Fully Bio-Sourced Nylon 11/Raw Lignin Composites: Thermal and Mechanical Performances

Ecofriendly fully bio-composites based on polyamide 11 (PA11) and lignin have been prepared on the entire concentration range using a twin-screw extruder. In this work, PA11 was blended with lignin by direct extrusion technology without any chemical pre- or in-situ- modifications or physical pretreatments. The presence of various organic and inorganic impurities in the selected technical lignin have been maintained. The incorporation of this cheap renewable material from biomass in bio-based PA11 was inspected by an array of characterization tools. Also, the effect of the presence of lignin on the morphology and on the mechanical properties of the resulting materials was examined. Finally, in-situ investigation of structural evolution in PA11 induced by the presence of lignin was analyzed by Fast Scanning Chip Calorimetry

Polyolefins–biofibre composites: A new way for an industrial production

International audienc

Probing thermoplastic matrix-carbon fiber interphases. 1. Preferential segregation of low molar mass chains to the interface

The molecular mobility of polystyrene (PS) chains near the surface of carbon fibers was investigated. The glass transition temperature of very thin coatings deposited on carbon fibers was measured by supported DMTA in order to probe the properties of the thermoplastic interphase. Depending on the fiber impregnation method from the melt or from solution, Tg changed in an opposite way for the thinnest coatings, decreasing with coating thickness in the case of impregnation in the melt and increasing when a polymer solution was used. This observation is explained by degradation of PS in the melt and subsequent preferential segregation of low molar mass chains to the interface. This conclusion is supported by the study of the Tg of coatings made from a bimodal molar mass distribution

One-step water-assisted melt-compounding of polyamide 6/pristine clay nanocomposites: An efficient way to prevent matrix degradation

International audienc

Simultaneous Filtration and Stabilization of the Beer: Potential for Oxidized High-Density Polyethylene (OxPE) to be Used as Filter Aid

For decades, kieselguhr has been the most common filter aid for beer filtration. However, costs for disposal are severely increasing and brewers today are concerned about replacing kieselguhr filtration by a greener technology. Filtration trials were carried out with the regenerable filter aid oxidized high-density polyethylene (OxPE) on a pilot-scale candle filter using green lager beer from settling tanks. OxPE has an average particle size distribution of 37 μm and its outer surface presents nodular structures. The porosity of the OxPE media is 0.6 compared with 0.85 for kieselguhr. OxPE retains a good amount of haze and yeast cells without clogging; however, the expected clarity was reached only when using Brewtan. The use of polyvinyl-polypyrrolidone (PVPP) mixed with the OxPE filter aid (25/75%) showed the best results for filtration because of the shape of PVPP particles and their slight compressibility. Regeneration is one of the most important steps to achieve because the filter aid has to be reused as many times as possible while keeping its properties of retention toward haze and yeast cells. OxPE proved to have very good resistance to aggressive regeneration conditions, and filtration trials carried out after such an operation confirmed this. © 2012 American Society of Brewing Chemists, Inc

Simultaneous filtration and stabilization of the beer: Potential for oxidized high-density polyethylene (OxPE) to be used as filter aid

For decades, kieselguhr has been the most common filter aid for beer filtration. However, costs for disposal are severely increasing and brewers today are concerned about replacing kieselguhr filtration by a greener technology. Filtration trials were carried out with the regenerable filter aid oxidized high-density polyethylene (OxPE) on a pilot-scale candle filter using green lager beer from settling tanks. OxPE has an average particle size distribution of 37 μm and its outer surface presents nodular structures. The porosity of the OxPE media is 0.6 compared with 0.85 for kieselguhr. OxPE retains a good amount of haze and yeast cells without clogging; however, the expected clarity was reached only when using Brewtan. The use of polyvinyl-polypyrrolidone (PVPP) mixed with the OxPE filter aid (25/75%) showed the best results for filtration because of the shape of PVPP particles and their slight compressibility. Regeneration is one of the most important steps to achieve because the filter aid has to be reused as many times as possible while keeping its properties of retention toward haze and yeast cells. OxPE proved to have very good resistance to aggressive regeneration conditions, and filtration trials carried out after such an operation confirmed this. © 2012 American Society of Brewing Chemists, Inc

Emission of volatile organic compounds during processing and use of organoclay-based nanocomposites

International audienc

Influence of homogenization and drying on the thermal stability of microfibrillated cellulose

Homogenization has been used to release microfibrils from cellulose fibres to produce microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) Oven drying, atomization or freeze-drying were used to dry MFC Morphological differences were observed linked to the compaction of the system and the formation of microfibril agglomerates Thermal stability of the dried MFC, checked by TGA, decreased after homogenization and drying Char level at the end of the pyrolysis was higher than for cellulose fibres Derivative TGA (dTGA) showed a shoulder around 250 degrees C for the dried MFC Volatile degradation product detection by FTIR spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled to TGA and DSC showed that the shoulder corresponds to expected dehydration reactions of the cellulose Increasing the contacts between microfibril(s) (bundles) and agglomerates of the freeze-dried MFC by compression promoted dehydration reactions Homogenization and drying modified the thermal properties of the MFC No significant influence of freeze-drying kinetics on the thermal behaviour of the MFC was observed (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Structure–barrier property relationship of biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) and poly[(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate)] nanocomposites: influence of the rigid amorphous fraction

International audienc