Sample records for surface treating

  1. Immobilization of proteins on glow discharge treated polymers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kiaei, D.; Safranj, A.; Chen, J. P.; Johnston, A. B.; Zavala, F.; Deelder, A.; Castelino, J. B.; Markovic, V.; Hoffman, A. S.

    Certain glow discharge-treated surfaces have been shown to enhance retention of adsorbed proteins. On the basis of this phenomenon, we have investigated the possibility of immobilizing (a) albumin for developing thromboresistant and non-fouling surfaces, (b) antibodies for immuno-diagnostic assays and (c) enzymes for various biosensors and industrial bioprocesses. Albumin retention was highest on surfaces treated with tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) compared to untreated surfaces or other glow discharge treatments studied. Preadsorption of albumin on TFE-treated surfaces resulted in low fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion. IgG retention was also highest on TFE-treated surfaces. The lower detection limits of both malaria antigen and circulating anodic antigen of the schistosomiasis worm were enhanced following glow discharge treatment of the assay plates with TFE. Both TFE and tetrachloroethylene (TCE) glow discharge treated surfaces showed high retention of adsorbed horseradish peroxidase (HRP). However, the retained specific activity of HRP after adsorption on TCE-treated surfaces was remarkably higher than on TFE-treated surfaces.

  2. Laser treatment of a neodymium magnet and analysis of surface characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilbas, B. S.; Ali, H.; Rizwan, M.; Kassas, M.

    2016-08-01

    Laser treatment of neodymium magnet (Nd2Fe14B) surface is carried out under the high pressure nitrogen assisting gas. A thin carbon film containing 12% WC carbide particles with 400 nm sizes are formed at the surface prior to the laser treatment process. Morphological and metallurgical changes in the laser treated layer are examined using the analytical tools. The corrosion resistance of the laser treated surface is analyzed incorporating the potentiodynamic tests carried out in 0.05 M NaCl+0.1 M H2SO4 solution. The friction coefficient of the laser treated surface is measured using the micro-scratch tester. The wetting characteristics of the treated surface are assessed incorporating the sessile water drop measurements. It is found that a dense layer consisting of fine size grains and WC particles is formed in the surface region of the laser treated layer. Corrosion resistance of the surface improves significantly after the laser treatment process. Friction coefficient of laser treated surface is lower than that of the as received surface. Laser treatment results in superhydrophobic characteristics at the substrate surface. The formation of hematite and grain size variation in the treated layer slightly lowers the magnetic strength of the laser treated workpiece.

  3. Increasing binding density of yeast cells by control of surface charge with allylamine grafting to ion modified polymer surfaces.

    PubMed

    Tran, Clara T H; Kondyurin, Alexey; Chrzanowski, Wojciech; Bilek, Marcela M M; McKenzie, David R

    2014-10-01

    Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) treatment of polymers creates a biointerface capable of direct covalent immobilization of biomolecules. The immobilization of protein molecules is achieved by covalent bonds formed between embedded radicals on the treated surface and amino acid side chains and cells can be immobilized through cell-wall proteins. The attachment density of negatively charged entities on a PIII treated surface is inhibited by its negative surface charge at neutral pH. To reduce the negative charge of PIII treated surfaces in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 11mM), we develop an effective approach of grafting allylamine monomers onto the treated surface. The results reveal reactions between allylamine and radicals on the PIII treated surface. One of these triggers polymerization, increasing the number of amine groups grafted. As a consequence, the PIII treated polystyrene surface after allylamine exposure becomes more hydrophobic and less negatively charged in phosphate buffer. Using yeast cells as an example, we have shown a significant improvement (6-15 times) of cell density immobilized on the PIII treated surface after exposure to allylamine. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. [INVITED] Laser gas assisted treatment of Ti-alloy: Analysis of surface characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilbas, B. S.; Ali, H.; Karatas, C.

    2016-04-01

    Laser gas assisted treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy surface is carried out and nitrogen/oxygen mixture with partial pressure of PO2/PN2=1/3 is introduced during the surface treatment process. Analytical tools are used to characterize the laser treated surfaces. The fracture toughness at the surface and the residual stress in the surface region of the laser treated layer are measured. Scratch tests are carried out to determine the friction coefficient of the treated surface. It is found that closely spaced regular laser scanning tracks generates a self-annealing effect in the laser treated layer while lowering the stress levels in the treated region. Introducing high pressure gas mixture impingement at the surface results in formation of oxide and nitride species including, TiO, TiO2, TiN and TiOxNy in the surface region. A dense layer consisting of fine size grains are formed in the surface region of the laser treated layer, which enhances the microhardness at the surface. The fracture toughness reduces after the laser treatment process because of the microhardness enhancement at the surface. The residual stress formed is comprehensive, which is in the order of -350 MPa.

  5. [Studies on interaction of acid-treated nanotube titanic acid and amino acids].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Huqin; Chen, Xuemei; Jin, Zhensheng; Liao, Guangxi; Wu, Xiaoming; Du, Jianqiang; Cao, Xiang

    2010-06-01

    Nanotube titanic acid (NTA) has distinct optical and electrical character, and has photocatalysis character. In accordance with these qualities, NTA was treated with acid so as to enhance its surface activity. Surface structures and surface groups of acid-treated NTA were characterized and analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR). The interaction between acid-treated NTA and amino acids was investigated. Analysis results showed that the lengths of acid-treated NTA became obviously shorter. The diameters of nanotube bundles did not change obviously with acid-treating. Meanwhile, the surface of acid-treated NTA was cross-linked with carboxyl or esterfunction. In addition, acid-treated NTA can catch amino acid residues easily, and then form close combination.

  6. [INVITED] Laser treatment of Inconel 718 alloy and surface characteristics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilbas, B. S.; Ali, H.; Al-Aqeeli, N.; Karatas, C.

    2016-04-01

    Laser surface texturing of Inconel 718 alloy is carried out under the high pressure nitrogen assisting gas. The combination of evaporation and melting at the irradiated surface is achieved by controlling the laser scanning speed and the laser output power. Morphological and metallurgical changes in the treated surface are analyzed using the analytical tools including optical, electron scanning, and atomic force microscopes, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Microhardnes and friction coefficient of the laser treated surface are measured. Residual stress formed in the surface region is determined from the X-ray diffraction data. Surface hydrophobicity of the laser treated layer is assessed incorporating the sessile drop method. It is found that laser treated surface is free from large size asperities including cracks and the voids. Surface microhardness increases significantly after the laser treatment process, which is attributed to the dense layer formation at the surface under the high cooling rates, dissolution of Laves phase in the surface region, and formation of nitride species at the surface. Residual stress formed is compressive in the laser treated surface and friction coefficient reduces at the surface after the laser treatment process. The combination of evaporation and melting at the irradiated surface results in surface texture composes of micro/nano-poles and pillars, which enhance the surface hydrophobicity.

  7. Comparison of removal torques between laser-treated and SLA-treated implant surfaces in rabbit tibiae

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Nam-Seok; Li, Lin-Jie

    2014-01-01

    PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare removal torques and surface topography between laser treated and sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) treated implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Laser-treated implants (experimental group) and SLA-treated implants (control group) 8 mm in length and 3.4 mm in diameter were inserted into both sides of the tibiae of 12 rabbits. Surface analysis was accomplished using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM; Hitachi S-4800; Japan) under ×25, ×150 and ×1,000 magnification. Surface components were analyzed using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Rabbits were sacrificed after a 6-week healing period. The removal torque was measured using the MGT-12 digital torque meter (Mark-10 Co., Copiague, NY, USA). RESULTS In the experimental group, the surface analysis showed uniform porous structures under ×25, ×150 and ×1,000 magnification. Pore sizes in the experimental group were 20-40 mm and consisted of numerous small pores, whereas pore sizes in the control group were 0.5-2.0 mm. EDS analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mean removal torque in the laser-treated and the SLA-treated implant groups were 79.4 Ncm (SD = 20.4; range 34.6-104.3 Ncm) and 52.7 Ncm (SD = 17.2; range 18.7-73.8 Ncm), respectively. The removal torque in the laser-treated surface implant group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=.004). CONCLUSION In this study, removal torque values were significantly higher for laser-treated surface implants than for SLA-treated surface implants. PMID:25177474

  8. Method and system for treating an interior surface of a workpiece using a charged particle beam

    DOEpatents

    Swenson, David Richard

    2007-05-23

    A method and system of treating an interior surface on an internal cavity of a workpiece using a charged particle beam. A beam deflector surface of a beam deflector is placed within the internal cavity of the workpiece and is used to redirect the charged particle beam toward the interior surface to treat the interior surface.

  9. A study of laser surface treatment in bonded repair of composite aircraft structures.

    PubMed

    Li, Shaolong; Sun, Ting; Liu, Chang; Yang, Wenfeng; Tang, Qingru

    2018-03-01

    Surface pre-treatment is one of the key processes in bonded repair of aircraft carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites. This paper investigates the surface modification of physical and chemical properties by laser ablation and conventional polish treatment techniques. Surface morphology analysed by laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that a laser-treated surface displayed higher roughness than that of a polish-treated specimen. The laser-treated laminate exhibited more functional groups in the form of O 1 s/C 1 s atomic ratio of 30.89% for laser-treated and 20.14% for polish-treated as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy observation. Contact angle goniometry demonstrated that laser treatment can provide increased surface free energy and wettability. In the light of mechanical interlocking, molecular bonding and thermodynamics theories on adhesion, laser etching process displayed enhanced bonding performance relative to the polishing surface treatment. These properties resulted in an increased single lap shear strength and a cohesive failure mode for laser etching while an adhesive failure mode occurred in polish-treated specimen.

  10. A study of laser surface treatment in bonded repair of composite aircraft structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Shaolong; Sun, Ting; Liu, Chang; Yang, Wenfeng; Tang, Qingru

    2018-03-01

    Surface pre-treatment is one of the key processes in bonded repair of aircraft carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites. This paper investigates the surface modification of physical and chemical properties by laser ablation and conventional polish treatment techniques. Surface morphology analysed by laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that a laser-treated surface displayed higher roughness than that of a polish-treated specimen. The laser-treated laminate exhibited more functional groups in the form of O 1 s/C 1 s atomic ratio of 30.89% for laser-treated and 20.14% for polish-treated as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy observation. Contact angle goniometry demonstrated that laser treatment can provide increased surface free energy and wettability. In the light of mechanical interlocking, molecular bonding and thermodynamics theories on adhesion, laser etching process displayed enhanced bonding performance relative to the polishing surface treatment. These properties resulted in an increased single lap shear strength and a cohesive failure mode for laser etching while an adhesive failure mode occurred in polish-treated specimen.

  11. A study of laser surface treatment in bonded repair of composite aircraft structures

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Ting; Liu, Chang; Yang, Wenfeng; Tang, Qingru

    2018-01-01

    Surface pre-treatment is one of the key processes in bonded repair of aircraft carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites. This paper investigates the surface modification of physical and chemical properties by laser ablation and conventional polish treatment techniques. Surface morphology analysed by laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that a laser-treated surface displayed higher roughness than that of a polish-treated specimen. The laser-treated laminate exhibited more functional groups in the form of O 1 s/C 1 s atomic ratio of 30.89% for laser-treated and 20.14% for polish-treated as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy observation. Contact angle goniometry demonstrated that laser treatment can provide increased surface free energy and wettability. In the light of mechanical interlocking, molecular bonding and thermodynamics theories on adhesion, laser etching process displayed enhanced bonding performance relative to the polishing surface treatment. These properties resulted in an increased single lap shear strength and a cohesive failure mode for laser etching while an adhesive failure mode occurred in polish-treated specimen. PMID:29657748

  12. Analysis of the Surface of Deposited Copper After Electroerosion Treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ablyaz, T. R.; Simonov, M. Yu.; Shlykov, E. S.

    2018-03-01

    An electron microscope analysis of the surface of deposited copper is performed after a profiling-piercing electroerosion treatment. The deposited copper is treated with steel, duralumin, and copper electrode tools at different pulse energies. The treatment with the duralumin electrode produces on the treated surface a web-like structure and cubic-morphology polyhedral dimples about 10 μm in size. The main components of the surface treated with the steel electrode are developed polyhedral dimples with a size of 10 - 50 μm. After the treatment with the copper electrode the main components of the treated surface are large polyhedral dimples about 30 - 80 μm in size.

  13. Experimental research on microhardness and wear resistances of pure Cu subjected to surface dynamic plastic deformation by ultrasonic impact

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Zhaoxia; He, Yangming

    2018-04-01

    Dynamic plastic deformation (DPD) has been induced in the surface of pure Cu by ultrasonic impact treating (UIT) with the varied impact current and coverage percentage. The microstructures of the treated surface were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). And the wear resistance of pure Cu was experimentally researched both with the treated and untreated specimens. The effect of DPD on the hardness was also investigated using microhardness tester. The results show that the grains on the top surfaces of pure Cu are highly refined. The maximum depth of the plastic deformation layer is approximately 1400 µm. The larger the current and coverage percentage, the greater of the microhardness and wear resistance the treated surface layer of pure Cu will be. When the impact current is 2 A and coverage percentage is 300%, the microhardness and wear resistance of the treated sample is about 276.1% and 68.8% higher than that of the untreated specimen, respectively. But the properties of the treated sample deteriorate when the UIT current is 3 A and the coverage percentage is 300% because of the formation of a new phase forms in the treated surface.

  14. Laser texturing of Hastelloy C276 alloy surface for improved hydrophobicity and friction coefficient

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilbas, B. S.; Ali, H.

    2016-03-01

    Laser treatment of Hastelloy C276 alloy is carried out under the high pressure nitrogen assisting gas environment. Morphological and metallurgical changes in the laser treated layer are examined using the analytical tools including, scanning electron and atomic force microscopes, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Microhardness is measured and the residual stress formed in the laser treated surface is determined from the X-ray data. The hydrophibicity of the laser treated surface is assessed using the sessile drop method. Friction coefficient of the laser treated layer is obtained incorporating the micro-tribometer. It is found that closely spaced laser canning tracks create a self-annealing effect in the laser treated layer and lowers the thermal stress levels through modifying the cooling rates at the surface. A dense structure, consisting of fine size grains, enhances the microhardness of the surface. The residual stress formed at the surface is compressive and it is in the order of -800 MPa. Laser treatment improves the surface hydrophobicity significantly because of the formation of surface texture composing of micro/nano-pillars.

