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Full-Text Articles in Polymer and Organic Materials
Contact Dewatering Of Cellulose Nanofibers For Biopolymer Composite Applications, Alexander Collins
Contact Dewatering Of Cellulose Nanofibers For Biopolymer Composite Applications, Alexander Collins
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNFs) are promising materials for reinforcement of polymer matrices attributable to their impressive physical and mechanical properties, as well as their biodegradability. However, the utilization of these materials in composites is made challenging by the water content of CNF slurries, the tendency of CNFs to agglomerate as they dry, and incompatibility between hydrophilic CNFs and hydrophobic polymer matrices. The most commercially viable drying methods to produce small-scale dry CNFs, such as spray drying, are very energy intensive, can only dry the materials down to micron-scale agglomerates, and do not preserve fibrillar aspect ratios. “Contact dewatering,” or the removal …
Materials Design With Polylactic Acid-Polyethylene Glycol Blends Using 3d Printing And For Medical Applications., Jeremiah R. Bauer
Materials Design With Polylactic Acid-Polyethylene Glycol Blends Using 3d Printing And For Medical Applications., Jeremiah R. Bauer
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This thesis is an examination of two material systems derived from polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). PLA is a polymer commonly sourced from renewable sources such as starches and sugars. It is a relatively strong, biodegradable polymer, making it ideal for use in the body. Even though it has a relative high strength, PLA is also brittle leading to the use of plasticizers to increase flexibility. One such plasticizer is PEG, which is a material that can exist at room temperature as either a thin liquid, or a hard waxy solid depending on the molecular weight. The first …