Abstract
Popularly, the application of biodegradable polymer film can resolve polyethylene (PE) film residual “white pollution” but it is unclear when the degradable film begins to degrade in different regions. To solve these issues, a total of 32 papers on the subject of the relative film coverage durability (RFCD) on positive covering effect from papers published before July 2019 were selected and analyzed by meta-analysis. The results showed that the tobacco relative yield (RY), relative profit (RP), and relative fine and medium (RFM) ratio improved by 11.2%, 12.9%, and 12%, respectively, under fully covered compared with the uncovered tobacco in the whole growth period. The RY0.33<RFCD<0.66 and RP0.33<RFCD<0.66 of removed PE treatments significantly improved by 4.3% and 4.0%, respectively, compared with the fully covered treatments. The RFM did not show significance with the fully covered treatments. The RY0.33<RFCD<0.66 was the highest in the low altitude (less than 1,000 m) region; however, the RY under the fully covered treatments was the greatest in the high altitude (more than 1,000 m) region. Random effect analysis showed that the model between RFCD and RY was RY = 1 + 0.275 × (1 − RFCD) – 0.357 × (1 − RFCD)2, and the RYmax(1.053) was reached with RFCD = 0.62 (removed PE after covering for 80 days) in the high-altitude region. In the low altitude region, RFM = 1 + 0.205 × (1 − RFCD) − 0.246 × (1 − RFCD)2, and the RFMmax(1.043) was obtained under the treatments with RFCD = 0.58 (removed PE after covering for 75 days). The findings determined the optimum film (PE) covering period of tobacco and provided a crucial theoretical basis for the degradable polymer film material design, synthesis, and manufacturing in different regions.
1 Introduction
Covering is an effective planting pattern of modification of the microclimatic to enhance crop productivity and water use efficiency (WUE). According to the covering materials applied, covering materials can be broadly classified into three main types: organic materials (plant products, e.g., crop straw, and paper), inorganic materials (synthetic polymers film, e.g., colorful plastic film, biodegradable film, and photodegradable film) and special materials (e.g., sand, concrete). The choice of selection of an appropriate covering material depends on the local crop, climate, planting pattern, and cost-effectiveness (1). The application of plastic film covering in agriculture, called plasti-culture, has increased dramatically throughout the world since 2000 (2). Polyethylene (PE) plastic film covering was found very effective for warming (3,4), reducing soil surface evaporation and preserving soil moisture (5), salt suppression (6), and weed prevention (7) as well as an important technology for increasing more agricultural production, higher quality and higher economic benefits for farmers in China (Figure 1a). In recent 40 years, under the high-intensity continuous PE covering cultivation in China, the pollution of farmland ecosystem caused by the residue PE film that was difficult to recover and degrade was becoming more and more serious (8,9,10). In the Loess plateau, the northwest and the northeast wind-sand area of China, the amount of PE residues in soil has reached over 250 kg/ha. Accumulation of PE residue may cause negative effects on farmland soil structure, nutrient, and moisture movement, crop production, and landscape environment for a series of reasons, affecting the sustainable production of agriculture (10,11) (Figure 1b).

Plastic film mulched tobacco (a) and film residues (b) in field surface of China.
Replacing plastic film with a degradable film was a wise measure to solve the plastic film residue pollution. However, there were many contradictions between degradation time and crop growth and yield mismatch on the practice of degradable plastic film (11). In order to meet the needs of yield and quality formation process to the greatest extent, it was crucial to seek suitable covering and degradation period and design degradable film for the crop. Yan et al. (12) proposed the “safe period of crop plastic film covering,” which laid a foundation for exploring the balance between the environmental benefits of plastic film warming, moisture conservation, weed control and high yield and quality of crops, and enhanced the controllability of degradable plastic film materials. Liu et al. (13) studied that the dry weight of tobacco roots was 1.72 times that of film covering during the whole growth period after 30 days of exposure to PE (13). Guo et al. found that the biodegradable film cracked in the tobacco plant when it entered the cluster stage, which was 5.82% (14) higher than that of the upper-grade tobacco without film covering. The previous removal film experiments (15,16,17,18) provided a practical basis for tobacco safe period of film mulching tobacco in China (12).
