Mateusz Barczewski

• PhD Eng
• Professor (Associate) at Poznań University of Technology

The presented research concerned the use of propolis extract as a modifier of urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive for the production of particleboard. The adhesive formulations differed in both the modifier content (1, 3 and 5%) and the extract concentration (50 and 70%). The results of differential scanning calorimetry, rheometric analysis of the cros...

Packaging materials mainly serve the function of protecting products. The most common representative of this group is poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), which is not biodegradable and therefore, its waste might be burdensome to the environment. Thus, this work aims to develop outlines for obtaining polyester-based systems, preferably biobased ones...

The aim of the work was to obtain poly(butylene succinate)-PBS films with an addition of natural sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) modified with two selected terpenes: pinene (P) and limonene (L) or their mixture (PL) and examine their physico-chemical, rheological and antimicrobial properties. Na-MMT was effectively hydrophobized and intercalated (c...

Thermal and oxidative stabilization are critical aspects in the processing and exploitation of polyolefins. Black tea contains many natural antioxidants, the largest group of compounds in its composition. When used as a filler for composite manufacturing, the thermo-oxidation process of polyethylene can be slowed down. Black tea waste (BTW) generat...

Nowadays, to provide a step towards circularity, the development of sustainable polymer composites should include the application of waste-based materials that can act not only as simple fillers, reducing the use of polymers but also as functional additives, limiting or eliminating the use of synthetic components. Herein, in the presented study, th...

Searching for renewable raw materials that would comply with the requirements of Green Chemistry and the assumptions of sustainable development is an ongoing and important problem. In the present article, an attempt was made to obtain biopolyols from selected solid plant fats, i.e., babassu, cocoa, coconut, mango, palm, or shea oil. In the research...

Freeze-drying is a dehydration method that extends the shelf life and stability of drugs, vaccines, and biologics. Recently, its role has expanded beyond preservation to improve novel pharmaceuticals and their carriers, such as hydrogels, which are widely studied for both drug delivery and wound healing. The main aim of this study was to explore th...

This study aims to understand the effects of adding octa-phenyl-substituted silsesquioxane (phSQ) on the crystallization process and thermal stability of polylactide (PLA). Nowadays, PLA is the most industrially used compostable polymer, but its uses are limited by its low crystallization and thermal degradation during processing. The possibility o...

The study examined the degradation process of various types of polymers used to form models using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) and three-dimensional printing (3DP) methods and used in the investment casting method. Commercial filaments made of polylactide (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)...

This study analyzed the possibility of using plant-originated waste materials (black and green tea dust) as functional polyethylene fillers. The dependence between the size of the filler particles and their antioxidant potential is discussed. Six fractions were selected: below 50 µm, 50–100 µm, 100–200 µm, 200–400 µm, 400–630 µm and 630–800 µm. Sig...

The paper presents studies on the modification of polylactide (PLA) film with various amounts of glass microspheres (GMS). PLA films containing from 5 to 25 wt% GMS were prepared by cast film extrusion. Comparison of changes occurring in optical, mechanical, tribological and barrier properties as well as in structure of the modified films was the o...

Two series based on poly(propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)-block-poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PPF-b-F-PTMO) containing carbon and mineral nanofillers that differ in shape (1D and 2D) were synthesized via in situ polymerization. The influence of the addition of the 1D-type nanoparticle, i.e., carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs),...

This paper describes the effect of two different fillers derived from giant reed (Arundo donax L.), namely fibers and shredded aerial parts of the plant, on the thermal properties of polyethylene-based composites, as the analysis of dimensional stability of lignocellulose-based composites, and its relationship with their thermal diffusivity, has no...

This study compares the impact of a one- or two-stage manufacturing processing procedure of high-density polyethylene-based (HDPE) composites filled with ground pistachio (PS), pecan (PES) shells (2-15 wt%) on the rheological, mechanical properties, and the structure of rotomolded products. The investigations were supplemented with an analysis of c...

In this study, the antioxidant properties of black tea wastes as a filler of polyethylene composites were investigated. An extensive analysis was carried out to evaluate the possibility of stabilization the polyethylene composite. The used matrix was biobased low-density polyethylene (LDPE SEB 853 I'm Green®). The filler was introduced in 1, 2, 5,...