  15. Methods and apparatus for altering material using ion beams

    DOEpatents

    Bloomquist, Douglas D.; Buchheit, Rudy; Greenly, John B.; McIntyre, Dale C.; Neau, Eugene L.; Stinnett, Regan W.

    1996-01-01

    A method and apparatus for treating material surfaces using a repetitively pulsed ion beam. In particular, a method of treating magnetic material surfaces in order to reduce surface defects, and produce amorphous fine grained magnetic material with properties that can be tailored by adjusting treatment parameters of a pulsed ion beam. In addition to a method of surface treating materials for wear and corrosion resistance using pulsed particle ion beams.

  16. Causes and solutions to surface facilities upsets following acid stimulation in the Gulf of Mexico

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Durham, D.K.; Stone, P.J.; Ali, S.A.

    1997-02-01

    This paper presents test data on the effects of acid and acid additives on emulsion and water treating in the Gulf of Mexico. This work also discusses the test methods developed to select acid additives and treating chemicals that will allow the producer to treat both oil and water more consistently and cost effectively while the acid flowback is in the system. It also presents system results that confirm the importance of the joint selection of acid and surface treating additives and show that significant cost savings can be gained by use of this process. Also discussed are the propermore » system application techniques for treating chemicals that can minimize surface treating problems caused by acid flowbacks. The results show that the proper selection and use of acid additives and surface treating products can eliminate or significantly reduce costly upsets in oil- and water-treating systems. Data on individual acid additives that impact water and oil treating are also presented. The results of this work are currently being used to solve produced-water- and oil-treating problems on offshore and onshore facilities in and around the Gulf of Mexico by reduction of production losses resulting from acid-flowback-related problems; reduction of the use and cost of tanks and barges used to segregate acid flowbacks; and development of effective methodology to select acid and surface treating additives that have resulted in lower overall treating costs.« less

  17. Creation of fluorocarbon barriers on surfaces of starch-based products through cold plasma treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Yousoo

    Two kinds of starch foam trays (starch and aspen-starch foam trays) were produced using a lab model baking machine. Surfaces of the trays were treated with CF4 and SF6 plasma to create fluorine-rich layers on the surfaces, which might show strong water resistance. The plasma parameters, such like RF power, gas pressure and reaction time, were varied to evaluate the effects of each parameter on fluorination of surfaces. The atomic concentrations of fluorine, oxygen and carbon on samples' surfaces were earned from ESCA (electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis) and contact angles of sample surfaces were measured for hydrophobicity. For water resistance of plasma treated surfaces, liquid water uptake and water vapor uptake test were performed. Also, equilibrium moisture contents of unmodified and plasma treated samples were measured to evaluate biodegradability of plasma treated samples. Fluorine-rich barriers were created on sample surfaces treated with CF 4 and SF6 plasma. The fluorine atomic concentrations of treated sample surfaces were ranged from 34.4% to 64.4% (CF4 treatment) and 43.6% to 57.9% (SF6 treatment). It was found at both plasma gases that plasma parameters affected total fluorine concentration and carbon-peak shapes in ESCA surveys, which imply different distributions of mono- or multi-fluoro carbon's contents. In various reaction times, it was found that total fluorine contents were decreased after a critical point as the reaction time was prolonged, which may imply that a dominant mechanism has been changed from deposition or functionalization to etching. Oxygen atomic concentration was decreased at sample surfaces treated by both plasmas. In the case of SF6 plasma, it was proved that the removal of oxygen surely occurred because there was no addition of sulfur species. Plasma treated sample surfaces had high contact angles with distilled water up to 150° and the high values of angles have been kept constant up to for 15 minutes. Fluorine-rich barriers created by plasma showed lower water liquid and vapor permeability than untreated surfaces did. Plasma treated samples had similar moisture contents with untreated samples at all relative humidity tested. AFM and SEM images were taken for sample surfaces' morphology and topography.

  18. The effect of surface treatment and clinical use on friction in NiTi orthodontic wires.

    PubMed

    Wichelhaus, Andrea; Geserick, Marc; Hibst, Raimund; Sander, Franz G

    2005-10-01

    Since the low friction of NiTi wires allows a rapid and efficient orthodontic tooth movement, the aim of this research was to investigate the friction and surface roughness of different commercially available superelastic NiTi wires before and after clinical use. The surface of all of the wires had been pre-treated by the manufacturer. Forty superelastic wires (Titanol Low Force, Titanol Low Force River Finish Gold, Neo Sentalloy, Neo Sentalloy Ionguard) of diameter 0.016 x 0.022 in. were tested. The friction for each type of NiTi archwire ligated into a commercial stainless steel bracket was determined with a universal testing machine. Having ligated the wire into the bracket, it could then be moved forward and backwards along a fixed archwire whilst a torquing moment was applied. The surface roughness was investigated using a profilometric measuring device on defined areas of the wire. Statistical data analysis was conducted by means of the Wilcoxon test. The results showed that initially, the surface treated wires demonstrated significantly (p < 0.01) less friction than the non-treated wires. The surface roughness showed no significant difference between the treated and the non-treated surfaces of the wires. All 40 wires however showed a significant increase in friction and surface roughness during clinical use. Whilst the Titanol Low Force River Finish Gold (Forestadent, Pforzheim, Germany) wires showed the least friction of all the samples and consequently should be more conservative on anchorage, the increase in friction of all the surface treated wires during orthodontic treatment almost cancels out this initial effect on friction. It is therefore recommended that surface treated NiTi orthodontic archwires should only be used once.

  19. Effect of electrical discharging on formation of nanoporous biocompatible layer on Ti-6Al-4V alloys.

    PubMed

    Yang, Tzu-Sen; Huang, Mao-Suan; Wang, Mao-Sheng; Lin, Ming-Hong; Tsai, Meng-Yuan; Wang, Pei-Yi Wang

    2013-08-01

    In this study, the electrical discharge machining (EDM) was formed on the surface of the Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) specimen. The properties of adhesion and proliferation of MG-63 cells were evaluated the interactions between the EDM-treated layer and cells. The incorporation of oxygen roughened the EDM-treated specimen surface on a microscale, where the nanoscale pores were superimposed. The EDM-treated layer, which can generate the thick anatase TiO2 on the Ti64 surface, afforded a cytocompatible environment. In cell culture, alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin can be dramatically enhanced on the EDM-treated surfaces when compared with the untreated surface. In addition, the increase in peak currents to the EDM functionalization led to enhancement of multiple osteoblast functions. This study reveals that the chemistry and crystallinity of the EDM-treated layer played important roles in affecting osteoblastic responses to the specimens, which provided insight into the development of new biomedical implant surfaces.

  20. Stability of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Induced Changes on Polycarbonate Surfaces

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sharma, Rajesh; Holcomb, Edward; Trigwell, Steve

    2006-01-01

    Polycarbonate films are subjected to plasma treatment in a number of applications such as improving adhesion between polycarbonate and silicon alloy in protective and optical coatings. The changes in surface chemistry due to plasma treatment have tendency to revert back. Thus stability of the plasma induced changes on polymer surfaces over desired time period is very important. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of ageing on atmospheric pressure helium-plasma treated polycarbonate (PC) sample as a function of treatment time. The ageing effects were studied over a period of 10 days. The samples were plasma treated for 0.5, 2, 5 and 10 minutes. Contact angle measurements were made to study surface energy changes. Modification of surface chemical structure was examined using, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Contact angle measurements on untreated and plasma treated surfaces were made immediately, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs after treatment. Contact angle decreased from 93 deg for untreated sample to 30 deg for sample plasma treated for 10 minutes. After 10 days the contact angles for the 10 minute plasma treated sample increased to 67 deg, but it never reverted back to that of untreated surface. Similarly the O/C ratio increased from 0.136 for untreated sample to 0.321 for 10 minute plasma treated sample indication increase in surface energy.

  1. Experimental Investigation and Analysis of Mercerized and Citric Acid Surface Treated Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Composite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    De, Jyotiraman; Baxi, R. N., Dr.

    2017-08-01

    Mercerization or NaOH fiber surface treatment is one of the most popular surface treatment processes to make the natural fibers such as bamboo fibers compatible for use as reinforcing material in composites. But NaOH being a chemical is hazardous and polluting to the nature. This paper explores the possibility of use of naturally derived citric acid for bamboo fiber surface treatment and its comparison with NaOH treated Bamboo Fiber Composites. Untreated, 2.5 wt% NaOH treated and 5 wt% citric acid treated Bamboo Fiber Composites with 5 wt% fiber content were developed by Hand Lay process. Bamboo mats made of bamboo slivers were used as reinforcing material. Mechanical and physical characterization was done to compare the effects of NaOH and citric acid bamboo fiber surface treatment on mechanical and physical properties of Bamboo Fiber Composite. The experiment data reveals that the tensile and flexural strength was found to be highest for citric acid and NaOH treated Bamboo Fiber Composite respectively. Water absorption tendency was found more than the NaOH treated Bamboo Fiber Composites. SEM micrographs used to analyze the morphology of fracture surface of tensile test specimens confirm improvement in fiber-matrix interface bonding due to surface treatment of bamboo fibers.

  2. Effects of various etching protocols on the flexural properties and surface topography of fiber-reinforced composite dental posts.

    PubMed

    Aksornmuang, Juthatip; Chuenarrom, Chanya; Chittithaworn, Natjira

    2017-09-26

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the flexural properties and surface topography of fiber posts surface-treated with various etching protocols. Seventy each of three types of fiber posts: RelyX Fiber Post, Tenax Fiber Trans, and D.T. Light-Post Illusion X-Ro, were randomly divided into 7 groups: no surface treatment, surface treated with hydrofluoric acid (HF) 4.5% for 60 s, HF 4.5% for 120 s, HF 9.6% for 15 s, HF 9.6% for 60 s, HF 9.6% for 120 s, and treated with H 2 O 2 24% for 10 min. The specimens were then subjected to a three-point bending test. Surface topographies of the posts were observed using a SEM. The results indicate that fiber post surface pretreatments had no adverse effects on the flexural properties. However, the fiber posts treated with high HF concentrations or long etching times seemed to have more surface irregularities.

  3. Surface characteristics, corrosion and bioactivity of chemically treated biomedical grade NiTi alloy.

    PubMed

    Chembath, Manju; Balaraju, J N; Sujata, M

    2015-11-01

    The surface of NiTi alloy was chemically modified using acidified ferric chloride solution and the characteristics of the alloy surface were studied from the view point of application as a bioimplant. Chemically treated NiTi was also subjected to post treatments by annealing at 400°C and passivation in nitric acid. The surface of NiTi alloy after chemical treatment developed a nanogrid structure with a combination of one dimensional channel and two dimensional network-like patterns. From SEM studies, it was found that the undulations formed after chemical treatment remained unaffected after annealing, while after passivation process the undulated surface was filled with oxides of titanium. XPS analysis revealed that the surface of passivated sample was enriched with oxides of titanium, predominantly TiO2. The influence of post treatment on the corrosion resistance of chemically treated NiTi alloy was monitored using Potentiodynamic Polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) solution. In the chemically treated condition, NiTi alloy exhibited poor corrosion resistance due to the instability of the surface. On the other hand, the breakdown potential (0.8V) obtained was highest for the passivated samples compared to other surface treated samples. During anodic polarization, chemically treated samples displayed dissolution phenomenon which was predominantly activation controlled. But after annealing and passivation processes, the behavior of anodic polarization was typical of a diffusion controlled process which confirmed the enhanced passivity of the post treated surfaces. The total resistance, including the porous and barrier layer, was in the range of mega ohms for passivated surfaces, which could be attributed to the decrease in surface nickel content and formation of compact titanium oxide. The passivated sample displayed good bioactivity in terms of hydroxyapatite growth, noticed after 14days immersion in Hanks' solution. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. 40 CFR 721.10573 - Magnesium hydroxide surface treated with substituted alkoxysilanes (generic).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 31 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Magnesium hydroxide surface treated... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10573 Magnesium hydroxide surface... to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as magnesium hydroxide surface...

  5. 40 CFR 721.10573 - Magnesium hydroxide surface treated with substituted alkoxysilanes (generic).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Magnesium hydroxide surface treated... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10573 Magnesium hydroxide surface... to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified generically as magnesium hydroxide surface...

  6. Growth of carbon nanotubes in arc plasma treated graphite disc: microstructural characterization and electrical conductivity study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nayak, B. B.; Sahu, R. K.; Dash, T.; Pradhan, S.

    2018-03-01

    Circular graphite discs were treated in arc plasma by varying arcing time. Analysis of the plasma treated discs by field emission scanning electron microscope revealed globular grain morphologies on the surfaces, but when the same were observed at higher magnification and higher resolution under transmission electron microscope, growth of multiwall carbon nanotubes of around 2 nm diameter was clearly seen. In situ growth of carbon nanotube bundles/bunches consisting of around 0.7 nm tube diameter was marked in the case of 6 min treated disc surface. Both the untreated and the plasma treated graphite discs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectra of X-ray, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, micro Raman spectroscopy and BET surface area measurement. From Raman spectra, BET surface area and microstructure observed in transmission electron microscope, growth of several layers of graphene was identified. Four-point probe measurements for electrical resistivity/conductivity of the graphite discs treated under different plasma conditions showed significant increase in conductivity values over that of untreated graphite conductivity value and the best result, i.e., around eightfold increase in conductivity, was observed in the case of 6 min plasma treated sample exhibiting carbon nanotube bundles/bunches grown on disc surface. By comparing the microstructures of the untreated and plasma treated graphite discs, the electrical conductivity increase in graphite disc is attributed to carbon nanotubes (including bundles/bunches) growth on disc surface by plasma treatment.

  7. Apparatus and method for treating a cathode material provided on a thin-film substrate

    DOEpatents

    Hanson, Eric J.; Kooyer, Richard L.

    2001-01-01

    An apparatus and method for treating a cathode material provided on a surface of a continuous thin-film substrate and a treated thin-film cathode having increased smoothness are disclosed. A web of untreated cathode material is moved between a feed mechanism and a take-up mechanism, and passed through a treatment station. The web of cathode material typically includes areas having surface defects, such as prominences extending from the surface of the cathode material. The surface of the cathode material is treated with an abrasive material to reduce the height of the prominences so as to increase an 85 degree gloss value of the cathode material surface by at least approximately 10. The web of cathode material may be subjected to a subsequent abrasive treatment at the same or other treatment station. Burnishing or lapping film is employed at a treatment station to process the cathode material. An abrasive roller may alternatively be used to process the web of cathode material. The apparatus and method of the present invention may also be employed to treat the surface of a lithium anode foil so as to cleanse and reduce the roughness of the anode foil surface.

