Amorphous Fraction Research Articles

Estimations of the Thicknesses of Smectic Layer and Rigid Amorphous Layer in Mesomorphic Isotactic Polypropylene with Synchrotron Small‐Angle and Wide‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering

AbstractDespite extensive research, the stabilization mechanism of mesomorphic isotactic polypropylene (iPP) at room temperature has not been elucidated completely. To address this issue, nanoscale structural information is indispensable. In this study, mesomorphic‐α phase transition is studied with synchrotron wide‐angle diffraction and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. It is found that during phase transition, the mobile amorphous content remained unchanged, while rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) decreased constantly, accompanied by an increase in long period. Assuming that the increase in long period is induced by the extension of the rigid amorphous coil (RAC), the thickness of RAF (RRAF) is estimated, which is found to be 2.2 nm. This value is greater than the length of b axis in α crystal cell, which can be the reason that folded‐chain iPP clusters in mesomorphic iPP cannot approach closer to form α crystal at room temperature. Besides, with RRAF, the thickness of smectic layer is estimated, which is found to be 0.9 nm. At this thickness, bulk‐free energy cannot compensate for the folded‐surface free energy, which can be the other reason that mesomorphic iPP chains cannot transit into α crystal at room temperature. The information obtained in this study is favorable for understanding the stabilization mechanism of mesomorphic iPP.

Laser powder bed fusion of a nanocrystalline Finemet Fe-based alloy for soft magnetic applications

The aim of this work is to explore the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processability window of the nanocrystalline soft magnetic Finemet alloy. With that purpose, several laser power and scan speed values and a meander scanning strategy were probed to process simple geometry specimens. Good dimensional accuracy was obtained within the entire processing window investigated. Relative densities as high as 89% were achieved for processing conditions including high laser power and low scan speeds. The fraction of amorphous phase, which peaked at 49%, was found to be mostly dependent on the scan speed and only slightly influenced by the laser power. The microstructure of the crystalline domains is formed by ultrafine, equiaxed grains with random orientations. Irrespective of the processing conditions, the LPBF-processed samples exhibit a similar saturation magnetization, lower permeability, and higher coercivity than fully amorphous melt-spun ribbons of the same composition. The coercive field of the additively manufactured specimens is fairly independent of the relative density and exhibits a moderate inverse variation with the amorphous fraction. Consistent with earlier works, this study suggests that the average grain size is an important contributor to coercivity.

Dependence of the crystal structure on the d-units amount in semi-crystalline poly(lactic acid)

The study investigates the impact of the d-lactic acid units content on the crystallinity and crystal structure of commercial poly(lactic acid) (PLA) grades, which are copolymers of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) containing a minor amount of d-units. As the d-units content increases, a detectable decrease in crystallinity was observed along with a simultaneous rise in mobile amorphous fraction (MAF) and a reduction in rigid amorphous fraction (RAF). The percentage of d-units was found not to significantly affect RAF thickness, suggesting that the d-units are not completely excluded from the crystals. The inclusion of d-units as defects in the PLA crystal lattice was confirmed by XRD analysis, which disclosed that the crystal phase gets gradually richer of d-units as the crystallization time evolves. FT-IR analysis proved that the incorporation of d-units in the crystal phase is promoted by the formation of local CH3···O=C interactions, similar to those massively active between PLLA and poly(d-lactic acid) (PDLA) in the stereocomplex. The establishment of these interactions leads to a contraction of the interplanar distances and a decrease in the crystal cell volume with increasing the crystallization time and the d-units percentage. In summary, the study proves that for PLA copolymers containing a d-units percentage at least up to about 8 %, d-units are included in the crystal lattice.

Flash sintering glass–ceramic treatment of Sr-contaminated soil waste

Effective disposal of radioactive waste is crucial for safe development of nuclear energy. In this study, flash sintering technology is used for the first time to quickly solidify simulated Sr-contaminated soil waste. The waste can be converted into a glass–ceramic phase by heating the waste at 1100 °C for 1 min during flash sintering. The phase evolution during flash sintering as a function of density and amorphous fraction was systematically investigated. Additionally, the microstructural evolution of the matrices and the leaching behavior of simulated waste elements (e.g., Sr) were evaluated. This study explores the feasibility of using flash sintering for treating radioactive contamination waste.

