Efficient recycling pathway of bio-based composite polyurethane foams via sustainable diamine

Aminolysis is widely recognized as a valuable chemical route for depolymerizing polymeric materials containing ester, amide, or urethane functional groups, including polyurethane foams. Bio-based polyurethane foams, pristine and reinforced with 40 wt% of sustainable fillers, were depolymerized in the presence of bio-derived butane-1,4-diamine, BDA. A process comparison was made using fossil-derived ethane-1,2-diamine, EDA, by varying amine/polyurethane ratio (F/A, 1:1 and 1:0.6). The obtained depolymerized systems were analyzed by FTIR and NMR characterizations to understand the effect of both diamines on the degradation pathway. The use of bio-based BDA seemed to be more effective with respect to conventional EDA, owing to its stronger basicity (and thus higher nucleophilicity), corresponding to faster depolymerization rates. BDA-based depolymerized systems were then employed to prepare second-generation bio-based composite polyurethane foams by partial replacement of isocyanate components (20 wt%). The morphological, mechanical, and thermal conductivity properties of the second-generation polyurethane foams were evaluated. The best performances (σ10 %=71 ± 9 kPa, λ = 0.042 ± 0.015 W∙ m-1 ∙K-1) were attained by employing the lowest F/A ratio (1:0.6); this demonstrates their potential application in different sectors such as packaging or construction, fulfilling the paradigm of the circular economy.

Do new cement-based mortars pose a significant threat to the aquatic environment?

Nowadays, the use of multi-functional mortars has increased significantly, with interesting applications in the sustainable construction. In the environment, the cement-based materials are subjected to leaching, so the assessment of potential adverse effects upon aquatic ecosystem is necessary. This study focuses on the evaluation of the ecotoxicological threat and of a new type of cement-based mortar (CPM-D) and its raw materials leachates. A screening risk assessment were performed by Hazard Quotient methods. The ecotoxicological effects were investigated by a test battery with bacteria, crustacean, and algae. Two different procedures, Toxicity test Battery Index (TBI) and Toxicity Classification System (TCS), to obtain a single value for toxicity rank were used. Raw materials showed the highest metal mobility and in particular, for Cu, Cd and V potential hazard was evidenced. Leachate toxicity assessment evidenced the highest effects linked to cement and glass while the mortar showed the lowest ecotoxicological risk. TBI procedure allows a finer classification of effect linked to materials with respect to TCS which is based on worst case approach. A safe by design approach taking into account the potential and the effective hazard of the raw materials and of their combinations could allow to achieve sustainable formulations for building materials.

Effect of Different Methods to Synthesize Polyol-Grafted-Cellulose Nanocrystals as Inter-Active Filler in Bio-Based Polyurethane Foams

Currently, the scientific community has spent a lot of effort in developing "green" and environmentally friendly processes and products, due the contemporary problems connected to pollution and climate change. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are at the forefront of current research due to their multifunctional characteristics of biocompatibility, high mechanical properties, specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry and renewability. However, despite these many advantages, their inherent hydrophilicity poses a substantial challenge for the application of CNCs as a reinforcing filler in polymers, as it complicates their dispersion in hydrophobic polymeric matrices, such as polyurethane foams, often resulting in aggregate structures that compromise their properties. The manipulation and fine-tuning of the interfacial properties of CNCs is a crucial step to exploit their full potential in the development of new materials. In this respect, starting from an aqueous dispersion of CNCs, two different strategies were used to properly functionalize fillers: (i) freeze drying, solubilization in DMA/LiCl media and subsequent grafting with bio-based polyols; (ii) solvent exchange and subsequent grafting with bio-based polyols. The influence of the two functionalization methods on the chemical and thermal properties of CNCs was examined. In both cases, the role of the two bio-based polyols on filler functionalization was elucidated. Afterwards, the functionalized CNCs were used at 5 wt% to produce bio-based composite polyurethane foams and their effect on the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties was examined. It was found that CNCs modified through freeze drying, solubilization and bio-polyols grafting exhibited remarkably higher thermal stability (i.e., degradation stages > 100 °C) with respect to the unmodified freeze dried-CNCs. In addition, the use of the two grafting bio-polyols influenced the functionalization process, corresponding to different amount of grafted-silane-polyol and leading to different chemico-physical characteristics of the obtained CNCs. This was translated to higher thermal stability as well as improved functional and mechanical performances of the produced bio-based composite PUR foams with respect of the unmodified CNCs-composite ones (the best case attained compressive strength values three times more). Solvent exchange route slightly improved the thermal stability of the obtained CNCs; however; the so-obtained CNCs could not be properly dispersed within the polyurethane matrix, due to filler aggregation.

