The processing and properties of layered double hydroxides (LDHs)‐containing polypropylene (PP) composites have been studied extensively. However, no detailed studies have reported on how stearic acid (SA)‐intercalated and SA‐coated LDHs influence the properties of melt‐processed PP/LDH composites. Here, four different types of LDHs: synthesized (cLDH1) and commercial (cLDH2) SA‐coated LDH, SA‐intercalated LDH (iLDH), and unmodified LDH (nLDH), were used to fabricate composites using a master‐batch‐dilution technique in a twin‐screw extruder. The characterization results showed that microcomposites were formed when cLDH2 and nLDH were used, whereas nanocomposites were formed when iLDH and cLDH1 were used. Strong nucleating behavior was observed for the nLDH‐, cLDH1‐, and cLDH2‐containing composites, whereas iLDH delayed the crystallization process of the PP matrix. A significant improvement in modulus, with a balance of tensile and impact strengths, was observed in the case of the cLDH1‐containing composite, whereas the nLDH‐containing composite showed good improvement in temperature‐dependent load‐bearing capacity. On the other hand, the PP/iLDH composite showed a remarkable improvement in thermal stability and a reduction in the peak‐heat‐release rate. Therefore, this study gives us an opportunity to design PP composites with desired properties by the judicious choice of LDH, which further widens the application of PP matrices. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45024.

Porous organic polymers (POPs) are of growing research interest owing to their high surface areas, stabilities, controllable chemical configurations, and tunable pore volumes. The molecular nanoarchitecture of POP provides metal or metal oxide binding sites, which is promising for the development of advanced heterogeneous catalysts. This article highlights the development of numerous kinds of POPs and key achievements to date, including their functionalization and incorporation of nanoparticles into their framework structures, characterization methods that are predominantly in use for POP-based materials, and their applications as catalysts in several reactions. Scientists today are capable of preparing POP-based materials that show good selectivity, activity, durability, and recoverability, which can help overcome many of the current environmental and industrial problems. These POP-based materials exhibit enhanced catalytic activities for diverse reactions, including coupling, hydrogenation, and acid catalysis.

Herein, we report the synthesis of nanoporous polytriphenylamine polymers (PPTPA) by a simple one-step oxidative polymerization pathway and the materials were sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid to introduce acidic sulfonic groups to the polymers to form solid acid catalysts (SPPTPA). Magnetic properties were added to SPPTPA catalysts by depositing Fe3O4 nanoparticles to develop (FeSPPTPA) solid acid catalysts, for performing dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is regarded as a sustainable source for liquid fuels and commodity chemicals. XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, TGA, and N2 sorption techniques were used to characterize synthesized materials. The FeSPPTPA80 nanocatalyst showed superior catalytic activities in comparison to other catalysts due to the nanorods that formed after sulfonation of the PPTPA polymeric material which gave the catalyst enough catalytic centers for dehydration reaction of fructose. The recyclability tests revealed that the magnetic solid acid catalysts could be reused for four consecutive catalytic runs, which made FeSPPTPA a potential nanocatalyst for production of HMF.