In this work, novel polyester amides (PEAs) based on renewable poly(propylene furanoate) (PPF) were prepared via traditional melt polycondensation utilizing a preformed symmetric amido diol (AD) containing two internal amide bonds.

We investigate the thermal transitions and molecular mobility in new nanocomposites of biobased poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), by calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy, supplemented by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and polarized light microscopy. The emphasis is placed on the facilitation of the crystallization of PEF, which is in general low and slow due to structural limitations that result in poor nucleation. Tuning of the crystalline fraction (CF) and semicrystalline morphology are important for optimization of the mechanical performance and manipulation of the permeation of small molecules (e.g., in packaging applications). The nucleation and CF are successfully improved here by the in situ filling of PEF with 0.5–2.5 wt% of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The improvements are discussed in connection with weak or absent interfacial polymer–filler interactions. CNTs were found to be more effective in facilitating crystallization, as compared with GNPs, possibly due to their larger aspect ratio. The segmental dynamics of PEF are both accelerated and decelerated by the addition of GNP and CNT, respectively, with complex phenomena contributing to the effects, namely, nucleation, changes in molar mass and changes in the free volume. The molecular mobility of PEF is moderately affected ‘directly’ by the particles, whereas stronger effects are induced by crystallization (an indirect effect) and, furthermore, by the increase in the length of alkylene sequences on the chain. Local dynamics exhibit time scale disturbances when the temperature approaches that of the glass transition, which is proposed here to be a common characteristic in the case of mobilities originating from the polymer backbone for these as well as different polyesters. Despite the weak effects on molecular mobility, the role of the fillers as nucleating agents seems to be further exploitable in the frame of envisaged applications, as the use of such fillers in combination with thermal treatment offer possibilities for manipulating the semicrystalline morphology, ion transport and, subsequently, permeation of small molecules.

Background: Yttria-stabilized zirconia nanoparticles can be applied as fillers to improve the mechanical and antibacterial properties of luting cement. The aim of this study was to synthesize yttria-stabilized zirconia nanoparticles by the sol–gel method and to investigate their composition, structure, morphology and biological properties. Methods: Nanopowders of ZrO₂ 7 wt% Y₂O₃ (nY-ZrO) were synthesized by the sol–gel method and were sintered at three different temperatures: 800, 1000 and 1200 °C, and their composition, size and morphology were investigated. The biocompatibility was investigated with human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs), while reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was evaluated through fluorescence analysis. Results: All synthesized materials were composed of tetragonal zirconia, while nanopowders sintered at 800 °C and 1000 °C additionally contained 5 and 20 wt% of the cubic phase. By increasing the calcination temperature, the crystalline size of the nanoparticles increased from 12.1 nm for nY-ZrO800 to 47.2 nm for nY-ZrO1200. Nano-sized particles with good dispersion and low agglomeration were received. Cell culture studies with human gingival fibroblasts verified the nanopowders’ biocompatibility and their ROS scavenging activity. Conclusions: the obtained sol–gel derived nanopowders showed suitable properties to be potentially used as nanofillers for dental luting cement.

Poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) nanocomposites reinforced with various content of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were synthesized in situ in this work. PEF is a widely known biobased polyester with promising physical properties and is considered as the sustainable counterpart of PET. Despite its exceptional gas barrier and mechanical properties, PEF presents with a low crystallization rate. In this context, a small number of GNPs were incorporated into the material to facilitate the nucleation and overall crystallization of the matrix. Kinetic analysis of both the cold and melt crystallization processes of the prepared materials was achieved by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The prepared materials’ isothermal crystallization from the glass and melt states was studied using the Avrami and Hoffman–Lauritzen theories. The Dobreva method was applied for the non-isothermal DSC measurements to calculate the nucleation efficiency of the GNPs on the PEF matrix. Furthermore, Vyazovkin’s isoconversional method was employed to estimate the effective activation energy values of the amorphous materials’ glass transition. Finally, the nanomechanical properties of the amorphous and semicrystalline PEF materials were evaluated via nanoindentation measurements. It is shown that the GNPs facilitate the crystallization process through heterogeneous nucleation and, at the same time, improve the nanomechanical behavior of PEF, with the semicrystalline samples presenting with the larger enhancements.