Hybrid Graphenene Oxide/Cellulose Nanofillers to Enhance Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Chitosan-Based Composites

Chitosan-based hybrid nanocomposites, containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), graphene oxide (GO), and borate as crosslinking agents, were successfully prepared by solution-casting technique. The synergistic effect of the two fillers, and the role of the cross-linker, in enhancing the structural and functional properties of the chitosan polymer, was investigated. XPS results confirm the chemical interaction between borate ions and hydroxyl groups of chitosan, GO, and CNCs. The morphological characterization shows that the GO sheets are oriented along the casting surface, whereas the CNC particles are homogenously distributed in the sample. Results of tensile tests reveal that the presence of graphene oxide enhances the elastic modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness of chitosan, while cellulose and borate induce an increase in the elastic modulus and stress at the yield point. In particular, the borate-crosslinked chitosan-based sample containing 0.5 wt% of GO and 0.5 wt% of CNCs shows an elongation at a break value of 30.2% and a toughness value of 988 J*m⁻³ which are improved by 124% and 216%, respectively, compared with the pristine chitosan. Moreover, the water permeability results show that the presence of graphene oxide slightly increases the water barrier properties, whereas the borate and cellulose nanocrystals significantly reduce the water vapor permeability of the polymer by about 50%. Thus, by modulating the content of the two reinforcing fillers, it is possible to obtain chitosan-based nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and water barrier properties which can be potentially used in various applications such as food and electronic packaging.

Effect of carbonaceous fillers on adsorption behavior of multifunctional diatomite-based foams for wastewater treatment

Nowadays the study of the potential applications of multifunctional materials for environmental remediation is one of the main goals of the materials engineering. Multifunctional porous materials, MPMs, incorporate, all in once, different and multiple functionalities that make them suitable for several uses and can satisfy many purposes at the same time. Multifunctional diatomite-based foams with a hierarchical porosity, already produced and characterized to be applied in building as well as aerospace sectors, are proposed as adsorbents for inorganic and organic pollutants removal from wastewaters. Then, the effect of the addition of different carbonaceous nanofillers (graphite, graphene and graphene oxide) on the water purification efficiency of the adsorbent was evaluated. Firstly, pristine MPM showed the best performance in adsorbing Indigo Carmine due to its intrinsic chemism and hierarchical porosity (at macro-, micro- and nano-level), but it is not the best with respect to the Cd²⁺ adsorption, if compared with the nanocomposites. Among the nanocomposite products, both graphene- and graphene oxide-MPM samples showed a significantly improved adsorption capacity towards Cd²⁺. This behavior is due to the synergistic effect of the finer morphology, higher available foam surface, and the highly exfoliated fillers, graphene and graphene oxide, which permit a better dispersion into the matrix.

MWCNT/rGO/natural rubber latex dispersions for innovative, piezo-resistive and cement-based composite sensors

The present study is focused on the development and characterization of innovative cementitious-based composite sensors. In particular, multifunctional cement mortars with enhanced piezoresistive properties are realized by exploiting the concept of confinement of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) and reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) in a three-dimensional percolated network through the use of a natural-rubber latex aqueous dispersion. The manufactured cement-based composites were characterized by means of Inelastic Neutron Scattering to assess the hydration reactions and the interactions between natural rubber and the hydrated-cement phases and by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray diffraction to evaluate the morphological and mineralogical structure, respectively. Piezo-resistive properties to assess electro-mechanical behavior in strain condition are also measured. The results show that the presence of natural rubber latex allows to obtain a three-dimensional rGO/MWCNTs segregate structure which catalyzes the formation of hydrated phases of the cement and increases the piezo-resistive sensitivity of mortar composites, representing a reliable approach in developing innovative mortar-based piezoresistive strain sensors.

