Search results for "Aquinas"
showing 10 items of 86 documents
Monitoring molecular dynamics of bacterial cellulose composites reinforced with graphene oxide by carboxymethyl cellulose addition
2017
[EN] Broadband Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy was performed to study the molecular dynamics of dried Bacterial Cellulose/Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Graphene Oxide (BC/CMC-GO) composites as a function of the concentration of CMC in the culture media. At low temperature the dielectric spectra are dominated by a dipolar process labelled as a beta -relaxation, whereas electrode polarization and the contribution of dc-conductivity dominate the spectra at high temperatures and low frequency. The CMC concentration affects the morphological structure of cellulose and subsequently alters its physical properties. X-ray diffractometry measurements show that increasing the concentration of CMC promote…
Dielectric Spectroscopy of Recycled Polylactide
2014
The effects of multiple mechanical recycling on amorphous polylactide (PLA) were simulated by means of five successive injection-grinding cycles. The influence of the induced thermo-mechanical degradation on the dielectric properties of PLA was analysed. The relaxation spectra were studied in terms of the complex dielectric permittivity (ε0 and ε00) and the dielectric loss tangent, tg(d) in the frequency range from 102 to 107 Hz over the temperature interval from 0 C to 140 C. It was possible to distinguish two relaxations zones, one at low temperatures and high frequencies (b relaxation) and another at higher temperatures and lower frequencies (a relaxation). The individual relaxations wer…
Recent Progress in the Development of Composite Membranes Based on Polybenzimidazole for High Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Ap…
2020
[EN] The rapid increasing of the population in combination with the emergence of new energy-consuming technologies has risen worldwide total energy consumption towards unprecedent values. Furthermore, fossil fuel reserves are running out very quickly and the polluting greenhouse gases emitted during their utilization need to be reduced. In this scenario, a few alternative energy sources have been proposed and, among these, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are promising. Recently, polybenzimidazole-based polymers, featuring high chemical and thermal stability, in combination with fillers that can regulate the proton mobility, have attracted tremendous attention for their roles as PE…
Mechanical recycling of polylactide, upgrading trends and combination of valorization techniques
2016
[EN] The upcoming introduction of polylactides in the fractions of polymer waste encourages technologists to ascertain its valorization at the best quality conditions. Mechanical recycling of PLA represents one of the most cost-effective methodologies, but the recycled materials are usually directed to downgraded applications, due to the inherent thermomechanical degradation affecting its mechanical, thermal and rheological performance. In this review, the current state of mechanical recycling of PLA is reported, with special emphasis on a multi-scale comparison among different studies. Additionally, the applications of physical and chemical upgrading strategies, as well as the chances to b…
Relevant factors for the eco-design of polylactide/sisal biocomposites to control biodegradation in soil in an end-of-life scenario
2017
[EN] The eco-design considers the factors to prepare biocomposites under an end-of-life scenario. PLA/sisal biocomposites were obtained from amorphous polylactide and sisal loadings of 10, 20 and 30 wt% with and without coupling agent, and subjected to biodegradation in soil according to standard IS0846. Mass loss, differential scanning calorimetry and size-exclusion chromatography were used for monitoring biodegradation. A statistical factorial analysis based on the molar mass M-n, and crystallinity degree X-c pointed out the relevance and interaction of amount of fibre and use of coupling agent with the time of burial in soil., During the preparation of biocomposites, chain scission provo…
Polylactide-based self-reinforced composites biodegradation: Individual and combined influence of temperature, water and compost
2018
[EN] Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRCs) are proposed as a suitable alternative for composite development, based in the combination of a polymeric matrix and a polymeric fibre made of the same polymer. SRCs based in polylactide (PLA) could be fully biodegradable and their valorisation routes could presumably be assimilated to those for neat PEA. In this sense, the aim of this study was to develop new self-reinforced PLA-based composites and ascertain their biodegradability. For this purpose, PLA-based SRCs were obtained through a thermo-compression procedure and their biodegradability corroborated under standard conditions (ISO 20200). Moreover, a deep study of the effect of the diffe…
Protection of high-density polyethylene-silicon composites from ultraviolet-visible photodegradation
2017
[EN] The extent of the ultraviolet¿visible (UV¿vis) photoirradiation effect on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE¿sili-con (Si) composites is reported in terms of the addition of Si microparticles at contents of 0.1, 1, and 5 wt %. A standard acceleratedUV-vis exposure was applied over 2750 h, corresponding to 22 months in Florida. Thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used as reliable techniques for monitoring the quality of the HDPE-Si composites. Theincreasing addition of Si microparticles delayed the photodegradation of the HDPE¿Si composites. Because of their strong light-scattering effects, Si microparticles blocked…
Impact of hydrothermal ageing on the thermal stability, morphology and viscoelastic performance of PLA/sisal biocomposites
2016
The influence of the combined exposure to water and temperature on the behaviour of polylactide/sisal biocomposites coupled with maleic acid anhydride was assessed through accelerated hydrothermal ageing. The biocomposites were immersed in water at temperatures from 65 to 85 °C, between the glass transition and cold crystallisation of the PLA matrix. The results showed that the most influent factor for water absorption was the percentage of fibres, followed by the presence of coupling agent, whereas the effect of the temperature was not significant. Deep assessment was devoted to biocomposites subjected to hydrothermal ageing at 85 °C, since it represents the extreme degrading condition. Th…
Controlling dielectrical properties of polymer blends through defined PEDOT nanostructures
2016
[EN] The paper reports the crucial role of the morphology of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanostructures on the thermal and dielectric properties of polymer blends prepared thereof. PEDOT nanostructures with two different morphologies (nanoparticles and nanowires) were synthesized. The size for the nanoparticles was in the range 10 40 nm and the diameter of the nanowires was of ca. 200 nm. These nanostructures were blended with an insulating polymer matrix, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), to evaluate the dielectrical properties of the materials. The results of broadband dielèctric spectroscopy showed a strong correlation between the morphology of the nanostructure and the impr…
Engineered axon tracts within tubular biohybrid scaffolds
2021
[EN] Injuries to the nervous system that involve the disruption of axonal pathways are devastating to the individual and require specific tissue engineering strategies. Here we analyse a cells-biomaterials strategy to overcome the obstacles limiting axon regeneration in vivo, based on the combination of a hyaluronic acid (HA) single-channel tubular conduit filled with poly-L-lactide acid (PLA) fibres in its lumen, with pre-cultured Schwann cells (SCs) as cells supportive of axon extension. The HA conduit and PLA fibres sustain the proliferation of SC, which enhance axon growth acting as a feeder layer and growth factor pumps. The parallel unidirectional ensemble formed by PLA fibres and SC …