Abstract. A series of hybrids composed of styrene crosslinkable vinyl ester (VE) and acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) were produced via free radical-induced crosslinking. The VE/AESO ratio was changed between 75/25 and 25/75 wt%. Moreover, to support phase grafting the VE/AESO = 50/50 wt% hybrid was modified with phthalic anhydride in various amounts (1, 5 and 10 wt%). The structure of the hybrid systems was investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The properties of the systems were assessed by static flexural and fracture mechanical tests. The resistance to thermal degradation was inspected by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results suggested that the hybrids have an interpenetrating network (IPN) structure. With increasing AESO content the stiffness (modulus), strength and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the hybrids decreased, whereas their ductility increased. Phthalic anhydride caused an adverse trend. Both the fracture toughness and fracture energy increased with increasing AESO content. They were less affected by adding phthalic anhydride phase couplant. Interestingly, the hybrids outperformed the parent VE and AESO in respect to resistance to thermal degradation.

<p>Adhesives  are  found  in  almost  every  aspect  of  the  modern  world.  They  are  found  in plywood used in buildings, electronics, shoes, plumbing and in almost every facet of your daily life. Nature also has an abundance of these adhesives that are used fora multitude of applications. Some  animals, like  the  blue  mussel, use  their  adhesive  for  protection  against  ocean  waves  and predators  while other animals, such  as  the  spider, use  it  to  trap  prey. Investigation  of  theses adhesives has led to the identification of several different proteins that allow for these animals to make  their  adhesive.  Some  of  them  are  composed of rare  amino  acids that  while  other  animals use  a combination  of  inorganic  and  organic  components.  Understanding  of  these  unique adhesives  can be  a  boon  for designof future  adhesives  that  do  not  have  the disadvantagesof current day commercialized glues.</p> <p>Increasing interest  in  the  restoration  of  natural  oyster  reefs  and  the  cement  that  holds them  together  has  resulted  in  the  identification  of  the  Shelk2  protein  that  is  found  both  in  the mantle  of  the  oyster’s  shell  as  well  as  the  cement  that  holds  the  reefs  together. Gaining  an understanding  of  how  this  protein  functions  and  its  part  in  the  oyster  reef  could  be  quite beneficial  for  projects  investing  in  reef  restorations  as  well  as  underwater  adhesion.  Gathering protein  from  the  animal  for  experimentation  and  characterization  can  be  labor  intensive  and extremely challenging. Luckily, cloning technology has become a useful tool for the expression of large quantities of proteins that can be difficult or impossible to gather from the native animal. Using <em>E. coli</em>, it  is  possible  to design  and express  this protein  in  hopes  of  gaining  a  better understanding of its impact on oyster settlement and adhesion.</p> <p>Sustainability is a major downside to current day adhesives that current technologies have not  been  able  to  solve. Most adhesives  that  are  on  the  market  today  are  primarily  derived  from petroleum. Current  research  has  begun  investigating  alternatives  to  the  large   epoxy   and formaldehyde  adhesive  market,  but  the  barrier  of  entry  is  hard  to  overcome.  To  replace  these glues  the  new  material  must  be  affordable,  non-petroleum  derived,  and  available  on  a  massive scale.  These  requirements  are  hard  to  meet  for  many  materials  and  due  to  that  the  current  bio-adhesive are generally very low strength.</p> <p>The work presented here will detail the characterization, and expression of some of these natural  adhesives that  have  been  found  in  the  Eastern  oyster. Another  aspect of  this  work includes the synthesis of a new bio-based adhesive system. Utilizing biomimetic chemistry along with  sustainably  sourced  materials  a  new  adhesive  has  been  formulated that  has  comparable adhesive strength to current day commercial adhesives.</p>

