The extensive production and use of conventional petroleum-based plastics have led to increasing concerns over fossil resource depletion and environmental pollution, thereby promoting widespread interest in poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a bio-based and biodegradable polymer. However, the inherent brittleness of PLA has severely restricted its broader applications. This review summarizes recent advances in the physical toughening of PLA, with particular emphasis on the main strategies of plasticization, filler incorporation, flexible polymer blending, and special processing treatments, and systematically analyzes the toughening mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of these strategies. Among them, flexible polymer blending is currently the most representative and industrially scalable toughening strategy for simultaneously improving the ductility and impact toughness of PLA, while special processing treatments have emerged as an important frontier for achieving the synergistic optimization of strength and toughness. Recent progress in the toughening of PLA foams is also discussed, providing guidance for achieving lightweight and high-toughness PLA. Finally, future perspectives for PLA toughening modification are presented.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are technologies that enable bidirectional information exchange between living organisms and external electronic devices, and they hold significant importance in fields such as neuroscience, flexible electronics, and human-computer interaction. Conductive polymer nanocomposites are materials composed of a polymer matrix and conductive nanofillers as the functional phase; they possess properties such as flexibility, conductivity, biocompatibility, and structural tunability, making them ideal electrode materials for BCIs. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of polymer nanocomposites in the field of brain-computer interfaces. It focuses on design strategies for composites combining polymer matrices with various conductive nanofillers (metal and carbon materials), systematically introduces their application progress in neural signal recording, neural stimulation and modulation, and multimodal monitoring, and finally discusses the challenges and prospects of polymer nanocomposites in the field of brain-computer interfaces.

Polyolefins are among the largest-volume synthetic polymer materials. However, the inherent nonpolarity, crystallinity, and low surface energy of most polyolefins lead to poor miscibility with each other and with polar materials. These limitations severely restrict the high-performance development of polyolefin blended systems and the recycling of polyolefin mixed plastics. Compatibilization strategies are core technologies for improving the interfacial properties and overall performance of polyolefin blends and serve as crucial support for realizing the resource recycling of recycled polyolefins. This paper reviews two major categories of compatibilization strategies for polyolefin blends: non-reactive and reactive compatibilization. This review elaborates on the molecular design, preparation methods, compatibilization mechanisms, and application progress associated with these strategies. Furthermore, the current challenges in this field are analyzed, and future development directions are proposed.

With the implementation of the national “dual carbon” strategy and the continuous advancement of plastic ban policies, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)—a biodegradable thermoplastic plastic featuring the most mature industrialization and outstanding cost-effectiveness—has witnessed rapid growth in market demand, sustained expansion in production capacity, and increasingly broadened application fields. However, the inherent poor impact toughness of PLA severely limits its widespread applications, enabling toughening modification of PLA become a long-standing focus in both domestic and international research. Among various toughening strategies, dynamic vulcanization of monomers refers to a reactive toughening strategy, in which highly reactive small molecules or low-molecular-weight precursors simultaneously undergo polymerization, crosslinking, dispersion in the PLA matrix, as well as reactive compatibilization during melt-compounding with PLA, thus demonstrating unique advantages. This method offers a wide selection of monomers, diverse crosslinking mechanisms, no need for pre-synthesis of the toughening agent, and significant toughening effects, which have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Although great progress has been made in toughening PLA via dynamic vulcanization of monomers, a systematic summary and review is lacking in this area. For this sake, this paper elaborated on the fundamental rationale, advantages, as well as influencing factors of monomer dynamic vulcanization for toughening PLA, and the monomer dynamic vulcanization toughened PLA systems were reasonably classified based on the difference in crosslinking mechanisms. It systematically reviews recent advances in various monomer dynamic vulcanization toughened PLA systems regarding the improvement of interfacial compatibility, regulation of dispersed phase morphology, and improvement of mechanical properties. Finally, the current challenge and future development prospects were proposed.