Modifying Cassava Starch via Extrusion with Phosphate, Erythorbate and Nitrite: Phosphorylation, Hydrolysis and Plasticization.

Extrusion processing of plasticized cassava starch, a prominent industrial crop, with chemical additives offers a thermo-mechanical approach to modify starch structures through physical and chemical interactions. This research investigates the interaction and morphology of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) blended with tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7), sodium tripolyphosphate (Na5P3O10), sodium hexametaphosphate (Na6(PO3)6), sodium erythorbate (C6H7O6Na), and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) via twin-screw extrusion. The effects of these additives on the chemical structure, thermal profile, water absorption, and solubility of the TPS were examined. The high temperature and shearing forces within the extruder disrupted hydrogen bonding at α-(1-4) and α-(1-6) glycosidic linkages within anhydroglucose units. Na4P2O7, Na5P3O10 and Na6(PO3)6 induced starch phosphorylation, while 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR analyses revealed that C6H7O6Na and NaNO2 caused starch hydrolysis. These additives hindered starch recrystallization, resulting in higher amorphous fractions that subsequently influenced the thermal properties and stability of the extruded TPS. Furthermore, the type and content of the added modifier influenced the water absorption and solubility of the TPS due to varying levels of interaction. These modified starch materials exhibited enhanced antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in polyester blends fabricated via extrusion, with nitrite demonstrating the most potent antimicrobial efficacy. These findings suggest that starch modification via either phosphorylation or acid hydrolysis impacts the thermal properties, morphology, and hydrophilicity of extruded cassava TPS.

FeSiBCCr bulk metallic glasses with excellent soft magnetic properties prepared using spark plasma sintering technology

Fe-based amorphous alloys have received much attention in the fields of electronics and electrical due to their excellent soft magnetic properties at high frequency. However, the controllable preparation of large-sized Fe-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) still faces numerous challenges. In this study, FeSiBCCr amorphous powders prepared by gas-water combined atomization were used as raw materials, and FeSiBCCr BMGs were prepared through spark plasma sintering (SPS) at different pressures. The microstructure, phase and magnetic properties of the compacts were systematically characterized using SEM, XRD, TEM, DSC, and VSM. The results showed that when the sintering pressure was 50 MPa, the slow densification process dominated by particle rearrangement at the initial densification process made the internal contact resistance of the compacts larger. This led to macroscopic inhomogeneous physical fields and severe local overheating during the later stages of sintering, causing the precipitation of α-(Fe, Si) and Fe3B phases. Although the material exhibited a relatively high saturation magnetization (Bs) of 1.08 ± 0.01 T, the low density and amorphous fraction resulted in a high coercivity (Hc) of 1060.8 ± 37.8 A·m-1. When the sintering pressure was increased to 250 MPa, the degree of particle densification significantly improved, and the temperature inhomogeneity was markedly suppressed due to reduced internal resistance. Thus, the prepared FeSiBCCr BMGs exhibited an extremely high density of 6.66 ± 0.06 g·cm-3 and excellent soft magnetic properties with Bs of 1.23 ± 0.01 T and Hc of 18.8 ± 1.8 A·m-1. This indicated that the FeSiBCCr BMGs prepared in this study exhibited broad application prospects in efficient electromagnetic conversion and advanced electronic devices.

Polyethylene and related hydrocarbon polymers (“plastics”) are not biodegradable

Research on the biodegradation of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and related polymers has become popular and the number of publications on this topic is rapidly increasing. However, there is no convincing evidence that the frequently claimed biodegradability of these so-called “plastics” really exists. Rather, a diffuse definition of the term “biodegradability” has led to the publication of reports showing either marginal weight losses of hydrocarbon polymers by the action of isolated bacterial strains or mechanical disintegration and polymer surface modification in case of hydrocarbon polymer-consuming insect larvae. Most of the data can be alternatively explained by the utilization of polymer impurities/additives, by the utilization of low molecular weight oligomers, and/or by physical fragmentation and subsequent loss of small fragments. Evidence for a (partial) biotic and/or abiotic oxidation of the amorphous polymer fraction and of surface-exposed hydrocarbon side chains is not sufficient to claim that PE is biodegradable. To the best of my knowledge, no report has been so far published in which substantial biodegradation and mineralization of PE or related (long chain length) hydrocarbon polymers to carbon dioxide has been convincingly demonstrated by the determination of the fate of carbon atoms in isotope-labeled polymers. It is disappointing that publications with a critical view on biodegradation of hydrocarbon polymers are not cited in most of these reports. The possibility should be considered that the rapidly expanding research field of hydrocarbon polymer biodegradation is chasing rainbows.