A demanda pelo uso de formulações biodegradáveis e provenientes de fontes renováveis tem motivado o desenvolvimento de biofluidos de resfriamento para aplicação em têmpera de aços. Os óleos vegetais são potenciais candidatos a serem empregados como base destas formulações, porém, a baixa estabilidade termo-oxidativa inibe sua maior utilização pela indústria. As modificações químicas na cadeia carbônica dos óleos vegetais podem promover melhoria nesta característica, sendo epoxidação uma das mais comuns. O presente trabalho estudou, primeiramente, a estabilidade termo-oxidativa de formulações contendo óleo de soja epoxidado (ESBO) e éster metílico de ácido graxo (FAME), em diferentes concentrações, por Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial com Pressão (PDSC). Posteriormente, o desempenho destes biofluidos, no tratamento térmico de têmpera, foi avaliado pela análise microestrutural e medições de dureza (curvas em U) nos aços SAE 1045 e SAE 4140, comparando-o com o desempenho promovido pelos fluidos derivados de petróleo. As tensões térmicas residuais foram simuladas com o ABAQUS, usando os coeficientes de transferência de calor obtidos pela solução do problema inverso. As distorções causadas pelos biofluidos foram estudadas em corpos Navy-C-rings modificados de aço SAE 4140. Além disto, a viscosidade dos biofluidos também foi estudada em função da temperatura por estar diretamente relacionada à propriedade de molhamento, que influencia a transferência de calor durante o processo de resfriamento. A adição de FAME no ESBO foi eficiente na redução da viscosidade das formulações propostas, em função da temperatura, adequando-as para utilização como fluidos de resfriamento. As formulações EF30 e EF38 apresentaram temperatura inicial de oxidação (OOT) superior ao óleo de soja, indicando assim, maior estabilidade termo-oxidativa. Todas bioformulações foram eficientes na têmpera de ambos os aços, nos diâmetros ensaiados, promovendo dureza mínima de aproximadamente 52 HRC no centro dos corpos SAE 4140, dureza esta, comparável àquela promovida pelos fluidos minerais. Comportamento similar foi observado para o aço de menor temperabilidade. As tensões térmicas residuais simuladas não variam em magnitude em função da composição das formulações, enquanto que as distorções tenderam a aumentar em função do aumento do FAME nas formulações. / The search for biodegradable and renewable basestocks has motivated the development of bioquenchants for steel heat treatment. Vegetable oils are potential candidates, however, their poor thermo-oxidative stability inhibits a wide industrial application. Modifications of the chemical structure of vegetable oils may be used to improve this characteristic and epoxidation is one of the most common approaches reported to date. The first step of the study reported here was to analyze and compare the thermo-oxidative stability of soybean oil, epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) and different blend ratios of ESBO with a soybean oil-derived fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) by Pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry (PDSC). Subsequently, the quenching performance of the formulations was evaluated by cooling curve analysis and microstructural analysis and hardness measurements by U-curves analysis of SAE 1045 and SAE 4140 steels and then, compared with results obtained using commercially available petroleum oil quenchants. Thermal residual stress profiles were simulated with ABAQUS, using the heat transfer coefficients obtained by an inverse method. Bioquenchant distortions were determined using SAE 4140 steel and a so-called modified Navy C-ring test. Moreover, the viscosity-temperature property of bioquenchants was also studied, since it is directly related to the heat transfer and wetting behavior occurring during the cooling process. Although the viscosity of ESBO was too high for use as a quenchant, increasing FAME addition to ESBO provided sufficient reduction of resulting kinematic viscosities to permit their potential use as quenchants. EF30 and EF38 (30% and 38% FAME, respectively) exhibited onset oxidation temperatures (OOT) higher than soybean oil, thus indicating better thermo-oxidative stability. All bioquenchants were effective for both steels, at the specimen diameters tested, producing a minimum hardness of approximately 52 HRC at the center of the SAE 4140 test specimen. This hardness is comparable to that obtained with the petroleum-based fluids. Comparable results were obtained for the lower hardenability SAE 1045 steel. The simulated residual stress profiles did not vary in terms of magnitude as a function of formulation composition while the distortions tended to increase as FAME is added in the formulations.