Chemically Functionalized Cellulose Nanocrystals as Reactive Filler in Bio-Based Polyurethane Foams

Cellulose Nanocrystals, CNC, opportunely functionalized are proposed as reactive fillers in bio-based flexible polyurethane foams to improve, mainly, their mechanical properties. To overcome the cellulose hydrophilicity, CNC was functionalized on its surface by linking covalently a suitable bio-based polyol to obtain a grafted-CNC. The polyols grafted with CNC will react with the isocyanate in the preparation of the polyurethane foams. An attractive way to introduce functionalities on cellulose surfaces in aqueous media is silane chemistry by using functional trialkoxy silanes, X-Si (OR)3. Here, we report the synthesis of CNC-grafted-biopolyol to be used as a successful reactive filler in bio-based polyurethane foams, PUFs. The alkyl silanes were used as efficient coupling agents for the grafting of CNC and bio-polyols. Four strategies to obtain CNC-grafted-polyol were fine-tuned to use CNC as an active filler in PUFs. The effective grafting of the bio polyol on CNC was evaluated by FTIR analysis, and the amount of grafted polyol by thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties and hydrophobicity of filled PUFs were thoughtfully assessed as well as the structure of the foams and, in particular, of the edges and walls of the cell foams by means of the Gibson-Ashby model. Improved thermal stability and mechanical properties of PU foams containing CNC-functionalized-polyol are observed. The morphology of the PU foams is also influenced by the functionalization of the CNC.

Fabrication of Green Diatomite/Chitosan-Based Hybrid Foams with Dye Sorption Capacity

The latest tendency of the scientific community regards the development of different classes of green materials able to solve pollution problems caused by industrial and human activity. In this paper, chitosan and diatomite were used to produce a broad-spectrum hybrid adsorbent, either in powder or in monolithic form for environmental pollutant removal. Diatomite-chitosan-based powders and porous diatomite-chitosan hybrids were prepared and characterized by chemical-physical, thermal and morphological analysis. Moreover, their adsorbent capacity towards anionic dye (Indigo Carmine) was also evaluated. Obtained data showed that chitosan improves the adsorption capacity of both systems, increasing the uptake of dye in both diatomite-chitosan systems.

Upgrading Sustainable Polyurethane Foam Based on Greener Polyols: Succinic-Based Polyol and Mannich-Based Polyol

It is well known that the traditional synthetic polymers, such as Polyurethane foams, require raw materials that are not fully sustainable and are based on oil-feedstocks. For this reason, renewable resources such as biomass, polysaccharides and proteins are still recognized as one of the most promising approaches for substituting oil-based raw materials (mainly polyols). However, polyurethanes from renewable sources exhibit poor physical and functional performances. For this reason, the best technological solution is the production of polyurethane materials obtained through a partial replacement of the oil-based polyurethane precursors. This approach enables a good balance between the need to improve the sustainability of the polymer and the need to achieve suitable performances, to fulfill the technological requirements for specific applications. In this paper, a succinic-based polyol sample (obtained from biomass source) was synthesized, characterized and blended with cardanol-based polyol (Mannich-based polyol) to produce sustainable rigid polyurethane foams in which the oil-based polyol is totally replaced. A suitable amount of catalysts and surfactant, water as blowing reagent and poly-methylene diphenyl di-isocyanate as isocyanate source were used for the polyurethane synthesis. The resulting foams were characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to control the cross-linking reactions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the morphological structure and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermal conductivity to evaluate thermal degradation behavior and thermal insulation properties.

Greener Nanocomposite Polyurethane Foam Based on Sustainable Polyol and Natural Fillers: Investigation of Chemico-Physical and Mechanical Properties

Nowadays, the chemical industry is looking for sustainable chemicals to synthesize nanocomposite bio-based polyurethane foams, PUs, with the aim to replace the conventional petrochemical precursors. Some possibilities to increase the environmental sustainability in the synthesis of nanocomposite PUs include the use of chemicals and additives derived from renewable sources (such as vegetable oils or biomass wastes), which comprise increasingly wider base raw materials. Generally, sustainable PUs exhibit chemico-physical, mechanical and functional properties, which are not comparable with those of PUs produced from petrochemical precursors. In order to enhance the performances, as well as the bio-based aspect, the addition in the polyurethane formulation of renewable or natural fillers can be considered. Among these, walnut shells and cellulose are very popular wood-based waste, and due to their chemical composition, carbohydrate, protein and/or fatty acid, can be used as reactive fillers in the synthesis of Pus. Diatomite, as a natural inorganic nanoporous filler, can also be evaluated to improve mechanical and thermal insulation properties of rigid PUs. In this respect, sustainable nanocomposite rigid PU foams are synthesized by using a cardanol-based Mannich polyol, MDI (Methylene diphenyl isocyanate) as an isocyanate source, catalysts and surfactant to regulate the polymerization and blowing reactions, H₂O as a sustainable blowing agent and a suitable amount (5 wt%) of ultramilled walnut shell, cellulose and diatomite as filler. The effect of these fillers on the chemico-physical, morphological, mechanical and functional performances on PU foams has been analyzed.

