Enhancing the sweat resistance of sunscreens.

Background: While sunbathing of performing outdoor sport activities, sunscreens are important for protection of uncovered skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, perspiration negatively affects the performance of a sunscreen film by weakening its substantivity and uniformity through the activation of two mechanisms, namely sunscreen wash-off and sunscreen redistribution.

Material And Methods: We used a perspiring skin simulator to investigate the effect of sunscreen formulation on its efficiency upon sweating.

In vitro skin model for characterization of sunscreen substantivity upon perspiration.

Objective: The resistance of sunscreens to the loss of ultraviolet (UV) protection upon perspiration is important for their practical efficacy. However, this topic is largely overlooked in evaluations of sunscreen substantivity due to the relatively few well-established protocols compared to those for water resistance and mechanical wear.

Methods: In an attempt to achieve a better fundamental understanding of sunscreen behaviour in response to sweat exposure, we have developed a perspiring skin simulator, containing a substrate surface that mimics sweating human skin.

Water vapor permeation through topical films on a moisture-releasing skin Model.

Background: Covering the skin by topical films affects the skin hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In vivo studies to investigate the water vapor permeation through topical films are complicated, expensive, ethically not preferred, and time- and labor-consuming. The objective of this study was to introduce an in vitro and subject-independent alternative evaluation method to predict the breathability of topical formulations.

Nanoscale electrical and mechanical characteristics of conductive polyaniline network in polymer composite films.

The presence and characteristics of a connected network of polyaniline (PANI) within a composite coating based on polyester acrylate (PEA) has been investigated. The bulk electrical conductivity of the composite was measured by impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the composite films containing PANI have an electrical conductivity level in the range of semiconductors (order of 10(-3) S cm(-1)), which suggests the presence of a connected network of the conductive phase.

Direct measurement of colloidal interactions between polyaniline surfaces in a UV-curable coating formulation: the effect of surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and resin composition.

The interactions between polyaniline particles and polyaniline surfaces in polyester acrylate resin mixed with 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate monomer have been investigated using contact angle measurements and the atomic force microscopy colloidal probe technique. Polyaniline with different characteristics (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) were synthesized directly on spherical polystyrene particles of 10 μm in diameter. Surface forces were measured between core/shell structured polystyrene/polyaniline particles (and a pure polystyrene particle as reference) mounted on an atomic force microscope cantilever and a pressed pellet of either hydrophilic or hydrophobic polyaniline powders, in resins of various polymer:monomer ratios.

In situ polymerization of polyaniline in wood veneers.

The present study describes the possibility to polymerize aniline within wood veneers to obtain a semi-conducting material with solid wood acting as the base template. It was determined that it is possible to synthesize the intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) polyaniline in situ within the wood structure of Southern yellow pine veneers, combining the strength of the natural wood structure with the conductivity of the impregnated polymer. It was found that polyaniline is uniformly dispersed within the wood structure by light microscopy and FT-IR imaging.

Toward homogeneous nanostructured polyaniline/resin blends.

The high interest in applications of conducting polymers, especially polyaniline (PANI), makes it important to overcome limitations for effective usage due to poor processability and solubility. One promising approach is to make blends of PANI in polymeric resins. However, in this approach other problems related to the difficulty of achieving a homogeneous PANI dispersion arise.