The growing requirements regarding the safety of using polymers and their composites are related to the emergence of more effective, sustainable, and hazardous-limited fire retardants (FRs). Significant amounts of FRs are usually required to effectively affect a polymer’s burning behavior, while the knowledge of their recycling potential is still i...

Polylactide (PLA) is the most commonly used bioplastic. Its performance is driven by the L- and D-isomers' content, which strongly affects the crystallinity, inducing variations in processing, solubility, thermal or mechanical performance, and degradation rate. The impact of PLA chirality on biodegradation has been repeatedly investigated due to th...

This study aimed to assess the possibility of using post-production waste and the impact of the conditioning method on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of polyamide injection molded parts. Samples containing 5, 10, and 15 wt.% of ground post-production waste were produced using injection molding technology. The rheological properties...

The growing requirements regarding the safety of using polymers and their composites are related to the emergence of more effective, sustainable, and hazardous-limited fire retardants (FR). Significant amounts of FR are usually required to effectively affect the polymer burning behavior, while the knowledge of their recycling potential is still ins...

Dear colleagues, We invite you to the MANUFACTURING 2024 conference, which will be held in Poznań, Poland, on May 14-16, 2023. The conference will include a Special Session "New perspectives in the development of material solutions and technologies for sustainable polymers and composites". We propose the following topics for submissions, but this...

Polymer composites are used in all branches of industry, with numerous applications. Despite the many years of modifying commodity polymers, using novel fillers allows the range of their applicability to be extended. The impact of new types of fillers on the polymer matrix is not always predictable and requires further studies. The presented study...

Current sustainability-oriented trends affect polyurethane (PU) materials and stimulate the incorporation of recycled or waste-based materials as fillers. Ground tire rubber (GTR) poses as an auspicious candidate due to the excellent performance of car tires. Despite the benefits related to the mechanical performance, it contributes to the increasi...

Beer is among the most popular beverages in the world, with the production distributed uniformly between the biggest continents, so the utilization of brewing by-products is essential on a global scale. Among their potential recipients, the plastics industry offers extensive range of potential products. Herein, the presented study investigated the...

This study verified the possibility of using waste material from the food industry (black tea) as functional filler of rotomolded biobased high-density polyethylene-based composites. As part of the experimental work, the influence of the materials preparation, i.e., dry blending versus twin-screw extrusion, on the effectiveness of the stabilizing a...

Inadequate fire resistance of polymers raises questions about their advanced applications. Flexible polyurethane (PU) foams have myriad applications but inherently suffer from very high flammability. Because of the dependency of the ultimate properties (mechanical and damping performance) of PU foams on their cellular structure, reinforcement of PU...

Global economic development and efforts to enhance overall quality of life yielded growth in the construction and building sector, increasing not only the demand for materials but also waste generation. Its efficient management should take full advantage of the exceptional properties of building materials. The presented work is the first reported s...

Sustainable polymer composites (or biocomposites) based on renewable and green polymers are progressively under development in a technological paradigm shift from "just use more and more" to "convert into value-added products". Therefore , significant efforts should focus not only on their reduced environmental impact but also on maximizing their p...

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a plant species with a high growth rate and low requirements, which makes it particularly interesting for the production of different bioproducts, including natural fibers. This work assesses the use of fibers obtained from reed culms as reinforcement for a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix. Two different ligno...

This study aims to examine the effect of flame retardants (FRs) on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with basalt fibers. To effectively modify fire behavior, it is usually necessary to introduce significant amounts of FRs, which raises many concerns due to the potential deterioration of other functional p...

Due to the fact that impregnation with fire retardant usually reduces the strength of the produced particleboards, this research was carried out to investigate whether it is possible to use phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin modified using various amounts (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of polymeric 4,4-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) for this purpo...

In this study, sustainable polymeric materials with a polypropylene matrix reinforced with wood waste were developed for structural applications. The new polymer biocomposites (WPCs) were evaluated for their mechanical and structural properties regarding their susceptibility to multiple processing. As thermo-mechanical degradation processes are ass...

Despite their popularity and multiplicity of applications, wood-polymer composites (WPCs) still have to overcome particular issues related to their processing and properties. The main aspect is the compatibility with plant-based materials which affects the overall performance of the material. It can be enhanced by strengthening the interfacial adhe...

The rheological properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and its composites with unmodified and stearic acid modified calcium carbonate (5, 10, 20, 30 wt%) were investigated. The processability factor K of the composites was determined based on changes in the mass flow rate (MFR). The assessment of rheological properties was carried out at high...

