In this study, we hypothesized that microtextured titanium (Ti) surfaces produced by laser metal fusion (LMF) 3D printing may play an important role in osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). For that, MSCs derived from mouse bone marrow were cultured on Ti discs produced in two different ways: microtextured produced by acid etched (Ti-Ac, control group) and microtextured produced by LMF 3D printing (Ti-3D-LMF, test group), in which it was evaluated: (1) cell proliferation, (2) alkaline phosphatase activity and (3) extracellular matrix mineralization. The results showed that both groups allowed cell proliferation over time (p<0.001). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences between groups in the assessments of alkaline phosphatase activity (p=0.385) and extracellular matrix mineralization (p=0.234). Although both groups evaluated induce cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation similarly, the technology used in the Ti-3D-LMF group may prove advantageous as it produces specific dental implants for patients through customization. study (Ti (LMF D MSCs. . (MSCs) ways TiAc, TiAc Ac, Ac (Ti-Ac Ti3DLMF, Ti3DLMF TiDLMF LMF, (Ti-3D-LMF group, , 1 (1 2 (2 3 (3 p<0.001. p0001 p p<0.001 0 001 (p<0.001) Additionally p=0.385 p0385 385 (p=0.385 p=0.234. p0234 p=0.234 234 (p=0.234) similarly customization (MSCs DLMF ( p000 p<0.00 00 (p<0.001 p=0.38 p038 38 (p=0.38 p023 p=0.23 23 (p=0.234 p00 p<0.0 (p<0.00 p=0.3 p03 (p=0.3 p02 p=0.2 (p=0.23 p0 p<0. (p<0.0 p=0. (p=0. (p=0.2 p<0 (p<0. p=0 (p=0 p< (p<0 p= (p= (p< (p

Abstract Fuel Cells based in polymers are an alternative for the conventional energetic matrices. However, materials currently available still present disadvantages to overcome. Membranes of polycarbonate (PC)/sulfonated polycarbonate (PCs) blend/sepiolite nanocomposites have previously been studied by the authors, resulting in good mechanical properties and promising properties of vapor transmission and ionic migration resistance. However, their production in large scale is still a challenge. The aim of this work was the development further the formulation and processing of the previously studied material. Films of PC/PCs blends (50/50 wt%) with different content of sepiolite clay, with and without chemical modification, have been prepared in an extruder and evaluated by FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, DMA, tension strength and water vapor transmission (WVT). Even after two processing steps, the blend-based nanocomposites keep good thermal and mechanical properties. However, changes in WVT were observed with respect to data obtained in previous studies.

In this work, polyaniline (PANI) in emeraldine-base form, synthesized by chemical oxidation polymerization, was protonated with hydrochloric acid (HCl). Composites based on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear-low density polyethylene (LLDPE) blends with PANI were prepared in molten condition using a torque rheometer. The effect of compatibilizer agent (maleic anhydride-grafted high density polyethylene, HDPE-g-MA) and different contents of PANI on the blends-based composites was also investigated. Thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic (electric permittivity) measurements and morphological aspects of the composites were evaluated. The addition of PANI content in the composites decreases the degree of crystallinity of HDPE and LLDPE blends, which implies that PANI particles make it difficult for co-crystallization to occur in the HDPE and LLDPE, respectively. On the other hand, the addition of compatibilizer agent in the HDPE and LLDPE blends increased the degree of crystallinity. The complex parameters of permittivity in the frequency range of 8.2 to 12.4 GHz varied as a function of the PANI content in the blend. It was also observed that the compatibilizer agent increased the composite stiffness and decreased the electric permittivity values. This result shows that the increasing rigidity of the molecular structure of the polyethylene matrix hindered the dissipation of the electromagnetic energy in the sample.