Traditional polyurethane (PU) elastomers possess excellent mechanical properties and processability; however, their insufficient heat resistance (long-term service temperature typically < 80 ℃) severely limits their application in high-temperature extreme environments. Polyurethane-imide (PUI) elastomers, which incorporate highly rigid and thermally stable imide rings into the molecular chains, have successfully achieved simultaneous improvements in heat resistance, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance, establishing themselves as a key technological route to overcome the performance bottleneck of high-performance elastomers. This article systematically reviews the synthesis strategies, structure-property relationships, applications, and future perspectives of PUI elastomers. First, the reaction mechanisms, synthetic strategies, and their comparative advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The regulatory effects of key variables, such as isocyanate type, polyol soft segment structure, dianhydride rigidity, and imide content, on the microphase separation behavior, thermal stability, mechanical response, and dynamic damping characteristics of PUI materials were critically analyzed. Subsequently, typical application examples of PUI elastomers in high-end fields, including heavy-load high-temperature wheels, low-loss optoelectronic waveguide materials, and dynamically healable intelligent adhesives, are summarized, demonstrating their great potential in extreme environments. Finally, the core challenges currently faced in PUI elastomer research are highlighted: the difficulty in regulating compatibility owing to the polarity difference between soft and hard segments, processing difficulties and solvent-dependent environmental issues caused by high viscosity, and insufficient understanding of microscopic failure mechanisms under multi-field coupling. Looking forward, future research should focus on precise multi-scale structural design, the development of green solvent-free/waterborne preparation processes, and multifunctional integration, such as self-healing and sensing capabilities, to promote the large-scale application of PUI elastomers in aerospace, electronic packaging, and high-end equipment manufacturing, thereby establishing their strategic position as core materials for next-generation ultra-high-performance elastomers.

Existing thermally responsive medical composites used in external fixation braces still suffer from relatively high thermal response temperatures and insufficient thermal conductivity. Achieving synergistic optimization of thermal responsiveness and heat transfer capability is therefore essential for safe clinical application. In this study, Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG)-based composites with rapid low-temperature thermal responsiveness were successfully prepared based on a structure-interface synergistic regulation strategy. The crosslinked network structure of the EUG matrix was tailored, and silane-modified short-cut carbon fibers were introduced to improve filler dispersion and interfacial compatibility. The effects of the crosslinked network, filler dispersion state, and interfacial interaction on the vulcanization behavior, thermal transition behavior, dynamic mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity of the composites were systematically investigated. The results showed that increasing the crosslinking density reduced the melting temperature of the composites from 47.7 ℃ to 34.6 ℃ while maintaining favorable thermal conductivity. Silane modification effectively weakened carbon fiber agglomeration and reconstructed the filler network, inducing a transition from a filler-network-dominated structure to an interface-interaction-dominated structure. As a result, the Payne effect was reduced and the high-temperature ductility was improved. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity slightly increased from 0.49 W/(m·K) to 0.51 W/(m·K), indicating improved interfacial heat transfer and synergistically optimized thermo-mechanical performance. These EUG-based composites show promising potential for medical external fixation braces and shape-moldable biomedical devices.

To address the insufficient interfacial bonding strength between polyester fibers, this study proposes a green surface modification strategy based on bio-derived polyphenols. Through a simple dipping process, a metal-phenolic network coating formed by the coordination of tannic acid (TA) and copper ions was constructed on the surface of a polyester fiber. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) is then introduced to graft onto the phenolic hydroxyl groups of TA via the reaction of its epoxy groups, thereby constructing an interfacial dual-crosslinking structure composed of the metal-phenolic network and covalent crosslinks. This modification strategy preserves the intrinsic mechanical properties of the fibers while improving their thermal stability. Under optimal processing conditions, the H pull-out force of the modified fiber/rubber composite reached 110.2 N, which was 123.9% higher than that of the unmodified system and 42.9% higher than that of the GMA-free modified system. The proposed modification strategy, characterized by its simplicity and mild processing conditions, offers a scalable and environmentally friendly route for interfacial design in fiber-reinforced elastomer composites, thereby promoting sustainable development in the rubber industry.

