Polyurethane Adhesives for Wood Based on a Simple Mixture of Castor Oil and Crude Glycerin.

Developing a new type of polyurethane is essential because conventional options often exhibit shortcomings in terms of environmental sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and performance in specialized applications. A novel polyurethane adhesive derived from a simple mixture of castor oil (CO) and crude glycerin (CG) holds promise as it reduces reliance on fossil fuels and harnesses renewable resources, making it environmentally friendly. Simple CO/CG mixtures, adjusted at three different weight fractions, were used as bio-based polyester polyols to produce polyurethane adhesive for wood bonding. The resulting products are yellowish liquids with moderate-to-high viscosity, measuring 19,800-21,000 cP at 25 °C. The chemical structure of the polyester polyols was characterized using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These polyols reacted with polymeric 4,4-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (p-MDI) at a consistent isocyanate index of 1.3, resulting in the formation of polyurethane adhesives. Crucially, all final adhesives met the adhesive strength requirements specified by ASTM D-5751 standards, underscoring their suitability for wood bonding applications. The addition of CG enhanced the surface and volumetric hydrophobicity of the cured adhesives, resulting in adhesive properties that are not only stronger but also more weather-resistant. Although the thermal stability of the adhesives decreased with the inclusion of CG, FTIR analysis confirmed proper polyurethane polymer formation. The adhesive adjusted for a 2:1 CO:CG weight ratio promoted wood-wood bonding with the highest shear strength, likely due to a higher formation of urethane linkages between hydroxyl groups from the blend of polyols and isocyanate groups from the p-MDI.

Nanocellulose-based tannin-immobilized biosorbent for efficient copper ion removal.

Tannins, which are water-soluble polyhydroxyphenols found in plant structures, offer a sustainable alternative to inorganic products for treating effluents. To overcome their solubility in water, new methods have been developed to immobilize tannin on materials such as nanocellulose, resulting in tannin-based adsorbents. This study investigates the production of different types of tannin-based adsorbents immobilized on nanocellulose nanofibrils using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. The adsorbents were characterized for their morphology, chemical composition, tannin leaching, thermal stability, and copper adsorption capacity. The main results showed that tannin leaching from the adsorbents in water was greatly reduced with glutaraldehyde. Scanning electron microscopy images showed tannin coating on the surface of nanocellulose nanofibrils due to immobilization. The lyophilized adsorbent was effective in adsorbing Cu (II) within 1 min, with the adsorbed amount increasing gradually until stabilization after 45 min. Overall, this study suggests that tannin immobilized on nanofibrillated cellulose has the potential to offer a sustainable and renewable alternative for effluent treatment.

Rigid Polyurethane Biofoams Filled with Chemically Compatible Fruit Peels.

Banana and bergamot peels are underutilized byproducts of the essential oil and juice-processing industry. This study was designed for the development of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) composites using polysaccharide-rich fruit peels as fillers. These fillers were characterized for chemical properties using wet analyses. Additionally, the influences of the filler type and filler content on morphological, thermal, mechanical, hygroscopic, and colorimetric properties of the RPUF were investigated. The main results indicated that, in a comparison with the neat RPUF, the insertion of up to 15% of fillers yielded similar water uptake, apparent density, compressive strength, and color properties, as well as increases up to 115% in thermal stability and up to 80% in cell size.

Nanocellulose Removes the Need for Chemical Crosslinking in Tannin-Based Rigid Foams and Enhances Their Strength and Fire Retardancy.

Thermal insulation and fire protection are two of the most critical features affecting energy efficiency and safety in built environments. Together with the associated environmental footprint, there is a strong need to consider new insulation materials. Tannin rigid foams have been proposed as viable and sustainable alternatives to expanded polyurethanes, traditionally used in building enveloping. Tannin foams structure result from polymerization with furfuryl alcohol via self-expanding. We further introduce cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as a reinforcing agent that eliminates the need for chemical crosslinking during foam formation. CNF forms highly entangled and interconnected nanonetworks, at solid fractions as low as 0.1 wt %, enabling the formation of foams that are ca. 30% stronger and ca. 25% lighter compared to those produced with formaldehyde, currently known as one of the best performers in chemically coupling tannin and furfuryl alcohol. Compared to the those chemically crosslinked, our CNF-reinforced tannin foams display higher thermal degradation temperature (peak shifted upward, by 30-50 °C) and fire resistance (40% decrease in mass loss). Furthermore, we demonstrate partially hydrophobized CNF to tailor the foam microstructure and derived physical-mechanical properties. In sum, green and sustainable foams, stronger, lighter, and more resistant to fire are demonstrated compared to those produced by formaldehyde crosslinking.