  8. Apparatus and method for treating a cathode material provided on a thin-film substrate

    DOEpatents

    Hanson, Eric J.; Kooyer, Richard L.

    2003-01-01

    An apparatus and method for treating a cathode material provided on a surface of a continuous thin-film substrate and a treated thin-film cathode having increased smoothness are disclosed. A web of untreated cathode material is moved between a feed mechanism and a take-up mechanism, and passed through a treatment station. The web of cathode material typically includes areas having surface defects, such as prominences extending from the surface of the cathode material. The surface of the cathode material is treated with an abrasive material to reduce the height of the prominences so as to increase an 85 degree gloss value of the cathode material surface by at least approximately 10. The web of cathode material may be subjected to a subsequent abrasive treatment at the same or other treatment station. Burnishing or lapping film is employed at a treatment station to process the cathode material. An abrasive roller may alternatively be used to process the web of cathode material. The apparatus and method of the present invention may also be employed to treat the surface of a lithium anode foil so as to cleanse and reduce the roughness of the anode foil surface.

  9. Reduced bacterial growth and increased osteoblast proliferation on titanium with a nanophase TiO2 surface treatment.

    PubMed

    Bhardwaj, Garima; Webster, Thomas J

    2017-01-01

    The attachment and initial growth of bacteria on an implant surface dictates the progression of infection. Treatment often requires aggressive antibiotic use, which does not always work. To overcome the difficulties faced in systemic and local antibiotic delivery, scientists have forayed into using alternative techniques, which includes implant surface modifications that prevent initial bacterial adhesion, foreign body formation, and may offer a controlled inflammatory response. The current study focused on using electrophoretic deposition to treat titanium with a nanophase titanium dioxide surface texture to reduce bacterial adhesion and growth. Two distinct nanotopographies were analyzed, Ti-160, an antimicrobial surface designed to greatly reduce bacterial colonization, and Ti-120, an antimicrobial surface with a topography that upregulates osteoblast activity while reducing bacterial colonization; the number following Ti in the nomenclature represents the atomic force microscopy root-mean-square roughness value in nanometers. There was a 95.6% reduction in Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive bacteria) for the Ti-160-treated surfaces compared to the untreated titanium alloy controls. There was a 90.2% reduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram-negative bacteria) on Ti-160-treated surfaces compared to controls. For ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli , there was an 81.1% reduction on the Ti-160-treated surfaces compared to controls. Similarly for surfaces treated with Ti-120, there was an 86.8% reduction in S. aureus , an 82.1% reduction in P. aeruginosa , and a 48.6% reduction in ampicillin-resistant E. coli . The Ti-120 also displayed a 120.7% increase at day 3 and a 168.7% increase at day 5 of osteoblast proliferation over standard titanium alloy control surfaces. Compared to untreated surfaces, Ti-160-treated titanium surfaces demonstrated a statistically significant 1 log reduction in S. aureus and P. aeruginosa , whereas Ti-120 provided an additional increase in osteoblast proliferation for up to 5 days, criteria, which should be further studied for a wide range of orthopedic applications.

  10. [Effect of hydrofluoric acid concentration on the surface morphology and bonding effectiveness of lithium disilicate glass ceramics to resin composites].

    PubMed

    Hailan, Qian; Lingyan, Ren; Rongrong, Nie; Xiangfeng, Meng

    2017-12-01

    This study aimed at determining the influence of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in varied concentrations on the surface morphology of lithium disilicate glass ceramics and bond durability between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramics. After being sintered, ground, and washed, 72 as-prepared specimens of lithium disilicate glass ceramics with dimensions of 11 mm×13 mm×2 mm were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was treated with acid solution [32% phosphoric acid (PA) or 4% or 9.5% HF] for 20 s. Then, four acidified specimens from each group were randomly selected. One of the specimens was used to observe the surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy, and the others were used to observe the surface roughness using a surface roughness meter (including Ra, Rz, and Rmax). After treatment with different acid solutions in each group, 20 samples were further treated with silane coupling agent/resin adhesive/resin cement (Monobond S/Multilink Primer A&B/Multilink N), followed by bonding to a composite resin column (Filtek™ Z350) with a diameter of 3 mm. A total of 20 specimens in each group were randomly divided into two subgroups, which were used for measuring the microshear bond strength, with one of them subjected to cool-thermal cycle for 20 000 times. The surface roughness (Ra, Rz, and Rmax) of lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% or 9.5% HF was significantly higher than that of the ceramic treated with PA (P<0.05). The lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 9.5% HF also demonstrated better surface roughness (Rz and Rmax) than that of the ceramics treated with 4% HF. Cool-thermal cycle treatment reduced the bond strength of lithium disilicate glass ceramics in all groups (P<0.05). After cool-thermal cycle, the lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with HF had higher bond strength than that of the ceramics treated with PA. The lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% HF had higher bond strength than that of the ceramics treated with 9.5% HF (P<0.05). During cool-thermal cycle, the lithium disilicate glass ceramics treated with 4% HF demonstrated higher reduction in bond strength than that of the samples treated with 9.5% HF (P<0.05). The concentration of HF significantly affected the surface morphology of lithium disilicate glass ceramics and the bond durability between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramics. The bond strength between resin composites and post-treated lithium disilicate glass ceramic was more efficiently maintained by treatment with 9.5% HF.

  11. Damage-free polymer surface modification employing inward-type plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kanou, Ryo; Suga, Hiroshi; Utsumi, Hideyuki; Takahashi, Satoshi; Shirayama, Yuya; Watanabe, Norimichi; Petit, Stèphane; Shimizu, Tetsuo

    2017-08-01

    Inward-type plasmas, which spread upstream against the gas flow in the capillary tube where the gas is discharged, can react with samples placed near the entrance of such a capillary tube. In this study, surface modification of polymer surfaces is conducted using inward plasma. The modification is also done by conventional microplasma jet, and the modified surfaces with two plasma techniques are characterized by contact angle measurement, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Although inward-plasma-treated surfaces are less hydrophilic than conventional plasma-treated ones, they are still sufficiently hydrophilic for surface coatings. In addition, it turns out that the polymer surfaces irradiated with the inward plasma yield much smoother surfaces than those treated with the conventional plasma jet. Thus, the inward plasma treatment is a viable technique when the surface flatness is crucial, such as for the surface coating of plastic lenses.

  12. Mechanical and interfacial properties of poly(vinyl chloride) based composites reinforced by cassava stillage residue with different surface treatments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yanjuan; Gan, Tao; Li, Qian; Su, Jianmei; Lin, Ye; Wei, Yongzuo; Huang, Zuqiang; Yang, Mei

    2014-09-01

    Cassava stillage residue (CSR), a kind of agro-industrial plant fiber, was modified by coupling agent (CA), mechanical activation (MA), and MA-assisted CA (MACA) surface treatments, respectively. The untreated and different surface treated CSRs were used to prepare plant fibers/polymer composites (PFPC) with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as polymer matrix, and the properties of these CSR/PVC composites were compared. Surface treated CSR/PVC composites possessed better mechanical properties, water resistance and dimensional stability compared with the untreated CSR/PVC composite, attributing to the improvement of interfacial properties between CSR and PVC matrix. MACA-treated CSR was the best reinforcement among four types of CSRs (untreated, MA-treated, CA-treated, and MACA-treated CSRs) because MACA treatment led to the significant improvement of dispersion, interfacial adhesion and compatibility between CSR and PVC. MACA treatment could be considered as an effective and green method for enhancing reinforcement efficiency of plant fibers and the properties of PFPC.

  13. Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion on surface-treated open-cell Ti6Al4V foams.

    PubMed

    Türkan, Uğur; Güden, Mustafa; Sudağıdan, Mert

    2016-06-01

    The effect of alkali and nitric acid surface treatments on the adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to the surface of 60% porous open-cell Ti6Al4V foam was investigated. The resultant surface roughness of foam particles was determined from the ground flat surfaces of thin foam specimens. Alkali treatment formed a porous, rough Na2Ti5O11 surface layer on Ti6Al4V particles, while nitric acid treatment increased the number of undulations on foam flat and particle surfaces, leading to the development of finer surface topographical features. Both surface treatments increased the nanometric-scale surface roughness of particles and the number of bacteria adhering to the surface, while the adhesion was found to be significantly higher in alkali-treated foam sample. The significant increase in the number of bacterial attachment on the alkali-treated sample was attributed to the formation of a highly porous and nanorough Na2Ti5O11 surface layer.

  14. Microporous structure with layered interstitial surface treatment, and method and apparatus for preparation thereof

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Koontz, Steven L. (Inventor)

    1994-01-01

    A microporous structure with layered interstitial surface treatments, and method and apparatus for preparation thereof is presented. The structure is prepared by sequentially subjecting a uniformly surface-treated structure to atomic oxygen treatment to remove an outer layer of surface treatment to a generally uniform depth, and then surface treating the so exposed layer with another surface treating agent. The atomic oxygen/surface treatment steps may optionally be repeated, each successive time to a lesser depth, to produce a microporous structure having multilayered surface treatments. The apparatus employs at least one side arm from a main atomic oxygen-containing chamber. The side arm has characteristic relaxation times such that a uniform atomic oxygen dose rate is delivered to a specimen positioned transversely in the side arm spaced from the main gas chamber.

  15. Microporous structure with layered interstitial surface treatment, and method and apparatus for preparation thereof

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Koontz, Steven L. (Inventor)

    1992-01-01

    A microporous structure with layered interstitial surface treatments, and the method and apparatus for its preparation are disclosed. The structure is prepared by sequentially subjecting a uniformly surface treated structure to atomic oxygen treatment to remove an outer layer of surface treatment to a generally uniform depth, and then surface treating the so exposed layer with another surface treating agent. The atomic oxygen/surface treatment steps may optionally be repeated, each successive time to a lesser depth, to produce a microporous structure having multilayered surface treatments. The apparatus employs at least one side arm from a main oxygen-containing chamber. The side arm has characteristic relaxation times such that a uniform atomic oxygen dose rate is delivered to a specimen positioned transversely in the side arm spaced from the main gas chamber.

  16. Laser surface treatment of pre-prepared Rene 41 surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilbas, B. S.; Akhtar, S.; Karatas, C.

    2012-11-01

    Laser controlled melting of pre-prepared Rene 41 surface is carried out. A carbon film composing of uniformly distributed 5% TiC carbide particles is formed at the surface prior to laser treatment process. The carbon film provides increased absorption of the incident radiation and facilitates embedding of TiC particles at the surface region of the workpiece during the treatment process. Nitrogen at high pressure is used as assisting gas during the controlled melting. It is found that laser treated layer extents 40 μm below the surface with almost uniform thickness. Fine grains and ultra-short dendrites are formed at the surface region of the laser treated layer. Partially dissolved TiC particles and γ, γ' and γ'N phases are observed in the treated layer.

  17. Biomimetic Deposition of Hydroxyapatite by Mixed Acid Treatment of Titanium Surfaces.

    PubMed

    Zhao, J M; Park, W U; Hwang, K H; Lee, J K; Yoon, S Y

    2015-03-01

    A simple chemical method was established for inducing bioactivity of Ti metal. In the present study, two kinds of mixed acid solutions were used to treat Ti specimens to induce Ca-P formation. Following a strong mixed acid activation process, Ca-P coatings successfully formed on the Ti surfaces in the simulated body fluid. Strong mixed acid etching was used to increase the roughness of the metal surface, because the porous and rough surfaces allow better adhesion between Ca-P coatings and substrate. Nano-scale modification of titanium surfaces can alter cellular and tissue responses, which may benefit osseointegration and dental implant therapy. Some specimens were treated with a 5 M NaOH aqueous solution, and then heat treated at 600 °C in order to form an amorphous sodium titanate layer on their surface. This treated titanium metal is believed to form a dense and uniform bone-like apatite layer on its surface in a simulated body fluid (SBF). This study proved that mixed acid treatment is not only important for surface passivation but is also another bioactive treatment for titanium surfaces, an alternative to alkali treatment. In addition, mixed acid treatment uses a lower temperature and shorter time period than alkali treatment.

  18. Hydrophilic property of 316L stainless steel after treatment by atmospheric pressure corona streamer plasma using surface-sensitive analyses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al-Hamarneh, Ibrahim; Pedrow, Patrick; Eskhan, Asma; Abu-Lail, Nehal

    2012-10-01

    Surgical-grade 316L stainless steel (SS 316L) had its surface hydrophilic property enhanced by processing in a corona streamer plasma reactor using O2 gas mixed with Ar at atmospheric pressure. Reactor excitation was 60 Hz ac high-voltage (0-10 kVRMS) applied to a multi-needle-to-grounded screen electrode configuration. The treated surface was characterized with a contact angle tester. Surface free energy (SFE) for the treated stainless steel increased measurably compared to the untreated surface. The Ar-O2 plasma was more effective in enhancing the SFE than Ar-only plasma. Optimum conditions for the plasma treatment system used in this study were obtained. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization of the chemical composition of the treated surfaces confirms the existence of new oxygen-containing functional groups contributing to the change in the hydrophilic nature of the surface. These new functional groups were generated by surface reactions caused by reactive oxidation of substrate species. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images were generated to investigate morphological and roughness changes on the plasma treated surfaces. The aging effect in air after treatment was also studied.

  19. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pariona, Moises Meza, E-mail: mmpariona@uepg.br; Teleginski, Viviane; Santos, Kelly dos

    Laser beam welding has recently been incorporated into the fabrication process of aircraft and automobile structures. Surface roughness is an important parameter of product quality that strongly affects the performance of mechanical parts, as well as production costs. This parameter influences the mechanical properties such as fatigue behavior, corrosion resistance, creep life, etc., and other functional characteristics such as friction, wear, light reflection, heat transmission, lubrification, electrical conductivity, etc. The effects of laser surface remelting (LSR) on the morphology of Al-Fe aerospace alloys were examined before and after surface treatments, using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), low-angle X-raymore » diffraction (LA-XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), microhardness measurements (Vickers hardness), and cyclic voltammetry. This analysis was performed on both laser-treated and untreated sanded surfaces, revealing significant differences. The LA-XRD analysis revealed the presence of alumina, simple metals and metastable intermetallic phases, which considerably improved the microhardness of laser-remelted surfaces. The morphology produced by laser surface remelting enhanced the microstructure of the Al-Fe alloys by reducing their roughness and increasing their hardness. The treated surfaces showed passivity and stability characteristics in the electrolytic medium employed in this study. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The samples laser-treated and untreated showed significant differences. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The La-XRD revealed the presence of alumina in Al-1.5 wt.% Fe. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The laser-treated reducing the roughness and increasing the hardness. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The laser-treated surfaces showed characteristic passive in the electrolytic medium. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The laser-treated is a promising technique for applications technological.« less

  20. Reduction of bacterial surface contamination in the hospital environment by application of a new product with persistent effect.