From Field to Pharmacy: Isolation, Characterization and Tableting Behaviour of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Wheat and Corn Harvest Residues.

A lack of strategies for the utilization of harvest residues (HRs) has led to serious environmental problems due to an accumulation of these residues or their burning in the field. In this study, wheat and corn HRs were used as feedstock for the production of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by treatment with 2-8% sodium hydroxide, 10% hydrogen peroxide and further hydrolysis with 1-2 M hydrochloric acid. The changes in the FT-IR spectra and PXRD diffractograms after chemical treatment confirmed the removal of most of the lignin, hemicellulose and amorphous fraction of cellulose. A higher degree of crystallinity was observed for MCC obtained from corn HRs, which was attributed to a more efficient removal of lignin and hemicellulose by a higher sodium hydroxide concentration, which facilitates the dissolution of amorphous cellulose during acid hydrolysis. MCC obtained from HRs exhibited lower bulk density and poorer flow properties but similar or better tableting properties compared to commercial MCC (CeolusTM PH101). The lower ejection and detachment stress suggests that MCC isolated from HRs requires less lubricant compared to commercial MCC. This study showed that MCC isolated from wheat and corn HRs exhibits comparable tableting behaviour like commercial sample, further supporting this type of agricultural waste utilization.

Molecular origin of the plasticizing effect difference of glycerol with other polyols on plasticizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as elucidated by solid-state NMR

Glycerol has been proved to be an effective plasticizer for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which can significantly increase PVA’s processability and ductility, whose molecular origin remains unclear. In current study, the physical structure and chain dynamics of polyol plasticized PVA were studied in detail, including ethylene glycol, glycerol, erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol under the same addition level. The glycerol plasticized PVA exhibits the most significant reduction in Young’s modulus, enhanced superior toughness, and the lowest melting temperature (195 °C) as compared with other polyols. The molecular mechanism was elucidated through comprehensive analysis, with a particular focus on solid state NMR (SS NMR) results. The physical structure was first elucidated by the Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS). The crystallinity of the glycerol plasticized PVA was the lowest 29 % by WAXS and the thickness of the amorphous layer was the largest 7.76 nm by SAXS among different plasticized PVA films. This suggests the significant influence of glycerol on structure change of PVA. The molecular dynamics information was further accessed by Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF NMR), where two key features are obtained: i) Different dynamics dimensionality. The 1H spin diffusion NMR was used to check the dimensionality from the aspect of chain dynamics. Compared with other plasticizers, LF NMR result shows that glycerol plasticized PVA has a two-dimensional (2D) structure; ii) Chain dynamics heterogeneity in the interphase. With respect to the chain dynamics heterogeneity in the interphase, the glycerol plasticized PVA shows the most heterogeneous dynamics, with the lowest ratio of the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) of 0.507 in the interphase. Current study provides a versatile analytical strategy to quantify the plasticizing effect.

Influence of semi-crystalline microstructure on gas permeability of Poly(Ether-Ketone-Ketone)

In a context of ecological transition, aeronautics is moving towards the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft for which lightweight, long-lasting and tough storage tanks must be developed. Among other properties, the tightness of tanks made of polymer and composite materials is of prime importance. This study thus aims at understanding the permeation phenomena through Poly-Ether-Ketone-Ketone (PEKK), which is one of the thermoplastic polymers considered for tank manufacture. In order to better understand the phenomena governing gas permeability, tests were carried out on different PEKK grades of different T/I ratios and degree of crystallinity. The results show that the crystallinity ratio is not the only factor that governs gas diffusion and solubility, but that permeability also depends on PEKK semi-crystalline microstructure. Even if considering crystallites organization through a tortuosity factor improves permeability predictions, permeability can be better understood using a 3 phases description of PEKK microstructure considering distinct contributions of the rigid and mobile amorphous fractions (RAF and MAF). It appears that the MAF permeation does not depend on PEKK T/I ratio, but that gas diffusion and solubility increase for RAF when increasing T/I ratio, thus counterbalancing the blocking effect of crystallites.

