mechanical testing, we demonstrated that surface functional groups strongly influence polymer–filler interactions.