Tuning of polyurethane foam mechanical and thermal properties using ball-milled cellulose

Cystalline-Cc and ultra-milled Amorphous-Ca cellulose were used as reactive filler to tune the performances of composite polyurethane-cellulose-foams, PUC. The effect of Cc and Ca on chemo-physical and mechanical properties of PUC was analysed through FTIR, morphological analysis, thermal conductivity and compression measurements. FTIR results show that, both Cc and Ca react with isocyanate through the OH functional groups contributing to the formation of a tough cellulose-polyurethane network. Morphological observations show that the addition of both Cc and Ca induces a decrease of average cell-size compared to the pristine-PU, thus confirming that they act as nucleating agent. In addition, the better dispersion of the Ca in the polyol, with respect to Cc induces, a finer cell leading to a reduction of the thermal conductivity around 33 % (for the composite loaded with 20 %wt-Ca) with respect to pristine-PU. Finally, the addition of Ca highly reactive modifies the mechanical behaviour from rigid-brittle to semi-rigid.

Correction: High piezo-resistive performances of anisotropic composites realized by embedding rGO-based chitosan aerogels into open cell polyurethane foams

Correction for 'High piezo-resistive performances of anisotropic composites realized by embedding rGO-based chitosan aerogels into open cell polyurethane foams' by Tianliang Zhai et al., Nanoscale, 2019, 11, 8835-8844.

High piezo-resistive performances of anisotropic composites realized by embedding rGO-based chitosan aerogels into open cell polyurethane foams

Anisotropic aerogel-foam composites were developed by embedding a reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/chitosan aerogel directly into an open-cell polyurethane foam through an in situ bidirectional freeze-drying process. The resulting aerogel-foam composites possess both excellent compression-resilience performance and stable piezo-resistive properties due, respectively, to the excellent mechanical properties of polyurethane foams and to the presence of a chitosan-based aerogel loaded with rGO. The latter, indeed, provides outstanding electrical properties due to its conductive and parallel flat lamellar structure. It has been proven that both mechanical and piezo-resistive properties are stable even after 1000 loading/unloading cycles and a reduction of the electrical resistance of about 86% is observed upon the application of a 60% strain. The high sensitivity, long cycling life, and reliable performance over a wide strain range make this unique anisotropic aerogel-foam composite a highly promising candidate for the production of wearable sensors and healthcare monitoring devices.

Vegetable Tannin as a Sustainable UV Stabilizer for Polyurethane Foams

A vegetable tannin, a flavonoid-type natural polyphenolic compound, was used to promote the stabilization of polyurethane foams against UV radiation. Several polyurethane foams were synthesized by using an isocyanate, and a mixture of ethoxylated cocoalkyl amine and vegetable tannin. The content of vegetable tannin was varied from 0 to 40 wt %. The effects of tannin and water (used as a blowing agent) on the foaming kinetics and cellular morphology of foams were investigated. Samples were subjected to accelerated weathering under UV radiation for 3 to 24 h, and FTIR and DMA analyses were conducted to assess the performance change. The former analysis revealed a strong inhibiting effect of tannin on urethane linkage degradation during the UV treatment. The mechanical properties were significantly affected by the addition of tannin. The capability of the foams to withstand UV radiation was dependent on the amount of tannin. At tannin contents higher than 20%, the decrease in mechanical properties under UV irradiation was almost avoided.

Optimization of dye adsorption capacity and mechanical strength of chitosan aerogels through crosslinking strategy and graphene oxide addition

Chitosan (CS) aerogels were prepared by freeze-drying as potential adsorbents for water purification, and the effect of the strategy of crosslinking was investigated by varying the amount of crosslinker (glutaraldehyde) and the sequence of steps for the preparation of the aerogel. Two procedures were compared, in which the crosslinking step was carried out before or after the freeze-drying of the starting CS solution. When crosslinking was postponed after the freeze-drying step, the adsorption capacity towards an anionic dye, such as indigo carmine, considerably increased (up to +45%), reaching values as high as 534.4 ± 30.5 mg g^-1. The same crosslinking strategy ensured a comparable improvement also in nanocomposite aerogels containing graphene oxide (GO), which was added to enhance the mechanical strength and provide adsorption capacity towards cationic dyes. Besides possessing good mechanical strength (compressive modulus higher than 1 MPa), the CS/GO aerogels were able to bind also cationic pollutants such as methylene blue. The maximum uptake capacity increased from 4.3 ± 1.6 to 168.6 ± 9.6 mg of cationic dye adsorbed per gram of adsorbent with respect to pristine CS aerogels.