Synergistic effects of silicon and goethite co-application in alleviating cadmium stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.): Insights into plant growth and iron plaque formation mechanisms

Rice is one of the most important staple food crops; however, it is prone to cadmium (Cd) accumulation, which has negative health effects. Therefore, methods to reduce Cd uptake by rice are necessary. At present, there is limited research on the effects of co-application of silicon (Si) and goethite in mitigating Cd stress in rice. Furthermore, the specific mechanisms underlying the effects of their combined application on iron plaque formation in rice roots remain unclear. Therefore, this study analyzed the effects of the combined application of Si and goethite on the biomass, physiological stress indicators, Cd concentration, and iron plaques of rice using hydroponic experiments. The results revealed that co-treatment with both Si and goethite increased the plant height and dry weight, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, photosynthetic pigment concentration, and root activity. Moreover, this treatment decreased the malondialdehyde concentration, repaired epidermal cells, reduced the Cd concentration in the roots by 57.2 %, and increased the number of iron plaques and Cd concentration by 150.9 % and 266.2 % in the amorphous and crystalline fractions, respectively. The Cd/Fe ratio in amorphous iron plaques also increased. Our findings suggest that goethite serves as a raw material for iron plaque formation, while Si enhances the oxidation capacity of rice roots. The application of a combination of Si and goethite increases the quantity and quality of iron plaques, enhancing its Cd fixation capacity. This study provides theoretical evidence for the effective inhibition of Cd uptake by iron plaques in rice, providing insights into methods for the remediation of Cd contamination.

Nanocomposite versus solid solution formation in the TiSiN system

This work contributes to the ongoing scientific debate on the structure of TiSiN coatings. In order to illuminate the formation of a nanocomposite structure versus the formation of a Ti1-xSixN solid solution, a series of TiSiN coatings was synthesized and the influence of varying N2 pressures and the addition of Ar to the deposition atmosphere on the structure of TiSiN coatings was investigated in detail. The powdered TiSiN coatings all exhibited a lower lattice parameter than reported for TiN, which further decreased with increasing N2 pressure, at comparable elemental compositions. For all coatings the presence of a crystalline Ti1-xSixN solid solution as well as an amorphous SiNx phase fraction could be detected, where more Si was incorporated into the Ti1-xSixN solid solution at higher pressures, due to less energetic growth conditions and the additional kinetic activation stemming from Ar ions resulted in less Si incorporation. Density functional theory calculations showed that defects only play a subordinate role for the low observed lattice parameters.

Recyclability of elastomer toughened recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate): The effect of grinding-extrusion-injection moulding on the mechanical and morphological properties of the blend

Reprocessing potential of recycled poly(ethylene-terephthalate) (RPET)/ethylene-butyl-acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (EBA-GMA) blends was investigated. PET flakes from food packaging were compounded with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 % EBA-GMA. Injection moulded specimens were produced, and some of the specimens were grinded, and reproduced to simulate real reprocessing. It was revealed by scanning electron microscopy that the distribution and particle size of the elastomer did not change notably after recycling. Noticeable degradation of the polymer matrix was observable after every processing step. Such deterioration of PET resulted in higher crystallinity and rigid amorphous fraction, as found by differential scanning calorimetry, which ultimately led to higher storage modulus, while the notched impact strength and elongation at break decreased. Nevertheless, the mechanical performance of the reprocessed RPET/EBA-GMA blends still significantly outperforms that of the neat PET recyclate. The degree of chain breakage was found to be the primary factor determining the recyclability of RPET/EBA-GMA blends.