Resisting mechanical vibration and impact loading is a core issue for ensuring the service reliability of high-end equipment and flexible intelligent systems. Traditional impact-resistant materials generally suffer from drawbacks such as low energy dissipation efficiency and unstable mechanical properties. In this work, a deep eutectic solvent-based impact-resistant material (DES-IM) with a synergistic hierarchical dynamic network of “single hydrogen bonds – quadruple hydrogen bonds” was designed and fabricated. A deep eutectic matrix was constructed using imidazole derivatives (ID) and tannic acid (TA), and a supramolecular polymer (SPM) containing UPy groups was introduced to achieve synergistic energy dissipation via fast-responsive single hydrogen bonds and stably cross-linked quadruple hydrogen bonds. The chemical structure and thermal stability of the material were analyzed using characterization methods including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Its mechanical response, impact resistance, energy dissipation capacity and recyclability were systematically investigated through tensile tests, drop-weight impact tests, rheological tests and other measurements. The results show that when the tensile rate increases from 20 mm/min to 200 mm/min, the strength of DES-IM₂₀ increases from 18.8 kPa to 760.0 kPa, with an improvement of up to 40 folds, exhibiting pronounced strain rate dependence. Rheological tests reveal that the material displays efficient energy dissipation over a wide frequency range of 0.1−100 Hz, and maintains stable viscoelasticity and energy dissipation capacity within a broad temperature window of 25−80 ℃. Drop-weight impact experiments confirm its excellent ability to absorb impact kinetic energy, with a significantly suppressed rebound effect. Meanwhile, the energy dissipation capacity of DES-IM₂₀ shows no obvious attenuation after 10 recycling cycles, demonstrating favorable reusability. With its efficient energy dissipation over wide frequency and temperature ranges, strain rate-dependent mechanical properties and outstanding recyclability, this deep eutectic-based material presents broad application prospects in high-end engineering fields such as bionic soft robotics and impact protection for precision instruments.

In this work, the effects of the casting roller temperature (T_r) and the melt flow index (MFI) on the crystal structure and uniaxial tensile properties of PA1012 extrusion casting film were investigated. The results showed that the T_r determines the cooling rate, which significantly affects the dependence of the crystal structure and uniaxial tensile properties of the PA1012 extrusion casting film on the MFI. When using low T_r, the crystal structure and uniaxial tensile properties are basically independent of the MFI, while when using high T_r, the crystal perfection index (CPI) and crystallinity of PA1012 extrusion casting film are affected by the MFI, of which the former is mainly related to the molecular weight distribution, while the latter is mainly determined by the molecular weight. In addition, the yield strength and strain of PA1012 extrusion casting film prepared at high T_r are inversely proportional to the MFI, while the tensile strength and tensile elongation are directly proportional to the MFI. This is mainly determined by the initial crystalline structure of the PA1012 extrusion casting film and the degree of stress-induced crystallization in the strain hardening stage. The perfect and high initial crystallinity is conducive to the improvement of yield performance. The significant contribution of the low molecular weight part to the stress-induced crystallization makes the samples with a wide molecular weight distribution exhibit the better tensile properties.

Alkali lignin with enhanced hydrophobicity was prepared through quaternization and subsequently self-assembled with sodium lignosulfonate (SL) to construct a series of lignin nanoparticles (LNP). The particle properties were tailored by varying the SL content during the self-assembly process. Among them, LNP2.7 was identified as the optimal formulation, exhibiting a suitable nanosize (256 nm), high surface potential (−20.45 mV), and favorable wettability (three-phase contact angle of 75.3°). The synergistic effect of these properties enabled effective stabilization of the water–toluene interface, leading to the successful preparation of a stable Pickering emulsion. The emulsion achieved 96.4% encapsulation efficiency and 7.4% drug loading for the hydrophobic pesticide avermectin and exhibited sustained release behavior dominated by Fickian diffusion. Furthermore, the lignin-based interfacial layer and the inherent aromatic structure provided synergistic photoprotection, reducing the photolysis percentage of the encapsulated avermectin to only 34.9% after 96 h of UV irradiation. It also demonstrated strong adhesion and retention on various plant leaf surfaces. This study proposes a novel strategy for constructing high-performance Pickering emulsions by regulating the self-assembly of lignin, offering new perspectives for the application of lignin-based nanoparticles in efficient and sustained pesticide delivery.