    PubMed

    Hedin, G; Rynbäck, J; Loré, B

    2010-06-01

    The benefit of routine surface disinfection in hospitals has been discussed. In this study we have investigated a new product, Appeartex. After application on surfaces a remnant effect is achieved due to the positive charge of the active molecule. We studied the persistent effect of Appeartex one day after application in both an experimental study in the laboratory and a field study in a hospital ward. Surfaces of bedside tables were investigated. In the experimental study, large inocula of >or=10(6)cfu of S. aureus or enterococci were inoculated on to well-defined areas which had been treated/not treated with Appeartex. One hour later, samples were taken with a swab rinse technique. A reduction in the number of viable bacteria in the magnitude 10-10(3) cfu was seen due to the effect of Appeartex. In the field study the effect on naturally occurring low level contamination was studied. Defined surfaces on bedside tables used by patients were treated/not treated with Appeartex. One day later, samples were taken with contact agar plates and with a new swab method using two sequential nylon flocked swabs. Significantly fewer bacteria were found on Appeartex-treated surfaces compared with untreated surfaces. The median counts on Appeartex-treated surfaces were 10 cfu/50 cm(2), and on untreated surfaces 20 cfu/50 cm(2). There was no significant difference in the number of bacteria found by culture of samples taken with the contact agar method compared with samples taken using the nylon flocked swab method. (c) 2010 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Histologic analysis of resorbable blasting media surface implants retrieved from humans: a report of two cases

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the degree of osseointegration of resorbable blasting media (RBM) surface implants retrieved from humans. Three implants in the mandibular molar region that were surface-treated with RBM were retrieved from two patients. The implants were used to manufacture specimens in order to measure the bone-implant contact (BIC) ratio. The BIC ratios of the three implants were found to be an average of 69.0%±9.1%. In conclusion, that RBM surface implants are integrated into the host environment with histological significance and the BIC ratio of the RBM surface-treated implant was not significantly different from that of other surface-treated implants. PMID:26904493

  2. Ion-implanted polytetrafluoroethylene enhances Saccharomyces cerevisiae biofilm formation for improved immobilization

    PubMed Central

    Tran, Clara T. H.; Kondyurin, Alexey; Hirsh, Stacey L.; McKenzie, David R.; Bilek, Marcela M. M.

    2012-01-01

    The surface of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was modified using plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) with the aim of improving its ability to immobilize yeast. The density of immobilized cells on PIII-treated and -untreated PTFE was compared as a function of incubation time over 24 h. Rehydrated yeast cells attached to the PIII-treated PTFE surface more rapidly, with higher density, and greater attachment strength than on the untreated surface. The immobilized yeast cells were removed mechanically or chemically with sodium hydroxide and the residues left on the surfaces were analysed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed that the mechanism of cell attachment on both surfaces differs and a model is presented for each. Rapid attachment on the PIII-treated surface occurs through covalent bonds of cell wall proteins and the radicals on the treated surface. In contrast, on the untreated surface, only physisorbed molecules were found in the residue and lipids were more highly concentrated than proteins. The presence of lipids in the residue was found to be a consequence of damage to the plasma membrane during the rehydration process and the increased cell stress was also apparent by the amount of Hsp12 in the protein residue. The immobilized yeast cells on PIII-treated PTFE were found to be as active as yeast cells in suspension. PMID:22696486

  3. SU-F-T-424: Mitigation of Increased Surface Dose When Treating Through A Carbon Fiber Couch Top

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Johnson, E; Misgina, F

    Purpose: To study the effect of the Varian carbon fiber couch top on surface dose for patients being treated using single PA beams in the supine position and to identify simple methods for surface dose reduction. Methods: Measurements of surface dose were obtained in Solid Water phantoms using both a parallel plate ionization chamber (PTW Advanced Markus) and EBT2 Radiochromic films for both 6 and 10MV photons. All measurements were referenced to a depth considered a typical for PA Spine fields. Techniques used to reduce the surface dose included introducing an air standoff using Styrofoam sheets to suspend the phantommore » surface above the couch top and by adding a thin high Z scattering foil on the table surface. Surface doses were evaluated for typical field sizes, standoff heights, and various scattering materials. Comparisons were made to the surface dose obtainable when treating through a Varian Mylar covered tennis racket style couch top. Results: Dependence on typical spine field sizes was relatively minor. Dependence on air gap was much more significant. Surface doses decreased exponentially with increases in air standoff distance. Surface doses were reduced by approximately 50% for an air gap of 10cm and 40% for a 15cm air gap. Surface doses were reduced by an additional 15% by the addition of a 1mm Tin scattering foil. Conclusion: Using simple techniques, it is possible to reduce the surface dose when treating single PA fields through the Varian carbon fiber couch top. Surface doses can be reduced to levels observed when treating though transparent Mylar tops by adding about 15 cm of air gap. Further reductions are possible by adding thin scattering foils, such as Tin or Lead, on the couch surface. This is a low cost approach to reduce surface dose when using the Varian carbon fiber couch top.« less

  4. Carbon dioxide laser polishing of fused silica surfaces for increased laser-damage resistance at 1064 nm.

    PubMed

    Temple, P A; Lowdermilk, W H; Milam, D

    1982-09-15

    Mechanically polished fused silica surfaces were heated with continuous-wave CO(2) laser radiation. Laser-damage thresholds of the surfaces were measured with 1064-nm 9-nsec pulses focused to small spots and with large-spot, 1064-nm, 1-nsec irradiation. A sharp transition from laser-damage-prone to highly laser-damage-resistant took place over a small range in CO(2) laser power. The transition to high damage resistance occurred at a silica surface temperature where material softening began to take place as evidenced by the onset of residual strain in the CO(2) laser-processed part. The small-spot damage measurements show that some CO(2) laser-treated surfaces have a local damage threshold as high as the bulk damage threshold of SiO(2). On some CO(2) laser-treated surfaces, large-spot damage thresholds were increased by a factor of 3-4 over thresholds of the original mechanically polished surface. These treated parts show no obvious change in surface appearance as seen in bright-field, Nomarski, or total internal reflection microscopy. They also show little change in transmissive figure. Further, antireflection films deposited on CO(2) laser-treated surfaces have thresholds greater than the thresholds of antireflection films on mechanically polished surfaces.

  5. Femtosecond laser induced surface modification for prevention of bacterial adhesion on 45S5 bioactive glass

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shaikh, Shazia; Singh, Deepti; Subramanian, Mahesh; Kedia, Sunita; Singh, Anil Kumar; Singh, Kulwant; Gupta, Nidhi; Sinha, Sucharita

    2018-02-01

    Bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on implant surface has been a major concern in hospital and industrial environment. Prevention of bacterial infections of implant surface through surface treatment could be a potential solution and hence this has become a key area of research. In the present study, the antibacterial and biocompatible properties of femtosecond laser surface treated 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) have been investigated. Adhesion and sustainability of both gram positive S. aureus and gram negative P.aeruginosa and E. coli nosocomial bacteria on untreated and laser treated BG samples has been explored. An imprint method has been used to visualize the growth of bacteria on the sample surface. We observed complete bacterial rejection potentially reducing risk of biofilm formation on laser treated surface. This was correlated with surface roughness, wettability and change in surface chemical composition of the samples before and after laser treatment. Biocompatibility of the laser treated BG was demonstrated by studying the anchoring and growth of human cervix cell line INT407. Our results demonstrate that, laser surface modification of BG enables enhanced bacterial rejection without affecting its biocompatibility towards growth of human cells on it. These results open a significantly potential approach towards use of laser in successfully imparting desirable characteristics to BG based bio-implants and devices.

  6. Surface modified stainless steels for PEM fuel cell bipolar plates

    DOEpatents

    Brady, Michael P [Oak Ridge, TN; Wang, Heli [Littleton, CO; Turner, John A [Littleton, CO

    2007-07-24

    A nitridation treated stainless steel article (such as a bipolar plate for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell) having lower interfacial contact electrical resistance and better corrosion resistance than an untreated stainless steel article is disclosed. The treated stainless steel article has a surface layer including nitrogen-modified chromium-base oxide and precipitates of chromium nitride formed during nitridation wherein oxygen is present in the surface layer at a greater concentration than nitrogen. The surface layer may further include precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide. The surface layer in the treated article is chemically heterogeneous surface rather than a uniform or semi-uniform surface layer exclusively rich in chromium, titanium or aluminum. The precipitates of titanium nitride and/or aluminum oxide are formed by the nitriding treatment wherein titanium and/or aluminum in the stainless steel are segregated to the surface layer in forms that exhibit a low contact resistance and good corrosion resistance.

  7. Mycobacteria in water used for personal hygiene in heavy industry and collieries: a potential risk for employees.

    PubMed

    Ulmann, Vit; Kracalikova, Anna; Dziedzinska, Radka

    2015-03-04

    Environmental mycobacteria (EM) constitute a health risk, particularly for immunocompromised people. Workers in heavy industry and in collieries represent an at-risk group of people as their immunity is often weakened by long-term employment in dusty environments, frequent smoking and an increased occurrence of pulmonary diseases. This study was concerned with the presence of EM in non-drinking water used for the hygiene of employees in six large industrial companies and collieries. Over a period of ten years, 1096 samples of surface water treated for hygiene purposes (treated surface water) and treated surface water diluted with mining water were examined. EM were detected in 63.4 and 41.5% samples of treated surface water and treated surface water diluted with mining water, respectively. Mycobacterium gordonae, M. avium-intracellulare and M. kansasii were the most frequently detected species. Adoption of suitable precautions should be enforced to reduce the incidence of mycobacteria in shower water and to decrease the infectious pressure on employees belonging to an at-risk group of people.

  8. Effect of two-step and one-step surface conditioning of glass ceramic on adhesion strength of orthodontic bracket and effect of thermo-cycling on adhesion strength.

    PubMed

    Asiry, Moshabab A; AlShahrani, Ibrahim; Alaqeel, Samer M; Durgesh, Bangalore H; Ramakrishnaiah, Ravikumar

    2018-08-01

    The adhesion strength of orthodontic brackets bonded to dental glass ceramics was evaluated after ceramic surface was treated with two-step and one-step surface conditioning systems, and subjecting to thermo-cycling. A total of forty specimens were fabricated from silica based glass ceramic (lithium disilicate) by duplicating the buccal surface of maxillary first premolar. The specimens were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n = 20), group one specimens were treated with two-step surface conditioning system (IPS ceramic etching gel™ and Monobond plus™) and group two specimens were treated with one-step surface conditioning system (Monobond etch and prime™). The surface roughness of the specimens after treatment with two-step and one-step surface conditioning system was measured using non-contact surface profilometer. Ten randomly selected specimens from each group were subjected to thermo-cycling and the remaining ten served as baseline. The shear bond strength of the specimens was measured using universal material testing machine. The adhesive remnant index score was calculated, and the results of surface roughness and bond strength were tabulated and subjected to analysis of variance and post hoc tukey's test at a significance level of p < 0.05. The results of the study showed that the specimens treated with two-step conditioning system had higher surface roughness and bond strength than one-step conditioning system. The majority of the specimens treated with both two-step and one-step conditioned specimens showed adhesive failure after subjecting thermo-cycling. Traditional two-step conditioning provides better bond strength. The clinical importance of the study is that, the silane promoted adhesion significantly reduces on exposure to thermo-cycling. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Estimating Dermal Transfer of Copper Particles from the Surfaces of Pressure-Treated Lumber and Implications for Exposure

    EPA Science Inventory

    Lumber pressure-treated with micronized copper was examined for the release of copper and copper micro/nanoparticles using a surface wipe method to simulate dermal transfer. In 2003, the wood industry began replacing CCA treated lumber products for residential use with copper ba...

  10. Characterization of chemically and enzymatically treated hemp fibres using atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    George, Michael; Mussone, Paolo G.; Abboud, Zeinab; Bressler, David C.

    2014-09-01

    The mechanical and moisture resistance properties of natural fibre reinforced composites are dependent on the adhesion between the matrix of choice and the fibre. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of NaOH swelling of hemp fibres prior to enzymatic treatment and a novel chemical sulfonic acid method on the physical properties of hemp fibres. The colloidal properties of treated hemp fibres were studied exclusively using an atomic force microscope. AFM imaging in tapping mode revealed that each treatment rendered the surface topography of the hemp fibres clean and exposed the individual fibre bundles. Hemp fibres treated with laccase had no effect on the surface adhesion forces measured. Interestingly, mercerization prior to xylanase + cellulase and laccase treatments resulted in greater enzyme access evident in the increased adhesion force measurements. Hemp fibres treated with sulfonic acid showed an increase in surface de-fibrillation and smoothness. A decrease in adhesion forces for 4-aminotoulene-3-sulfonic acid (AT3S) treated fibres suggested a reduction in surface polarity. This work demonstrated that AFM can be used as a tool to estimate the surface forces and roughness for modified fibres and that enzymatic coupled with chemical methods can be used to improve the surface properties of natural fibres for composite applications. Further, this work is one of the first that offers some insight into the effect of mercerization prior to enzymes and the effect on the surface topography. AFM will be used to selectively screen treated fibres for composite applications based on the adhesion forces associated with the colloidal interface between the AFM tip and the fibre surfaces.

  11. Method for providing adhesion to a metal surface

    DOEpatents

    Harrah, L.A.; Allred, R.E.; Wilson, K.V. Jr.

    1992-02-18

    A process for treating metal surfaces to obtain improved susceptibility to bonding with adhesive compositions is disclosed. A metal surface is oxidized with a halogen to form a monolayer of halide ions on the surface. The halide ions are then exchanged with azide ions to form an azide monolayer on the metal surface. Upon contact of the treated surface with an adhesive composition, the azide layer may be thermally or photochemically decomposed to form active nitrene species, which react to bond the adhesive composition to the metal surface.

  12. Method for providing adhesion to a metal surface

    DOEpatents

    Harrah, Larry A.; Allred, Ronald E.; Wilson, Jr., Kennard V.

    1992-01-01

    A process for treating metal surfaces to obtain improved susceptibility to bonding with adhesive compositions is disclosed. A metal surface is oxidized with a halogen to form a monolayer of halide ions on the surface. The halide ions are then exchanged with azide ions to form an azide monolayer on the metal surface. Upon contact of the treated surface with an adhesive composition, the azide layer may be thermally or photochemically decomposed to form active nitrene species, which react to bond the adhesive composition to the metal surface.

