The biodiversity of plant resources is a renewable source that can use as a sustainable component in various applications. The use of vegetable waste as a filler element in polymeric composites is part of the solid waste management policy and the sustainable development of agribusiness. In this work, the natural rubber composites were prepared with acai seed in proportions of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 phr (per hundred rubber). The composites were homogenized in an open cylinder mixer and characterized by rheometric, morphological, mechanical, and thermal tests. The addition of the organic fillers significantly reduced the vulcanization process time. Thermogravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy showed that the composites were thermally stable and showed no structure changes after the vulcanization process, respectively. The Lorenz-Parks method's evaluation of matrix/filler interactions showed a strong interaction between NR/Acai. The new biocomposite can replace non-ecological composites economically and sustainably.

Abstract This study evaluated the genotoxicity, mutagenicity, antigenotoxicity, and antimutagenicity effects on biochemical parameters of oxidative stress of the Spondias dulcis bark ethanolic extract on mice. The extract was evaluated in the doses of 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg bw via gavage. To evaluate the protective effects of the extract, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and cyclophosphamide (CP) were chosen as DNA damage inducers. Genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity were evaluated by the comet assay. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and antimutagenicity were evaluated by the micronucleus test in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The biochemical parameters of oxidative stress were evaluated by the quantification of catalase activity (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in total blood, liver and kidney, and malondialdehyde (MDA), in liver and kidney. No genotoxic, cytotoxic, or mutagenic effect was found on mice exposed to the extract. The extract depleted the number of damaged nucleoids in total blood and the number of micronucleus (MN) in both cell types. The extract was able to increase CAT activity and GSH levels and decrease MDA levels after treatment with B[a]P and CP. The results indicate that the S. dulcis extract has potential to be used as preventive compound against DNA damage caused by CP and B[a]P.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides biomass was submitted to ethanolic extraction (78 ºC, 12 h) to remove low molecular weight compounds followed by hot aqueous extraction (100 ºC, 4 h, 4x) to obtain polysaccharides. Consecutive freezing/thawing treatments of the aqueous extract yielded a soluble fraction in cold water that was separated on five components (PI to PV) by gel exclusion chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B. The PIV was homogeneous on HPSEC/RID, with apparent MW of 2.8 x 104 g mol-1, Mw/Mn 1.17, 100% of total sugar. The PIV was composed by galactose (61%), glucose (34%) and mannose (5%). 1H and 13C NMR analysis mono- and two-dimensional, homo- (COSY) and heteronuclear (HSQC and HMBC) showed that PIV is a heteropolysacharide with a main chain constituted by β-D-galactofuranosidic units (1→5) and (1→6) linked with some of the β-D-galactofuranosidic (1→6) units substituted in O-3 by α-D-glucopiranosidic residues. Cytotoxic assays (MTT) indicated that the viability of CHO-K1 cells, when exposed to different heteropolysaccharide concentrations, did not show significant differences when compared to the viability of the negative control (CN), in the experimental times of 24 and 48 hours. These results suggest the possibility of new cytotoxic assays in other normal cell lines as well as in tumor cells.

New flexible and transparent materials based on germanium sulfide were obtained using GeCl4 and 1,3-propanedithiol as precursors. These materials have transparency in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectral region (about 70%), thermal stability up to 200 °C and glass transition located at temperatures below 0 °C (-37 °C, -56 °C and -59 °C) as shown by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the polymer is homogeneous and presents formation of crystals in some regions of the surface. These polymers also exhibit Ge-S bonds in its structure, as can be observed through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) (bands at 399, 401, 432 and 470 cm-1) and Raman (peaks at 361 and 430 cm-1) spectroscopies, and the diffraction patterns X-rays, which suggest the formation of a mixture of GeS2 and GeO2phases (also confirmed through energy-dispersive X-ray analysis). The coupled thermogravimetric analysis / Fourier transform infrared (TG/FTIR) technique was used to investigate the degradation of the sample. Taken together, the results of these characterizations suggest optical applications, and usability at low temperatures.

A borracha natural (BN) de três clones de seringueira [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. exAdr. de Juss. Muell.-Arg.)] de um período de sete meses foi obtida por coagulação do látex com solução de ácido acético a 10% e seca a 65°C. As curvas TG-DTG foram utilizadas para monitorar as propriedades térmicas da BN. Os resultados indicaram pequenas variações entre clones e coletas, exceto no valor de Tf-T0, indicando que o clone IAC 301 sofre degradação mais rápida durante o processo termo degradação da BN seca. Não houve diferenças significativas nos valores de Tg entre clones e coletas.

Natural rubber (NR) tapped from three clones of the rubber tree [Heveabrasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss. Muell.-Arg.)] over a seven month period was obtained by coagulation of lattices with 10% acid acetic and dried at 65 °C. TG-DTG curves were used to monitor thermal properties of NR. The TG-DTG results indicated very small differences among the clones and tappings, except in the value of Tf-T0, which indicated that the IAC 301 clone suffered the fastest thermal degradation, during decomposition of the dried, raw NR. There was no significant difference in Tg values among clones and tappings.