The meta-analysis used the statistical analysis method to integrate the results of multiple field experimental studies covering the effect on regional scales in China (19,20). Gao et al. (2018) quantitatively analyzed the effects of plastic film mulching and residual plastic on yield and WUE of maize, wheat, potato, and cotton in China based on a meta-analysis (21). Yin et al. (22) showed that the yield-increasing effect of maize was obvious when 0.008 mm thickness degradable film was used in flat cropping at high altitude and low temperature by meta-analysis, which provides a reference for the design of degradable film thickness. It makes clear that the safe period of degradable plastic film covering can guide the design and production of plastic film. The degradation of the degradable film was affected by many factors, among which the weathering characteristics of degradable film were closely related to the production cost. Complete biodegradable polymer materials such as polybutylene succinate/adipic acid-butylene glycol ester (PBSA), butylene adipate and butylene terephthalate copolymer (PBAT), and polylactic acid (PLA) mainly increase the film thickness to improve the tensile strength and field weatherability of the film, but the production cost also increases.
Therefore, the experimental data of tobacco PE covering duration in this study are as follows: quantifies the impact on tobacco yield and quality at different altitudes and different covering durations by meta-analysis, optimizes and defines the safety period of tobacco PE covering, and enriches and improves the research methods of continuous safety period of PE covering. It was of great practical significance for the research, production, and application of biodegradable film to design suitable tobacco degradable film products to meet crop demand, reduce the cost of degradable plastic film materials, and avoid blindness in the sale and application of degradable plastic film (Scheme 1).

Synthesis process from meta-analysis on PE experiments (a) to the safe period of crop plastic film covering (b), from manufacturing degradation film (c) to field application (d).
2 Experimental
2.1 Materials and methods
2.1.1 Literature review and data extraction
We collected peer-reviewed journal articles of publication investigation on the yield-quality effects of PE film-covered tobacco. Chinese and English databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure CNKI (http://www.cnki.net), WanFang (http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn), WeiPu (http://www.cqvip.com), Web of Science (http://accesss.webofknowledge.com/) were used to search the field experimental research papers (including academic dissertation) published in China in the past 24 years (1996–2019) on the correlation between different PE exposure times (coverage duration) and tobacco yield and quality. “Tobacco or tobacco leaf or flue-cured tobacco, film uncovering or film removing, yield or quality, film uncovering or film removing or film covering” was conducted, and the retrieved literature was screened. The screening criteria were as follows: (1) the test site was the main of China (longitude, latitude, and altitude); (2) the test treatment consisted of tobacco non-film covering and one of the films covering group during the whole growth period; (3) the film uncovering treatment included different time gradients; (4) the beginning and ending time of the transplanting of the tobacco seedlings were determined; (5) The test PE film, thickness, and planting pattern was clear; and (6) the literature with the same test site, year, tobacco species and test data were excluded. After the strict screening of the above criteria, 32 available papers were obtained, including 111 paired experiments and 150 experimental observations. The main tobacco varieties were Yunyan 87 and K326, which were distributed in 12 provinces (Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Shandong, Anhui, Jilin, and Henan). The data of the location of the test site, duration of PE covering, yield, and quality were extracted from criterion-compliant literature studies and are shown in Scheme 1a and Table 1.
Experiment size of different mulching duration treatments
| Effect sizes | Not covering (RFCD = 0) experimental sizes | 0 < RFCD < 0.33 experimental sizes | 0.33 < RFCD < 0.66 experimental sizes | Whole covering (RFCD = 1) experimental sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobacco yield | 23 | 37 | 49 | 41 |
| Tobacco profit | 23 | 37 | 48 | 40 |
| Tobacco fine and medium ratio | 16 | 25 | 41 | 28 |
2.1.2 Data classification
Based on the six screening criteria, after the searching results were carefully checked, 142 observations from 38 studies fit our selection criteria for the meta-analysis. According to the distribution of altitude data based on test points, 32 papers collected were divided into two categories: low-altitude defined as altitudes less than 1,000 m and high-altitude defined as greater than or equal to 1,000 m. According to the distribution of duration of covering, the PE relative film coverage durability (RFCD) was divided into four intervals: RFCD = 0 (no coverage), partial growth period coverage 0 < RFCD < 0.33 and 0.33 < RFCD < 0.66 (RFCD = 0.33 does not exist and RFCDmax = 0.652 shown in Figure 2b), and RFCD = 1 (full growth period coverage); all variables were from the literature studies.

