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A facile method to prepare low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/polystyrene (PS) interpolymer resin particles by swelling suspension polymerization without addition of extra swelling agent was developed. The polymerization temperature, polymerization time, and initiator concentration were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the LDPE/PS interpolymer resin particles were successfully prepared and a small amount of PS-g-LDPE existed in the resin. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that PS was uniformly distributed in the LDPE matrix, indicating excellent compatibility between PS and LDPE. The mechanical properties of LDPE/PS interpolymer resin were intermediate between PS and LDPE polymers.

Innovative poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/Spirulina composites were fabricated by melt blending. Maleic anhydride-grafted PBS (PBS-g-MAH) was synthesized and used as a compatibilizer in the composites. Extra amount of water was added to Spirulina to ensure that it acted as a plastic during blending with PBS. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the composites considerably increased after incorporation of PBS-g-MAH due to better interfacial adhesion between the components and better dispersion of Spirulina in the PBS matrix, which were verified by scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis also indicated the reaction between PBS-g-MAH and Spirulina, which resulted in improved Spirulina-PBS interaction. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis revealed that the crystallization temperature of the composites increased after addition of PBS-g-MAH, especially for the composites with higher Spirulina loading, while the PBS in compatibilized composites exhibited higher enthalpies. However, the compatibilized composites exhibited slight decreases of degradation temperature accompanied by slightly higher weight loss as indicated by thermal gravimetric analysis.

The polyurethane prepolymer terminated with a double bond was synthesized using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA). Then, a series of innovative UV-curable polyurethane coatings were prepared by blending ene-terminated polyurethane, fluoroacrylate monomer, and multifunctional thiol crosslinker upon UV exposure. The incorporation of fluoroacrylate monomer and multifunctional thiols into polyurethane coatings significantly enhanced the hydrophobic property, mechanical property, pencil hardness, and glossiness of the polyurethane coatings. This method of preparing UV crosslinkable, hydrophobic polyurethane coatings based on thiol-ene chemistry exhibited numerous advantages over other UV photocuring systems.

Biodegradable composites from poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) and Taihu Lake (Wuxi, China) blue algae were prepared by melt blending. The property and structure of biocomposites were investigated. By adding extra amount of water to blue algae, the formulated blue algae acted as a plastic in the composites during blending, and exhibited a reinforcing effect on the PBSA matrix. With increasing blue algae content, the thermal stability of the composites decreased; the tensile strength at break and elongation at break of the composites reduced, but the Young's modulus of the composites increased. However, the composite with 30% blue algae loading still exhibited good mechanical performance (tensile strength at break of 21.3 MPa, elongation at break of 180%). The fabrication of value-added PBSA/algae composites appeared as an effective approach to reduce the secondary environmental pollution of Taihu blue algae.