Propriedades mecânicas da madeira resinada de Pinus elliottii / Mechanical properties of Pinus elliottii tapped wood

As propriedades mecânicas por flexão estática da madeira resinada de Pinus elliottii foram avaliadas por meio de testes destrutivos e não destrutivos. Para tanto, foram confeccionados corpos de prova de 10x10x200mm3 (radial, tangencial e longitudinal), levando em consideração dois fatores: lenho (juvenil, próximo à medula e adulto, próximo à casca) e resina, isto é, corpos de prova oriundos de toras com e sem estrias de resinagem. Para a avaliação não destrutiva, utilizou-se um aparelho de ultrassom com transdutores do tipo ponto seco, em que se pode calcular a velocidade da onda ultrassônica e consequentemente o módulo de elasticidade dinâmico (ED). Para obtenção do módulo de elasticidade (MOE) e do módulo de ruptura (MOR), realizou-se o ensaio destrutivo de flexão estática de três pontos. De posse das curvas de força x deformação, calculou-se a fragilidade do material. Os resultados confirmaram que o fator lenho foi significativo para as propriedades analisadas e o fator resina, em especial, para aumento do MOR e da massa específica. A fragilidade aumentou quando analisada a madeira juvenil e o fator resina quando incluso tendeu a aumentar a fragilidade no lenho adulto. O modelo de regressão múltiplo com variáveis Dummies, proposto para estimar o MOE pelo ED, foi significativo em 1% de probabilidade de erro (r2=0,75). Os resultados apresentados no presente trabalho mostraram que os fatores lenho e resina não afetaram negativamente as propriedades mecânicas da madeira de Pinus elliottii, em que, para o segundo fator, conclui-se, de maneira geral, que a madeira serrada oriunda de toras resinadas pode não representar danos significativos quando em serviço estrutural.

The mechanical properties for static bending of Pinus elliottii tapped wood were evaluated by nondestructive and destructive tests. To achieve this, samples measuring 10x10x200mm3 (thickness, width and length) were prepared considering two factors: wood (juvenile, near to pith and mature, near to bark) and rosin, i.e., samples from logs with and without tapping grooves. The nondestructive evaluation were performed using an ultrasound equipment with dry-point transducers in order to measure the ultrasonic velocity and, consequently, the dynamic modulus of elasticity (ED). The modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the modulus of rupture (MOR) were measured through static bending tests. The wood brittleness were determined through the analysis of force x deformation plots. The results confirmed the significance of wood factor for the properties analyzed and the factor rosin, especially for MOR and density. The brittleness increased for the juvenile wood and, when included the factor rosin, this property tends to increase for the mature wood. The multiple regression model with Dummies variables proposed to estimate MOE as a function of ED was significant at 1% of probability of error (r2=0.75). Moreover, the results showed that factor wood and factor rosin did not negatively affect the mechanical properties of Pinus elliotti wood. In general, the timber from tapped logs could not represent significant damages when in structural service.

Método ultrassônico para estimativa do módulo de elasticidade de madeiras de Pinus taeda tratadas termicamente / Ultrasonic method for estimating the modulus of elasticity of Pinus taeda thermally treated wood

O trabalho teve por objetivo estimar o módulo de elasticidade estático da madeira termorretificada de Pinus taeda por meio do método não destrutivo ultrassônico. Foram confeccionados 93 corpos de prova das pranchas de pinus com dimensões de 2,5x2,5x41,0cm (espessura, largura e comprimento). Avaliaram-se corpos de prova submetidos a dois tratamentos térmicos denominados Combinação e Estufa, além daqueles sem tratamento térmico. No tratamento de combinação, as peças foram termorretificadas em autoclave a 130ºC±3°C e pressão de 2kgf cm-², por 3 horas e, após um período de condicionamento, aquecidas em estufa elétrica a 160°C±1°C, pelo mesmo período. Já as peças destinadas apenas ao tratamento em estufa foram submetidas à última condição. Os modelos matemáticos criados apresentaram r2 entre 0,48 e 0,66, sendo significativos em 1% de probabilidade de erro. Dessa forma, com o aprimoramento de metodologias de ensaios não destrutivos ultrassônicos, a presente técnica pode ser útil e eficiente para estimar o módulo de elasticidade estático da madeira de Pinus taeda.

This study aimed to estimate the modulus of elasticity of Pinus taeda thermally modified wood by ultrasonic nondestructive method. To achieve this, 93 samples with dimensions 2.5x2.5x41.0cm (thickness, width and length) from pine boards were prepared. The wood samples were thermally modified through two distinct treatments (Combination and Oven). The Combination treatment was performed in an autoclave at 130ºC±3°C and pressure of 2kgf cm-2 for 3 hours. After a period of conditioning, the wood samples were heated in an electric oven 160°C±1°C for the same time. On the other hand, wood samples of the Oven treatment was modified with only last condition. The mathematical models showed r2 between 0.48 and 0.66 and significance at 1% of probability of error. Thus, improvement of ultrasonic nondestructive tests shows that technique could be useful and efficient in order to estimate modulus of elasticity of Pinus taeda wood.