Challenges and opportunities in piezoelectric polymers: Effect of oriented amorphous fraction in ferroelectric semicrystalline polymers

AbstractDespite extensive research on piezoelectric polymers since the discovery of piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) in 1969, the fundamental physics of polymer piezoelectricity has remained elusive. Based on the classic principle of piezoelectricity, polymer piezoelectricity should originate from the polar crystalline phase. Surprisingly, the crystal contribution to the piezoelectric strain coefficient d31 is determined to be less than 10%, primarily owing to the difficulty in changing the molecular bond lengths and bond angles. Instead, >85% contribution is from Poisson's ratio, which is closely related to the oriented amorphous fraction (OAF) in uniaxially stretched films of semicrystalline ferroelectric (FE) polymers. In this perspective, the semicrystalline structure–piezoelectric property relationship is revealed using PVDF‐based FE polymers as a model system. In melt‐processed FE polymers, the OAF is often present and links the crystalline lamellae to the isotropic amorphous fraction. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that the electrostrictive conformation transformation of the OAF chains induces a polarization change upon the application of either a stress (the direct piezoelectric effect) or an electric field (the converse piezoelectric effect). Meanwhile, relaxor‐like secondary crystals in OAF (SCOAF), which are favored to grow in the extended‐chain crystal (ECC) structure, can further enhance the piezoelectricity. However, the ECC structure is difficult to achieve in PVDF homopolymers without high‐pressure crystallization. We have discovered that high‐power ultrasonication can effectively induce SCOAF in PVDF homopolymers to improve its piezoelectric performance. Finally, we envision that the electrostrictive OAF mechanism should also be applicable for other FE polymers such as odd‐numbered nylons and piezoelectric biopolymers.

PVDF Hybrid Nanocomposites with Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes and Their Thermoresistive and Joule Heating Properties.

In recent years, conductive polymer nanocomposites have gained significant attention due to their promising thermoresistive and Joule heating properties across a range of versatile applications, such as heating elements, smart materials, and thermistors. This paper presents an investigation of semi-crystalline polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposites with 6 wt.% carbon-based nanofillers, namely graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and a combination of GNPs and MWCNTs (hybrid). The influence of the mono- and hybrid fillers on the crystalline structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the nanocomposites had increased amorphous fraction compared to the neat PVDF. Furthermore, nanocomposites enhanced the β phase of the PVDF by up to 12% mainly due to the presence of MWCNTs. The resistive properties of the nanocompositions were weakly affected by the temperature in the analyzed temperature range of 25-100 °C; nevertheless, the hybrid filler composites were proven to be more sensitive than the monofiller ones. The Joule heating effect was observed when 8 and 10 V were applied, and the compositions reached a self-regulating effect at around 100-150 s. In general, the inclusion in PVDF of nanofillers such as GNPs and MWCNTs, and especially their hybrid combinations, may be successfully used for tuning the self-regulated Joule heating properties of the nanocomposites.

Hydrolysis of biobased stereocomplex polylactide: Polymorphism dependent crystals degradation and evolution of three-phase crystalline composition

The hydrolytic degradation behavior of stereocomplex polylactide (SCPLA) with distinct polymorphisms (α, αʹ, SC) and SC fractions (the ratio of SC crystallinity to total crystallinity) was first investigated in the present study. The evolution of three-phase crystalline compositions was quantified using modulated differential scanning calorimetry. Hydrolytic degradation commenced in the mobile amorphous fraction (MAF), while both the crystal (CF) and rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) began degradation on Day 3. By the 26th day, the MAF was consumed entirely, followed by the CF and RAF degraded at similar rates, primarily through the cleavage of chains with free ends on the folding surface of the remaining lamella. This work further discussed the influence of polymorphism on homochiral (HC) and SC crystal degradation during hydrolysis. Given racemic helices' participation in SC crystallization, SC-crystal lamellae may possess a higher number of amorphous chains with free ends than HC-crystals. This attribute could account for the faster degradation of HC-crystals in samples with a higher SC fraction.

Relating laser powder bed fusion process parameters to (micro)structure and to soft magnetic behaviour in a Fe-based bulk metallic glass

This work aims to establish fundamental processing-(micro)structure-property links in a commercial Fe-based Kuamet6B2 bulk metallic glass (BMG) processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). With that purpose, amorphous powders were processed using a pulsed-wave system and a simple meander strategy. The laser power, the scan speed, and the hatch distance were varied over wide intervals within the conduction regime. The processability window leading to samples with good dimensional accuracy and mechanical stability was determined. Within this window, the manufactured samples were crystalline/amorphous composites and the crystalline regions were formed by equiaxed ultrafine and nanograins with random orientations. Processing parameters yielding the densest prints caused severe crystallization while, conversely, parameter sets allowing the material to retain a high amorphous fraction led to significant lack-of-fusion defects and residual cracking along directions perpendicular to crystalline/amorphous interfaces. Comparatively, for a fixed hatch distance, the scanning speed had a stronger effect than the laser power in the resulting amorphous fraction due to its stronger influence on the melt pool size and, in turn, on the corresponding HAZ volume. The saturation magnetization and the coercive field were inversely related to the amorphous fraction. This work allows to derive fundamental guidelines for the successful additive manufacturing of soft magnetic Fe-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF).

