0000000000324178
AUTHOR
Alessandro Pegoretti
Multifunctional polyurethane foams with thermal energy storage/release capability
In this work, polyurethane (PU) insulating panels containing different amounts of a microencapsulated paraffin with a nominal melting temperature of 24 °C, used as phase change material (PCM), were produced. The resulting panels behaved as multifunctional materials able to thermally insulate and simultaneously storing/releasing thermal energy near room temperature. The panels were characterized from a microstructural, thermal and mechanical point of view. Viscosity measurements highlighted an increase in the viscosity values of the PU liquid precursors due to the addition of the capsules, and this could lead to some difficulties during the production stages, especially in the mixing and foa…
Compatibilization of Polylactide/Poly(ethylene 2,5-furanoate) (PLA/PEF) Blends for Sustainable and Bioderived Packaging.
Despite the advantages of polylactide (PLA), its inadequate UV-shielding and gas-barrier properties undermine its wide application as a flexible packaging film for perishable items. These issues are addressed in this work by investigating the properties of melt-mixed, fully bioderived blends of polylactide (PLA) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), as a function of the PEF weight fraction (1–30 wt %) and the amount of the commercial compatibilizer/chain extender Joncryl ADR 4468 (J, 0.25–1 phr). J mitigates the immiscibility of the two polymer phases by decreasing and homogenizing the PEF domain size; for the blend containing 10 wt % of PEF, the PEF domain size drops from 0.67 &p…