BrainMap

Catalina-Diana Usurelu

Research Assistant - Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Other affiliations

PhD Student - UNIVERSITATEA NAȚIONALĂ DE ȘTIINȚĂ ȘI TEHNOLOGIE POLITEHNICA BUCUREȘTI (Romania)

PhD student

Expertise & keywords

Design of new nanocellulose-based gas-carrier systems Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de cercetare exploratorie - PCE-2021
PN-III-P4-PCE-2021-0435 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://icechim.ro/celgas-en/

Abstract:

Severe oxygen deprivation can cause significant problems in chronic wounds, during organ preservation and implantation, or in cases of trauma, hemorrhagic shock, or viral pneumonia. Oxygen prevents wound infection, increases cell viability after implantation and could be an effective treatment in viral pneumonia. Currently, there is no viable solution to deliver oxygen to the grafts during the healing period and to administrate a large volume of oxygen to patients who suffered profound oxygen deprivation. The scope of the CELGAS project is to develop innovative oxygen-carrying systems capable of supplying oxygen in a controlled manner to injured tissue/ implants or intravenously. The innovative oxygen-carrying systems will ensure controlled release of oxygen for long periods of time, will have a high stability, biodegradability, will not be cytotoxic and will have a nanometric size, essential for intravenous administration to avoid vascular obstruction. In CELGAS, the problem will be addressed using nanocellulose and nanocellulose/biopolymer to encapsulate oxygen-generating species or to obtain oxygen-containing nanobubbles. The biopolymers to be used are selected from poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates and polylactic acid. The design of the new systems will be based on improved methods and an efficient characterization that will allow the achievement of the objectives.

Sustainable epoxy networks with tunable properties used as nanocomposite materials for coatings Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare pentru stimularea tinerelor echipe independente - TE-2021
PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-0627 2022 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA NAŢIONALĂ DE ŞTIINŢĂ ŞI TEHNOLOGIE POLITEHNICA BUCUREŞTI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://damiancelinam.wixsite.com/greenanonet

Abstract:

The project “Sustainable epoxy networks with tunable properties used as nanocomposite materials for coatings” proposes a strategy to replace conventional epoxy resins from protective coatings, with epoxy derivatives from renewable resources, maintaining their thermal and mechanical performance. The main objective of the project GREENanoNET is the synthesis of new protective coatings based on epoxidized vegetable oils (EVO) as main or unique component, reinforced with new graphene oxide-layered silicate hybrids. The first stage is the synthesis of new nanohybrid structures from montmorillonite and amine functionalized graphene oxide through an innovative method. The second step aims to design epoxy networks by replacing conventional epoxy resin with EVO. This gradual strategy is concentrated to maintain the properties corresponding to the targeted applications. The third stage envisages the efficient dispersion of nanostructures within the new polymeric matrices, which will lead to an optimal properties transfer from the nanohybrids to the epoxy networks. Thus, the obtaned bionanocomposites will be a convenient alternative to comercially available materials, with major impact on the environment and also lower industrial costs. The GREENanoNET project will broaden the available raw materials for fire-retardant and corrosion protective coatings through the benefit of vegetable oils, clay and carbon derivatives.

BIO-BASED NANOCOMPOSITES FROM EPOXY - CELULLOSE WITH BALANCED THERMO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-5002 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://icechim.ro/project/epocel/

Abstract:

Epoxy resins are being used in many key applications of the automotive manufacturing industry due to their properties such as high thermal stability, mechanical strength, moisture resistivity and adhesion. Although these materials have a high performance in electronics their end-of-life disposal raised tremendous global environmental concerns. Thus, designing novel biomaterials able to overcome these disadvantages have become an important goal for the scientific community.

The proposed project aims to develop new nanocomposites, based on renewable and inexpensive biological sources, with thermo-mechanical balanced properties for applications in electronics (EPOCEL). The goal of this project will be achieved through the use of renewable resources like vegetable oils and different nanocellulose fillers to obtain the epoxy systems. The EPOCEL nanobiocomposite materials will exhibit a tailored interface design which will assure performances comparable to those of petroleum-based but at a lower price. The project approach is based on the association of materials produced from regionally low cost agricultural feedstocks which will be employed for the development of novel materials with high - added value. Various epoxy system components and different agents for nanocellulose functionalization will be screened for achieving the desired thermal and mechanical performances. Nanocellulose will have a significant role in providing biodegradability besides controlled stiffness.

The assessment of the EPOCEL model for electronics will be made after detailed analysis of physico-chemical, mechanical and thermal properties.

New materials based on polylactic acid with controlled flexibility Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare pentru stimularea tinerelor echipe independente
PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-1333 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://icechim.ro/project/flex4pla/

Abstract:

The present project fits into the stream of study and characterization of biobased materials, considering the need to improve their properties from a technological point of view to allow their wider use in final products. Currently, biopolymers have found applications in fields starting from packaging to automotive but an almost unexploited market segment is represented by materials intended for children goods. Most of the global produced toys and other goods for children are made with conventional plastics derived from non-renewable petrochemicals containing dangerous chemical additives to ensure flexibility, natural feel and easy coloring. Thus, the FLEX4PLA project aims the research and design of new biomaterials in which both polymers and additives are being derived from renewable resources. The approach of FLEX4PLA consists in the synthesis of new bioelastomers compatible with PLA from biobased resources and the design of a new technological route to ensure nanodispersion and an engineered interface in PLA/bioelastomers nanomaterials. The new nanomaterials will exhibit the good elasticity of the bioelastomer and the excellent processability of PLA and no more that 10% decrease in strength compared to neat PLA. Tensile properties, impact tests, melt flow index, fracture behavior and morphology will be performed in order to characterize the new biomaterials with the aim of correlating the composition to processability and thus establishing the final properties.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects