1
|
Dobrzanski E, Ferreira ES, Tiwary P, Agrawal P, Chen R, Cranston ED. Size-structure-property relationship of wood particles in aqueous and dry insulative foams. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 335:122077. [PMID: 38616097 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Three size-fractionated samples of pine beetle-killed wood particles were used to prepare lightweight insulative foams. The foams were produced by foam-forming an aqueous slurry containing wood particles (125-1000 μm), a polymer binder, and surfactant, followed by oven drying. The effect of wood particle size on the aqueous foam stability, structure, and performance of insulative foams was investigated. While all aqueous foams were highly stable, aqueous foam stability increased with decreasing particle size. For dry foams, the cell size distribution was similar for all particle sizes as it was primarily controlled by the surfactant; differences occurred within the cell wall structure. A size-structure-property relationship was identified using x-ray micro-computed tomography where smaller particles produced lighter cell wall frameworks, leading to lower densities and decreased thermal conductivity and compressive strength. Larger particles produced denser cell wall frameworks that were more resistant to deformation, although all dry foams had sufficient mechanical properties for use as insulation panels. Thermal conductivity for all wood particle size-fractionated samples was <0.047 W m-1 K-1 making the foams similar to expanded polystyrene/polyurethane and supporting their use as thermal insulation in buildings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dobrzanski
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Elisa S Ferreira
- Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | - Emily D Cranston
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Du J, Yang H, Zhao X. Preparation of tomato peel pomace powder/polylactic acid foams under supercritical CO 2 conditions: Improvements in cell structure and foaming behavior. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:132480. [PMID: 38763242 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) is an eco-friendly material that can help address the problems of petroleum depletion and pollution. Blending renewable biomass materials with PLA to create composite foams with a tunable pore structure, superior performance, and low cost is a green technique for improving the pore structure and mechanical characteristics of single PLA foams. PLA/TP composites were created using melted tomato peel pomace powder (TP), which has a lamellar structure, as a reinforcing agent. Then, the relationship between the vesicle structure, morphology, and properties of the PLA/TP composite foams produced through supercritical CO2 intermittent foaming were investigated. The findings revealed that TP considerably enhanced the rheological characteristics and crystalline behavior of PLA. The PLA/TP composite foam had a better cell structure, compression characteristics, and wettability than pure PLA. The expansion ratio of the PLA/TP composite could reach 18.8, and its thermal conductivity decreased from 174.2 mW/m·K at 100 °C to 57.8 mW/m·K at 120 °C. Furthermore, annealing before foaming decreased the average composite foam blister size from 110.09 to 66.53 μm, and the annealing process also improved compression performance. This study contributes to solving environmental difficulties and creating PLA foams with controlled bubble structures, uniform bubble sizes, and outstanding overall performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianghua Du
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China; Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials & Manufacturing Technology, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China.
| | - Hongwei Yang
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Xueping Zhao
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gonçalves LFFF, Reis RL, Fernandes EM. Forefront Research of Foaming Strategies on Biodegradable Polymers and Their Composites by Thermal or Melt-Based Processing Technologies: Advances and Perspectives. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1286. [PMID: 38732755 PMCID: PMC11085284 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The last few decades have witnessed significant advances in the development of polymeric-based foam materials. These materials find several practical applications in our daily lives due to their characteristic properties such as low density, thermal insulation, and porosity, which are important in packaging, in building construction, and in biomedical applications, respectively. The first foams with practical applications used polymeric materials of petrochemical origin. However, due to growing environmental concerns, considerable efforts have been made to replace some of these materials with biodegradable polymers. Foam processing has evolved greatly in recent years due to improvements in existing techniques, such as the use of supercritical fluids in extrusion foaming and foam injection moulding, as well as the advent or adaptation of existing techniques to produce foams, as in the case of the combination between additive manufacturing and foam technology. The use of supercritical CO2 is especially advantageous in the production of porous structures for biomedical applications, as CO2 is chemically inert and non-toxic; in addition, it allows for an easy tailoring of the pore structure through processing conditions. Biodegradable polymeric materials, despite their enormous advantages over petroleum-based materials, present some difficulties regarding their potential use in foaming, such as poor melt strength, slow crystallization rate, poor processability, low service temperature, low toughness, and high brittleness, which limits their field of application. Several strategies were developed to improve the melt strength, including the change in monomer composition and the use of chemical modifiers and chain extenders to extend the chain length or create a branched molecular structure, to increase the molecular weight and the viscosity of the polymer. The use of additives or fillers is also commonly used, as fillers can improve crystallization kinetics by acting as crystal-nucleating agents. Alternatively, biodegradable polymers can be blended with other biodegradable polymers to combine certain properties and to counteract certain limitations. This work therefore aims to provide the latest advances regarding the foaming of biodegradable polymers. It covers the main foaming techniques and their advances and reviews the uses of biodegradable polymers in foaming, focusing on the chemical changes of polymers that improve their foaming ability. Finally, the challenges as well as the main opportunities presented reinforce the market potential of the biodegradable polymer foam materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis F. F. F. Gonçalves