Cumulative probability distribution of altitude (a), RFCD (b), RY (c), RP (d), and RFM (e) in all experimental sites.
2.1.3 RFCD
RFCD was the proportion (%) of the actual duration of coverage in the whole growth period (from covering sowing or transplanting seedlings to harvesting at the end of the growth period). Therefore, the RFCD value of non-covering treatment was 0, the RFCD value of covering treatment with different covering duration times was between 0 < RFCD < 1, and the RFCD value of covering during the whole growth period was 1. RFCD was calculated as follows:
2.1.4 Study size
We used average RFCD for each study, and we calculated a measure of accuracy, “study size,” by summing the number of experimental units (replicates) over experiments and treatments:
where study size i was the study size of publication i, N_replicate ijk was the number of replicates of treatment k from experiment j in publication i (21,22,23).
2.1.5 Calculation and integration of relative effect quantity
Relative effects of different PE covering duration (no film covering, different time PE removed) treatment (treatment group) and whole growth period covering (control group) on tobacco yield and quality were calculated as follows:
where RE was the relative yield-quality effect. The yield and quality of no covering and different times PE removed were the treatment groups, and PE covering during the whole growth period was the control group. To more intuitively present yield-quality effects of tobacco under different covering duration, if RE = 1, the response ratio of film-covering and yield-quality indicators during the whole growth period and if RE = 1, showed that yield-quality indicators of the treated group were equal to the control group.
2.2 Statistical analysis
The relationship between RFCD and elevation factor on yield-quality effect was estimated and optimized by mixing effects modeling. The mixed effect of Models 1–5 was used for subgroup analysis of different groups. Models 1 and 3 (Table 2) were non-factor difference effect models and used to find more detailed heterogeneity information and could also be used as a test of the robustness of meta-regression analysis.
Specification of the models fitted to the data
| Model | Equations |
|---|---|
| 1 | RES − 1 = β 1*(1 − RMD) |
| 2 | RES − 1 = β 1*(1 − RMD):(factor) |
| 3 | RES − 1 = β 1*(1 − RMD) + β 2*(1 − RMD)2 |
| 4 | RES − 1 = β 1*(1 − RMD):(factor) + β 2*(1 − RMD)2 |
| 5 | RES − 1 = β 1*(1 − RMD):(factor) + β 2*(1 − RMD)2:(factor) |
*Note: RES is therelative effect size (RY/RP/RFM).
β 1 and β 2 in Models 1–5 were model coefficients. Factor represents logical variables (such as altitude, etc.). The optimal model selection in Models 1–5 was based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) (24). The AIC calculation method was as follows:
where L was a log-likelihood value and k was the number of model parameters. The smaller the model AIC value, the higher the accuracy of the model, and vice versa. The model with a smaller AIC value was selected for predictive analysis.
All data analysis and mapping were conducted in R (25). The mixed effect models and selection were fitted using the R function lme and AIC (26).
3 Results and discussion
3.1 Cumulative probability distribution of altitude and relative coverage durability at test sites
After searching and screening, the geographic distribution of each test site in China is as shown in Figure 2a and b. Among them, the altitude range of the test site ranged from 52.2 to 1,982 m, with an average value of 991.78 m. The RFCD values of the film-uncovering tests after calculation ranged from 0.127 to 0.652, with an average value of 0.375. As shown in Figure 2c–e, the relative yield (RY) ranged from 0.524 to 1.292, with an average value of 1.005; the relative profit (RP) ranged from 0.553 to 1.311, with an average value of 1.005; and the relative fine and medium (RFM) ratio ranged from 0.470 to 1.230, with a mean value of 0.977. The cumulative probability of RFCD, yield and quality indicators showed a normal distribution. This evidence supported the conclusion that the sample size is sufficient.
