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In the present work, novel cellulose (C)/Antarctic krill protein (AKP) composite fibers with a multiple cross-linking network were prepared using glutaraldehyde (GA) as cross-linking agent to improve the fiber's properties. The structure and properties of fibers were characterized by different techniques including FTIR, NMR, XRD, SAXS, SEM and electronic single yarn strength tester, etc. The results indicate that the reaction of GA with C and AKP separately forms a multiple cross-linking network. The C/AKP composite fibers with a multiple cross-linking network has stronger crystallization ability, higher orientation degree and deeper trench than C/AKP composite fibers. The breaking stress and wet strength of composite fibers reaches the maximum of 1.04 cN/dtex and 0.55 cN/dtex at GA content of 0.2 wt%. And the fatigue and tensile properties, hygroscopicity and moisture retention of C/AKP composite fibers has been improved. The development of C/AKP composite fibers with a multiple cross-linking network could be a promising candidate for biomedicine applications.

Using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanocellulose (NC) as raw materials, PVA/NC nanofiber membranes were prepared by electrospinning. The hydrogen bonding, crystalline properties and microscopic appearance of PVA/NC membranes with different NC contents were characterized. The mechanical properties, liquid absorption and cytotoxicity of the nanofiber membrane were evaluated. The results show that the free hydroxyl group of the PVA/NC nanofiber membranes have a maximum value of 9% at a mass fraction of 6% NC. The crystallinity of the PVA/NC nanofiber membranes and the average diameter of the nanofibers decreased and then increased as the NC content increased, with a minimum value of 38.23% and 272.03 nm, respectively, at 6% NC content. At this time, the contact angle was the smallest. The maximum strength of the PVA/NC nanofiber membranes is 75.8% higher than that of the PVA membrane at 2% NC content. With increasing NC content, the absorption of water, PBS sustained-release suspensions and artificial blood by PVA/NC nanofiber membranes increases. Cytotoxicity tests have shown that PVA/NC nanofiber membranes are non-toxic, have good cytocompatibility and are expected to be used in the field of medical dressings.

Pentaerythritol/butane tetracarboxylic acid/polyethylene glycol (PBPEG) crosslinking copolymers as a novel solid-solid phase change material (SSPCM) were successfully synthesized through the reaction mechanism and conditions of hydroxyl-carboxyl condensation reaction. The composition and chemical structure, crystalline properties, phase change behaviors, thermal reliability and chemical stability of PBPEG crosslinking copolymers were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), polarization optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry (TGA), respectively. The results show that PBPEG crosslinking copolymers have typical solid-solid phase transition temperatures in the range of 10.31∼53.27°C and high latent heat enthalpy in the range of 89.6∼102.8 J/g, the synthesized SSPCMs have good thermal reliability and chemical stability after 300 thermal cycles, and PBPEG crosslinking copolymers have good therm...

In this paper, a novel form-stable phase change material (FSPCM) of cross-linked poly(acrylonitrile-co-itaconate) (P(AN-co-IA))/polyethylene glycol (PEG) blend was prepared successfully. And it was systematically characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Thermal gravity analysis (TGA). FTIR analysis indicates that the cross-linked network has been synthesized. The DSC results show that the cross-linked FSPCM owns excellent phase change properties. The phase change temperatures and latent heats of the cross-linked FSPCM are in the range of 29–53 °C and 56.98–97.46 J/g, respectively. The TGA manifest that the cross-linked FSPCM appears good thermal stability and a broad processing temperature range.