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Emanuel M. Fernandes
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs–Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ji E, Zhou H, Xu G, Wang X, Wang L, Gao J, Yan J. Insights into heterogeneous surface induced bubble nucleation mechanisms in cellulose reinforced polylactic acid foams. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 268:131659. [PMID: 38641275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
As the most abundant natural homo-polymer, cellulose has the potential to enhance polymer properties reducing the cost of raw materials. In this work, the carboxylate cellulose nanofiber (CNF-C) was selected to modify polylactic acid (PLA) foams, and the density functional theory was constructed to help analyze the foaming mechanism quantitatively. The theoretical results showed that the ordered structure, the carboxyl and the hydroxyl of CNF-C were more conducive to providing much stronger CO2 adsorption for bubble nucleation, where the predicted critical bubble size decreased and the cell density increased with the addition of CNF-C. The experimental results revealed that the CNF-C promoted the rheological properties and crystallization behaviors of PLA samples, the PLA/CNF-C foams were characterized with uniform structures, the average cell size decreased from 21.39 μm to 0.19 μm, and the cell number density increased from 2.65×1010cell/cm3 to 2.30×1014cell/cm3. Those improvements resulted in an increase of 394.0 % for the compressive strength of the prepared foams. Generally, the high-performance PLA/CNF-C foams were fabricated successfully without compromising the properties of bio-based and biodegradable, the foaming mechanism was analyzed combining theoretical results with experimental data, and it was believed to provide a guide for cellulose reinforcing biodegradable polymer materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enle Ji
- College of Science & Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Huanghua, Hebei 061100, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongfu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Processing and Application of Polymeric Foams of China National Light Industry Council, School of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guohe Xu
- College of Science & Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Huanghua, Hebei 061100, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangdong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Processing and Application of Polymeric Foams of China National Light Industry Council, School of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Linyan Wang
- College of Science & Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Huanghua, Hebei 061100, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianping Gao
- College of Science & Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Huanghua, Hebei 061100, People's Republic of China
| | - Jundian Yan
- College of Science & Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Huanghua, Hebei 061100, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang X, Han L, Zhang H, Cai W, Wang X, Wang S, Gao Y, Liu X, Li Y, Zhang S. Multifunctional Bagasse Foam with Improved Thermal Insulation and Flame Retardancy by a Borax-Induced Self-Assembly and Ambient Pressure Drying Technique. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:13611-13621. [PMID: 38456377 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c01685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Cellulose foams are considered an effective alternative to plastic foam, because of their advantages of low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity, and renewable nature. However, they still suffer from complex processing, poor mechanical properties, and flammability. As an agricultural waste, bagasse is rich in cellulose, which has attracted much attention. Inspired by the fact that borate ions can effectively enhance the strength of plant tissue by their cross-linking with polysaccharides, the present work designs and fabricates a series of multifunctional bagasse foams with robust strength and improved thermal insulation and flame retardancy via a unique borax-induced self-assembly and atmospheric pressure drying route using bagasse as a raw material, borate as a cross-linking agent, and chitosan as an additive. As a result, the optimized foam exhibits a high porosity (93.5%), a high hydrophobic water contact angle (150.4°), a low thermal conductivity (63.4 mW/(m·K) at 25 °C), and an outstanding flame retardancy. The present study provides a novel and inspiring idea for large-scale production of cellulose foams through an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Lei Han
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Haijun Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Weijie Cai
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Yabo Gao
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Xuefeng Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Yage Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Shaowei Zhang
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang H, Dinesh, Kim J. Development of lightweight, high-strength, and highly porous ligno-nanocellulosic foam with excellent antioxidant and insulation properties. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 326:121616. [PMID: 38142097 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
