Abstract The use of araucaria pine nut shell in polymer composites may increase the pine nut value and help protec araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia) itself, which is an endangered species. The aim of this work is to study the influence of the size of pine nut shell fiber on the mechanical properties of composites made of this shell and polyurethane derived from castor oil. Composites with different polyurethane contents were manufactured with dried untreated pine nut shell sieved through 30 and 50 mesh sieves (0.6 and 0.3 mm, respectively). Composites were shaped by mechanical mixing of the components followed by hot pressing. Properties such as density, water absorption, and flexural strength were measured. Specimens were also characterized by SEM, FTIR, and TGA. The flexural strength of PU/0.3mm pine nut shell composites with 30% PU (wt%) was 57.7 MPa, and their water absorption was 7.37% after 24 hours of immersion.

Abstract Natural fibers and polyurethane based composites may present chemical bonding between the components of the polymer and the lignin of the fiber. The incidence of radiation can cause degradation of the polymeric material and alter its mechanical properties. The objective of this study was to obtain and characterize cold pressed composites from polyurethane derived from castor oil and sisal fibers, without coupling agents, through thermogravimetric and mechanical tests, before and after the incidence of 25 kGy dose of gamma radiation. Woven composites that were not irradiated had maximum values of 4.40 GPa for flexural elastic modulus on three point flexural test and dispersed fiber composite that were not irradiated had maximum values of 2.25 GPa. These materials are adequate for use in non-structural applications in radiotherapy and radiodiagnostic rooms.

Resumo O óleo de baru (OB) é uma matéria-prima renovável proveniente do cerrado brasileiro que possui elevado percentual de insaturação. O objetivo principal do trabalho foi o estudo das espumas de poliuretano com diferentes quantidade de óleo de baru saponificado. Os espectros de FTIR mostraram bandas representativas do poliol, óleo de baru e do pré-polímero. As curvas TG-DSC nas atmosferas de ar e N2 apresentaram perfis diferentes, devido a formação de produtos intermediários de oxidação dos materiais na atmosfera de ar. A quantidade de energia liberada pela DSC e as perdas de massa observadas pelas curvas TG indicaram saturação do óleo de baru na quantidade de 24,00% (m/m). Os gases liberados analisados por TG-DSC acoplado ao FTIR, foram: água, CO2, CO e etanol. Com o aumento do óleo de baru, ocorreu maior absorção de água pelo PU, na proporção de 29,00% (m/m) o índice de intumescimento foi de 91,10%, em 1440 minutos. Assim, pudemos observer a formação do poliuretano com características distintas devido a presença do OB.

Abstract The baru oil (OB) is a renewable raw material from the brazilian cerrado, with high unsaturation percentage. The objective of this work was the study of polyurethane foam with different quantities of baru saponified oil. FTIR spectrum showed the bands of polyol, baru oil and prepolymer. The TG-DSC curves in N2 and air indicated different profiles, especially the formation of more stable intermediate products on the oxidation of these materials in air atmosphere. The quantity of heat obtained by DSC curves and the weight loss obtained by TG curve, indicates an OB saturation at 24.00% (w/w). The study by FTIR of the volatile products released by TG-DSC were water, CO2, CO and etanol. With the increase of OB, higher water absorption of PU, in 29.00% (w/w) of swelling index 91.10% for 1440 minutes. From these results, we observe the formation of polyurethane with different characteristics because of OB presence.

Gamma and ultraviolet radiation effects on hardness, elastic modulus and viscoelastic properties of polyurethane derived from castor oil (PU) were investigated by nanoindentation tests. Modifications on surface morphology, induced by radiation, were observed by atomic force microscopy. The polyurethane derivate from castor oil shows good resistance to gamma radiation, with only small changes in hardness, elastic modulus, viscoelastic properties and contact angle. The hardness of PU increases at the near surface region due to UVA radiation and decreases after UVC radiation. The contact angle for water drop decreases after UVC radiation, but not after gamma radiation, despite a significant increase in roughness. Such results are attributed to different responses from polyurethane to radiation energy. Increase in hardness due to UVA is attributed to a higher crosslinking at shallow depths, while a decrease in mechanical properties may be attributed to chain scission. These results are consistent with the modifications on viscoelastic properties. Shore D hardness did not show the same trend as observed by nanoindentation results. Hardness, viscoelastic properties and contact angle of castor oil polyurethane are more severely influenced by UVC radiation, while gamma radiation does not have a significant effect.

