The authors are thankful for the financial support of Coordenaç~
ao de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and
FAPEMAT (grant no: 835372/2009). The authors are further grateful
to Dr. Adriano Buzutti for his direct contribution to the analysis of
TG-DSC, to Dr. Gilberto Fuzari for assistance with the mechanical
testing, and to Dr. Nara de Souza and Dr. Gilberto Goulart for suggestions
during manuscript preparation.