scholarly journals On the Effectiveness of Oxygen Plasma and Alkali Surface Treatments to Modify the Properties of Polylactic Acid Scaffolds

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1643
Author(s):  
Ricardo Donate ◽  
María Elena Alemán-Domínguez ◽  
Mario Monzón
Keyword(s):  
Surface Properties ◽  
Enzymatic Degradation ◽  
Oxygen Plasma ◽  
Physicochemical Characterization ◽  
Surface Treatments ◽  
Carboxyl Groups ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
3D Printed

Surface modification of 3D-printed PLA structures is a major issue in terms of increasing the biofunctionality and expanding the tissue engineering applications of these parts. In this paper, different exposure times were used for low-pressure oxygen plasma applied to PLA 3D-printed scaffolds. Alkali surface treatments were also evaluated, aiming to compare the modifications introduced on the surface properties by each strategy. Surface-treated samples were characterized through the quantification of carboxyl groups, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The change in the surface properties was studied over a two-week period. In addition, an enzymatic degradation analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of the surface treatments on the degradation profile of the 3D structures. The physicochemical characterization results suggest different mechanism pathways for each type of treatment. Alkali-treated scaffolds showed a higher concentration of carboxyl groups on their surface, which enhanced the enzymatic degradation rate, but were also proven to be more aggressive towards 3D-printed structures. In contrast, the application of the plasma treatments led to an increased hydrophilicity of the PLA surface without affecting the bulk properties. However, the changes on the properties were less steady over time.

scholarly journals Heat Treatment Effect on the Surface Properties of Carbon Cloth Electrode for Microbial Fuel Cell

2021 ◽  
pp. X
Author(s):  
Shih-Hang CHANG ◽  
Yuan-Ting TSAO ◽  
Kuan-Wei TUNG
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Surface Properties ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Contact Angle Measurements ◽  
Treated Carbon

In this study, we investigate the effect of heat treatment on the surface properties of carbon cloth electrodes and on the power generation efficiencies of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) configured with the heat-treated carbon cloth electrodes. Water contact angle measurements show that the hydrophobic surfaces of the carbon cloth became super-hydrophilic after heat treatment at a temperature above 500 °C, making it suitable for bacterial propagation. X-ray photoelectron spectrometry revealed that the signal of the C-O functional group of the carbon cloth electrodes increased in intensity after heat treatment. The MFCs configured with heat-treated carbon cloth electrode exhibited high power density of 16.58 mW/m2, whereas that of the untreated MFCs was only 8.86 mW m2. Compared with other chemical modifications, heat treatment does not use any environmentally unsound acidic or toxic solutions during modification and are promising for manufacturing large-scale MFC stacks.

scholarly journals Impact of the Surface Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystals on the Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(Butylene Succinate)

Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatem Abushammala ◽  
Jia Mao
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Surface Properties ◽  
Cellulose Nanocrystals ◽  
Toluene Diisocyanate ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Butylene Succinate ◽  
Avrami Model ◽  
Nucleation Activity ◽  
The Impact

The hydrophilicity of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is a major challenge for their processing with hydrophobic polymers and matrices. As a result, many surface modifications have been proposed to hydrophobize CNCs. The authors showed in an earlier study that grafting alcohols of different chain lengths onto the surface of CNCs using toluene diisocyanate (TDI) as a linker can systematically hydrophobize CNCs to a water contact angle of up to 120° depending on the alcohol chain length. Then, the hydrophobized CNCs were used to mechanically reinforce poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), which is a hydrophobic polymer. As a result of hydrophobization, PBS/CNCs interfacial adhesion and the composite mechanical properties significantly improved with the increasing CNC contact angle. Continuing on these results, this paper investigates the impact of CNC surface properties on the crystallization behavior of PBS using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the crystallization temperature of PBS increased from 74.7 °C to up to 86.6 °C as a result of CNC nucleation activity, and its value was proportionally dependent on the contact angle of the CNCs. In agreement, the nucleation activity factor (φ) estimated using Dobreva and Gutzow’s method decreased with the increasing CNC contact angle. Despite the nucleation action of CNCs, the rate constant of PBS crystallization as estimated using the Avrami model decreased in general as a result of a prevailing impeding effect. This decrease was minimized with increasing the contact angle of the CNCs. The impeding effect also increased the average activation energy of crystallization, which was estimated using the Kissinger method. Moreover, the Avrami exponent (n) decreased because of CNC addition, implying a heterogeneous crystallization, which was also apparent in the crystallization thermograms. Overall, the CNC addition facilitated PBS nucleation but retarded its crystallization, and both processes were significantly affected by the surface properties of the CNCs.