The analysis of degradation kinetics and thermogravimetric data provides insights into the thermal decomposition of bio-based polyethylene in different environments. To obtain those data the three grades of bio-based low-density polyethylene was selected and procced to the thermogravimetric analysis also with an additional analysis of evolved gases...

New rigid polyurethane foams (RPURFs) modified with two types of bio-polyols based on rapeseed oil were elaborated and characterized. The effect of the bio-polyols with different functionality, synthesized by the epoxidation and oxirane ring-opening method, on the cell structure and selected properties of modified foams was evaluated. As oxirane ri...

The development of new sustainable material solutions in the processing of thermoplastic polymers concerns both the application of biopolymers and the use of valorized plant derivatives as fillers and modifiers of petrochemical polymers. Herein, the possibility of using unprocessed raw parts of two commonly used in the food industry leaves, i.e., l...

Sustainable polymer composites are progressively under development in a technological paradigm shift from "just use more and more" to "convert into value-added products". The bio-based blends based on Mater-Bi bio-plastic (A) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (B), at a weight ratio of 70:30 (A:B) were developed, followed by the addition of UFC100 cellulose...

The rotational molding technology is becoming more popular and even outstanding some of the conventional polymer processing technologies. The production of polymer composites via this technology is still not described thoroughly. This work discusses the possibilities of obtaining polyethylene composites reinforced with short basalt fibers. Two meth...

Due to rapid economic growth, the use of plastics in almost all areas of human life has significantly increased over recent decades, leading to massive pollution. Therefore, works dealing with sustainable and biodegradable polymer materials are vital now. Herein, sustainable Mater-Bi/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based biocomposites, filled with diiso...

In this paper, the possibility of obtaining uniaxially rotomolded composite parts was discussed. The used matrix was bio-based low-density polyethylene (bioLDPE) filled with black tea waste (BTW) to prevent the thermooxidation of samples during processing. In rotational molding technology, the material is held at an elevated temperature in a molten...

The study aimed to determine the influence of shear stress during real-life industrial processes such as compression molding and injection molding to different cavities on the crystallization of the isotactic polypropylene nucleated with a novel silsesquioxane-based β-nucleating agent. Octakis(N2,N6-dicyclohexyl-4-(3-(dimethylsiloxy)propyl)naphthal...

The massive biomass availability generated by the common giant reed (Arundo donax L.) motivates the research for its possible industrial use for high-added-value products through a biorefinery approach. The literature demonstrates the potential of common cane to obtain different high-value compounds, such as levulinic acid, oligosaccharides, fermen...

Renewable materials are materials that are replenished naturally and can be used again and again. These materials include things such as bamboo, cork, hemp, and recycled plastic. The use of renewable components helps to reduce the dependence on petrochemical resources and reduce waste. Adopting these materials in various industries such as construc...

The study describes the hybridization of epoxy/flax-cotton (EP/FF) composites containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP) with micrometric expanded vermiculite (VMT) (1–10 wt%). The efficiency of hybridization of flame retarded epoxy/flax-cotton composites was assessed by performing static tensile and flexural strength evaluation, supplemented by impac...

Rapid economic growth implicated the developing multiple industry sectors, including the automotive branch, increasing waste generation since recycling and utilization methods have not been established simultaneously. A very severe threat is the generation of enormous amounts of post-consumer tires considered burdensome waste, e.g., due to the su...

Nucleating agents cause an increase in crystallization temperature, making the production of highly oriented films much more difficult. In this study, a nucleating system composed of 1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS) and tetrasilanolphenyl silsesquioxane (phPOSS) was used to modify isotactic polypropylene (iPP). Oriented films c...

The application of plant-based by-products from the food industry as minimally processed functional fillers for polymeric composites is an increasingly popular trend among researchers and manufacturers. While minimizing the preprocessing of lignocellulosic fillers leads to an increase in the sustainability of the overall composite and a decrease of...

The influence of the addition of tetrafunctional doubledecker silsesquioxanes (DDSQ-ether-4OH) on the compatibility, thermal and mechanical properties of polylactide and epoxidized natural rubber (PLA/ENR) vulcanizates was investigated. The apparent cross-linking density and thermal stability of PLA/ENR vulcanizates were also determined. The FTIR a...