3.2 The overall effect on yield and quality
Compared with the whole growth period covered with PE (as shown in Figure 3), RYRFCD=0 (0.888, p = 0.0013) without PE significantly decreased by 11.2%, RPRFCD=0 (0.871, p = 0.0007794) by 12.9%, and RFMRFCD=0 (0.880, p = 0.005116) without PE significantly decreased by 12%.

The overall effect of RY, RP, and RFM responding to RFCD of tobacco.
When PE was removed within the growth period, RY0<RFCD<0.33 (1.02, p = 0.1891) increased by 2.0% and RY0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.043, p = 0.00019) increased by 4.3% significantly. RP0<RFCD<0.33 (1.042, p = 0.0647) increased by 4.2%, RP0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.040, p = 0.01691) significantly increased by 4.0%, and RFM0<RFCD<0.33 (1, p = 0.9866), RFM0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.001, p = 0.9659) had no significant difference within the whole growth period covering.
3.3 The subgroup effect on yield-quality in different altitudes
In low altitude (elevation < 1,000 m) region, compared with the whole growth period covered with PE (Figure 4), RY0<RFCD<0.33 (1.053, p = 0.02) and RY0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.071, p < 0.01) significantly increased by 5.3% and 7.1%, RP0<RFCD<0.33 (1.063, p = 0.063, p = 0.0564) and RP0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.064, p = 0.00182) increased by 6.3% and 6.4%, respectively, and RY0<RFCD<0.33 (1.013, p = 0.6409) and RY0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.004, p = 0.846) increased by 1.4% and 0.4%, respectively. So, 0.33 < RMD < 0.66 was the highest RY, RP, and RFM in the low altitude region.

Low-altitude subgroup effect of tobacco RY (a), RP (b), and RFM (c) responding to RFCD of tobacco.
Compared with PE covering in the whole growth period (Figure 5), RY0<RFCD<0.33 (1.026, p = 0.4251) and RY0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.0095, P = 0.5425) increased by 2.6% and 0.9% in the high altitude region (elevation > 1,000 m). RP0<RFCD<0.33 (1.026, p = 0.4251) and RFM0.33<RFCD<0.66 (1.006573, p = 0.8172) increased by 2.6% and 0.7%, and RFM0<RFCD<0.33 (0.977, p = 0.4463) and RFMRFCD=0.66 (0.996, p = 0.8372) decreased by 2.3% and 0.4%. The RFM of PE removed treatments in the high altitude was as less than 1, and there was no significant difference, which indicated that the yield-quality of PE covering in whole growth period (RFCD = 1) was the highest in the high-altitude region.

High-altitude subgroup effect of tobacco RY (a), RP (b), and RFM (c) responding to RFCD of tobacco.
3.4 RFCD optimization of yield-quality at different altitudes
Taking the altitude as a model variable factor (low altitude <1,000 m and high altitude ≥1,000 m), there was no significant difference between RY and RP (p = 0.2981, p = 0.2215), and the AIC mean value of Model 3 was the smallest. Therefore, Model 3 was adopted with factor effect, its RFM had significant difference (p = 0.0138), while Model 4 had the smallest AIC (−130.4), and Model 4 fits RFM effects at high and low altitudes. The random effect analysis and model equation are shown in Figure 6. RFCD has a quadratic linear regression relationship with RY, RP, and RFM. Its RYmax(1.053) was higher than that of PE covering in the whole growth period by 5.3%, and its corresponding RFCD = 0.615 (calculated at 130 days of tobacco growth period, about 80 days PE removed after PE covering), and RPmax (1.056) was higher than PE covering in the whole growth period by 5.6%. RFCD can guide better covering and film degradation time.

The relationship and model between RY (a), RP (b), RFM (c), and RFCD.
As shown in Figure 6, there was a quadratic linear correlation between RFCD and RFM<1,000 at low altitude (<1,000 m). The RFMmax (1.043) was 4.3% higher than PE covering during the whole growth period, and the corresponding RFCD was 0.583 (PE removed after PE covering 75 days). So, removal or degradation film (PE) can increase the photosynthetic assimilation products of tobacco and significantly improve the quality of tobacco leaves at a low altitude region. In high-altitude region where RFM≥1,000 = 1 + 0.099 × (1 − RFCD) – 0.246 × (1 – RFCD)2, RFMmax was 1.01. The film could begin to degrade after film covering 75–80 days at a low altitude (<1,000 m). There was no difference between PE removed and covered in the whole growth period, which indicates that at a high-altitude (≥1,000 m) region, tobacco should be kept covered during the whole growth period and not degrade during the growth period in order to maintain high yield-quality.