To address the issues of Cr(VI) pollution in industrial wastewater and the resource utilization of lignin, this study developed an efficient and environmentally friendly heavy metal adsorbent using enzymatically hydrolyzed lignin as the raw material. The phenolic hydroxyl content was increased through NaOH/H₂O₂ oxidative degradation pretreatment, and the degradation products partially replaced phenol. These were then polycondensed with formaldehyde under alkaline conditions, and a series of lignin-based phenol-formaldehyde resin microspheres were synthesized via the hydrothermal method. The effect of the lignin substitution rate on the microsphere morphology was systematically investigated. The results showed that the microspheres exhibited the best sphericity and good dispersion at a lignin substitution rate of 50%, with a specific surface area of up to 55.3 m²/g, 28 times that of phenol-formaldehyde resin microspheres. In adsorption experiments, at a solution pH of 2.5, the lignin-phenol-formaldehyde resin microspheres achieved a maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 296.7 mg/g, and the adsorption behavior better fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R²=0.9998), indicating that chemical adsorption was the main rate-controlling step. This study not only realized high-value utilization of lignin but also provided a new solution of efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbents for heavy metal wastewater treatment, showing significant application potential.

The structural regulation of MgCl₂-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts via mixed alcohol systems remains a critical yet insufficiently understood factor governing polyethylene properties. In this study, catalysts with tailored structures were prepared by systematically varying the ratios of ethanol, isooctanol, and isobutanol. The structure–property relationships between the catalyst characteristics and polyethylene performance were comprehensively investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, and mechanical testing. The results demonstrate that the mixed-alcohol strategy effectively disrupts the crystallinity of MgCl₂ and generates a porous, defect-rich support, thereby modulating the dispersion and loading of Ti active sites. An optimized alcohol composition leads to enhanced catalytic activity because of improved active site accessibility and distribution. In contrast, Cat 1 produced polyethylene with the highest crystallinity, indicating more uniform active sites and regular chain structures. Notably, Cat 3 exhibited the lowest entanglement molecular weight and highest storage modulus, resulting in superior mechanical performance with enhanced ductility. This study establishes a multiscale structure–property correlation spanning catalyst structure, molecular architecture, and macroscopic performance, providing valuable insights into the rational design of high-performance polyolefin catalysts and materials.

In addressing the prevalent challenges associated with the chemical recycling of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), such as the necessity for harsh reaction conditions and significant energy consumption, this study has identified a set of catalysts and auxiliary ligands for use in the process. The primary catalysts comprise strong bases (CH₃ONa), weak bases (KHCO₃), and Lewis acids (FeCl₃, Zn(OAc)₂, ZnCl₂). The auxiliary ligands include C₇H₇FO₂ and C₆H₂F₄O, both containing phenolic hydroxyl groups. A two-component synergistic catalytic system was established, and synergistic catalytic alcoholysis of PLA and optimization of the reaction conditions were studied. The yield of methyl lactate (MLA), a product of polylactic acid alcoholysis, was the primary evaluation criterion. A green synergistic catalytic system, based on potassium bicarbonate/2-fluoro-6-methoxyphenol (KHCO₃/C₇H₇FO₂), has been demonstrated to exhibit a synergistic catalytic effect on the alcoholysis of polylactic acid. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis suggested that the PLA alcoholysis process within the synergistic catalytic system followed a chain-breaking mechanism. The results of the process optimization study demonstrated that under a PLA structural unit/methanol/KHCO₃/C₇H₇FO₂ molar ratio of 1.00:10.00:0.01:0.10, a reaction temperature of 110 ℃, and a reaction time of 90 min, the MLA yield reached 88%, providing an effective solution for the sustainable recycling of waste textiles.

Using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as raw materials, three water-soluble polymeric nitrogen phosphorus flame retardants were synthesized: ammonium polyvinyl alcohol phosphate (AAPP), polyethyleneimine polyvinyl alcohol phosphate (PPEP), and erythritol polyethyleneimine phosphate (EPP). These were applied to the flame-retardant modification of Lyocell fibers. After treatment with a 15 wt% flame-retardant finishing solution, the resulting flame-retardant fibers (AAPP/Lyocell, PPEP/Lyocell, and EPP/Lyocell) exhibited excellent flame retardancy and wash resistance. Their initial LOI values were 39%, 37%, and 39%, respectively. After 20 washing cycles, the LOI values remained at 32%, 33%, and 31%, respectively. Under alkaline washing conditions (2 wt% Na₂CO₃ aqueous solution) for 20 cycles, the LOI values were 29%, 26%, and 27%, respectively, all reaching the flame-retardant grade. Compared with pure Lyocell, the representative flame-retardant fiber AAPP/Lyocell showed reductions in peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) by 52.88% and 89.65%, respectively. Thermogravimetry-infrared analysis indicated that the polymeric flame retardants achieved flame retardancy through a dual-phase synergistic effect involving both gas-phase and condensed phase mechanisms.

