Biobased poly(ethylene furanoate-:Co -ethylene succinate) copolyesters: Solid state structure, melting point depression and biodegradability

Novel, biobased poly(ethylene furanoate-co-ethylene succinate) copolyesters were successfully prepared by melt polycondensation and their solid state structure, melting point depression and biodegradability were evaluated in detail.</p

Biodegradable Films from Kefiran-Based Cryogel Systems

Kefiran, which was isolated from kefir grains, was used for the fabrication of cryogel-films in the presence of plasticizers, such as glycerol and sorbitol. Varying concentration ratios of the exopolysaccharide/plasticizer system were employed in the process of the cryogel-film formulation and their effect on the physical (film thickness, moisture content, and solubility) and the mechanical (tensile strength and elongation at break) properties of the films was monitored. Kefiran-film vapor adsorption isotherms were calculated, and a thermal analysis of the samples was also performed. The structural characteristics of the cryogel-films were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cryo-treatment, alongside the plasticizer addition, affected the physical and mechanical properties of the kefiran films, as well as their morphology. Increasing kefiran concentration resulted in increasing the film thickness, the moisture content, and the tensile strength, while decreased their solubility and their elongation at break. Kefiran-film adsorption isotherms were affected by the cryo-treatment, the kefiran concentration, and the plasticizer use and concentration. The thermal analysis of the kefiran films showed thermal stability. The presence of the plasticizers and their increment concentration resulted in decreasing the glass transition and the melting temperatures. The cryo-treatment and the presence of plasticizers resulted in the films appearing smoother. Glycerol proved to affect more than the sorbitol–water vapor adsorption and the morphology of kefiran films

Biodegradable Films from Kefiran-Based Cryogel Systems

Kefiran, which was isolated from kefir grains, was used for the fabrication of cryogel-films in the presence of plasticizers, such as glycerol and sorbitol. Varying concentration ratios of the exopolysaccharide/plasticizer system were employed in the process of the cryogel-film formulation and their effect on the physical (film thickness, moisture content, and solubility) and the mechanical (tensile strength and elongation at break) properties of the films was monitored. Kefiran-film vapor adsorption isotherms were calculated, and a thermal analysis of the samples was also performed. The structural characteristics of the cryogel-films were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cryo-treatment, alongside the plasticizer addition, affected the physical and mechanical properties of the kefiran films, as well as their morphology. Increasing kefiran concentration resulted in increasing the film thickness, the moisture content, and the tensile strength, while decreased their solubility and their elongation at break. Kefiran-film adsorption isotherms were affected by the cryo-treatment, the kefiran concentration, and the plasticizer use and concentration. The thermal analysis of the kefiran films showed thermal stability. The presence of the plasticizers and their increment concentration resulted in decreasing the glass transition and the melting temperatures. The cryo-treatment and the presence of plasticizers resulted in the films appearing smoother. Glycerol proved to affect more than the sorbitol&ndash;water vapor adsorption and the morphology of kefiran films

Injection Molded PP Foams Using Food Ingredients for Food Packaging Applications

A new approach to the creation of polypropylene (PP) based foaming materials was developed using food grade foaming agents that were coated on the PP pellets. More specifically, sodium bicarbonate and organic acids were used to coat PP pellets using either polyethyleneoxide (PEO) or lipid esters as coating stabilizers. In order to overcome the problem of the thermal decomposition of sodium bicarbonate at temperatures lower than the PP melting temperature, which makes the direct foaming during melt mixing impossible, the proposed methodology was proved quite efficient. Thus, new PP masterbatches were prepared, where the foaming agents were incorporated as coating at PP pellets at contents up to 10%, and initially used in Lab scale injection machines in order to find the best combination of materials that resulted in the production of foamed articles. Subsequently selected material combinations were tested in an industrial scale injection molding machine, where an optimization of the injection parameters was attempted. The outcome of this was the production of PP articles with significantly increased void fraction, up to 14%, decreased thermal conductivity, up to 20%, and various pore sizes as was observed via microscopic examination using SEM and CLSM

Fast Crystallization and Melting Behavior of a Long-Spaced Aliphatic Furandicarboxylate Biobased Polyester, Poly(dodecylene 2,5-furanoate)

International audienc

Synthesis, properties and thermal behavior of poly(decylene-2,5-furanoate):A biobased polyester from 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid

International audienc

On the bio-based furanic polyesters:Synthesis and thermal behavior study of poly(octylene furanoate) using fast and temperature modulated scanning calorimetry

International audienc