The paper presents the preparation and characterization of novel composite materials based on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in powder and gel forms. We use a promising synthetic conception to form the novel composite biomaterials. At first MCC was modified with colloidal solution of Ag NPs in isopropyl alcohol prepared via metal vapor synthesis. Then Ag-containing MCC powder was used as precursor for further preparation of the gels. The hydrogels were prepared by dissolving pristine MCC and MCC-based composite at low temperatures in aqueous alkali solution and gelation at elevated temperature. To prepare aerogels the drying in supercritical carbon dioxide was implemented. The as-prepared cellulose composites were characterized in terms of morphology, structure, and phase composition. Since many functional properties, including biological activity, in metal-composites are determined by the nature of the metal-to-polymer matrix interaction, the electronic state of the metal was carefully studied. The studied cellulose-based materials containing biologically active Ag NPs may be of interest for use as wound healing or water-purification materials.

A versatile equilibrium method for synthesizing ladder-like polyphenylsilsesquioxanes (L-PPSQs) with various molecular weights (from 4 to 500 kDa) in liquid ammonia was developed. The effect of diverse parameters, such as temperature, monomer concentration, reaction time, addition or removal of water from the reaction medium, on the polycondensation process was determined. The molecular weight characteristics and structure of the L-PPSQ elements obtained were determined by GPC, ¹H, ²⁹Si NMR, IR spectroscopy, viscometry, and PXRD methods. The physicochemical properties of L-PPSQs were determined by TGA and mechanical analyses.

Catalytic systems containing TiCl₄ or TiCl₃, THF, organomagnesium (n-Bu₂Mg) and organoaluminum compounds capable of producing ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were developed. The resulting polymers were characterized by a molecular weight in the range of (1.8–7.8) × 10⁶ Da and desirable morphology, suitable for modern methods of polymer processing—the solvent-free solid-state processing of superhigh-strength (tensile strength up to 2.1 GPa) and high-modulus (elastic modulus up to 125 GPa) oriented films and film tapes. The impacts of a THF additive, the oxidation state of the titanium atom, and the composition and nature of the nontransition organometallic compounds on the formation of catalytic systems for UHMWPE production were evaluated. The results indicate the suitability of individual titanium chloride tetrahydrofuran complex application for the formation of THF-containing catalytic systems. This approach also results in a significant increase in the system catalytic activity and mechanical properties of UHMWPE. The catalysts based on Ti(III) were inferior to systems containing Ti(IV) in productivity but were markedly superior in the mechanical properties of UHMWPE.

A series of bis(phenoxy-imine) (FI) titanium(IV) and zirconium(IV) complexes have been synthesized. The effect of the nature of the activator (MAO, combinations Et_nAlCl_3-n + Bu₂Mg and iBu₃Al + [Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻) on the catalytic activity and properties of the resulting polymers was studied. It was found that Ti-Fi complexes, despite the nature of the outgoing ligands (Cl or iPrO) in the presence of Al/Mg activators, effectively catalyze the polymerization of ethylene (with the formation of UHMWPE); copolymerization of ethylene with 1-octene (with the formation of ultra-high molecular weight copolymers); and the ternary copolymerization of ethylene, propylene and 5-vinyl-2-norbornene (with the formation of polyolefin elastomers). It has been shown that Zr-FI complexes are not activated by these Al/Mg compositions. The resulting UHMWPE can be processed by a solventless method into high-strength and high-modulus oriented films; however, their mechanical characteristics do not exceed those obtained using MAO.

The structure and properties of nanocomposites based on organosoluble polyimide (PI) and branched functional metallosiloxane oligomers with different types of central metal atoms (Al, Cr, Fe, Zr, Hf and Nb) were investigated. Under the same weight content of the filler, the geometric parameters of the nanoparticles and thermal properties of the nanocomposites did not exhibit a direct relationship with the ability of the materials to withstand the incident flow of oxygen plasma. The atomic oxygenerosion resistance of the filled PI films was influenced by the composition of the hybrid fillerand the type of metal atom in the hybrid filler in the base metallosiloxane oligomer. To determine the effectiveness of the nanoparticles as protective elements of the polymer surface, the nanocomposite erosion yields pertaining to the concentration of the crosslinked organo–inorganic polymer forming the dispersed phase were determined and expressed in mmol per gram PI. The filler concentration in the polymer, expressed in these units, allows for comparison of the efficiency of different nanosize fillers for use in fabricating space survivable coatings. This can be important in the pursuit of new precursors, fillers for fabricating space survivable polymer composites.