A demanda pelo uso de formulações biodegradáveis e provenientes de fontes renováveis tem motivado o desenvolvimento de biofluidos de resfriamento para aplicação em têmpera de aços. Os óleos vegetais são potenciais candidatos a serem empregados como base destas formulações, porém, a baixa estabilidade termo-oxidativa inibe sua maior utilização pela indústria. As modificações químicas na cadeia carbônica dos óleos vegetais podem promover melhoria nesta característica, sendo epoxidação uma das mais comuns. O presente trabalho estudou, primeiramente, a estabilidade termo-oxidativa de formulações contendo óleo de soja epoxidado (ESBO) e éster metílico de ácido graxo (FAME), em diferentes concentrações, por Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial com Pressão (PDSC). Posteriormente, o desempenho destes biofluidos, no tratamento térmico de têmpera, foi avaliado pela análise microestrutural e medições de dureza (curvas em U) nos aços SAE 1045 e SAE 4140, comparando-o com o desempenho promovido pelos fluidos derivados de petróleo. As tensões térmicas residuais foram simuladas com o ABAQUS, usando os coeficientes de transferência de calor obtidos pela solução do problema inverso. As distorções causadas pelos biofluidos foram estudadas em corpos Navy-C-rings modificados de aço SAE 4140. Além disto, a viscosidade dos biofluidos também foi estudada em função da temperatura por estar diretamente relacionada à propriedade de molhamento, que influencia a transferência de calor durante o processo de resfriamento. A adição de FAME no ESBO foi eficiente na redução da viscosidade das formulações propostas, em função da temperatura, adequando-as para utilização como fluidos de resfriamento. As formulações EF30 e EF38 apresentaram temperatura inicial de oxidação (OOT) superior ao óleo de soja, indicando assim, maior estabilidade termo-oxidativa. Todas bioformulações foram eficientes na têmpera de ambos os aços, nos diâmetros ensaiados, promovendo dureza mínima de aproximadamente 52 HRC no centro dos corpos SAE 4140, dureza esta, comparável àquela promovida pelos fluidos minerais. Comportamento similar foi observado para o aço de menor temperabilidade. As tensões térmicas residuais simuladas não variam em magnitude em função da composição das formulações, enquanto que as distorções tenderam a aumentar em função do aumento do FAME nas formulações. / The search for biodegradable and renewable basestocks has motivated the development of bioquenchants for steel heat treatment. Vegetable oils are potential candidates, however, their poor thermo-oxidative stability inhibits a wide industrial application. Modifications of the chemical structure of vegetable oils may be used to improve this characteristic and epoxidation is one of the most common approaches reported to date. The first step of the study reported here was to analyze and compare the thermo-oxidative stability of soybean oil, epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) and different blend ratios of ESBO with a soybean oil-derived fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) by Pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry (PDSC). Subsequently, the quenching performance of the formulations was evaluated by cooling curve analysis and microstructural analysis and hardness measurements by U-curves analysis of SAE 1045 and SAE 4140 steels and then, compared with results obtained using commercially available petroleum oil quenchants. Thermal residual stress profiles were simulated with ABAQUS, using the heat transfer coefficients obtained by an inverse method. Bioquenchant distortions were determined using SAE 4140 steel and a so-called modified Navy C-ring test. Moreover, the viscosity-temperature property of bioquenchants was also studied, since it is directly related to the heat transfer and wetting behavior occurring during the cooling process. Although the viscosity of ESBO was too high for use as a quenchant, increasing FAME addition to ESBO provided sufficient reduction of resulting kinematic viscosities to permit their potential use as quenchants. EF30 and EF38 (30% and 38% FAME, respectively) exhibited onset oxidation temperatures (OOT) higher than soybean oil, thus indicating better thermo-oxidative stability. All bioquenchants were effective for both steels, at the specimen diameters tested, producing a minimum hardness of approximately 52 HRC at the center of the SAE 4140 test specimen. This hardness is comparable to that obtained with the petroleum-based fluids. Comparable results were obtained for the lower hardenability SAE 1045 steel. The simulated residual stress profiles did not vary in terms of magnitude as a function of formulation composition while the distortions tended to increase as FAME is added in the formulations.

