Recycling industrial waste polymer as a binder system for ceramic injection molding feedstock.

Ceramic injection molding is a widely used manufacturing process for producing high-precision ceramic components. However, the high cost of traditional binder systems, as well as non-ecological aspects of these binders, may limit its broader applications. This study investigates the potential use of polyvinyl butyral industrial waste containing plasticizer as a sustainable alternative binder system for ceramic injection molding, utilizing alumina powder with a mean particle size of 0.

Release of contaminants from polymer surfaces under condition of organized fluid flows.

The use of polymers for water storage or distribution is closely monitored, especially with regard to the possible contamination with substances coming from the material's surfaces. Different standards are practiced across countries according to type of applied materials and such test methods are prevalently based on constant temperature conditions. However, these polymers systems could be located in diverse environment which does not necessarily provide constant conditions.

Surface Treatments' Influence on the Interfacial Bonding between Glass Fibre Reinforced Elium Composite and Polybutylene Terephthalate.

This study examines the process of using injection moulding to join two different materials to manufacture bi-component moulded products with improved performance characteristics. The two-component process, which combines the advantages of two different technologies-the high efficiency of the injection moulding process and the excellent mechanical properties of long glass fibre composites produced by resin transfer moulding (RTM) technology-offers a particular advantage and improved applicability of the prepared lightweight products in both the automotive and aerospace sectors. The composite studied here consists of Elium thermoplastic resin (30%) reinforced with unwoven glass fibre fabric (70%) using the RTM process.

Polyetheretherketone bioactivity induced by farringtonite.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is considered as an excellent biomaterial for bone grafting and connective tissue replacement. The clinical potential is, however, limited by its bioinertness, poor osteoconduction, and weak antibacterial activity. These disadvantages can be overcome by introducing suitable additives to produce mineral-polymer composites or coatings.

Viscoelastic Response of Elastohydrodynamically Lubricated Compliant Contacts below Glass-Transition Temperature.

The widespread use of polymers in the high-performance engineering applications brings challenges in the field of liquid lubrication in order to separate the rubbing surfaces by the coherent fluid-film thickness relative to not only the inelastic material response of the polymers. The determination of the mechanical properties by the nanoindentation and the dynamic mechanical analysis represents the key methodology to identify the viscoelastic behavior with respect to the intense frequency and temperature dependance exhibited by polymers. The fluid-film thickness was examined by the optical chromatic interferometry on the rotational tribometer in the ball-on-disc configuration.

Modification of Polyvinyl Chloride Composites for Radiographic Detection of Polyvinyl Chloride Retained Surgical Items.

The ever-present risk of surgical items being retained represents a real medical peril for the patient and potential liability issues for medical staff. Radiofrequency scanning technology is a very good means to substantially reduce such accidents. Radiolucent medical-grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used for the production of medical items is filled with radiopaque agents to enable X-ray visibility.

Electrospun Sound-Absorbing Nanofibrous Webs from Recycled Poly(vinyl butyral).

The amount of poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) foils added to car windscreens to suppress glass shattering represents a huge worldwide volume of the material, and once a vehicle is end-of-life it also becomes a significance contributor to landfill. The recycling of PVB materials from windscreens has been expensive and despite improvements in recycling technologies, the landfill burden still increases. However, an increase in oil prices can shift the economic balance and stimulates the possible applicability of recycled PVB.

The Effect of Surface Substrate Treatments on the Bonding Strength of Aluminium Inserts with Glass-Reinforced Poly(phenylene) Sulphide.

Materials composed of a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon/glass fibres providing lightweight and superior mechanical properties are widely used as structural components for automotive and aerospace applications. However, such parts need to be joined with various metal alloys to obtain better mechanical performance in many structural elements. Many studies have reported enhancements in polymer-metal bonding using adhesives, adhesive/rivet combined joints, and different surface treatments.

Surface Modification of Metallic Inserts for Enhancing Adhesion at the Metal-Polymer Interface.

A combination of mechanical and chemical treatments was utilized to modify the surface textures of copper and duralumin inserts in order to enhance the adhesion at the metal-polymer interface and provide an adhesive joint with a high loadbearing capacity. Pretreatment of the surfaces with sandblasting was followed by etching with various chemical mixtures. The resulting surface textures were evaluated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical confocal microscope.

Formation of oleogels based on emulsions stabilized with cellulose nanocrystals and sodium caseinate.

Hypothesis: In the preparation of oleogels based on Pickering-emulsions, the choice of the preparation route is critical to withstand drying under ambient conditions, as it conditions the composition of the interfacial layer at the oil-water interface.

Experiments: Hexadecane and olive oil oleogels were prepared using an emulsion-template approach from oil-in-water emulsions formulated with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and sodium caseinate (CAS) added in different orders (CNC/CAS together; first CAS then CNC; first CNC then CAS). The oleogels were formed from preconcentrated emulsions by drying at ambient temperature.

Sustainability Assessment and Techno-Economic Analysis of Thermally Enhanced Polymer Tube for Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) Technology.