Ultra-Light Reduced Graphene Oxide Based Aerogel/Foam Absorber of Microwave Radiation

We present the polarization-dependent highly absorptive in Ka-band composition of conventional polyurethane foam filled with in situ synthesized aerogel coated by reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The rGO-based aerogel was in situ prepared into the open-cell polyurethane foam (PUF) skeleton through a bidirectional freeze-drying process. The aerogel is composed of the flat lamellas stacks, possessing the anisotropic structure and unique electromagnetic properties. Further improvement of the electromagnetic shielding ability was possible by the rGO coating introduction as a coupling layer between PUF and rGO-based aerogel. This enhances the overall conductivity of the resulting composites: 1.41 + 3.33i S/m vs. 0.9 + 2.45i S/m for PUF loaded with in situ synthesized aerogel without rGO coating.With this mechanically robust plane easy to process coating one could achieve -20 dB by power with the record light structure (0.0462 g/cm²). That could compete in view of the weight per cm² even with graphene-based absorbers comprising either dielectric matching elements or back metal reflectors, or both.

Characterization of sustainable polyhydroxyls, produced from bio-based feedstock, and polyurethane and copolymer urethane-amide foams

This manuscript presents data related to the research article entitled "Synthesis and characterization of sustainable polyurethane foams based on polyhydroxyls with different terminal groups" (DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2018.06.077) [1]. We provide Supplementary data on the chemical properties, in terms of FTIR characterization, of polyhydroxyls produced starting from bio-based feedstock (biosuccinic acid and 1,4 butandiol) and thermal properties (glass transition temperature-Tg and thermal degradation behavior) of polyurethane and copolymer urethane-amide foams manufactured from the aforementioned polyhydroxyls. The FTIR characterization elucidates the chemical structure of polyhydroxyls and allows to make some hypothesis on their reaction routes with the isocyanate molecules. The thermal characterization revealed that the addition of bio-based polyhydroxyls to the sample formulations improves both the glass transition and degradation temperature of the foams. These foamed products exhibit potential performances to be applied as a substitute for conventional polyurethane foams.

Hybrid geopolymeric foams with diatomite addition: Effect on chemico-physical properties

Organic–inorganic hybrid foams were prepared by using metakaolin or diatomite as a partial (or total) replacement of metakaolin, as precursor and metal silicon and whipped protein as blowing agents. The foamed systems were cured at defined temperature and time and then characterized by chemical point of view through Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction and by mechanical and morphological point of view by compression tests and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental findings highlighted that the replacement of diatomite in the formulation affected the morphological structure of the foams and consequently their mechanical properties, due to a different chemism between the sodium silicate and the solid phase. In particular, the consolidation mechanism in the diatomite based-hybrid foams changed from geopolymerization to a silicate polycondensation. Consequently, mechanical performances enhanced with increase of the diatomite content.

PROBING THE POSTGELATION REACTIONS OF EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER CROSS-LINKED WITH DODECENYL SUCCINIC ANHYDRIDE

Pregelled mixes of an epoxidized natural rubber, known as ENR50, containing dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA) as cross-linking agent and dimethyl benzyl amine (DMBA) as catalyst, were cured isothermally at 160 °C, and the progress of the reactions was followed by both thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis [TGA]) and infrared spectroscopy (Fourier transform near-infrared and attenuated total reflection). The curing reactions were found to be approximately first order for both heat of reaction associated with cross-linking and the disappearance of the epoxy groups, even though the reduction of epoxy group concentration was found to be substantially greater than the amount expected from reactions with the anhydride, because of the formation of large quantities of vicinal OH groups. The TGA data have indicated that the pregelled mixes undergo more extensive anaerobic degradation at higher temperatures than the un–cross-linked elastomer, which is accelerated by the presence of the DMBA catalyst.