  13. Highly roughened polycaprolactone surfaces using oxygen plasma-etching and in vitro mineralization for bone tissue regeneration: fabrication, characterization, and cellular activities.

    PubMed

    Kim, YongBok; Kim, GeunHyung

    2015-01-01

    Herein, poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) surfaces were treated to form various roughness values (R(a)=290-445 nm) and polar functional groups on the surfaces using a plasma-etching process, followed by immersion into simulated body fluid (SBF) for apatite formation. The surface morphology, chemical composition, and mean roughness of the plasma-etched PCL surfaces were measured, and various physical and morphological properties (water contact angles, protein absorption ability, and crystallite size of the apatite layer) of the in vitro mineralized PCL surfaces were evaluated. The roughened PCL surface P-3, which was treated with a sufficient plasma exposure time (4 h), achieved homogeneously distributed apatite formation after soaking in SBF for 7 days, as compared with other surfaces that were untreated or plasma-treated for 30 min or 2 h. Furthermore, to demonstrate their feasibility as a biomimetic surface, pre-osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) were cultured on the mineralized PCL surfaces, and cell viability, DAPI-phalloidin fluorescence assay, and alizarin red-staining of the P-3 surface were highly improved compared to the P-1 surface treated with a 30-min plasma exposure time; compared to untreated mineralized PCL surface (N-P), P-3 showed even greater improvements in cell viability and DAPI-phalloidin fluorescence assay. Based on these results, we found that the mineralized PCL surface supplemented with the appropriate plasma treatment can be implicitly helpful to achieve rapid hard tissue regeneration. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Control of adhesion of human induced pluripotent stem cells to plasma-patterned polydimethylsiloxane coated with vitronectin and γ-globulin.

    PubMed

    Yamada, Ryotaro; Hattori, Koji; Tachikawa, Saoko; Tagaya, Motohiro; Sasaki, Toru; Sugiura, Shinji; Kanamori, Toshiyuki; Ohnuma, Kiyoshi

    2014-09-01

    Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a promising source of cells for medical applications. Recently, the development of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microdevices to control the microenvironment of hiPSCs has been extensively studied. PDMS surfaces are often treated with low-pressure air plasma to facilitate protein adsorption and cell adhesion. However, undefined molecules present in the serum and extracellular matrix used to culture cells complicate the study of cell adhesion. Here, we studied the effects of vitronectin and γ-globulin on hiPSC adhesion to plasma-treated and untreated PDMS surfaces under defined culture conditions. We chose these proteins because they have opposite properties: vitronectin mediates hiPSC attachment to hydrophilic siliceous surfaces, whereas γ-globulin is adsorbed by hydrophobic surfaces and does not mediate cell adhesion. Immunostaining showed that, when applied separately, vitronectin and γ-globulin were adsorbed by both plasma-treated and untreated PDMS surfaces. In contrast, when PDMS surfaces were exposed to a mixture of the two proteins, vitronectin was preferentially adsorbed onto plasma-treated surfaces, whereas γ-globulin was adsorbed onto untreated surfaces. Human iPSCs adhered to the vitronectin-rich plasma-treated surfaces but not to the γ-globulin-rich untreated surfaces. On the basis of these results, we used perforated masks to prepare plasma-patterned PDMS substrates, which were then used to pattern hiPSCs. The patterned hiPSCs expressed undifferentiated-cell markers and did not escape from the patterned area for at least 7 days. The patterned PDMS could be stored for up to 6 days before hiPSCs were plated. We believe that our results will be useful for the development of hiPSC microdevices. Copyright © 2014 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Biocidal action of ozone-treated polystyrene surfaces on vegetative and sporulated bacteria

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahfoudh, Ahlem; Barbeau, Jean; Moisan, Michel; Leduc, Annie; Séguin, Jacynthe

    2010-03-01

    Surfaces of materials can be modified to ensure specific interaction features with microorganisms. The current work discloses biocidal properties of polystyrene (PS) Petri-dish surfaces that have been exposed to a dry gaseous-ozone flow. Such treated PS surfaces are able to inactivate various species of vegetative and sporulated bacteria on a relatively short contact time. Denaturation of proteins seems likely based on a significant loss of enzymatic activity of the lysozyme protein. Characterization of these surfaces by atomic-force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals specific structural and chemical modifications as compared to untreated PS. Persistence of the biocidal properties of these treated surfaces is observed. This ozone-induced process is technically simple to achieve and does not require active precursors as in grafting.

  16. Process of preparing metal parts to be heated by means of infrared radiance

    DOEpatents

    Mayer, Howard Robinson [Cincinnati, OH; Blue, Craig A [Knoxville, TN

    2009-06-09

    A method for preparing metal for heating by infrared radiance to enable uniform and consistent heating. The surface of one or more metal parts, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy parts, is treated to alter the surface finish to affect the reflectivity of the surface. The surface reflectivity is evaluated, such as by taking measurements at one or more points on the surface, to determine if a desired reflectivity has been achieved. The treating and measuring are performed until the measuring indicates that the desired reflectivity has been achieved. Once the treating has altered the surface finish to achieve the desired reflectivity, the metal part may then be exposed to infrared radiance to heat the metal part to a desired temperature, and that heating will be substantially consistent throughout by virtue of the desired reflectivity.

  17. [Influence of different surface treatments on porcelain surface topography].

    PubMed

    Tai, Yinxia; Zhu, Xianchun; Sen, Yan; Liu, Chang; Zhang, Xian; Shi, Xueming

    2013-02-01

    To evaluate the influence of different surface treatments on porcelain surface topography. Metal ceramic prostheses in 6 groups were treated according to the different surface treatment methods, and the surface topography was observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). Group A was the control one (untreated), group B was etched by 9.6% hydrofluoric acid(HF), group C was deglazed by grinding and then etched by 9.6% HF, group D was treated with Nd: YAG laser irradiation(0.75 W) and HF etching, group E was treated with Nd: YAG laser irradiation (1.05 W) and HF etching, and group F was treated with laser irradiation (1.45 W) and HF etching. Surface topography was different in different groups. A lot of inerratic cracks with the shapes of rhombuses and grid, and crater with a shape of circle were observed on the ceramic surface after treatment with energy parameters of 1.05 W Nd: YAG laser irradiation and 9.6% HF etching (group E). Surface topography showed a lot of concaves on the inner wall of the cracks, and the concaves with diameter of 1-5 microm could be observed on the inner wall of the holes, which had a diameter of 20 microm under SEM. The use of Nd: YAG laser irradiation with the energy parameters of 1.05 W and the HF with a concentration of 9.6% can evenly coarsen the porcelain surface, that is an effective surface treatment method.

  18. Using heat-treated starch to modify the surface of biochar and improve the tensile properties of biochar-filled stryene-butadiene rubber composites

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Heat-treated starch is a renewable material that can be used to modify the surface chemistry of small particles. In this work, heat-treated starch was used to coat hydrophilic biochar particles in order to make them more hydrophobic. Then when added as filler to hydrophobic styrene-butadiene rubber,...

  19. Novel Development of Phosphate Treated Porous Hydroxyapatite.

    PubMed

    Doi, Kazuya; Abe, Yasuhiko; Kobatake, Reiko; Okazaki, Yohei; Oki, Yoshifumi; Naito, Yoshihito; Prananingrum, Widyasri; Tsuga, Kazuhiro

    2017-12-08

    Phosphoric acid-etching treatment to the hydroxyapatite (HA) surface can modify the solubility calcium structure. The aim of the present study was to develop phosphate treated porous HA, and the characteristic structures and stimulation abilities of bone formation were evaluated to determine its suitability as a new type of bone graft material. Although the phosphoric acid-etching treatment did not alter the three-dimensional structure, a micrometer-scale rough surface topography was created on the porous HA surface. Compared to porous HA, the porosity of phosphate treated porous HA was slightly higher and the mechanical strength was lower. Two weeks after placement of the cylindrical porous or phosphate treated porous HA in a rabbit femur, newly formed bone was detected in both groups. At the central portion of the bone defect area, substantial bone formation was detected in the phosphate treated porous HA group, with a significantly higher bone formation ratio than detected in the porous HA group. These results indicate that phosphate treated porous HA has a superior surface topography and bone formation abilities in vivo owing to the capacity for both osteoconduction and stimulation abilities of bone formation conferred by phosphoric acid etching.

  20. Novel Development of Phosphate Treated Porous Hydroxyapatite

    PubMed Central

    Doi, Kazuya; Abe, Yasuhiko; Kobatake, Reiko; Okazaki, Yohei; Oki, Yoshifumi; Naito, Yoshihito; Prananingrum, Widyasri; Tsuga, Kazuhiro

    2017-01-01

    Phosphoric acid-etching treatment to the hydroxyapatite (HA) surface can modify the solubility calcium structure. The aim of the present study was to develop phosphate treated porous HA, and the characteristic structures and stimulation abilities of bone formation were evaluated to determine its suitability as a new type of bone graft material. Although the phosphoric acid-etching treatment did not alter the three-dimensional structure, a micrometer-scale rough surface topography was created on the porous HA surface. Compared to porous HA, the porosity of phosphate treated porous HA was slightly higher and the mechanical strength was lower. Two weeks after placement of the cylindrical porous or phosphate treated porous HA in a rabbit femur, newly formed bone was detected in both groups. At the central portion of the bone defect area, substantial bone formation was detected in the phosphate treated porous HA group, with a significantly higher bone formation ratio than detected in the porous HA group. These results indicate that phosphate treated porous HA has a superior surface topography and bone formation abilities in vivo owing to the capacity for both osteoconduction and stimulation abilities of bone formation conferred by phosphoric acid etching. PMID:29292788

  1. Evaluation of the Effects of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser, Ultrasonic Scaler and Curette on Root Surface Profile Using Surface Analyser and Scanning Electron Microscope: An In Vitro Study.

    PubMed

    Arora, Shipra; Lamba, Arundeep Kaur; Faraz, Farrukh; Tandon, Shruti; Ahad, Abdul

    2016-01-01

    Introduction: The periodontal therapy is primarily targeted at removal of dental plaque and plaque retentive factors. Although the thorough removal of adherent plaque, calculus and infected root cementum is desirable, it is not always achieved by conventional modalities. To accomplish more efficient results several alternative devices have been used. Lasers are one of the most promising modalities for nonsurgical periodontal treatment as they can achieve excellent tissue ablation with strong bactericidal and detoxification effects. Methods: Thirty freshly extracted premolars were selected and decoronated. The mesial surface of each root was divided vertically into four approximately equal parts. These were distributed into four group based on the root surface treatment. Part A (n = 30) was taken as control and no instrumentation was performed. Part B (n = 30) was irradiated by Erbium, Chromium doped Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser. Part C (n = 30) was treated by piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler. Part D (n = 30) was treated by Gracey curette. The surface roughness was quantitatively analyzed by profilometer using roughness average (Ra) value, while presence of smear layer, cracks, craters and melting of surface were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The means across the groups were statistically compared with control using Dunnett test. Results: Among the test groups, Er,Cr:YSGG laser group showed maximum surface roughness (mean Ra value of 4.14 μm) as compared to ultrasonic scaler (1.727 μm) and curette group (1.22 μm). However, surface with smear layer were found to be maximum (50%) in curette treated samples and minimum (20%) in laser treated ones. Maximum cracks (83.34%) were produced by ultrasonic scaler, and minimum (43.33%) by curettes. Crater formation was maximum (50%) in laser treated samples and minimum (3.33%) in curette treated ones. 63.33% samples treated by laser demonstrated melting of root surface, followed by ultrasonic scaler and curettes. Conclusion: Er,Cr:YSGG laser produced maximum microstructural changes on root surface that can influence the attachment of soft periodontal tissues as well as plaque and calculus deposition. In vivo studies are needed to validate these results and to evaluate their clinical effects.

  2. Enhancing the antibacterial performance of orthopaedic implant materials by fibre laser surface engineering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chan, Chi-Wai; Carson, Louise; Smith, Graham C.; Morelli, Alessio; Lee, Seunghwan

    2017-05-01

    Implant failure caused by bacterial infection is extremely difficult to treat and usually requires the removal of the infected components. Despite the severe consequence of bacterial infection, research into bacterial infection of orthopaedic implants is still at an early stage compared to the effort on enhancing osseointegration, wear and corrosion resistance of implant materials. In this study, the effects of laser surface treatment on enhancing the antibacterial properties of commercially pure (CP) Ti (Grade 2), Ti6Al4V (Grade 5) and CoCrMo alloy implant materials were studied and compared for the first time. Laser surface treatment was performed by a continuous wave (CW) fibre laser with a near-infrared wavelength of 1064 nm in a nitrogen-containing environment. Staphylococcus aureus, commonly implicated in infection associated with orthopaedic implants, was used to investigate the antibacterial properties of the laser-treated surfaces. The surface roughness and topography of the laser-treated materials were analysed by a 2D roughness testing and by AFM. The surface morphologies before and after 24 h of bacterial cell culture were captured by SEM, and bacterial viability was determined using live/dead staining. Surface chemistry was analysed by XPS and surface wettability was measured using the sessile drop method. The findings of this study indicated that the laser-treated CP Ti and Ti6Al4V surfaces exhibited a noticeable reduction in bacterial adhesion and possessed a bactericidal effect. Such properties were attributable to the combined effects of reduced hydrophobicity, thicker and stable oxide films and presence of laser-induced nano-features. No similar antibacterial effect was observed in the laser-treated CoCrMo.

  3. Study on ceramic coating on the enamel surface using a carbon dioxide laser.

    PubMed

    Nihei, Tomotaro; Kurata, Shigeaki; Ohashi, Katsura; Umemoto, Kozo; Teranaka, Toshio

    2011-01-01

    The aims of this study were to evaluate a new restorative method using a carbon dioxide laser (CO(2)-laser) and to evaluate the acid resistance of teeth. Experimental calcium phosphate glass (CPG) powder and two low melting point ceramics (Finesse and zirconium silicate) were fused to enamel surfaces using a CO(2)-laser at an irradiation intensity of 1.0 watt for 30 seconds with a beam size of 0.49 mm at the focal point. The treated teeth were observed with a scanning electron microscope, and the acid resistance of the treated enamel surfaces was evaluated. The CPG fused successfully to the enamel surface, and the treated enamel surface showed high acid resistance compared with the low melting point ceramics and the non-irradiated surfaces. This system may lead to the development of new restorative methods that do not require the use of bonding agents.