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle The Impact of Isocyanate Index and Filler Functionalities on the Performance of Flexible Foamed Polyurethane/Ground Tire Rubber Composites by Adam Olszewski 1ORCID,Paulina Kosmela 1,Adam Piasecki 2ORCID,Mateusz Barczewski 3ORCID andAleksander Hejna 1,3,*ORCID 1 Department of Polymer Techno...

The assumptions of the bioXpulTM technology for manufacturing polylactide (PLA) composites with superior thermomechanical stability and favorable mechanical properties are presented. The modification concept assumes the simultaneous modification of PLA by introducing nucleants and basalt powder and infiltration with this composition of basalt or hy...

This article presents the results of research on obtaining new polyurethane (PUR) foams modified with thermally expanded vermiculite. The filler was added in amount of 3 wt.% up to 15 wt.%. The additionally applied procedure of immersion the non-organic filler in H2O2 was performed to increase the exfoliation effect of thermally treated mineral and...

The search for new solutions in creating environmentally friendly materials is associated with using polymers of natural origin or the introduction of plant-based natural fillers in the form of fibers or particles. The production of composites with an increased amount of natural fillers, on the one hand, reduces their environmental impact and impro...

Rapid economic growth implicated the developing multiple industry sectors, including the automotive branch, increasing waste generation since recycling and utilization methods have not been established simultaneously. A very severe threat is the generation of enormous amounts of post-consumer tires considered burdensome waste, e.g., due to the subs...

Due to the massive plastic pollution, development of sustainable and biodegradable polymer materials is crucial to reduce environmental burdens and support climate neutrality. Application of lignocellulosic wastes as fillers for polymer composites was broadly reported, but analysis of biodegradation behavior of resulting biocomposites was rarely ex...

This work describes an extraction method for giant reed fibers from stems and leaves based on chemical soaking and crushing through a rolling mill. Obtained fibers, together with the shredded plant (stems + leaves), are characterized in terms of chemical composition, thermal stability, morphology, and crystallinity. Mechanical properties of fibers...

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) is a homogenous material prepared from native starch and water or other plasticizers subjected to mixing at a temperature exceeding starch gelatinization temperature. It shows major drawbacks like high moisture sensitivity, poor mechanical properties, and thermal stability. To overcome these drawbacks without significant...

As part of this work, research was carried out on the effect of the addition of expanded perlite (PR) on the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of high-density polyethylene (PE) composites. Composites containing from 1 to 10 wt% of the inorganic filler were produced. Polyethylene-based composites manufactured by twin-screw extrusion and for...

The purpose of the article was to determine the influence of calcium carbonate and its modification (with stearic acid) on selected properties of composite polypropylene films and their processing. Polypropylene composites containing, respectively, 5, 10, 20 and 30 wt% filler, were made in twin-screw extrusion process with cold granulation. Films,...

Polyurethanes (PU) are widely applied in the industry due to their tunable performance adjusted by changes in the isocyanate index—stoichiometric balance between isocyanate and hydroxyl groups. This balance is affected by the incorporation of modifiers of fillers into the PU matrix and is especially crucial for PU foams due to the additional role o...

Polyurethane (PU) foams are versatile materials with a broad application range. Their performance is driven by the stoichiometry of polymerization reaction, which has been investigated in several works. However, the analysis was often limited only to selected properties and compared samples differing in apparent density, significantly influencing t...

This article presents an ecological approach based on climate neutrality to the synthesis of open-cell polyurethane foams with modified used cooking rapeseed oils. Water was used as a chemical blowing agent in the amount of 20–28 wt.% in relation to the weight of the bio-polyol. The influence of water on the physical and mechanical properties of th...

Rotational molding is a technology in which polymeric thin-walled products can be made. The newest descriptions of this technology concern the possibility of obtaining polymer composite materials. There are two main methods of incorporating fillers into a polymer matrix. Dry blending is based on mixing fillers with polymer powders before rotational...

Material innovations in polyurethane (PU) foams should ideally combine performance enhancement, environmental impact limitation, and cost reduction. These goals can be achieved by applying recycled or waste-based materials without broader industrial applications, implicating their low price. Herein, from 5 to 20 parts by weight of ground tire rubbe...

The subject of the presented research focuses on a comparative assessment of three types of polymer fillers used to modify highly crystalline poly(lactic acid) PLA intended for the FDM technique. The aim of the presented work was to determine the performance of the developed materials. The key aspect of the work was the use of polymer fillers of th...