This study reports an environmentally friendly ligno-nanocellulosic foam prepared by utilizing lignin (LGN), cellulose nanofiber (CNF), and citric acid (CA) as a green crosslinker through an easy, low-cost, and environmentally friendly process. The FTIR study and XPS analysis of the prepared LGN/CNF foams confirm the crosslinking between the components, which leads to lower shrinkage, lower density, and higher porosity than the neat CNF foam, achieving a remarkably low density of 19.59 mg/cm3 and high porosity of 98.84 % The morphology and microstructure of the foam show a uniform three-dimensional porous network built by strong cell walls. The crosslinked LGN/CNF foams indicate 182 % higher compressive modulus and 306 % higher compressive strength at 70 % strain than the neat CNF foam. Further, the addition of LGN and CA enhances the antioxidant activity of the foam. The prepared foam shows lower thermal conductivity and better sound absorption performance than the neat CNF foam, indicating a potential to be used as thermal insulation and sound-absorbing materials that can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanbin Wang
- Creative Research Center for Nanocellulose Future Composites, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, South Korea
| | - Dinesh
- Creative Research Center for Nanocellulose Future Composites, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, South Korea
| | - Jaehwan Kim
- Creative Research Center for Nanocellulose Future Composites, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-gu, Incheon 22212, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Han Y, Jiang Y, Xu D, Shi S, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Feng J, Tan L, Li K. Green preparation of antibacterial shape memory foam based on bamboo cellulose nanofibril and waterborne polyurethane for adaptive relief of plantar pressure. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 256:128444. [PMID: 38035958 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
This study developed an aqueous solution blending and freeze-drying method to prepare an antibacterial shape memory foam (WPPU/CNF) based on waterborne PHMG-polyurethane and cellulose nanofibers derived from bamboo in response to the increasing demand for environmentally friendly, energy conserving, and multifunctional foams. The obtained WPPU/CNF composite foam has a highly porous network structure with well-dispersed CNFs forming hydrogen bonds with the WPPU matrix, which results in a stable and rigid cell skeleton with enhanced mechanical properties (80 KPa) and anti-abrasion ability. The presence of guanidine in the polyurethane chain endowed the WPPU/CNF composite foam with an instinctive and sustained antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The WPPU/CNF composite foam exhibited a water-sensitive shape memory function in a cyclic shape memory program because of the chemomechanical adaptability of the hydrogen-bonded network of CNFs in the elastomer matrix. The shape-fixation ratio for local compression reached 95 %, and the shape-recovery rate reached 100 %. This allows the WPPU/CNF pad prototype to reversibly adjust the undulation height to adapt to plantar ulcers, which can reduce the local plantar pressure by 60 %. This study provides an environmentally friendly strategy for cellulose-based composite fabrication and enriches the design and application of intelligent foam devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Han
- West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuanzhang Jiang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Fibers for Medical Care in Textile Industry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dingfeng Xu
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shuo Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Fibers for Medical Care in Textile Industry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Fibers for Medical Care in Textile Industry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinhua Feng
- West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Tan
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Fibers for Medical Care in Textile Industry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Sate Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Ka Li
- West China Hospital, West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Castañeda-Rodríguez S, González-Torres M, Ribas-Aparicio RM, Del Prado-Audelo ML, Leyva-Gómez G, Gürer ES, Sharifi-Rad J. Recent advances in modified poly (lactic acid) as tissue engineering materials. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:21. [PMID: 36941601 PMCID: PMC10029204 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00338-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
As an emerging science, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine focus on developing materials to replace, restore or improve organs or tissues and enhancing the cellular capacity to proliferate, migrate and differentiate into different cell types and specific tissues. Renewable resources have been used to develop new materials, resulting in attempts to produce various environmentally friendly biomaterials. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biopolymer known to be biodegradable and it is produced from the fermentation of carbohydrates. PLA can be combined with other polymers to produce new biomaterials with suitable physicochemical properties for tissue engineering applications. Here, the advances in modified PLA as tissue engineering materials are discussed in light of its drawbacks, such as biological inertness, low cell adhesion, and low degradation rate, and the efforts conducted to address these challenges toward the design of new enhanced alternative biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Castañeda-Rodríguez
- Conacyt & Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Maykel González-Torres
- Conacyt & Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
| | - Rosa María Ribas-Aparicio
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | | | - Gerardo Leyva-Gómez
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Eda Sönmez Gürer
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | | |
Collapse
|