  4. Atmospheric-pressure plasma activation and surface characterization on polyethylene membrane separator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tseng, Yu-Chien; Li, Hsiao-Ling; Huang, Chun

    2017-01-01

    The surface hydrophilic activation of a polyethylene membrane separator was achieved using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. The surface of the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated membrane separator was found to be highly hydrophilic realized by adjusting the plasma power input. The variations in membrane separator chemical structure were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Chemical analysis showed newly formed carbonyl-containing groups and high surface concentrations of oxygen-containing species on the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated polymeric separator surface. It also showed that surface hydrophilicity primarily increased from the polar component after atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment. The surface and pore structures of the polyethylene membrane separator were examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing a slight alteration in the pore structure. As a result of the incorporation of polar functionalities by atmospheric-pressure plasma activation, the electrolyte uptake and electrochemical impedance of the atmospheric-pressure-plasma-treated membrane separator improved. The investigational results show that the separator surface can be controlled by atmospheric-pressure plasma surface treatment to tailor the hydrophilicity and enhance the electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries.

  5. A glove-likeability study of specially-treated gloves in the detonator manufacturing and packaging industry

    DOE PAGES

    Cournoyer, Michael E.; Lawton, Cindy M.; Lounsbury, James B.; ...

    2016-03-22

    We use hand gloves (hereafter referred to as gloves) in the detonator manufacturing and packaging operations. As part of a process improvement program, new glove formulations have been considered that lower the overall risk of detonator operations by reducing ergonomic injury factors. Gloves with a specially treated surface for extra grip and control are now commercially available and have been recommended for use in detonator operations. A Glove Likeability Study demonstrated that detonator manufacturing and packaging workers prefer gloves with a specially treated surface over currently approved gloves made from latex and nitrile formulations. Glove material compatibility tests indicate thatmore » the recommended gloves are as compatible if not more compatible as the currently approved gloves for working with secondary explosives. Thus, these gloves with a specially treated surface for extra grip and control are now available for tasks where sensitivity and fingertip control are crucial. Replacement of the current gloves with gloves with a specially treated surface improves the safety configuration of detonator manufacturing and packaging operations.« less

  6. A glove-likeability study of specially-treated gloves in the detonator manufacturing and packaging industry

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cournoyer, Michael E.; Lawton, Cindy M.; Lounsbury, James B.

    We use hand gloves (hereafter referred to as gloves) in the detonator manufacturing and packaging operations. As part of a process improvement program, new glove formulations have been considered that lower the overall risk of detonator operations by reducing ergonomic injury factors. Gloves with a specially treated surface for extra grip and control are now commercially available and have been recommended for use in detonator operations. A Glove Likeability Study demonstrated that detonator manufacturing and packaging workers prefer gloves with a specially treated surface over currently approved gloves made from latex and nitrile formulations. Glove material compatibility tests indicate thatmore » the recommended gloves are as compatible if not more compatible as the currently approved gloves for working with secondary explosives. Thus, these gloves with a specially treated surface for extra grip and control are now available for tasks where sensitivity and fingertip control are crucial. Replacement of the current gloves with gloves with a specially treated surface improves the safety configuration of detonator manufacturing and packaging operations.« less

  7. Study of reticulated vitreous carbon surface treated by plasma immersion ion implantation for electrodes production

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silva, L. L. G.; Conceição, D. A. S.; Oishi, S. S.; Toth, A.; Ueda, M.

    2012-03-01

    RVC samples were treated by nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (N-PIII) for electrodes production. High-voltage pulses with amplitudes of -3.0 kV or -10.0 kV were applied to the RVC samples while the treatment time was 10, 20 and 30 min. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical measurements. The SEM images present an apparent enhancement of the surface roughness after the treatment probably due to the surface sputtering during the PIII process. This observation is in agreement with the specific electrochemical surface area (SESA) of RVC electrodes. An increase was observed of the SESA values for the PIII-treated samples compared to the untreated specimen. Some oxygen and nitrogen containing groups were introduced on the RVC surface after the PIII treatment. Both plasma-induced process: the surface roughening and the introduction of the polar species on the RVC surface are beneficial for the RVC electrodes application.

  8. A Polymethyl Methacrylate-Based Acrylic Dental Resin Surface Bound with a Photoreactive Polymer Inhibits Accumulation of Bacterial Plaque.

    PubMed

    Fukunishi, Miya; Inoue, Yuuki; Morisaki, Hirobumi; Kuwata, Hirotaka; Ishihara, Kazuhiko; Baba, Kazuyoshi

    The aim of this study was to examine the ability of a poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butylmethacrylate-co-2-methacryloyloxyethyloxy-p-azidobenzoate) (PMBPAz) coating on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based dental resin to inhibit bacterial plaque formation, as well as the polymer's durability against water soaking and chemical exposure. Successful application of PMBPAz on PMMA surfaces was confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and measuring the static air contact angle in water. The anti-adhesive effects to bacterial plaque were evaluated using Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation assay. The mechanical and chemical durabilities of the PMBPAz coating on the PMMA surfaces were examined using soaking and immersion tests, respectively. XPS signals for phosphorus and nitrogen atoms and hydrophilic status on PMMA surfaces treated with PMBPAz were observed, indicating the presence of the polymer on the substrates. The treated PMMA surfaces showed significant inhibition of S mutans biofilm formation compared to untreated surfaces. The PMBPAz coating was preserved after water soaking and chemical exposure. In addition, water soaking did not decrease the ability of treated PMMA to inhibit biofilm formation compared to treated PMMA specimens not subjected to water soaking. This study suggests that PMBPAz coating may represent a useful modification to PMMA surfaces for inhibiting denture plaque accumulation.

  9. Oxygen-implanted induced formation of oxide layer enhances blood compatibility on titanium for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Hung, Wei-Chiang; Chang, Fang-Mo; Yang, Tzu-Sen; Ou, Keng-Liang; Lin, Che-Tong; Peng, Pei-Wen

    2016-11-01

    Titanium dioxide (TiO2) layers were prepared on a Ti substrate by using oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation (oxygen PIII). The surface chemical states, structure, and morphology of the layers were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties, such as the Young's modulus and hardness, of the layers were investigated using nanoindentation testing. The Ti(4+) chemical state was determined to be present on oxygen-PIII-treated surfaces, which consisted of nanocrystalline TiO2 with a rutile structure. Compared with Ti substrates, the oxygen-PIII-treated surfaces exhibited decreased Young's moduli and hardness. Parameters indicating the blood compatibility of the oxygen-PIII-treated surfaces, including the clotting time and platelet adhesion and activation, were studied in vitro. Clotting time assays indicated that the clotting time of oxygen-PIII-treated surfaces was longer than that of the Ti substrate, which was associated with decreased fibrinogen adsorption. In conclusion, the surface characteristics and the blood compatibility of Ti implants can be modified and improved using oxygen PIII. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. A study on the antimicrobial efficacy of RF oxygen plasma and neem extract treated cotton fabrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vaideki, K.; Jayakumar, S.; Thilagavathi, G.; Rajendran, R.

    2007-06-01

    The paper deals with a thorough investigation on the antimicrobial activity of RF oxygen plasma and Azadirachtin (neem extract) treated cotton fabric. The hydrophilicity of cotton fabric was found to improve when treated with RF oxygen plasma. The process parameters such as electrode gap, time of exposure and oxygen pressure have been varied to study their effect on improving the hydrophilicity of the cotton fabric. The static immersion test has been carried out to assess the hydrophilicity of the oxygen plasma treated samples and the process parameters were optimized based on these test results. The formation of carbonyl group during surface modification in the plasma treated sample was analysed using FTIR studies. The surface morphology has been studied using SEM micrographs. The antimicrobial activity was imparted to the RF oxygen plasma treated samples using methanolic extract of neem leaves containing Azadirachtin. The antimicrobial activity of these samples has been analysed and compared with the activity of the cotton fabric treated with neem extract alone. The investigation reveals that the surface modification due to RF oxygen plasma was found to increase the hydrophilicity and hence the antimicrobial activity of the cotton fabric when treated with Azadirachtin.

  11. Osteoinduction on Acid and Heat Treated Porous Ti Metal Samples in Canine Muscle

    PubMed Central

    Kawai, Toshiyuki; Takemoto, Mitsuru; Fujibayashi, Shunsuke; Akiyama, Haruhiko; Tanaka, Masashi; Yamaguchi, Seiji; Pattanayak, Deepak K.; Doi, Kenji; Matsushita, Tomiharu; Nakamura, Takashi; Kokubo, Tadashi; Matsuda, Shuichi

    2014-01-01

    Samples of porous Ti metal were subjected to different acid and heat treatments. Ectopic bone formation on specimens embedded in dog muscle was compared with the surface characteristics of the specimen. Treatment of the specimens by H2SO4/HCl and heating at 600°C produced micrometer-scale roughness with surface layers composed of rutile phase of titanium dioxide. The acid- and heat-treated specimens induced ectopic bone formation within 6 months of implantation. A specimen treated using NaOH followed by HCl acid and then heat treatment produced nanometer-scale surface roughness with a surface layer composed of both rutile and anatase phases of titanium dioxide. These specimens also induced bone formation after 6 months of implantation. Both these specimens featured positive surface charge and good apatite-forming abilities in a simulated body fluid. The amount of the bone induced in the porous structure increased with apatite-forming ability and higher positive surface charge. Untreated porous Ti metal samples showed no bone formation even after 12 months. Specimens that were only heat treated featured a smooth surface composed of rutile. A mixed acid treatment produced specimens with micrometer-scale rough surfaces composed of titanium hydride. Both of them also showed no bone formation after 12 months. The specimens that showed no bone formation also featured almost zero surface charge and no apatite-forming ability. These results indicate that osteoinduction of these porous Ti metal samples is directly related to positive surface charge that facilitates formation of apatite on the metal surfaces in vitro. PMID:24520375

  12. Method For Creating Corrosion Resistant Surface On An Aluminum Copper Alloy

    DOEpatents

    Mansfeld, Florian B.; Wang, You; Lin, Simon H.

    1997-06-03

    A method for treating the surface of aluminum alloys hang a relatively high copper content is provided which includes the steps of removing substantially all of the copper from the surface, contacting the surface with a first solution containing cerium, electrically charging the surface while contacting the surface in an aqueous molybdate solution, and contacting the surface with a second solution containing cerium. The copper is substantially removed from the surface in the first step either by (i) contacting the surface with an acidic chromate solution or by (ii) contacting the surface with an acidic nitrate solution while subjecting the surface to an electric potential. The corrosion-resistant surface resulting from the invention is excellent, consistent and uniform throughout the surface. Surfaces treated by the invention may often be certified for use in salt-water services.

  13. Drivers of Microbial Risk for Direct Potable Reuse and de Facto Reuse Treatment Schemes: The Impacts of Source Water Quality and Blending.

    PubMed

    Chaudhry, Rabia M; Hamilton, Kerry A; Haas, Charles N; Nelson, Kara L

    2017-06-13

    Although reclaimed water for potable applications has many potential benefits, it poses concerns for chemical and microbial risks to consumers. We present a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) Monte Carlo framework to compare a de facto water reuse scenario (treated wastewater-impacted surface water) with four hypothetical Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) scenarios for Norovirus, Cryptosporidium , and Salmonella . Consumer microbial risks of surface source water quality (impacted by 0-100% treated wastewater effluent) were assessed. Additionally, we assessed risks for different blending ratios (0-100% surface water blended into advanced-treated DPR water) when source surface water consisted of 50% wastewater effluent. De facto reuse risks exceeded the yearly 10 -4 infections risk benchmark while all modeled DPR risks were significantly lower. Contamination with 1% or more wastewater effluent in the source water, and blending 1% or more wastewater-impacted surface water into the advanced-treated DPR water drove the risk closer to the 10 -4 benchmark. We demonstrate that de facto reuse by itself, or as an input into DPR, drives microbial risks more so than the advanced-treated DPR water. When applied using location-specific inputs, this framework can contribute to project design and public awareness campaigns to build legitimacy for DPR.

  14. A Novel Multi-Phosphonate Surface Treatment of Titanium Dental Implants: A Study in Sheep

    PubMed Central

    von Salis-Soglio, Marcella; Stübinger, Stefan; Sidler, Michéle; Klein, Karina; Ferguson, Stephen J.; Kämpf, Käthi; Zlinszky, Katalin; Buchini, Sabrina; Curno, Richard; Péchy, Péter; Aronsson, Bjorn-Owe; von Rechenberg, Brigitte

    2014-01-01

    The aim of the present study was to evaluate a new multi-phosphonate surface treatment (SurfLink®) in an unloaded sheep model. Treated implants were compared to control implants in terms of bone to implant contact (BIC), bone formation, and biomechanical stability. The study used two types of implants (rough or machined surface finish) each with either the multi-phosphonate Wet or Dry treatment or no treatment (control) for a total of six groups. Animals were sacrificed after 2, 8, and 52 weeks. No adverse events were observed at any time point. At two weeks, removal torque showed significantly higher values for the multi-phosphonate treated rough surface (+32% and +29%, Dry and Wet, respectively) compared to rough control. At 52 weeks, a significantly higher removal torque was observed for the multi-phosphonate treated machined surfaces (+37% and 23%, Dry and Wet, respectively). The multi-phosphonate treated groups showed a positive tendency for higher BIC with time and increased new-old bone ratio at eight weeks. SEM images revealed greater amounts of organic materials on the multi-phosphonate treated compared to control implants, with the bone fracture (from the torque test) appearing within the bone rather than at the bone to implant interface as it occurred for control implants. PMID:25215424

  15. Drivers of Microbial Risk for Direct Potable Reuse and de Facto Reuse Treatment Schemes: The Impacts of Source Water Quality and Blending

    PubMed Central

    Chaudhry, Rabia M.; Hamilton, Kerry A.; Haas, Charles N.; Nelson, Kara L.