4 Discussion
By meta-analysis around crop yield and quality of PE mulching showed some usefulness in tobacco planting in the southwest of China, but more extensive research, application, and improvement were needed by far. The removal of plastic film at the middle of the tobacco growing season showed increasing yields and quality under undesirable conditions. This RFCD was basically consistent with the results of experiments in Enshi, Hubei Province, and Xunyang, Shanxi Province (27) in China. A higher altitude, lower temperatures, film removal, or degradation were less conducive to ridge insulation, and lower water evaporation in the field was easy to cause the occurrence and spread of tobacco diseases. The ecological conditions of tobacco growth vary greatly at different altitudes. Altitude was an important factor affecting the ecological environment differences in tobacco-growing areas. The factors such as temperature, light, and rainfall were also different at different altitudes. The influence of altitude on the quality of tobacco leaves still dominates. Shang et al. (28) found that tobacco PE covering was more suitable for tobacco cultivation at high altitude >1,000 m, and with the increase of altitude, the time of film covering should be appropriately prolonged; on the contrary, should be appropriately shortened. The RFCD found in this research provides key information for manufacturing degradable film in China. So based on the above results, the cost of the tobacco degradable film material in the different regions could be reduced in the future.
5 Conclusion
In summary, our meta-analysis showed that, compared with PE covering in the whole growth period, the highest yield of film removal was in the low altitude region, while the yield of PE covering was the highest in the whole growth period at a high altitude region. The overall effects of RFCD, RY, and RP were quadratic linear regression models. The predicted RYmax and RPmax were 1.053 and 1.056, respectively. The corresponding RFCD was 0.615, the highest RFMmax was 1.043 at a low altitude, and the corresponding RFCD was 0.583. The yield-quality effect of PE removed after covering 75–80 days was higher than PE covering in the whole growth period, while in the high-altitude PE covering was kept in the whole growth period. The meta-analysis provides a key theoretical basis for evaluating the suitable period of tobacco film safety coverage and optimizing the design and manufacturing of degradable polymer film material products. The results would be useful in helping farmers, water-saving agriculture, and environmental sustainability in the future.
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to supported by Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS. We are also grateful to editors and reviewers of eploy.
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Funding information: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31501269, 41807388), the Special Scientific Research Fund of Agricultural Public Welfare Profession of China (201503105), and LiaoNing Revitalization Talents Program of China (XLYC1907089, XLYC1807056).
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Author contributions: Ning Yang: writing – original draft, diagram, figures, project administration, and funding acquisition; Liangshan Feng: writing – original draft, data collection, and analysis; Kaiyu Li: conceptualization and data collection; Chen Feng: writing – original draft; Zhanxiang Sun: review, editing, and project administration; Jialei Liu: visualization and project administration.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflicts of interest.