Metal-alloys tubes are used in the falling-film evaporator of the multi-effect distillation (MED) that is the dominant and efficient thermal seawater desalination process. However, the harsh seawater environment (high salinity and high temperature) causes scale precipitation and corrosion of MED evaporators' metal tubes, presenting a serious technical challenge to the process. Therefore, the metal/metal alloys used as the material of the MED evaporators' tubes are expensive and require high energy and costly tube fabrication process.

In vivo efficacy and properties of semisolid formulations containing panthenol.

Background: Panthenol is an active substance used in dermatology to protect the health of the skin, to treat defects in the morphology of the stratum corneum. In cosmetology, hydrating, softening, and barrier function of panthenol are utilized. Detailed studies evaluating the efficacy of panthenol in cosmetic and pharmaceutical semisolid formulations and establishing its optimum concentration are needed.

Synthesis and Effect of Hierarchically Structured Ag-ZnO Hybrid on the Surface Antibacterial Activity of a Propylene-Based Elastomer Blends.

In this study, a hybrid Ag-ZnO nanostructured micro-filler was synthesized by the drop technique for used in plastic and medical industry. Furthermore, new antibacterial polymer nanocomposites comprising particles of Ag-ZnO up to 5 wt % and a blend of a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TPO) with polypropylene were prepared using twin screw micro-compounder. The morphology and crystalline-phase structure of the hybrid Ag-ZnO nanostructured microparticles obtained was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry.

Synthesis of Photoactuating Acrylic Thermoplastic Elastomers Containing Diblock Copolymer-Grafted Carbon Nanotubes.

A photoactuating nanocomposite was prepared by the in situ grafting of carbon nanotubes with PBA--PMMA diblock copolymer during the synthesis of the linear triblock copolymer poly(methyl methacrylate)--poly(-butyl acrylate)--poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA--PBA--PMMA). Control over the molecular characteristics of the block copolymers was achieved by applying atom transfer radical polymerization. This synthetic approach allowed for the excellent dispersion and distribution of carbon nanotubes within the polymer matrix.

On the development and characterisation of crosslinked sodium alginate/gelatine hydrogels.

Sodium alginate (SA) and gelatine (G) based hydrogels with various SA/G ratios, crosslinked with calcium ions (Ca(2+)) and glutaraldehyde (GTA), respectively, were developed. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were applied to determine their physicochemical characterization. The swelling studies, conducted in phosphate-buffered saline with a pH ranging from 1 to 11 at 37 °C, were utilized for an evaluation of their absorption ability.

Nerve sheath myxoma with bidirectional schwannomatous and perineural differentiation.

A case of nerve sheath myxoma occurring in occipital region in 70-yr-old woman is presented. The tumor showed typical lobular and myxoid morphology. Immunohistochemically, it showed unusual coexpression of Schwann cell markers S100 protein and GFAP with perineural cell markers EMA and claudin-1.

Monitoring styles in women at risk for cervical cancer: implications for the framing of health-relevant messages.

We explored the interaction effects of individual attentional style (high versus low monitoring) and the framing of informational messages on the responses of women undergoing diagnostic follow-up (colposcopy) for precancerous cervical lesions. Prior to the colposcopic procedure, patients (N=76) were randomly assigned to one of three preparatory conditions: (a) Loss-framed message, which emphasized the cost of nonadherence to screening recommendations; (b) Gain-framed message, which emphasized the benefit of adherence; and (c) Neutrally-framed message. It was hypothesized that low monitors (who are more positively biased about their health) would show a more adaptive pattern of response to loss-framed information than high monitors (who are more negatively biased about their health).

Reporting the potential benefits of new technologies for cervical cancer screening.

The AHCPR released its evidence-based report, "Evaluation of Cervical Cytology" in early 1999. This report represents the most comprehensive analysis available to date of Pap smears and new technologies designed to improve cervical cancer screening. Both the ACOG and the AHCPR have released simplified summaries of the results of the evidence report that may lead to misunderstandings of the potential clinical impact of these new technologies.

Cost effectiveness in new technology in cervix cancer screening.

The new techniques in cervix cancer screening are reviewed. Literature relevant to the performance and cost effectiveness of these technologies is reviewed. Literature relevant to cost effectiveness of other techniques used for cervix cancer screening is reviewed.

ThinPrep cytology in clinical practice.

Objective: To compare ThinPrep cytology to conventional cytology in a gynecologic oncology practice in a university hospital laboratory setting.Methods: From March to September 1997, all Papanicolaou smears in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology were collected with a cervical broom device. A conventional cytology slide was prepared.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of human papillomavirus infections.

During the past decade, much has been learned about the natural history of HPV. Most infections occur early in one's sexual life. The overwhelming majority of infections are cleared by the host immune system and never present as warts or neoplasia.

Cervicography screening for cervical cancer among 8460 women in a high-risk population.

Objective: Cervicography was evaluated as a primary screening method for cervical cancer.

Study Design: Cervigrams of 8460 women were taken on enrollment into a population-based study of cervical neoplasia. Cervicography results were compared with a referent diagnosis determined by histologic analysis and 3 cytologic tests, and with the performance of conventional cytologic evaluation.