Papers by Keyword: Foaming Method

Abstract: The necessity to build energy-efficient and low environmental impact buildings favors the development of biobased light-weight materials as hemp-foam concretes. In this context, experimental protocols were developed to study the effects of hemp shiv and the production methods on the water sensitivity of bio-based foamed concrete (BBFC). Foam concrete incorporates several materials and compounds: cement, protein-based foaming agent, ground granulated blast–furnace slag, metakaolin as a binder, and hemp shiv as bio-based aggregates. The study investigated first the effect of the incorporation of hemp shiv (from 0 to 15 vol%) and then the elaboration method, comparing direct method versus preformed method on the resulting physical properties, the isotherms sorption-desorption and the capillary water absorption of hemp-foam concretes. We observe an increasing porosity of the concrete with hemp shives content. Additionally, hemp shives increase the adsorption and the capillary absorption of water. Moreover, the preformed method produces concretes more sensitive to water than the direct methods since it increases its porosities.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performances of Super Sulfated Cement (SSC) foams, focusing on structural, thermal and mechanical characteristics. The studied set of SSC foam samples is obtained with the same slurry. The chosen foaming method allows an interesting density variation: from 489 kg/m³ to 1793 kg/m³. Thanks to a CCD camera, the visual study of foam pore structure reveals two kinds of bubbles distribution and associated connectivity. This may partially explain the obtained thermal and mechanical behavior. Results show that SSC foams with low density (< 550 kg/m³) are usable as thermal insulator for non-loadbearing walls. Mean density SSC foams (550 kg/m³ < - < 640 kg/m³) can be used as slight-loadbearing and thermal insulating products in housing and SSC foams with high density (640 kg/m³ < - < 1200 kg/m³) as loadbearing products staying within lightweight class.

Abstract: An appropriate scaffold, which provides structural support for transplanted cells and acts as a vehicle for the delivery of biologically active molecules, is critical for tissue engineering. We developed a fully interconnected globular porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic scaffold by adopting a foaming method, and evaluated its efficiency as a bone substitute and a scaffold for bone tissue engineering by in vitro and in vivo biocompatible analysis and its osteogenic healing capacity in rat tibial bone defects. They have spherical pores averaging 400um in diameter and interconnecting interpores averaging 70um in diameter with average 85% porosity. They elicited no cytotoxicity and noxious effect on cellular proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation during the cell-scaffold construct formation. Also the bone defects grafted with fully interconnected globular porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic blocks revealed excellent bone healing within 3 weeks. These findings suggest that the fully interconnected porous biphasic calcium phosphate scaffold formed by the foaming method can be a promising bone substitute and a scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Abstract: To develop a suitable scaffold optimizing bone regeneration, we developed bovine bone ash derived fully connected porous HA ceramic scaffolds adopting a foaming method. They revealed excellent biocompatibility. The attached cells on the scaffolds proliferated in multi-layers with osteoblastic differentiation. The bone defects grafted with bovine bone ash derived fully interconnected porous HA ceramics having average 500 μm sized spherical pores and average 150 μm sized interconnecting interpores with average 80% porosity were favorably healed without any pathologic changes within 3 weeks. New bone ingrowth with excellent osteoconduction through the spherical pores along the inner surface was noted from 1 week after implantation. Each spherical pore was filled with hematopoietic marrow and newly formed bone which with time was well integrated with the porous HA ceramic scaffold with time. These findings suggest that the bovine bone ash-derived fully interconnected porous HA ceramic formed by foaming method can be a promising bone substitute and a scaffold for bone tissue engineering.