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Data availability statement: The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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- Study on preparation and properties of bentonite-modified epoxy sheet molding compound
- Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-modified phenolic resin: Synthesis and anti-oxidation properties
- Study on structure and properties of natural indigo spun-dyed viscose fiber
- Biodegradable thermoplastic copolyester elastomers: Methyl branched PBAmT
- Investigations of polyethylene of raised temperature resistance service performance using autoclave test under sour medium conditions
- Investigation of corrosion and thermal behavior of PU–PDMS-coated AISI 316L
- Modification of sodium bicarbonate and its effect on foaming behavior of polypropylene
- Effect of coupling agents on the olive pomace-filled polypropylene composite
- High strength and conductive hydrogel with fully interpenetrated structure from alginate and acrylamide
- Removal of methylene blue in water by electrospun PAN/β-CD nanofibre membrane
- Theoretical and experimental studies on the fabrication of cylindrical-electrode-assisted solution blowing spinning nanofibers
- Influence of l-quebrachitol on the properties of centrifuged natural rubber
- Ultrasonic-modified montmorillonite uniting ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether to reinforce protein-based composite films
- Experimental study on the dissolution of supercritical CO2 in PS under different agitators
- Experimental research on the performance of the thermal-reflective coatings with liquid silicone rubber for pavement applications
- Study on controlling nicotine release from snus by the SIPN membranes
- Catalase biosensor based on the PAni/cMWCNT support for peroxide sensing
- Synthesis and characterization of different soybean oil-based polyols with fatty alcohol and aromatic alcohol
- Molecularly imprinted electrospun fiber membrane for colorimetric detection of hexanoic acid
- Poly(propylene carbonate) networks with excellent properties: Terpolymerization of carbon dioxide, propylene oxide, and 4,4ʹ-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride
- Polypropylene/graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites with high conductivity via solid-state shear mixing
- Mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced asphalt concrete: Finite element simulation and experimental study
- Applying design of experiments (DoE) on the properties of buccal film for nicotine delivery
- Preparation and characterizations of antibacterial–antioxidant film from soy protein isolate incorporated with mangosteen peel extract
- Preparation and adsorption properties of Ni(ii) ion-imprinted polymers based on synthesized novel functional monomer
- Rare-earth doped radioluminescent hydrogel as a potential phantom material for 3D gel dosimeter
- Effects of cryogenic treatment and interface modifications of basalt fibre on the mechanical properties of hybrid fibre-reinforced composites
- Stable super-hydrophobic and comfort PDMS-coated polyester fabric
- Impact of a nanomixture of carbon black and clay on the mechanical properties of a series of irradiated natural rubber/butyl rubber blend
- Preparation and characterization of a novel composite membrane of natural silk fiber/nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan for guided bone tissue regeneration
- Study on the thermal properties and insulation resistance of epoxy resin modified by hexagonal boron nitride
- A new method for plugging the dominant seepage channel after polymer flooding and its mechanism: Fracturing–seepage–plugging
- Analysis of the rheological property and crystallization behavior of polylactic acid (Ingeo™ Biopolymer 4032D) at different process temperatures
- Hybrid green organic/inorganic filler polypropylene composites: Morphological study and mechanical performance investigations
- In situ polymerization of PEDOT:PSS films based on EMI-TFSI and the analysis of electrochromic performance
- Effect of laser irradiation on morphology and dielectric properties of quartz fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite
- The optimization of Carreau model and rheological behavior of alumina/linear low-density polyethylene composites with different alumina content and diameter
- Properties of polyurethane foam with fourth-generation blowing agent
- Hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance of waterborne fluorinated acrylate/silica nanocomposite coatings
- Investigation on in situ silica dispersed in natural rubber latex matrix combined with spray sputtering technology
- The degradable time evaluation of degradable polymer film in agriculture based on polyethylene film experiments
- Improving mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of the parylene C film by UV-curable polyurethane acrylate coating
- Thermal conductivity of silicone elastomer with a porous alumina continuum
- Copolymerization of CO2, propylene oxide, and itaconic anhydride with double metal cyanide complex catalyst to form crosslinked polypropylene carbonate
- Combining good dispersion with tailored charge trapping in nanodielectrics by hybrid functionalization of silica
- Thermosensitive hydrogel for in situ-controlled methotrexate delivery
- Analysis of the aging mechanism and life evaluation of elastomers in simulated proton exchange membrane fuel cell environments