Regeneration, a spontaneous response of bones in response to injuries, infections and fractures, is severely compromised in certain clinical circumstances. Unfortunately, several shortcomings are associated with the current treatment of bone grafting method such as donor shortage and immune response for allografts and donor morbidity for autografts. Thus, the development of clinical alternates is essential. One promising adjunct method is bone tissue engineering that includes the implantation of a scaffold containing the cells with the supplementation of suitable growth factors. Among the various classes of materials, biodegradable polymers are commonly preferred because their use does not necessitate a secondary surgery for their removal after the intended use. Commercially available polymers such as poly (lactic- co- glycolic acid) and polycaprolactone are expensive and degrade slowly. This motivates the development of novel synthetic biodegradable polymers that are affordable and can be tuned to tailor for specific biomedical applications. The primary aim of this thesis is to synthesize effective biodegradable polymers for drug delivery and bone tissue engineering. The properties of these polymers such as modulus, hydrophobicity and crosslinking etc. were tailored based on the variations in chemical bonds, chain lengths and the molar stoichiometric ratios of the monomers for specific clinical applications. Based on the above variations, degradation and release kinetics were tuned. The cytocompatibilty properties for these polymers were studied and suitable mineralization studies were conducted to determine their potential for bone regeneration.

Cette thèse présente l’élaboration de thermodurcissables et de composites biosourcés synthétisés à partir d’huiles végétales époxydées (lin et soja) et d’alcool furfurylique (FA). La première partie de ce travail concerne l’étude de la polymérisation du FA en polyalcool furfurylique (PFA) (i) en solvants protiques polaires, (ii) en combinaison avec le bois et (iii) suivant l’ajout de nouveaux amorceurs. En solvant, les changements de structures observés ont été reliés aux propriétés thermomécaniques. Une autre modification de structure du PFA a été obtenue grâce au 2,5 diméthylfurane. Ce travail a permis d’obtenir une meilleure compréhension de la réactivité du FA au sein du bois et montre que les composites bois/PFA ont une densité et une résistance plus élevées que leurs homologues non modifiés. Enfin, l’amorçage des réactions du FA par l’acide lévulinique ou par le p-toluène sulfonylhydrazine permet de proposer deux nouveaux amorceurs, respectivement biosourcé et « latent ». La seconde partie de ce travail concerne l’élaboration d’une résine époxyde totalement biosourcée et synthétisée à partir d’huiles végétales époxydées. L’huile de lin et de soja ont été chacune copolymérisées avec un acide dicarboxylique. Un premier travail fondamental a consisté à corréler la réactivité de copolymérisation avec les structures des polymères obtenus puis à établir le lien avec les propriétés thermomécaniques. Ensuite, des nanocomposites ont été synthétisés à partir de ces résines époxydes et de sépiolite. Les différentes voies de dispersion et de modification de la sépiolite mises en œuvre conduisent à des niveaux de dispersion différents de la nanocharge au sein de la matrice. / The work presents the elaboration of biobased thermosets and composites synthesized from epoxidized vegetable oils (linseed and soybean) and furfuryl alcohol (FA). A first area of research focused on the study of the polymerisation of FA into polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) (i) in protic polar solvents, (ii) in combination with wood and (iii) in the presence of new reaction initiators. In presence of solvents, the observed structural changes have been linked to the thermomechanical properties. Another PFA structure modification was obtained with 2,5 dimethylfuran. This work allowed a better understanding of the reactivity of FA within the wood and shows that the obtained wood/PFA composites have higher density and resistance than their non-modified equivalents. Finally, the initiation of FA polymerization by levulinic acid and p-toluene sulfonylhydrazine, respectively biobased and « latent » initiators has been studied. The second topic of thesis concerns a new type of fully bio-based epoxy resin synthesized from epoxidized vegetable oils. Linseed and soybean oils have both been copolymerized with a dicarboxylic acid as curing agent. A first fundamental work was to correlate the reactivity of copolymerization with the polymer structure and to link them with thermomechanical properties. The obtained thermosets have been used to prepare nanocomposites with sepiolite. Different methods of dispersion and/or modification of sepiolite conduct to diverse morphologies of nanofiller dispersions into the matrix.