“Polymer Physics” is a core foundational course in the materials science and engineering major at China University of Petroleum, Beijing, and its theoretical framework directly underpins the structural design and performance regulation of polymer materials for energy applications. Under the new context of energy transition and the growing demand for advanced energy materials, the traditional teaching model centered on general theoretical instruction can no longer fully meet the educational objectives of energy oriented universities. Guided by the university mission of serving the national energy strategy, the course content has been systematically optimized around typical application scenarios involving energy related polymer materials, including oil and gas production equipment, polymer flooding systems, battery separators, and polymer electrolytes. Core theories such as chain structure, crystallization kinetics, glass transition, and viscoelastic models are closely integrated with energy engineering problems, thereby establishing a teaching system that links fundamental theory, engineering cases, and thematic practice. In addition, case driven teaching, university enterprise collaborative practice, and diversified assessment reform have been adopted to strengthen students understanding of the intrinsic relationship between material structure and service performance. Teaching practice shows that the course reform has effectively improved students ability to apply polymer physics theories to the analysis of engineering problems in energy related materials, while promoting close alignment between fundamental theoretical teaching and the practical needs of energy engineering. This course development pathway provides a useful practical model for the reform of foundational polymer courses in energy oriented universities.

Outcome-based education (OBE) in engineering education accreditation emphasizes the cultivation of students’ core ability to apply fundamental theoretical knowledge to solve complex engineering problems. As a foundational theoretical course in polymer materials and engineering, “Polymer Physics” undertakes the critical task of shaping this competency. This study takes this course as a theoretical foundation to construct an integrated cultivation system of “fundamental theory foundation–specialized course deepening–industry-education integration practice”. By clarifying the core supporting role of “Polymer Physics” at the foundational level in cultivating the “ability to analyze and solve complex engineering problems”, we employ a backward design for teaching objectives and a forward connection for the teaching pathway of specialized practice. Relying on the industry-education integration platform to introduce practical engineering cases, we systematically promote the transformation of theoretical knowledge learning into engineering competence application.

Polymer materials represent a strategic and foundational industry, with chemical engineering serving as the basis for the polymer material industry. It is therefore crucial to cultivate interdisciplinary talents who possess both solid expertise in both polymer and chemical engineering, and the ability to drive engineering innovation. However, current chemical engineering education typically centers on the transport and reaction processes, often lacking a comprehensive understanding of the unique structure and properties of polymers. To address this issue, this study systematically elaborates on the approach taken by the College of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Zhejiang University. Guided by the “transport-reaction-structure” coupling concept, the college has systematically integrated polymer science and engineering contents into the practice-oriented teaching components (such as the course case studies, experimental teaching, virtual simulations, and internships) within the main chemical engineering curriculum. This integration strengthens students’ understanding of the entire industrial chain from basic chemical raw materials to polymer products, enhances their engineering practice skills and innovative thinking, and cultivates interdisciplinary engineering talents, thereby better serving national strategies and economic development.

Under the interdisciplinary context of the “New Engineering” and “New Liberal Arts” initiatives, this study explores and implements a problem-oriented teaching model that integrates polymer materials with art-engineering approaches. The aim is to address the imbalance between mechanism-focused learning and application-oriented practice in polymer materials education and the gap between creativity and implementation in design education. The proposed model establishes an industry–academia–research collaborative framework characterized by a real-world problem-driven core, dual integration of art and technology, alignment with national, societal, and industrial needs, and multi-platform coordination to transform advanced research into teaching resources. In practice, material technologies such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG), flexible pressure sensing, and thermoresponsive polymers are embedded into product development processes. The results indicate that the model enhances students’ interdisciplinary collaboration and complex problem-solving abilities and supports the development of a multi-dimensional evaluation mechanism based on real-world feedback. It also contributes to high-quality research outputs and provides a replicable framework for integrated teaching in the field of polymer materials education.