- The crystallization and mechanical properties of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) hard elastic film with different melt draw ratios
- Review Articles
- Aromatic polyamide nonporous membranes for gas separation application
- Optical elements from 3D printed polymers
- Evidence for bicomponent fibers: A review
- Mapping the scientific research on the ionizing radiation impacts on polymers (1975–2019)
- Recent advances in compatibility and toughness of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate) blends
- Topical Issue: (Micro)plastics pollution - Knowns and unknows (Guest Editor: João Pinto da Costa)
- Simple pyrolysis of polystyrene into valuable chemicals
- Topical Issue: Recent advances of chitosan- and cellulose-based materials: From production to application (Guest Editor: Marc Delgado-Aguilar)
- In situ photo-crosslinking hydrogel with rapid healing, antibacterial, and hemostatic activities
- A novel CT contrast agent for intestinal-targeted imaging through rectal administration
- Properties and applications of cellulose regenerated from cellulose/imidazolium-based ionic liquid/co-solvent solutions: A short review
- Towards the use of acrylic acid graft-copolymerized plant biofiber in sustainable fortified composites: Manufacturing and characterization
Articles in the same Issue
- Research Articles
- Research on the mechanism of gel accelerator on gel transition of PAN solution by rheology and dynamic light scattering
- Gel point determination of gellan biopolymer gel from DC electrical conductivity
- Composite of polylactic acid and microcellulose from kombucha membranes
- Synthesis of highly branched water-soluble polyester and its surface sizing agent strengthening mechanism
- Fabrication and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) modified with nano-montmorillonite biocomposite
- Fabrication of N-halamine polyurethane films with excellent antibacterial properties
- Formulation and optimization of gastroretentive bilayer tablets of calcium carbonate using D-optimal mixture design
- Sustainable nanocomposite films based on SiO2 and biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) for food packaging
- Evaluation of physicochemical properties of film-based alginate for food packing applications
- Electrically conductive and light-weight branched polylactic acid-based carbon nanotube foams
- Structuring of hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane filled by fumed silica
- Surface functionalization of nanostructured Cu/Ag-deposited polypropylene fiber by magnetron sputtering
- Influence of composite structure design on the ablation performance of ethylene propylene diene monomer composites
- MOFs/PVA hybrid membranes with enhanced mechanical and ion-conductive properties
- Improvement of the electromechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane composite by ionic liquid modified multiwall carbon nanotubes
- Natural rubber latex/MXene foam with robust and multifunctional properties
- Rheological properties of two high polymers suspended in an abrasive slurry jet
- Two-step polyaniline loading in polyelectrolyte complex membranes for improved pseudo-capacitor electrodes
- Preparation and application of carbon and hollow TiO2 microspheres by microwave heating at a low temperature
- Properties of a bovine collagen type I membrane for guided bone regeneration applications
- Fabrication and characterization of thermoresponsive composite carriers: PNIPAAm-grafted glass spheres
- Effect of talc and diatomite on compatible, morphological, and mechanical behavior of PLA/PBAT blends
- Multifunctional graphene nanofiller in flame retarded polybutadiene/chloroprene/carbon black composites
- Strain-dependent wicking behavior of cotton/lycra elastic woven fabric for sportswear
- Enhanced dielectric properties and breakdown strength of polymer/carbon nanotube composites by coating an SrTiO3 layer
- Analysis of effect of modification of silica and carbon black co-filled rubber composite on mechanical properties
- Polytriazole resins toughened by an azide-terminated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OADTP)
- Phosphine oxide for reducing flammability of ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer
- Study on preparation and properties of bentonite-modified epoxy sheet molding compound
- Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-modified phenolic resin: Synthesis and anti-oxidation properties
- Study on structure and properties of natural indigo spun-dyed viscose fiber
- Biodegradable thermoplastic copolyester elastomers: Methyl branched PBAmT
- Investigations of polyethylene of raised temperature resistance service performance using autoclave test under sour medium conditions
- Investigation of corrosion and thermal behavior of PU–PDMS-coated AISI 316L
- Modification of sodium bicarbonate and its effect on foaming behavior of polypropylene
- Effect of coupling agents on the olive pomace-filled polypropylene composite
- High strength and conductive hydrogel with fully interpenetrated structure from alginate and acrylamide
- Removal of methylene blue in water by electrospun PAN/β-CD nanofibre membrane
- Theoretical and experimental studies on the fabrication of cylindrical-electrode-assisted solution blowing spinning nanofibers
- Influence of l-quebrachitol on the properties of centrifuged natural rubber
