Aminolysis is widely recognized as a valuable chemical route for depolymerizing polymeric materials containing ester, amide, or urethane functional groups, including polyurethane foams. Bio-based polyurethane foams, pristine and reinforced with 40 wt% of sustainable fillers, were depolymerized in the presence of bio-derived butane-1,4-diamine, BDA. A process comparison was made using fossil-derived ethane-1,2-diamine, EDA, by varying amine/polyurethane ratio (F/A, 1:1 and 1:0.6). The obtained depolymerized systems were analyzed by FTIR and NMR characterizations to understand the effect of both diamines on the degradation pathway. The use of bio-based BDA seemed to be more effective with respect to conventional EDA, owing to its stronger basicity (and thus higher nucleophilicity), corresponding to faster depolymerization rates. BDA-based depolymerized systems were then employed to prepare second-generation bio-based composite polyurethane foams by partial replacement of isocyanate components (20 wt%). The morphological, mechanical, and thermal conductivity properties of the second-generation polyurethane foams were evaluated. The best performances (σ10 %=71 ± 9 kPa, λ = 0.042 ± 0.015 W∙ m^-1 ∙K^-1) were attained by employing the lowest F/A ratio (1:0.6); this demonstrates their potential application in different sectors such as packaging or construction, fulfilling the paradigm of the circular economy.

The utilisation of magnesium and aluminium fluoride nanoparticles in the preparation of transparent composites leading to materials with superior properties was investigated. Nanoscopic magnesium and aluminium fluoride has been prepared by the fluorolytic sol–gel route from the alkoxides and was surface modified by the reaction with trifluoroacetic acid or perfluorobutyric acid. IR spectroscopic experiments of the xerogels and crystal structure analysis of a trinuclear [Mg₃(μ₃F)(μ-TFA)₆(OCH₃)₂(py)]³⁻ cluster unit indicate that the carboxylate group is bound to the particle surface in a monodentate or bidentate bridging fashion. These particles were successfully incorporated into acrylate polymers with up to 40 wt% content to give fully transparent material. Ellipsometry and m-line measurements of thin films show the reduction of the refractive index of composite films with increasing metal fluoride filler content.

In this work we present a novel optical polymer system based on polyurethane elastomer components, which combines excellent UV transparency with high thermal stability, good hardness, high surface tension and long pot life. The material looks very promising for encapsulation and microlensing applications for chip-on-board (CoB) light-emitting diodes (LED). The extinction coefficient k, refractive index n, and bandgap parameters were derived from transmission and reflection measurements in a wavelength range of 200-890 nm. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry were used to provide glass transition and degradation temperatures. The surface tension was determined by means of contact angle measurements. As proof of concept, a commercial InGaN-CoB-LED is used to demonstrate the suitability of the new material for the production of microlenses.

Facing an inexorable growth of the human population along with substantial environmental changes, the assurance of food security is a major challenge of the present century. To ensure responsible food consumption and production (SDG 12), new approaches in the food system are required. Thus, environmentally controlled, sustainable production of alternative food sources are of key interest for both urban agriculture and food research. To face the current challenge of integrating food production systems within existing structures, multidisciplinary discourses are required. Here, we bring together novel technologies and indoor farming techniques with the aim of supporting the development of sustainable food production systems. For this purpose, we investigated the feasibility of 10 composite materials for their innovative use as structural support in macroalgal cultivation (settlement substrates) and cricket rearing (housing). Considering material resistance, rigidity, and direct material-organism interactions, the bio-based composite polylactic acid (PLA) was identified as a suitable material for joint farming. For macroalgae cultivation, PLA sustained the corrosive cultivation conditions and provided a suitable substrate without affecting the macroalgal physiology or nutritional composition (carotenoids and chlorophylls). For cricket rearing, PLA provided a suitable and recyclable shelter, which was quickly accepted by the animals without any observed harm. In contrast, other common composite components like phenolic resin or aramid were found to be unsuitable due to being harmful for the cultivated organisms or instable toward the applied sterilization procedure. This multidisciplinary study not only provides profound insights in the developing field of urban indoor food production from a new perspective, but also bridges material science and farming approaches to develop new sustainable and resilient food production systems.