Graphene Oxide-Based Nanocomposites for Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing: Comprehensive Mechanical Characterization under Combined Loading Modes.

Additive manufacturing, particularly Stereolithography (SLA), has gained widespread attention thanks to its ability to produce intricate parts with high precision and customization capacity. Nevertheless, the inherent low mechanical properties of SLA-printed parts limit their use in high-value applications. One approach to enhance these properties involves the incorporation of nanomaterials, with graphene oxide (GO) being a widely studied option.

Characterization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) from Alternative, Scalable (Waste) Feedstocks.

Bioplastics hold significant promise in replacing conventional plastic materials, linked to various serious issues such as fossil resource consumption, microplastic formation, non-degradability, and limited end-of-life options. Among bioplastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) emerge as an intriguing class, with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) being the most utilized. The extensive application of P3HB encounters a challenge due to its high production costs, prompting the investigation of sustainable alternatives, including the utilization of waste and new production routes involving CO and CH.

PHB Processability and Property Improvement with Linear-Chain Polyester Oligomers Used as Plasticizers.

In 2021, global petroleum-based plastic production reached over 400 million metric tons (Mt), and the accumulation of these non-biodegradable plastics in the environment is a worldwide concern. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) offers many advantages over traditional petroleum-based plastics, being biobased, completely biodegradable, and non-toxic. However, its production and use are still challenging due to its low deformation capacity and narrow processing window.

Effects of Functionalized Kraft Lignin Incorporation on Polypropylene Surface Energy and Practical Adhesion.

Polypropylene (PP) is a multifunctional and widely applied polymer. Nevertheless, its low energy surface and poor adhesion are well-known and might impair some prospective applications. Aiming to overcome these limitations, PP composites can be applied as a tool to enhance PP surface energy and then increase its practical adhesion.

Reactivity of Aliphatic and Phenolic Hydroxyl Groups in Kraft Lignin towards 4,4' MDI.

Several efforts have been dedicated to the development of lignin-based polyurethanes (PU) in recent years. The low and heterogeneous reactivity of lignin hydroxyl groups towards diisocyanates, arising from their highly complex chemical structure, limits the application of this biopolymer in PU synthesis. Besides the well-known differences in the reactivity of aliphatic and aromatic hydroxyl groups, experimental work in which the reactivity of both types of hydroxyl, especially the aromatic ones present in syringyl (S-unit), guaiacyl (G-unit), and -hydroxyphenyl (H-unit) building units are considered and compared, is still lacking in the literature.

Thermal Transitions of Cocoa Butter: A Novel Characterization Method by Temperature Modulation.

For the first time, the novel experimental technique Temperature Modulated Optical Refractometry (TMOR) was employed for cocoa butter thermal transitions characterization. The average refractive index (N), the volume (v) change, and the volumetric expansion coefficient ( β q ) as well as the dynamic quantities β ' and β ″ (real and imaginary volumetric expansion coefficient, respectively) were monitored during cooling and heating and compared to the heat flow curves obtained via the standard technique dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC). The investigation of these quantities showed that TMOR analysis can yield not only thermal transitions temperatures that are comparable to DSC results, but also some new thermal events that are not detected by DSC.