A influência de diferentes tratamentos das fibras de sisal nas propriedades dos compósitos de borracha nitrílica/fibras de sisal, e borracha nitrílica/carbonato de cálcio/fibras de sisal foi investigada. Os compósitos, com fibras curtas aleatoriamente distribuídas, foram processados em moinho de dois rolos e caracterizados através de ensaios mecânicos de resistência à tração, microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), análise por termogravimetria (TG) e calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC). O tratamento de mercerização das fibras levou a uma maior adesão na interface fibra/matriz. O uso combinado de 67 pcr de carbonato com 33 pcr de fibras de sisal mercerizadas produziu um compósito com aumento significativo no módulo de elasticidade e sem perda da resistência à tração de ruptura. Os resultados da análise térmica mostraram que os compósitos são termicamente estáveis até cerca de 300 °C. Os materiais obtidos possuem uma boa relação custo/benefício tornando promissora sua utilização.

In this work, composites were produced with nitrile rubber and sisal fibers, and nitrile rubber with calcium carbonate and sisal fibers. The composites were processed on a two-roll mixing mill and their properties were investigated with regard to the influence of chemical treatments of the fibers. The composites, with short fibers randomly distributed, were characterized by mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Mercerization treatment of the fibers promoted increasing the adhesion between the fiber and the rubber matrix. The composites of nitrile rubber with 67 pcr of calcium carbonate and 33 pcr of mercerized sisal fibers showed the best mechanical properties. Thermal analysis demonstrated that the composites are thermally stable up to 300 °C. The materials developed have a good cost/benefit relationship making their utilization promising.

Neste trabalho estudou-se o desempenho mecânico e térmico de compostos de borracha natural (Hevea brasiliensis) de 4 diferentes clones (GT 1, IAN 873, PB 235 e RRIM 600) cultivados no Estado de São Paulo, assim como de uma mistura destes clones e de uma borracha comercial, GEB-1. Estas borrachas foram formuladas e vulcanizadas com tempos de 5, 7 e 9 minutos. A caracterização foi realizada por calorimetria exploratória diferencial, termogravimetria, ensaios de resistência à tração, análise dinâmico-mecânica, medidas de dureza Shore A, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectroscopia na região do infravermelho. Os resultados permitiram concluir que o tempo de vulcanização e o tipo de clone não influenciaram na temperatura de transição vítrea (Tg) dos compostos. Os valores de Tg obtidos por DMA foram de cerca de -62 °C, e os resultados ensaios de dureza apresentaram valores próximos de 60 para todos os compostos estudados. Os ensaios de resistência à tração mostraram que o melhor desempenho mecânico foi obtido pelo clone RRIM 600. De acordo com os resultados obtidos neste trabalho, todos os clones atingiram as propriedades reportadas na literatura, podendo ser utilizados, em princípio, nas indústrias de artefatos de borracha separadamente ou na forma de mistura.

The objective of this work was to study the mechanical and thermal performance of natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) compounds of different types of clones (GT 1, IAN 873, PB 235 and RRIM 600), as well as a mixture made from these clones and a commercial rubber GEB-1. These rubbers were formulated and prepared in a two-roll mill and vulcanized at different times (5, 7 and 9 minutes). The evaluation of the mechanical and thermal performance of different natural rubber compounds was carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), mechanical properties (tensile and hardness tests), dynamic mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The values obtained for glass transition temperature (Tg) for vulcanized rubbers were found to be around -62 °C, while in the hardness test the values obtained were close to 60, with no great variations when the vulcanization time and type of clone were varied. The tensile tests showed that the best performance was obtained for the clone RRIM 600. All the samples studied were in agreement with standard specifications required for application in the rubber industry, indicating that all clones can be used, in principle, in the rubber industry in blended or unblended forms.

A qualidade do látex de borracha natural (Hevea brasiliensis) de diferentes clones (RRIM 600, IAN 873, GT 1, PB 235), uma mistura destes clones e uma borracha comercial foi avaliada por ensaios padrões (plasticidade Wallace, PRI, viscosidade Mooney, % de cinzas, extrato acetônico e % de nitrogênio), DMA, DSC e TG. As borrachas estudadas apresentam propriedades competitivas com as da borracha presente no mercado, ficando dentro dos padrões de qualidade exigidos pela norma brasileira e pelo padrão internacional. Entre os clones, o clone RRIM 600 foi o que apresentou o melhor desempenho, principalmente em relação à viscosidade Mooney e ao PRI.

Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) from different clones (RRIM 600, IAN 873, GT 1, PB 235), a mixture made from these clones, and a commercial rubber, have been characterized by DMA, DSC, TGA, and standards methods (Wallace plasticity, PRI, Mooney viscosity, ash percentage, acetonic extract and nitrogen percentage). All the samples studied complied with standard specifications required for application in the rubber industry, and can be used in the rubber industry in blended or unblended forms. Among the clones, the best results of the standards methods were obtained from the RRIM 600 clone, and the blended form of the natural rubber increases its storage modulus.

As técnicas de microscopia de varredura por força tem promovido um grande impacto em ciência dos materiais devido a possibilidade de obtenção de imagens em escala que pode chegar no nível atômico. Neste trabalho serão apresentados o princípio básico de funcionamento da microscopia de varredura por força, os vários modos de operação e as forças envolvidas e medidas. O potencial de aplicação destas técnicas no estudo de materiais, e em particular de polímeros, serão discutidos. Uma comparação da microscopia de força atômica com outras técnicas de microscopia será apresentada, assim como exemplos da utilização da técnica de microscopia de força atômica para o estudo de polímeros.

The scanning force microscopy techniques are promoting a great impact on materials science due to the possibility to obtain images down to the atomic scale. This work reports on the basic principles of the scanning force microscopes, their operation modes and the forces involved and measured. The potential application of these techniques on the study of materials, particularly on polymers, is discussed. A comparison of atomic force microscopy - AFM - with other techniques is presented, as well as some examples of the use of AFM on the study of polymers.