scholarly journals UV-Cured Biodegradable Methacrylated Starch-Based Coatings

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Camilla Noè ◽  
Chiara Tonda-Turo ◽  
Irene Carmagnola ◽  
Minna Hakkarainen ◽  
Marco Sangermano
Keyword(s):  
Surface Properties ◽  
Enzymatic Degradation ◽  
Uv Curing ◽  
Complete Characterization ◽  
Starch Solution ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Pencil Hardness ◽  
Uv Curable ◽  
Uv Curing Process

Promising UV-curable starch-based coatings were fabricated by utilizing methacrylated starch. The aqueous methacrylated starch solution was cast on a glass substrate, and UV-cured after drying. The efficiency of UV-curing process was monitored with gel percentage measurements. The thermal and mechanical properties of the fabricated UV-cured coatings were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry and tensile test and compared with the starch-based uncured casted coatings. A complete characterization of the surface properties was performed by means of pencil hardness, adhesion, solvent resistance, and surface tension measurements. The cross-linking by UV-curing significantly enhanced the mechanical and surface properties of the coating. The effect of UV-curing on the biodegradability of the coating was evaluated by following the enzymatic degradation by α-amylase by determining the amount of glucose and maltose released from the coatings. UV-cured methacrylated starch based coating with promising material and surface properties and retained biodegradation potential was demonstrated.

scholarly journals Influence of the Preparation Method and Photo-Oxidation Treatment on the Thermal and Gas Transport Properties of Dense Films Based on a Poly(ether-block-amide) Copolymer

Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Clarizia ◽  
Paola Bernardo ◽  
Giuliana Gorrasi ◽  
Daniela Zampino ◽  
Sabrina Carroccio
Keyword(s):  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Preparation Method ◽  
Irradiation Time ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Photo Oxidation ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Contact Angle Measurements ◽  
Dense Films

Dense films based on the hydrophobic Pebax®2533 were prepared by using solution casting in different solvents as well as compression molding and subjected to photo–aging under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The influence of the preparation method, including the casting solvents, as well as the UV irradiation time selected to treat the samples, were evaluated in terms of permeation rates of pure gases (CO2, N2, O2, CH4, He, and H2). The transport data were correlated with the microstructure and surface properties by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), as well as water contact angle measurements. The obtained results showed that a controlled photo-oxidation process reduces the hydrophobicity of the Pebax®2533 films, increasing their permeability without compromising their integrity.

scholarly journals Super-Efficient Synthesis of Mesh-like Superhydrophobic Nano-Aluminum/Iron (III) Oxide Energetic Films

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaogang Guo ◽  
Taotao Liang
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Water Contact Angle ◽  
Energetic Materials ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Contact Angle Measurements ◽  
Aluminum Iron ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
One Step

In this study, a novel superhydrophobic nano-aluminum/iron (III) oxide composite has been prepared by a facile one-step process of electrophoretic deposition, with wide potential applications. The optimal suspension included ethanol, acetyl-acetone, and the additives of fluorotriphenylsilane and perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane. The microstructure, wettability, and exothermic performance were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microcopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), water contact angle measurements, and the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The water contact angle and the heat-release of the target composites could reach to ~170° and 2.67 kJ/g, and could still keep stable, after exposure for six months, showing a great stability. These results provided an exquisite synthesis of ideas, for designing other superhydrophobic energetic materials with self-cleaning properties, for real industrial application.

scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Blended Films: Mechanical, Thermal and Surface Investigations

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esam A. El-Hefian ◽  
Mohamed Mahmoud Nasef ◽  
Abdul Hamid Yahaya
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Poly Vinyl Alcohol ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Elongation At Break ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Static Water Contact Angle ◽  
Contact Angle Measurements ◽  
Static Water

In this study, blends of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (CS/PVA) having various proportions were prepared and characterized by universal mechanical tester, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and contact angle measurements. Studying the mechanical properties of the films showed that blending improved the tensile strength, which increased with increasing PVA content up to 40% while the elongation% at break of the blends was decreased compared to that of the pure components. The obtained results of DSC suggested that some interaction between chitosan and PVA mostly took place. Static water contact angle measurements showed an improvement in the wettability of the obtained films.