Bio-hybrid foams by silsesquioxanes cross-linked thermoplastic zein films

Hybrid materials, a new class of materials obtained by sol-gel approach and based on the nanoscale interaction between inorganic and organic phases, have recently gained large scientific and industrial attention. In this work, the material designing of zein hybrid materials with tailored properties is addressed to the production of zein hybrid foams by both gas foaming and supercritical carbon dioxide, CO2 drying. Hybrid materials have been produced from thermoplastic zein and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane by a two-step procedure including reactive melt mixing and a simultaneous sol-gel approach. Protein structural changes have been investigated by infrared spectroscopy and correlated with thermomechanical properties. The hybrid foams have been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy in order to evaluate the effect of silsesquioxanes domains on the porous structure. Hybrid microcellular foams with homogeneous cellular structures have been obtained by both foaming approaches. A bimodal structure with bubbles characterized by micrometric and nanometric sizes was obtained in hybrid foams obtained with CO2 drying.

Effect of two kinds of lignins, alkaline lignin and sodium lignosulfonate, on the foamability of thermoplastic zein-based bionanocomposites

The aim of this study was to utilize zein, a protein from corn, to develop bioplastic formulations in combination with reactive additives based on ligninic compounds and to investigate the effects of these highly interactive additives on the foamability of zein. In particular, different amounts of alkaline lignin and sodium lignosulfonate were added to zein powder and poly(ethylene glycol) through melt mixing to achieve thermoplastic bio-polymers, which were subsequently foamed in a batch process, with a mixture of CO2 and N2 as blowing agent, in the temperature range 50–60°C. The materials before foaming were characterized by X-ray and Fourier transform infrared analysis to highlight the physico-chemical interactions and the eventual destructuration of the protein secondary structure. After foaming, density measurements, scanning electron microscopy and image analysis have been used in order to evaluate the porosity and the pore size distribution of the microstructure of the foams and to determine the effect of the ligninic compounds on the foamability of the bioplastic.

Treatment and recycling of asbestos-cement containing waste

The remediation of industrial buildings covered with asbestos-cement roofs is one of the most important issues in asbestos risk management. The relevant Italian Directives call for the above waste to be treated prior to disposal on landfill. Processes able to eliminate the hazard of these wastes are very attractive because the treated products can be recycled as mineral components in building materials. In this work, asbestos-cement waste is milled by means of a high energy ring mill for up to 4h. The very fine powders obtained at all milling times are characterized to check the mineralogical and morphological transformation of the asbestos phases. Specifically, after 120 min of milling, the disappearance of the chrysotile OH stretching modes at 3690 cm(-1), of the main crystalline chrysotile peaks and of the fibrous phase are detected by means of infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses, respectively. The hydraulic behavior of the milled powders in presence of lime is also tested at different times. The results of thermal analyses show that the endothermic effects associated to the neo-formed binding phases significantly increase with curing time. Furthermore, the technological efficacy of the recycling process is evaluated by preparing and testing hydraulic lime and milled powder-based mortars. The complete test set gives good results in terms of the hydration kinetics and mechanical properties of the building materials studied. In fact, values of reacted lime around 40% and values of compressive strength in the range of 2.17 and 2.29 MPa, are measured.

Effect of supramolecular structures on thermoplastic zein-lignin bionanocomposites

The effect of alkaline lignin (AL) and sodium lignosulfonate (LSS) on the structure of thermoplastic zein (TPZ) was studied. Protein structural changes and the nature of the physical interaction between lignin and zein were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and correlated with physical properties. Most relevant protein structural changes were observed at low AL concentration, where strong H-bondings between the functional groups of AL and the amino acids in zein induced a destructuring of inter- and intramolecular interactions in α-helix, β-sheet, and β-turn secondary structures. This destructuring allowed for an extensive protein conformational modification which, in turn, resulted in a strong improvement of the physical properties of the bionanocomposite.

Heavy metal stabilization by means of innovative alumino-silicate matrix

Powdered tuff mixed with NaOH solution has been hydrothermally cured at temperatures ranging from 90 to 150 degrees C. Hardening takes place due to the formation of an amorphous binding phase. At the lowest temperature tested a non-autoclaved process can be carried out. Values of unconfined compressive strength were found to vary from 15.5 MPa to 28.9 MPa depending on reaction conditions. The matrix was tested as a binder for the stabilization of model systems containing cadmium, chromium and lead and for a real system containing a secondary lead smelter slag. The stabilization process was tested from both the environmental and technological points of view by means of leahcing tests and compressive strength measurement. Basic characterization leaching tests carried out with the model systems showed that metal release from hardened paste is below 1%. Compliance leaching test carried out with the real system showed that lead release is below the limit set by law. From the technological pont of view, it was found that unconfined compressive strength is always higher for the real system. Specifically, this system showed compressive strength increasing with slag content to values exceeding 86.5 MPa.