- Ultrasonic-modified montmorillonite uniting ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether to reinforce protein-based composite films
- Experimental study on the dissolution of supercritical CO2 in PS under different agitators
- Experimental research on the performance of the thermal-reflective coatings with liquid silicone rubber for pavement applications
- Study on controlling nicotine release from snus by the SIPN membranes
- Catalase biosensor based on the PAni/cMWCNT support for peroxide sensing
- Synthesis and characterization of different soybean oil-based polyols with fatty alcohol and aromatic alcohol
- Molecularly imprinted electrospun fiber membrane for colorimetric detection of hexanoic acid
- Poly(propylene carbonate) networks with excellent properties: Terpolymerization of carbon dioxide, propylene oxide, and 4,4ʹ-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride
- Polypropylene/graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites with high conductivity via solid-state shear mixing
- Mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced asphalt concrete: Finite element simulation and experimental study
- Applying design of experiments (DoE) on the properties of buccal film for nicotine delivery
- Preparation and characterizations of antibacterial–antioxidant film from soy protein isolate incorporated with mangosteen peel extract
- Preparation and adsorption properties of Ni(ii) ion-imprinted polymers based on synthesized novel functional monomer
- Rare-earth doped radioluminescent hydrogel as a potential phantom material for 3D gel dosimeter
- Effects of cryogenic treatment and interface modifications of basalt fibre on the mechanical properties of hybrid fibre-reinforced composites
- Stable super-hydrophobic and comfort PDMS-coated polyester fabric
- Impact of a nanomixture of carbon black and clay on the mechanical properties of a series of irradiated natural rubber/butyl rubber blend
- Preparation and characterization of a novel composite membrane of natural silk fiber/nano-hydroxyapatite/chitosan for guided bone tissue regeneration
- Study on the thermal properties and insulation resistance of epoxy resin modified by hexagonal boron nitride
- A new method for plugging the dominant seepage channel after polymer flooding and its mechanism: Fracturing–seepage–plugging
- Analysis of the rheological property and crystallization behavior of polylactic acid (Ingeo™ Biopolymer 4032D) at different process temperatures
- Hybrid green organic/inorganic filler polypropylene composites: Morphological study and mechanical performance investigations
- In situ polymerization of PEDOT:PSS films based on EMI-TFSI and the analysis of electrochromic performance
- Effect of laser irradiation on morphology and dielectric properties of quartz fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite
- The optimization of Carreau model and rheological behavior of alumina/linear low-density polyethylene composites with different alumina content and diameter
- Properties of polyurethane foam with fourth-generation blowing agent
- Hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance of waterborne fluorinated acrylate/silica nanocomposite coatings
- Investigation on in situ silica dispersed in natural rubber latex matrix combined with spray sputtering technology
- The degradable time evaluation of degradable polymer film in agriculture based on polyethylene film experiments
- Improving mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of the parylene C film by UV-curable polyurethane acrylate coating
- Thermal conductivity of silicone elastomer with a porous alumina continuum
- Copolymerization of CO2, propylene oxide, and itaconic anhydride with double metal cyanide complex catalyst to form crosslinked polypropylene carbonate
- Combining good dispersion with tailored charge trapping in nanodielectrics by hybrid functionalization of silica
- Thermosensitive hydrogel for in situ-controlled methotrexate delivery
- Analysis of the aging mechanism and life evaluation of elastomers in simulated proton exchange membrane fuel cell environments
- The crystallization and mechanical properties of poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) hard elastic film with different melt draw ratios
- Review Articles
- Aromatic polyamide nonporous membranes for gas separation application
- Optical elements from 3D printed polymers
- Evidence for bicomponent fibers: A review
- Mapping the scientific research on the ionizing radiation impacts on polymers (1975–2019)
- Recent advances in compatibility and toughness of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene succinate) blends
- Topical Issue: (Micro)plastics pollution - Knowns and unknows (Guest Editor: João Pinto da Costa)
- Simple pyrolysis of polystyrene into valuable chemicals
- Topical Issue: Recent advances of chitosan- and cellulose-based materials: From production to application (Guest Editor: Marc Delgado-Aguilar)
- In situ photo-crosslinking hydrogel with rapid healing, antibacterial, and hemostatic activities
- A novel CT contrast agent for intestinal-targeted imaging through rectal administration
- Properties and applications of cellulose regenerated from cellulose/imidazolium-based ionic liquid/co-solvent solutions: A short review
- Towards the use of acrylic acid graft-copolymerized plant biofiber in sustainable fortified composites: Manufacturing and characterization