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One-pot synthesis of biofoams from castor oil and cellulose microfibers for energy absorption impact materials

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Abstract

The use of renewable feedstocks in foam technology has created a worldwide demand for more sustainable materials. Castor oil is a vegetable oil, composed mainly of triricinoglycerol, a natural polyol, suitable for polyurethane foam production. In this study, castor oil and variable amounts of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fibers were used in a straightforward one-pot synthesis approach for the preparation of novel biofoams. The ensuing biofoams were characterized by several techniques, including attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, and their mechanical performance was evaluated by compression mechanical testing and by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. They were (semi-) flexible, with a cell-like morphology and reinforced toughness due to the use of MCC. They had a Young’s modulus varying between 0.188 and 1.06 MPa depending on the amount of MCC used and were thermally stable up to 267 °C. The properties of these novel biofoams enable them to be strong candidates for use as tough, energy-absorbing foams, advantageously prepared using renewable-based resources.

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Acknowledgments

FCT is gratefully acknowledged for two postdoctorate grants to A.F. Sousa (SFRH/BPD/73383/2010) and R.J.B. Pinto (SFRH/BPD/89982/2012) and for a fellowship to M. Matos (BI/UI89/5419/2011). C.S.R. Freire also acknowledges FCT/MCTES for a research grant under the program 'Investigador FCT 2012'. The authors wish to thank to PNRC of FCT for analytical instrumentation support (POCI 2010, FEDER, REEQ/515/CTM/2005 POCI) and for funding CICECO (PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CICECO and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Andreia F. Sousa, Marina Matos, Ricardo J. B. Pinto, Carmen S. R. Freire & Armando J. D. Silvestre

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Andreia F. Sousa

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  1. Andreia F. Sousa
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  2. Marina Matos
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  3. Ricardo J. B. Pinto
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  4. Carmen S. R. Freire
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  5. Armando J. D. Silvestre
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Correspondence to Andreia F. Sousa or Armando J. D. Silvestre.

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Sousa, A.F., Matos, M., Pinto, R.J.B. et al. One-pot synthesis of biofoams from castor oil and cellulose microfibers for energy absorption impact materials. Cellulose 21, 1723–1733 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-014-0229-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-014-0229-z

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