Under the policy of emerging engineering education, the cognitive practice course, which is undergraduates’ first core course for industrial practice, plays a critical role in bridging theoretical knowledge and real-world applications, and serves as the starting point of career planning. The cognitive practice in the composite materials major at the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University, has developed a course framework covering industrial companies, syllabus and assignments. However, improvements are still needed in course evaluation, interdisciplinary development, career guidance, and the cultivation of integrative competence. Based on teaching experience and feedback from course surveys, this study introduces virtual pre-view scenarios and a “bus classroom” model to efficiently integrate theoretical knowledge with on-site practice. An open-ended question module is added to encourage multi-perspective problem-solving, interdisciplinary thinking, and solution design incorporating emerging technologies. A discussion session with industry mentors is also recommended to introduce industry frontiers, career development, and professional ethics to students. In addition, the course assessment system is refined and peer interaction is strengthened to enhance communication, collaboration, leadership, and other transferable skills. This work aims to provide a systematic course optimization framework that supports the emerging engineering education principles in the materials major and fulfills the mission of this “first practice course.”

With the increasing emphasis on engineering practice in the cultivation of Polymer Materials and Engineering, the course Fundamentals of Materials Science faces growing demands for stronger professional alignment and closer integration with practical applications. Considering the diverse student backgrounds at Zhejiang University and the presence of cross-disciplinary course enrollment, systematic adjustments have been made to the organization of course content and instructional approaches. By optimizing the sequence of theoretical development, strengthening polymer-related relevance, incorporating engineering-based case studies, and refining teaching organization with digital support, the course enhances professional orientation while maintaining the integrity of the fundamental materials theory. Teaching outcomes indicate a steady improvement in students’ average scores (from 78.4 to 81.6), with increased classroom engagement and a stronger sense of professional relevance. This teaching practice provides a useful reference for optimizing foundational materials courses for increasingly diversified student structures.

Against the backdrop of speeding up the construction of a strong educational nation, the polymer materials program at Beijing University of Chemical Technology has responded proactively to the requirements of the “New Engineering” initiative by developing and implementing a “four-in-one” teaching system. This system focuses on enhancing classroom instruction, emphasizes the integration of research into teaching, embeds ideological and political education throughout the curriculum, and provides personalized, full-chain academic guidance, all aimed at cultivating innovative professionals with solid theoretical foundations and strong practical capabilities. To date, the reformed system has been fully implemented across all courses in the Polymer Materials programme, achieving complete coverage. This has greatly boosted students’ enthusiasm for learning and strengthened their sense of pride in their major, college, and university. Student academic performance has improved significantly, and they have excelled in various extracurricular innovation and subject competitions. Moreover, the proportion of students pursuing further studies in 2025 increased by approximately 4% compared to 2021.

As a pioneer of the Chinese chemical fiber industry and fiber polymer science and a founder of Chinese professional chemical fiber education, Qian Baojun devoted himself to fiber scientific research and tertiary education. He tightly combined his personal academic ambition with the mission of national rejuvenation and social welfare, vividly illustrating the core idea of the scientific spirit. Based on a literature review and analysis of historical facts, combined with relevant scientific research and educational practice, this article systematically analyzes the connotation of the spirit of a scientist from six different aspects: patriotism, dedication, innovation, pragmatism, collaboration, and talent cultivation. It strives to reconstruct the formation trajectory and practical symbolization of the spirit of a scientist, extracting significant enlightenment for contemporary scientific workers, the development of higher education, and the integration of industry, studies, and research.

Professor Qian Baogong was one of the founders of polymer chemistry and polymer physics in China, who made indelible contributions to the initiation and development of polymer science and technology in New China. On the occasion of his 110^th birth anniversary, the life stories of Professor Qian Baogong are systematically reviewed. His outstanding achievements in research and development of synthetic rubber, establishment of polymer radiation chemistry, and fundamental theoretical studies of polymers are elaborated in chronological order and by research fields. His research philosophy oriented toward national strategic needs and his scientific spirit of indifference to fame and fortune together with diligent practice are further analyzed. He broke foreign technological monopolies in the research and development of styrenebutadiene rubber and cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber, pioneered the discipline of polymer radiation chemistry in China, and established the theoretical system of polymer viscoelasticity and crystallization kinetics. He also devoted himself to cultivating polymerrelated talents and laid a solid foundation for the development of polymer discipline in China. This commemoration aims to honor the remarkable contributions of Professor Qian Baogong and inherit his scientific spirit of serving the motherland and pursuing scientific excellence, so as to provide spiritual inspiration for polymer researchers in the new era.