    2017-01-01

    Although reclaimed water for potable applications has many potential benefits, it poses concerns for chemical and microbial risks to consumers. We present a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) Monte Carlo framework to compare a de facto water reuse scenario (treated wastewater-impacted surface water) with four hypothetical Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) scenarios for Norovirus, Cryptosporidium, and Salmonella. Consumer microbial risks of surface source water quality (impacted by 0–100% treated wastewater effluent) were assessed. Additionally, we assessed risks for different blending ratios (0–100% surface water blended into advanced-treated DPR water) when source surface water consisted of 50% wastewater effluent. De facto reuse risks exceeded the yearly 10−4 infections risk benchmark while all modeled DPR risks were significantly lower. Contamination with 1% or more wastewater effluent in the source water, and blending 1% or more wastewater-impacted surface water into the advanced-treated DPR water drove the risk closer to the 10−4 benchmark. We demonstrate that de facto reuse by itself, or as an input into DPR, drives microbial risks more so than the advanced-treated DPR water. When applied using location-specific inputs, this framework can contribute to project design and public awareness campaigns to build legitimacy for DPR. PMID:28608808

  16. Sorption potential of alkaline treated straw and a soil for sulfonylurea herbicide removal from aqueous solutions: An environmental management strategy.

    PubMed

    Cara, Irina-Gabriela; Rusu, Bogdan-George; Raus, Lucian; Jitareanu, Gerard

    2017-11-01

    The adsorption potential of alkaline treated straw (wheat and corn) in mixture with soil, has been investigated for the removal of sulfonylurea molecules from an aqueous solutions. The surface characteristics were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared - FTIR, while the adsorbent capacity was evaluated using batch sorption tests and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Surface analysis of alkaline treated straw samples by scanning electron microscopy - SEM showed the increasing of the surface roughness improving their functional surface activity. An increase (337.22 mg g -1 ) of adsorption capacity of sulfonylurea molecules was obtained for all studied straw. The Langmuir isotherm model was the best model for the mathematical description of the adsorption process indicating the forming of a surface sorption monolayer with a finite number of identical sites. The kinetics of sulfonylurea herbicide followed the pseudo-second order mechanism corresponding to strong chemical interactions. The results sustained that the alkaline treated straw have biosorption characteristics, being suitable adsorbent materials. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Stability of plasma treated superhydrophobic surfaces under different ambient conditions.

    PubMed

    Chen, Faze; Liu, Jiyu; Cui, Yao; Huang, Shuai; Song, Jinlong; Sun, Jing; Xu, Wenji; Liu, Xin

    2016-05-15

    Plasma hydrophilizing of superhydrophobic substrates has become an important area of research, for example, superhydrophobic-(super)hydrophilic patterned surfaces have significant practical applications such as lab-on-chip systems, cell adhesion, and control of liquid transport. However, the stability of plasma-induced hydrophilicity is always considered as a key issue since the wettability tends to revert back to the untreated state (i.e. aging behavior). This paper focuses on the stability of plasma treated superhydrophobic surface under different ambient conditions (e.g. temperature and relative humidity). Water contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are used to monitor the aging process. Results show that low temperature and low relative humidity are favorable to retard the aging process and that pre-storage at low temperature (-10°C) disables the treated surface to recover superhydrophobicity. When the aging is performed in water, a long-lasting hydropholicity is obtained. As the stability of plasma-induced hydrophilcity over a desired period of time is a very important issue, this work will contribute to the optimization of storage conditions of plasma treated superhydrophobic surfaces. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Effect of dielectric barrier discharge treatment on surface nanostructure and wettability of polylactic acid (PLA) nonwoven fabrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ren, Yu; Xu, Lin; Wang, Chunxia; Wang, Xiaona; Ding, Zhirong; Chen, Yuyue

    2017-12-01

    Polylactic acid (PLA) nonwoven fabrics are treated with atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma to improve surface wettability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) show that micro- to nano-scale textures appear on the treated PLA surfaces dependent on the treatment time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals that the DBD plasma treatments result in decreased carbon contents and increased oxygen contents as well as slightly increased nitrogen contents. The water contact angle decreases sharply with the increase of the DBD plasma treatment time. The super hydrophilic PLA surfaces (the water contact angle reached 0°) are obtained when the treatment time is longer than 90 s. Ninety days after the DBD plasma treatment, the XPS analysis shows that Csbnd O/Csbnd N and Cdbnd O/Osbnd Cdbnd O percentages decline for all treatment groups. However, the water contact angle is kept constant at 0° for the groups treated above 90 s, which could be due to the oxidized nano-structured layer on the DBD plasma treated PLA surfaces.

  19. Effects of high-temperature gas dealkalization on surface mechanical properties of float glass

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Senturk, Ufuk

    The surface topography, and the near-surface structure and mechanical property changes on float glass, that was treated in atmospheres containing SOsb2, HCl, and 1,1 difluoroethane (DFE) gases, at temperatures in the glass transition region, were studied. Structure was investigated using surface sensitive infrared spectroscopy techniques (attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and diffuse reflectance (DRIFT)) and the topography was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results obtained from the two FTIR methods were in agreement with each other. Mechanical property characteristics of the surface were determined by measuring microhardness using a recording microindentation set-up. A simple analysis performed on the three hardness calculation methods-LVH, LVHsb2, and Lsb2VH-indicated that LVH and LVHsb2 are less effected by measurement errors and are better suited for the calculation of hardness. Contact damage characteristics of the treated glass was also studied by monitoring the crack initiation behavior during indentation, using acoustic emission. The results of the studies, aiming for the understanding of the structure, topography, and hardness property changes indicate that the treatment parameters-temperature, time, and treatment atmosphere conditions-are significant factors influencing these properties. The analysis of these results suggest a relation to exist between the three properties. This relation is used in understanding the surface mechanical properties of the treated float glasses. The difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the dealkalized surface and bulk, the nature of surface structure changes, structural relaxation, surface water content, and glass transformation temperature are identified as the major factors having an influence on the properties. A model connecting these features is suggested. A difference in the structure, hardness, and topography on the air and tin sides of float glass is also shown to exist. The contact damage behavior of the treated surfaces is shown to differ from those of untreated surfaces, for SOsb2-treated float glass, where the crack initiation characteristics indicate crack formation from the surface and the indenter tip, different than the expected anomalous deformation. This behavior resembles that of a silica glass deformation on the surface, which is in agreement with the other foundations in this study.

  20. Efficacy of cetylpyridinium chloride against Listeria monocytogenes and its influence on color and texture of cooked roast beef.

    PubMed

    Singh, M; Thippareddi, H; Phebus, R K; Marsden, J L; Herald, T J; Nutsch, A L

    2005-11-01

    Sliced (cut) and exterior (intact) surfaces of restructured cooked roast beef were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes, treated with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC; immersion in 500 ml of 1% solution for 1 min), individually vacuum packaged, and stored for 42 days at 0 or 4 degrees C. Noninoculated samples were similarly treated, packaged, and stored to determine effects on quality (color and firmness) and on naturally occurring bacterial populations, including aerobic plate counts and lactic acid bacteria. Immediately after CPC treatment, regardless of inoculation level, L. monocytogenes populations were reduced (P = 0.05) by about 2 log CFU/cm2 on sliced surfaces and by about 4 log CFU/cm2 on exterior surfaces. Throughout 42 days of refrigerated storage (at both 0 and 4 degrees C), L. monocytogenes populations on CPC-treated samples remained lower (P = 0.05) than those of nontreated samples for both surface types. After 42 days of storage at both 0 and 4 degrees C, aerobic plate count and lactic acid bacteria populations of treated samples were 1 to 1.5 log CFU/cm2 lower (P = 0.05) than those of nontreated samples for both surface types. CPC treatment resulted in negligible effects (P > 0.05) on the color (L*, a*, and b* values) of exterior and sliced roast beef surfaces during storage. For both sliced and exterior surfaces, CPC-treated samples were generally less firm than nontreated samples. CPC treatment effectively reduced L. monocytogenes populations on roast beef surfaces and resulted in relatively minor impacts on color and texture attributes. CPC treatment, especially when applied to products prior to slicing, may serve as an effective antimicrobial intervention for ready-to-eat meat products.

  1. Bony integration of titanium implants with a novel bioactive calcium titanate (Ca4Ti3O10) surface treatment in a rabbit model.

    PubMed

    Haenle, Maximilian; Lindner, Tobias; Ellenrieder, Martin; Willfahrt, Manfred; Schell, Hanna; Mittelmeier, Wolfram; Bader, Rainer

    2012-10-01

    Nowadays total joint replacement is an indispensable component of modern medicine. The surfaces characteristics of cementless prostheses may be altered to achieve an accelerated and enduring bony integration. Classic surface coatings bear the risk of loosening or flaking from the implant body. This risk is excluded by the chemical conversion of the naturally existing TiO(2) surface layer into calcium titanate. The aim of this experimental animal study was to investigate the bony integration of implants with a new calcium titanate surface (Ca(4)Ti(3)O(10)) compared with a conventional standard Ti6Al4V surface. Cylindrical implants, made of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) were implanted in both lateral femoral condyles of New Zealand white rabbits. In each animal, an implant with and without surface treatment was inserted in a blinded manner. Animals were sacrificed after 4, 12, and 36 weeks, respectively. The axial pull-off forces were determined for 25 animals using a universal testing machine (Zwick Z010, Ulm, Germany). Furthermore, a histological analysis of the bony integration of the implants was performed in 12 specimens. In general, the pull-off forces for untreated and treated implants increased with longer survival times of the rabbits. No significant difference could be shown after 4 weeks between treated and untreated implants. After 12 weeks, the treated implants revealed a statistical significant higher pull-off force. After 36 weeks, the pull-off forces for treated and untreated implants aligned again. Titanium implants treated with calcium titanate, may offer an interesting and promising implant surface modification for endoprosthetic implants. They might lead to an accelerated osseointegration of total hip and knee replacements. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Comparison of the effect of plasma treatment and gamma ray irradiation on PS-Cu nanocomposite films surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Farag, O. F.

    2018-06-01

    Polystyrene-copper (PS-Cu) nanocomposite films were treated with DC N2 plasma and gamma rays irradiations. The plasma treatment of PS-Cu film surface was carried out at different treatment times, gas pressure 0.4 Torr and the applied power 3.5 W. On the other hand, the treatment with gamma rays irradiation were carried out at irradiation doses 10, 30 and 50 kGy. The induced changes in surface properties of PS-Cu films were investigated with UV-viss spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR spectroscopy techniques. In addition, the wettability property, surface free energy, spreading coefficient and surface roughness of the treated samples were studied by measuring the contact angle. The UV-viss spectroscopy analysis revealed that the optical band gap decreases with increasing the treatment time and the irradiation dose for plasma and gamma treatments, respectively. SEM observations showed that the particle size of copper particles was increased with increasing the treatment time and the irradiation dose, but gamma treatment changes the copper particles size from nano scale to micro scale. The contact angle measurements showing that the wettability property, surface free energy, spreading coefficient and surface roughness of the treated PS-Cu samples were increased remarkably with increasing the treatment time and the irradiation dose for plasma and gamma treatments, respectively. The contact angle, surface free energy, spreading coefficient and surface roughness of the treated PS-Cu samples are more influenced by plasma treatment than gamma treatment.

  3. Study of Surface Wettability Change of Unconsolidated Sand Using Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric Analysis.

    PubMed

    Gómora-Herrera, Diana; Navarrete Bolaños, Juan; Lijanova, Irina V; Olivares-Xometl, Octavio; Likhanova, Natalya V

    2018-04-01

    The effects exerted by the adsorption of vapors of a non-polar compound (deuterated benzene) and a polar compound (water) on the surface of Ottawa sand and a sample of reservoir sand (Channel), which was previously impregnated with silicon oil or two kinds of surfactants, (2-hydroxyethyl) trimethylammonium oleate (HETAO) and (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium azelate (HETAA), were studied by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The surface chemistry of the sandstone rocks was elucidated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Terminal surface groups such as hydroxyls can strongly adsorb molecules that interact with these surface groups (surfactants), resulting in a wettability change. The wettability change effect suffered by the surface after treating it with surfactants was possible to be detected by the DRIFTS technique, wherein it was observed that the surface became more hydrophobic after being treated with silicon oil and HETAO; the surface became more hydrophilic after treating it with HETAA.

  4. Distribution of free carriers near heavily-doped epitaxial surfaces of n-type Ge(100) upon HF and HCl treatments

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Park, S. J.; Bolotov, L.; Uchida, N.

    2015-10-15

    Carrier distributions near n-type epitaxially-grown Ge(100) surfaces with high impurity concentrations (1 × 10{sup 20} cm{sup −3}) were studied using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) upon surface treatments in aqueous solutions of HF and HCl. After surface treatments with HCl and HF, the molecular vibration modes distinctly showed either chloride or hydride terminations of Ge surfaces with negligible oxidation. The free-carrier concentration profile was inferred from the conduction band plasmon measurements as a function of the incident electron energies employing a dielectric theory simulation with a 4-layer structure and an effective electron mass of 0.02m{sub 0}. A carrier-freemore » layer of 40 and 24 Å were derived for HCl- and HF-treated Ge(100), respectively. The surface band bending was estimated to be 0.32 eV for HF-treated Ge. HCl-treated Ge surfaces showed a band bending of 0.91 eV attributed to the strong effect of the surface Cl-Ge dipole.« less

  5. Nanostructured β-type titanium alloy fabricated by ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification.

    PubMed

    Kheradmandfard, Mehdi; Kashani-Bozorg, Seyed Farshid; Kim, Chang-Lae; Hanzaki, Abbas Zarei; Pyoun, Young-Shik; Kim, Jung-Hyong; Amanov, Auezhan; Kim, Dae-Eun

    2017-11-01

    The surface of β-type Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr (TNTZ) alloy, which is a promising material for biomedical applications, was treated with the ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) technique to enhance its hardness. As a result, a gradient nanostructured (GNS) layer was generated in the surface; the microstructure of the top surface layer consisted of nanoscale lamellae with a width of about 60-200nm. In addition, there were lamellar grains consisting of nanostructured subgrains having unclear and wavy boundaries. The treated surface exhibited a hardness value of ∼385HV compared to 190HV for the untreated alloy. It was further determined that highly dense deformation twins were generated at a depth of ∼40-150µm below the UNSM-treated surface. These deformation twins led to a significant work hardening effect which aided in enhancing the mechanical properties. It was also found that UNSM treatment resulted in the formation of micropatterns on the surface, which would be beneficial for high bioactivity and bone regeneration performance of TNTZ implants. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Stereological estimation of ovarian oocyte volume, surface area and number: application on mice treated with nandrolone decanoate.