Plastics recycling has become a key industry in developed countries, to reduce ecological damage and save non-renewable resources. This paper discusses the concept and the design of electrostatic separator as a test bench for the separation of different plastics in recycling applications. In the automotive recycling process, all these waste materia...

The development of new polymer compositions characterized by a reduced environmental impact while lowering the price for applications in large-scale production requires the search for solutions based on the reduction in the polymer content in composites’ structure, as well as the use of fillers from sustainable sources. The study aimed to comprehen...

Rapid economic growth implicated the development of multiple industry sectors, including the automotive branch, which resulted in the generation of multiple wastes since recycling and utilization methods have not been established simultaneously. One of the most severe threats is the generation of enormous amounts of waste tires. Therefore, it is es...

A suitably chosen reference material should meet specific criteria like representing one of the compound classes most commonly occurring in indoor materials as well as having optimal long-term stability during storage and transport to its destination point and having a compact size. The described interdisciplinary pilot research was aimed to develo...

Aerogel-based polymer composite foams are promising for large strain piezoresistive sensors, but their aerogel skeleton is partially destroyed during the foaming process, limiting their sensitivity. Herein, the thermoplastic polyurethane was synthesized on the aerogel skeleton to obtain cellulose/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/thermoplastic...

In this study, the influence of the addition of intumescent flame retardants (IFRs) on the non-isothermal crystallization of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was studied. The investigations were carried out for polyethylene compositions containing two different IFRs, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and a mixture of copper phosphate and melamine phosph...

In this paper, the preparation method of bio-hybrid hydrogels incorporated into a system of salicylic acid-pH/thermosensitive nanocarriers to speed up the wound-healing process was developed. This combination creates a dual drug delivery system, which releases the model hydrophobic active substance—salicylic acid—in a gradual and controlled manner...

Limited petroleum sources, suitable law regulations, and higher awareness within society has caused sustainable development of manufacturing and recycling of polymer blends and composites to be gaining increasing attention. This work aims to report recent advances in the manufacturing of environmentally friendly and low-cost polymer materials based...

In recent years, natural-based polymeric composites have gained the attention of researchers and the industry due to their low environmental impact and good applicational properties. A promising example of these materials is polylactide-based composites filled with linseed cake. Even though they can be characterized by reduced brittleness and enhan...

The presented paper investigated the influence of brewers’ spent grain (BSG) extrusion parameters on the photo-oxidative resistance of poly(ε-caprolactone)-based wood polymer composites. Filler samples characterized by the higher melanoidin content were more efficient in hindering of polymer degradation, inhibiting the decomposition of the polymer...

This study presents the structure-property relationship of rotationally molded products made of waste-based polylactide (PLA) pre-processed with different procedures. While the use of recycled petrochemical thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, is a current industrial practice, there is no evidence of recycled, biodegradable polymers as a source of...

The production of hybrid layered composites allows comprehensive modification of their properties and adaptation to the final expectations. Different methods, such as hand lay-up, vacuum bagging, and resin infusion were applied to manufacture the hybrid composites. In turn, fabrics used for manufacturing composites were made of glass (G), aramid (A...

W ramach prowadzonego w CIOP-PIB projektu badawczego pt.: „Opracowanie kompozytów hybrydowych modyfikowanych napełniaczami nieorganicznymi i roślinnymi o obniżonej palności i emisji dymu oraz wysokiej odporności na akty wandalizmu do zastosowań w pojazdach transportu publicznego” wybrano różne typy oraz sploty tkanin, które przesycono żywicą epoksy...

The research work carried out so far indicates the ever wider possibilities and demand for shaping composite products in the rotational molding technology. This trend was the main reason to use waste-based filler from the metallurgical process as a filler for manufacturing polylactide (PLA)-based remolded composites. Copper slag (CS) was introduced...

This paper presents the contemporary problems of polymer waste recycling, mainly recycling cables from end-of-life vehicles. The authors developed a new material based on mixed polymer waste (ASR) modified with a ductile polymer, mainly recycled low-density polyethylene (rLDPE), to produce moisture-resistant boards with beneficial mechanical proper...

The impact of different amounts of glycerin, which was used in the system of sodium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) (SA/PVA) hydrogel materials on the properties, such as gel fraction, swelling ability, degradation in simulated body fluids, morphological analysis, and elongation tests were presented. The study shows a significant decrease in the gel f...