Nanostructured Polymer Brushes With Reversibly Changing Properties

2002 ◽  
Vol 727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denys Usov ◽  
Manfred Stamm ◽  
Sergiy Minko ◽  
Christian Froeck ◽  
Andreas Scholl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymer Brushes ◽  
Phase Segregation ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Nanostructured Polymer ◽  
Contact Angle Measurements ◽  
Vertical Segregation ◽  
Oxygen Plasma Etching ◽  
Grafting From ◽  
Photoemission Electron

AbstractWe investigated the interplay between different mechanisms of the lateral and vertical segregation in the synthesized via “grafting from” approach symmetric A/B (where A and B are poly(styrene-co-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene) and poly(methylmethacrylate), respectively) polymer brushes upon exposure to different solvents. We used X-ray photoemission electron spectroscopy and microscopy (X-PEEM), AFM, water contact angle measurements, and oxygen plasma etching to study morphology of the brushes. The ripple morphology after toluene (nonselective solvent) revealed elongated lamellar-like domains of A and B polymers alternating across the surface. The dimple-A morphology consisting of round clusters of the polymer A was observed after acetone (selective solvent for B). The top layer was enriched with the polymer B showing that the brush underwent both the lateral and vertical phase segregation. A qualitative agreement with predictions of SCF theory was found.

Enhancement of Solubility and Dissolution Rate of Poorly Water Soluble Drug using Cosolvency and Solid Dispersion Techniques

1970 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-356
Author(s):  
Meka Lingam ◽  
Vobalaboina Venkateswarlu
Keyword(s):  
Dissolution Rate ◽  
Solid Dispersions ◽  
Physicochemical Characterization ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Peg 400 ◽  
Water Soluble Drug ◽  
Poorly Water Soluble ◽  
Poorly Water Soluble Drug

The low aqueous solubility of celecoxib (CB) and thus its low bioavailability is a problem.    Thus, it is suggested to improve the solubility using cosolvency and solid dispersions techniques. Pure CB has solubility of 6.26±0.23µg/ml in water but increased solubility of CB was observed with increasing concentration of cosolvents like PEG 400, ethanol and propylene glycol. Highest solubility (791.06±15.57mg/ml) was observed with cosolvency technique containing the mixture of composition 10:80:10%v/v of water: PEG 400: ethanol. SDs with different polymers like PVP, PEG were prepared and subjected to physicochemical characterization using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), solubility and dissolution studies. These studies reveals that CB exists mainly in amorphous form in prepared solid dispersions of PVP, PEG4000 and PEG6000 further it can also be confirmed by solubility and dissolution rate studies. Solid dispersions of PV5 and PV9 have shown highest saturation solubility and dissolution rate

scholarly journals An Assessment of Surface Treatments for Adhesion of Polyimide Thin Films

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1955
Author(s):  
Marco Cen-Puc ◽  
Andreas Schander ◽  
Minerva G. Vargas Gleason ◽  
Walter Lang
Keyword(s):  
Flexible Electronics ◽  
Oxygen Plasma ◽  
Reactive Ion Etching ◽  
Peel Test ◽  
Scratch Test ◽  
Peel Strength ◽  
Surface Treatments ◽  
Oxygen Plasma Treatment ◽  
Polyimide Films ◽  
Ion Etching

Polyimide films are currently of great interest for the development of flexible electronics and sensors. In order to ensure a proper integration with other materials and PI itself, some sort of surface modification is required. In this work, microwave oxygen plasma, reactive ion etching oxygen plasma, combination of KOH and HCl solutions, and polyethylenimine solution were used as surface treatments of PI films. Treatments were compared to find the best method to promote the adhesion between two polyimide films. The first selection of the treatment conditions for each method was based on changes in the contact angle with deionized water. Afterward, further qualitative (scratch test) and a quantitative adhesion assessment (peel test) were performed. Both scratch test and peel strength indicated that oxygen plasma treatment using reactive ion etching equipment is the most promising approach for promoting the adhesion between polyimide films.

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