The need to develop new dental luting agents in order to improve the success of treatments has greatly motivated research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diametral tensile strength (DTS) and film thickness (FT) of an experimental dental luting agent derived from castor oil (COP) with or without addition of different quantities of filler (calcium carbonate - CaCO3). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty specimens were manufactured (DTS N=40; FT N=40) and divided into 4 groups: Pure COP; COP 10%; COP 50% and zinc phosphate (control). The cements were mixed according to the manufacturers' recommendations and submitted to the tests. The DTS test was performed in the MTS 810 testing machine (10 KN, 0.5 mm/min). For FT test, the cements were sandwiched between two glass plates (2 cm²) and a load of 15 kg was applied vertically on the top of the specimen for 10 min. The data were analyzed by means of one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). RESULTS: The values of DTS (MPa) were: Pure COP- 10.94±1.30; COP 10%- 30.06±0.64; COP 50%- 29.87±0.27; zinc phosphate- 4.88±0.96. The values of FT (µm) were: Pure COP- 31.09±3.16; COP 10%- 17.05±4.83; COP 50%- 13.03±4.83; Zinc Phosphate- 20.00±0.12. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among the groups (DTS - p=1.01E-40; FT - p=2.4E-10). CONCLUSION: The experimental dental luting agent with 50% of filler showed the best diametral tensile strength and film thickness.

Neste trabalho são investigadas as propriedades mecânicas de poliuretana derivada do óleo de mamona, utilizando a técnica de indentação instrumentada com penetradores de geometrias piramidal e esférica. Foi analisada a influência da forma do penetrador utilizado nos ensaios de indentação instrumentada para se obter valores das propriedades mecânicas de polímero derivado de óleo de mamona. Os penetradores utilizados são de pontas piramidais dos tipos Berkovich e canto de cubo e esférico de raio igual a 150 μm em um Nanoindenter XP TM com cargas aplicadas entre 1 e 200 mN. As penetrações variam de acordo com o formato do penetrador, sendo maiores para pontas agudas. A dureza e o módulo de elasticidade foram determinados, utilizando o método de Oliver e Pharr. Verificou-se que os valores medidos para a dureza são maiores para penetradores mais agudos. Os valores obtidos com a ponta piramidal Berkovich foram de 0,14 GPa para pequenas penetrações e 0,12 GPa para maiores penetrações. Já os valores obtidos com ponta canto de cubo foram 25 a 30% maiores. Isso está relacionado com os volumes das regiões que apresentam deformações plásticas elevadas, no caso de penetradores agudos comparados com os volumes das regiões que sofrem deformações viscoelásticas. A viscosidade aparente determinada, utilizando penetrador esférico em testes de força aplicada constante, é igual a (22 ± 2) × 10(12) Pa.s.

The mechanical properties of polyurethane derived from castor oil, obtained by instrumented indentation technique with pyramidal and spherical indenters are reported. The influence of the indenter shape on the values of mechanical properties of the polymer was investigated. The indentations were made with pyramidal Berkovich, cube corner and a spherical indenter with radius of 150 μm in a Nanoindenter XP TM. The applied loads varied between 1 and 200 mN. The penetration depth increases for acute indenters, being higher for the cube corner tip. The hardness and elastic modulus were determined using the method of Oliver and Pharr. It was found that the measured values for hardness are higher for more acute indenters. The hardness with the pyramidal Berkovich tip was 0.14 GPa for small penetrations and 0.12 GPa for higher penetration depths. The values obtained with a cube corner tip were 25 to 30% higher. This is related to the volumes of regions with high plastic deformation in the case of acute indenters compared to the volumes of regions that present viscoelastic deformation. The apparent viscosity determined using the spherical indenter, in tests with applied constant forces, is equal to (22 ± 2) × 10(12) Pa.s.

Alkaline salts of the palmitic acid were synthesized and characterized from aqueous and ethanolic medium. The salts were characterized by elemental analysis (EA) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). EA and IR, being its synthesis comproved, also characterized the ethyl palmitate. All the salts and the ester were submitted to thermal analysis using thermogravimetry (TG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) in the temperature ranging from room to 700 ºC under air dynamic atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were taken from -90 ºC up to temperatures close to the starting of the decomposition temperature, determined by thermogravimetry, using heating and cooling cycles.

The aim of this research is to study the biodegradation of a polyurethane derived from castor oil, which contains polyester segment in its molecular structure, thus becoming susceptible to the microorganisms attack. The biodegradation of polyurethane was tested in contact with microorganisms resulting from microbiological grease degrading agents, in appropriate liquid media, with a duration of 156 days. The study was done by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry (TG) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with accessory for attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR). The results suggest that the degradation of polyurethane derived from castor oil occurs. TG curves are used in order to indicate the biodegradation, showing changes between the thermal behavior of the samples that were inoculated with microorganisms and control. In the FTIR-ATR spectra, there are detectable changes between the spectra of control and attacked specimens; this suggests that degradation occurs, with the decreased intensity of the absorption band at 1042 cm-1, corresponding to the esters links.

The increasingly widespread use of polymeric insulators in vehicle distributors and transmission systems has led to an ongoing quest for quality and low costs. This quest has, in turn, resulted in improved performance and cost benefits, brought about by the use of new polymeric and composite resins. Occasionally, however, while some properties are improved, others may show a loss of optimal performance. Therefore, to understand the behavior of fillers, such as carbon black, silica and mica added to castor oil-derived polyurethane resins, several thermal, mechanical and electrical tests were conducted on samples and insulators produced specifically for this purpose, using these new materials. The results of these tests clearly demonstrated that this type of resin and its composites can be used to manufacture indoor electrical insulators and that the fillers analyzed in this study improve or maintain the characteristics of the pure resins.