Epoxy/CNT and epoxy/CNT/calcium carbonate nanocomposites were produced via in situ polymerization assisted by ultrasonication without solvent and electrical, mechanical, thermal and thermomechanical properties of nanocomposites were evaluated. Epoxy/CNT presented very low percolation threshold, near 0.05 wt % and nanocomposites with higher contents of CNT presented further increase in electrical conductivity. The addition of calcium carbonate in epoxy/CNT nanocomposites increased the electrical conductivity, due to volume exclusion phenomena. Regarding thermal properties, due to the low content of the CNT and calcium carbonate no changes in glass transition (Tg) were observed. DMA results showed no significant changes in thermomechanical properties, once the contents of CNT and calcium carbonate are below stiffness threshold, however an increase of flexural modulus by adding CNT and calcium carbonate was observed.

Blends of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and different contents (0, 10, 20 and 30 wt%) of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with and without maleic anhydride-grafted LLDPE (LLDPE-g-MA) were prepared by melt blending and aging resistance, thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated. The degree of crystallinity increases with the content of LLDPE in the blends. On the other hand, the addition of compatibilizer agent modifies the crystallinity and the crystallite size. Non-compatibilized blends have excellent impact resistance properties and the addition of LLDPE-g-MA aids processing but decrease the impact resistance of the blends. Thermal and mechanical properties were greatly affected by thermal and water aging. The thermal aging leads to an increase in the degree of crystallinity and consequent a decrease in impact resistance.

RESUMO O desenvolvimento de placas do nanocompósito de UHMWPE/LLDPE/CNT tem como objetivo a obtenção de um material para aplicação em blindagem balística híbrida de alto impacto em forma de multicamadas de cerâmica/polímero. O compósito polimérico é utilizado na base da blindagem com a função de absorver a energia cinética residual do projétil e dos estilhaços da cerâmica após o impacto. Para atender a estes requisitos o compósito polimérico precisa ter alta tenacidade à fratura, alta resistência mecânica e deformação controlada. Uma deformação exagerada da placa polimérica pode causar lesões aos usuários de coletes balísticos de proteção pessoal, por exemplo. Neste trabalho foi realizada a mistura de polietileno linear de baixa densidade (LLDPE) com polietileno de ultra alta massa molecular (UHMWPE) utilizando um homogeneizador de alta rotação com posterior prensagem a quente com a finalidade de melhorar a mistura dos componentes fundidos e facilitar o processo de fabricação das placas poliméricas. Para compensar as perdas de propriedades mecânicas das blendas em relação ao UHMWPE puro foram produzidos compósitos com adição de 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0 % em massa de nanotubos de carbono funcionalizados com ácido nítrico. Os valores das propriedades mecânicas e térmicas dos compósitos foram comparados com as blendas poliméricas sem adição de nanotubos de carbono. As blendas poliméricas e nanocompósitos foram submetidos aos ensaios mecânicos de dureza Shore D e ensaio de tração uniaxial. Para avaliação da estabilidade térmica foram realizadas análises de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) e análise termogravimétrica (TGA), e para a avaliação morfológica dos nanocompósitos foi utilizado microscopia eletrônica de varredura (FEG-MEV).

ABSTRACT The purpose of developing UHMWPE/ LLDPE/ CNT nanocomposite plates is to obtain a material that can be applied in laminated ceramic/polymer structures for high-impact ballistic protection. The polymer nanocomposite is used in the backing plate of the armor structure to absorb the residual kinetic energy of the projectile and shards from the ceramic material after impact. The polymer nanocomposite must have high fracture toughness, high mechanical strength and controlled deformation, in order to comply with these requirements. For instance, extreme deformations of the backing plate may cause injury to users of ballistic protective vests. In this work, a blend of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was prepared, using a high-rotation homogenizer with subsequent hot pressing, in order to facilitate the manufacturing process of the polymer nanocomposite plates. Furthermore, carbon nanotubes (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 wt%), functionalized with nitric acid, were added to the polymer blend, in order to improve the mechanical properties of the resulting material. The mechanical and thermal properties of the polymer blend and the polymer nanocomposite were compared with each other. The polymer blends and polymer nanocomposites were submitted to mechanical tests such as Shore D hardness and uniaxial tensile tests. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed to evaluate thermal stability of the various compositions. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-FEG) was performed to evaluate the morphology of the nanocomposites.