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Cover Image, Volume 132, Issue 9
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.41700
Subject(s) - polymer science , biopolymer , biocompatibility , keratin , polymer , cover (algebra) , methacrylic acid , monomer , materials science , computer science , chemistry , composite material , engineering , organic chemistry , geology , mechanical engineering , paleontology
In order to diminish the impact of human beings on the environment, synthetic polymers derived from petroleum should be replaced with biopolymers. However, some properties of biopolymer materials must be improved, so that they can compete with fossil derivatives. Using feather keratin as a biocompatible and inexpensive natural biopolymer and methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, Juhua Guo, Sujuan Pan, Xiaochun Yin, Yu‐Feng He, Tao Li, and Rong‐Min Wang prepare a pH‐sensitive feather‐keratin‐based polymer hydrogel (FKPGel) with graft copolymerization. Keratin‐based materials show promise because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical durability. The cover shows a dried FKPGel. (DOI: 10.1002/app.41572 )