Preparation of Zr-based metallic glasses gradient composites with designable amorphous fraction by laser powder bed fusion

Introducing ductile crystals in situ into the matrix is an efficient approach for enhancing the mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). However, controlling the volume of the crystalline phase is challenging, and the introduction of crystals may be detrimental to its strength and ductility trade-off. In addition, BMGs prepared by conventional casting process suffers from the disadvantages of size limitation, inhomogeneous crystallization, and uncontrollable crystallization fraction. In this study, Zr48Cu47.5Al4Co0.5 amorphous powder with better forming ability was utilized as raw material and printed by selective laser melting (SLM) technique with high cooling rate. Through parameter adjustments and proactive design of amorphous fractions, gradient metallic glasses (GMGs) based on Zr has been successfully prepared. Micro-morphology, DSC tests, micro-area XRD, optical calculations and nanoindentation experiments all indicate the presence of gradient structures. The microstructure reveals that the crystalline phases in the heat affected zone (HAZ) are mainly B2 phase. In addition, the results of room temperature compression show that the yield strength (1.2 GPa) and plastic deformation (0.8 %) of the gradient structure are better than those of the samples prepared with a single parameter. The theme of amorphous fraction gradient structure design, realized by SLM technology, opens a new window for the large-scale development of high-performance BMGs.

Mechanically rejuvenated glassy polylactide with spatial heterogeneity and packing efficiency: Time dependence of deformation behavior

Mechanical rejuvenation is effective in conquering the physical aging of polymers, but its molecular origin is far from clear. Herein, glassy polylactide is subjected to mechanical rejuvenation under extensional stress field via “casting-thermal stretching”, and the joint effect of spatial heterogeneity and packing efficiency on the brittle-to-ductile transition is demonstrated. The extensional stress accelerates segmental relaxation and heavily enhances the spatial heterogeneity in activated amorphous fraction. The much larger extensional stress enhances the orientation and packing efficiency of polylactide chains, with the close-packing amorphous fraction restraining the molecular mobility but boosting self-reinforcement. Strong time-dependent deformation behavior is discovered in rejuvenated polylactide, with different draw ratios exhibiting quite different critical strain rates of ductile-to-brittle transition, and that with densified network even maintains high ductility at extremely high strain rate. This work provides new insights into mechanical rejuvenation and significant guidance for the processing of advanced biodegradable polymers.

Thermal and structural characteristics of date-pits as digested by Trichoderma reesei

The objective of this study was to develop functional date-pits by mold digestion for the potential use in food products. Whole date-pits (WDP) and defatted date-pits (DDP) were digested by mold Trichoderma reesei at 20 °C. T. reesei consumed date-pits as nutrients for their growth, and DDP showed higher growth of molds as compared to the WDP. The mold digested WDP and DDP samples showed an increased water solubility and hygroscopicity as compared to the samples prepared by autoclaved. This indicated that the mold digestion transformed date-pits to hydrophilic characteristics. Thermal analysis indicated a structural change at −3.2 °C for the untreated WDP and it was followed by a glass transition shift (i.e. onset: 138 °C and a specific heat change: 295 J/kg oC), and an endothermic peak at 196 °C with enthalpy of 68 J/g for the solids melting-decomposition. Similar characteristics were also observed for treated samples with the two glass transitions. The total specific heat changes for WDP, autoclaved-WDP, and digested-WDP were observed as 295, 367, and 328 J/kg oC, respectively. The total specific heat changes for DDP, autoclaved-DDP, and digested-DDP were observed as 778, 1329, and 1877 J/kg oC, respectively. This indicated that mold digestion transformed more amorphous fraction in the DDP. The energy absorption intensities of the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra for the selected functional groups decreased by the mold digestion.