Blends of polyurethane-polymethyl methacrylate/TiO2-based composites

Impact of Macrodiols on the Morphological Behavior of H12MDI/HDO-Based Polyurethane Elastomer

In this study, we evaluated the morphological behavior of polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) by modifying the soft segment chain length. This was achieved by increasing the soft segment molecular weight (Mn = 400–4000 gmol⁻¹). In this regard, polycaprolactone diol (PCL) was selected as the soft segment, and 4,4′-cyclohexamethylene diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI) and 1,6-hexanediol (HDO) were chosen as the hard segments. The films were prepared by curing polymer on Teflon surfaces. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized for functional group identification in the prepared elastomers. FTIR peaks indicated the disappearance of −NCO and −OH groups and the formation of urethane (NHCOO) groups. The morphological behavior of the synthesized polymer samples was also elucidated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The AFM and SEM results indicated that the extent of microphase separation was enhanced by an increase in the molecular weight of PCL. The phase separation and degree of crystallinity of the soft and hard segments were described using X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was observed that the degree of crystallinity of the synthesized polymers increased with an increase in the soft segment’s chain length. To evaluate hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, the contact angle was measured. A gradual increase in the contact angle with distilled water and diiodomethane (38.6°–54.9°) test liquids was observed. Moreover, the decrease in surface energy (46.95–24.45 mN/m) was also found to be inconsistent by increasing the molecular weight of polyols.

3D printer waste, a new source of nanoplastic pollutants

Plastics pollution has been recognized as a serious environmental problem. Nevertheless, new plastic uses, and applications are still increasing. Among these new applications, three-dimensional resin printers have increased their use and popularity around the world showing a vertiginous annual-sales growth. However, this technology is also the origin of residues generation from the alcohol cleaning procedure at the end of each printing. This alcohol/resin mixture can originate unintentionally very small plastic particles that usually are not correctly disposed, and as consequence, could be easily released to the environment. In this work, the nanoparticle generation from 3D printer's cleaning procedure and their physicochemical characterization is reported. Nano-sized plastic particles are easily formed when the resin residues are dissolved in alcohol and placed under UV radiation from sunlight. These nanoparticles can agglomerate in seawater showing an average hydrodynamic diameter around 1 μm, whereas the same nanoparticles remain dispersed in ultrapure water, showing a hydrodynamic diameter of ≈300 nm. The formed nanoparticles showed an isoelectric point close to pH 2, which can facilitate their interaction with other positively charged pollutants. Thus, these unexpected plastic nanoparticles can become an environmental issue and public health risk.

Novel non-cytotoxic, bioactive and biodegradable hybrid materials based on polyurethanes/TiO2 for biomedical applications

Titanium compounds have demonstrated great interfacial properties with biological tissues whereas a wide variety of polyurethanes have also been successfully probed in medical applications. However, studies about hybrids based on polyurethanes/TiO₂ for medical applications are scarce. The aim of this work is to design novel biodegradable hybrid materials based on polyurethanes/TiO₂ (80% organic-20% inorganic) and to perform a preliminary study of the potential applications in bone regeneration. The hybrids have been prepared by a sol-gel reaction using titanium isopropoxide as precursor of the inorganic component and polyurethane as the organic one. A series of polyurethanes has been prepared using different polyesters glycol succinate as soft segment, and 1,6-diisocyanatohexane (HDI) and butanediol (BD) as linear hard segment. The spectroscopy techniques used allow to confirm the formation of the required polyurethanes by the identification of bands related to carboxylic groups (COOH), and the amine groups (NH), and also the TiOH bonds and the bonds related to the interconnected network between the inorganic and the organic components from hybrids. The results from SEM/EDS show a homogeneous distribution of the inorganic component into the organic matrix. The nontoxic character of the hybrid (H400) was probed using MG-63 cell line with over 90% of cell viability. Finally, the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer in the material surface after 21days of soaking in SBF shows the bioactive character.