    PubMed

    Karbalay-Doust, Saied; Noorafshan, Ali

    2012-07-05

    Changes in the number and size of oocytes can lead to fertilization problems. The present study aimed to evaluate the number, volume, and surface area of oocytes in healthy as well as nandrolone decanoate-treated (ND) mice using stereological methods. Five control mice received vehicle, and five ND-treated mice received ND. Using the 'isotropic Cavalieri' design', the ovary was sectioned. The volume of the ovary (cortex and medulla) was estimated. The oocytes' volume and surface area were estimated using the invariator. The number of the oocytes was estimated using an optical disector. The volumes of the ovary, cortex, and medulla decreased ~50% in the ND-treated mice. The mean number (coefficient of variation) of preantral, antral, and atretic oocytes in the control ovary were 1,690 (0.29), 2,100 (0.52), and 3,900 (0.2), respectively, which decreased ~54%, ~87%, and ~91%, respectively in the ND-treated animals. The mean volume (coefficient of variation) of the preantral, antral, and atretic oocytes were 86,000 (0.27), 110,000 (0.48), and 27,000 (0.33) μm³, respectively. The mean surface area (coefficient of variation) of the three types of oocytes were 9,000 (0.24), 9,900 (0.28), and 4,700 (0.21) μm², respectively. These parameters remained unchanged in the ND-treated mice. ND induces reduction in the number of oocytes, but not in the volume or the surface area.

  7. Effect of Multi-Pass Ultrasonic Surface Rolling on the Mechanical and Fatigue Properties of HIP Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

    PubMed Central

    Li, Gang; Qu, Shengguan; Xie, Mingxin; Ren, Zhaojun; Li, Xiaoqiang

    2017-01-01

    The main purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of a surface plastic deformation layer introduced by multi-pass ultrasonic surface rolling (MUSR) on the mechanical and fatigue properties of HIP Ti-6Al-4V alloys. Some microscopic analysis methods (SEM, TEM and XRD) were used to characterize the modified microstructure in the material surface layer. The results indicated that the material surface layer experienced a certain extent plastic deformation, accompanied by some dense dislocations and twin generation. Moreover, surface microhardness, residual stress and roughness values of samples treated by MUSR were also greatly improved compared with that of untreated samples. Surface microhardness and compressive residual stress were increased to 435 HV and −1173 MPa, respectively. The minimum surface roughness was reduced to 0.13 μm. The maximum depth of the surface hardening layer was about 55 μm. However, the practical influence depth was about 450 μm judging from the tensile and fatigue fracture surfaces. The ultimate tensile strength of the MUSR-treated sample increased to 990 MPa from the initial 963 MPa. The fatigue strength of the MUSR-treated sample was increased by about 25% on the base of 107 cycles, and the lifetime was prolonged from two times to two orders of magnitude at the applied stress amplitudes of 650–560 MPa. The improved mechanical and fatigue properties of MUSR-treated samples should be attributed to the combined effects of the increased microhardness and compressive residual stress, low surface roughness, grain refinement and micro-pore healing in the material surface-modified layer. PMID:28772494

  8. Electro and Magneto-Electropolished Surface Micro-Patterning on Binary and Ternary Nitinol

    PubMed Central

    Munroe, Norman; McGoron, Anthony

    2012-01-01

    In this study, an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) roughness analysis was performed on non-commercial Nitinol alloys with Electropolished (EP) and Magneto-Electropolished (MEP) surface treatments and commercially available stents by measuring Root-Mean-Square (RMS), Average Roughness (Ra), and Surface Area (SA) values at various dimensional areas on the alloy surfaces, ranging from (800 × 800 nm) to (115 × 115μm), and (800 × 800 nm) to (40 × 40 μm) on the commercial stents. Results showed that NiTi-Ta 10 wt% with an EP surface treatment yielded the highest overall roughness, while the NiTi-Cu 10 wt% alloy had the lowest roughness when analyzed over (115 × 115 μm). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed unique surface morphologies for surface treated alloys, as well as an aggregation of ternary elements Cr and Cu at grain boundaries in MEP and EP surface treated alloys, and non-surface treated alloys. Such surface micro-patterning on ternary Nitinol alloys could increase cellular adhesion and accelerate surface endothelialization of endovascular stents, thus reducing the likelihood of in-stent restenosis and provide insight into hemodynamic flow regimes and the corrosion behavior of an implantable device influenced from such surface micro-patterns. PMID:22754200

  9. Laser-treated stainless steel mini-screw implants: 3D surface roughness, bone-implant contact, and fracture resistance analysis

    PubMed Central

    Kang, He-Kyong; Chu, Tien-Min; Dechow, Paul; Stewart, Kelton; Kyung, Hee-Moon

    2016-01-01

    Summary Background/Objectives: This study investigated the biomechanical properties and bone-implant intersurface response of machined and laser surface-treated stainless steel (SS) mini-screw implants (MSIs). Material and Methods: Forty-eight 1.3mm in diameter and 6mm long SS MSIs were divided into two groups. The control (machined surface) group received no surface treatment; the laser-treated group received Nd-YAG laser surface treatment. Half in each group was used for examining surface roughness (Sa and Sq), surface texture, and facture resistance. The remaining MSIs were placed in the maxilla of six skeletally mature male beagle dogs in a randomized split-mouth design. A pair with the same surface treatment was placed on the same side and immediately loaded with 200g nickel–titanium coil springs for 8 weeks. After killing, the bone-implant contact (BIC) for each MSI was calculated using micro computed tomography. Analysis of variance model and two-sample t test were used for statistical analysis with a significance level of P <0.05. Results: The mean values of Sa and Sq were significantly higher in the laser-treated group compared with the machined group (P <0.05). There were no significant differences in fracture resistance and BIC between the two groups. Limitation: animal study Conclusions/Implications: Laser treatment increased surface roughness without compromising fracture resistance. Despite increasing surface roughness, laser treatment did not improve BIC. Overall, it appears that medical grade SS has the potential to be substituted for titanium alloy MSIs. PMID:25908868

  10. Modifications of aluminum film caused by micro-plasmoids and plasma spots in the effluent of an argon non-equilibrium plasma jet

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Engelhardt, Max; Ries, Stefan; Hermanns, Patrick; Bibinov, Nikita; Awakowicz, Peter

    2017-09-01

    A smooth layer of hard aluminium film is deposited onto a glass substrate with a multi-frequency CCP discharge and then treated in the effluent of a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet (N-APPJ) operated with Ar flow. A thin filament is formed in the argon N-APPJ through contraction of a diffuse feather-like discharge. The aluminium surface treated in the effluents of the N-APPJ is significantly modified. Erosion tracks of different forms and micro-balls composed of aluminium are observed on the treated surface. Based on CCD images of active plasma discharge channels, SEM images of the treated surface and current-voltage characteristics, these surface modifications are interpreted as traces of plasma spots and plasmoids. Plasma spots are focused plasma channels, which are characterized by an intense emission in CCD images at the contact point of a plasma channel with the treated metal surface and by deep short tracks on the aluminium surface, observed in SEM images. Plasmoids are plasma objects without contact to any power supply which can produce long, thin and shallow traces, as can be observed on the treated surface using electron microscopy. Based on observed traces and numerous transformations of plasma spots to plasmoids and vice versa, it is supposed that both types of plasma objects are formed by an extremely high axial magnetic field and differ from each other due to the existence or absence of contact to a power supply and the consequential transport of electric current. The reason for the magnetic field at the axis of these plasma objects is possibly a circular current of electron pairs in vortices, which are formed in plasma by the interaction of ionization waves with the substrate surface. The extremely high magnetic field of plasma spots and plasmoids leads to a local destruction of the metal film and top layer of the glass substrate and to an attraction of paramagnetic materials, namely aluminium and oxygen. The magnetic attraction of aluminium is a reason for the extraction of some pieces of metal and the formation of erosion tracks and holes in the metal film. In the absence of metal atomization, the extracted aluminium forms spherical micro-particles, which are distributed over the surface of the treated metal film by the gas flow. A thin (100 nm) gold (diamagnetic) layer on top of the aluminium film surface reduces the erosion rate of plasma spots and plasmoids drastically (more than three orders of magnitude).

  11. The Effect of Hydrofluoric Acid Surface Treatment on the Cyclic Fatigue Resistance of K3 NiTi Instruments

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 50% hydrofluoric acid (HF) surface treatment on the cyclic fatigue resistance (CFR) of K3 NiTi instruments. Twenty as-received and twenty HF-treated K3 NiTi instruments were compared in CFR. The surface texture and fracture surface of two instrument groups were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Additionally, any change of Ni and Ti composition from both instrument groups was investigated using energy dispersive spectrometry. The results were analyzed with t-test. The HF-treated K3 group showed statistically higher cyclic fatigue resistance than as-received K3 group (P < 0.05). HF-treated K3 instruments showed smoother and rounded surface compared to as-received K3 under SEM observation. The fracture surfaces of both groups showed typical patterns of cyclic fatigue fracture. There was no difference in surface Ni and Ti composition between two groups. HF treatment of K3 instruments smoothed the file surface and increased the cyclic fatigue resistance, while it had no effect on surface ion composition and the file fracture pattern. PMID:28539854

  12. NANOFILTRATION FOULANTS FROM A TREATED SURFACE WATER

    EPA Science Inventory

    The foulant from pilot nanofiltration membrane elements fed conventionally-treated surface water for 15 months was analyzed for organic, inorganic, and biological parameters. The foulant responsible for flux loss was shown to be a film layer 20 to 80 um thick with the greatest de...

  13. Relationships between tensile strength, morphology and crystallinity of treated kenaf bast fibers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sosiati, H.; Rohim, Ar; Ma`arif, Triyana, K.; Harsojo

    2013-09-01

    Surface treatments on kenaf bast fibers were carried out with steam, alkali and a combination of steam-alkali. To verify and gain an understanding of their inter-relationship, tensile strength, surface morphology and crystallinity of treated and raw fibers were characterized. Tensile strength of fibers was measured with a universal tensile machine (UTM), crystallinity was estimated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile strength of the treated fibers was higher than that of the raw fiber. Tensile strength increased after steam treatment and was further improved by alkali treatment, but slightly reduced after steam treatment followed by alkalization. Increase of concentration of alkali tended to increase tensile strength. Differences in tensile strength of the treated fibers are discussed in relation to the changes in surface morphology and crystallinity. Understanding of these relationships may provide direction towards the goal of producing better performance of natural fiber composites.

  14. SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION OF (NH4)2S TREATED GaSeTe FOR RADIATION DETECTOR APPLICATIONS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nelson, A; Laurence, T; Conway, A

    2009-08-04

    The surface of the layered III-VI chalcogenide semiconductor GaSeTe was treated with (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}S at 60 C to modify the surface chemistry and determine the effect on transport properties. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements were used to assess the effect of the (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}S treatment on surface defect states. Evaluation of the subsequent surface chemistry was performed with high-resolution core-level photoemission measurements. Metal overlayers were deposited on the (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}S treated surfaces and the I-V characteristics were measured. The measurements were correlated to understand the effect of (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}S modification of the interfacial electronic structure withmore » the goal of optimizing the metal/GaSeTe interface for radiation detector devices.« less

  15. Effects of silicone hydrogel contact lenses on ocular surface after Sub-Bowman's Keratomileusis.

    PubMed

    Gao, Shaohui; Wu, Junshu; Li, Lili; Wang, Yong; Zhong, Xingwu

    2013-11-01

    To evaluate the efficacy of silicone hydrogel contact lenses on ocular surface after Sub-Bowman Keratomileusis (SBK). Forty-six patients suffered from myopia underwent a bilateral SBK. Post-operatively, one eye of each patient wore a PureVision contact lens for 24 h as a treated eye and the contralateral eye was as a blank control. Afterwards, corneal fluorescein (FL) staining, tear break-up time (TBUT), schirmer I test (SIT), central corneal thickness (CCT), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF) and corneal flap complications were assessed 1 d (except for CH and CRF), 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Following SBK, in contrast to the control, corneal fluorescein staining of treated eyes were significantly reduced and tear break-up time of treated eyes were significantly improved at 1 d and 1 week after SBK. However, Schirmer I test of treated and control eyes were not different after SBK. Central corneal thickness of treated eyes were significantly thinner than that of control at 1 d after SBK, however, there were no differences at other time points. Ocular surface disease index of treated eyes were obviously alleviated more than that of control at 1 d after SBK, but no differences were found at other visits. Moreover, Corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor of treated and un-treated eyes were not different after surgery. And also the rate of corneal flap complications were not different between treated and control eyes after SBK. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses played a positive role in accelerating corneal epithelial healing, enhancing tear film stability and reducing discomfort of patients in the early stage after SBK.

  16. Determination of the critical surface tension of wetting of minerals treated with surfactants by shear flocculation approach.

    PubMed

    Ozkan, A

    2004-09-15

    This paper contributes the shear flocculation method as a new approach to determine the critical surface tension of wetting of minerals treated with surfactants. This newly developed approach is based on the decrease of the shear flocculation of the mineral suspension, with decreasing of the surface tension of the liquids used. The solution surface tension value at which shear flocculation does not occur can be defined as the critical surface tension of wetting (gamma c) of the mineral. By using the shear flocculation method, the critical surface tensions of wetting (gamma c) for calcite and barite minerals, treated with surfactants, were obtained as 30.9 and 35.0 mN/m, respectively. These values are in good agreement with data reported previously on the same minerals obtained by the contact angle measurement and flotation methods. The chemical agents used for the treatment of calcite and barite particles were sodium oleate and sodium dodecyl sulfate, respectively.

  17. Endothelial cell behaviour on gas-plasma-treated PLA surfaces: the roles of surface chemistry and roughness.

    PubMed

    Shah, Amita; Shah, Sarita; Mani, Gopinath; Wenke, Joseph; Agrawal, Mauli

    2011-04-01

    Glow-discharge gas-plasma (GP) treatment has been shown to induce surface modifications such that cell adhesion and growth are enhanced. However, it is not known which gas used in GP treatment is optimal for endothelial cell function. Polylactic acid (PLA) films treated oxygen, argon, or nitrogen GP were characterized using contact angles, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical profilometry, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All three GP treatments decreased the carbon atomic concentration and surface roughness and increased the oxygen atomic concentration. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on the PLA films for up to 7 days. Based on proliferation and live/dead assays, surface chemistry was shown to have the greatest effect on the attachment, proliferation, and viability of these cells, while roughness did not have a significant influence. Of the different gases, endothelial cell viability, attachment and proliferation were most significantly increased on PLA surfaces treated with oxygen and argon gas plasma. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  18. Sublethal exposure to methoxyfenozide-treated surfaces reduces the attractiveness and responsiveness in adult oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

    PubMed

    Reinke, Michael D; Barrett, Bruce A

    2007-02-01

    The chemical communication (female attractiveness and male responsiveness) of adult oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), exposed to surfaces treated with the ecdysteroid agonist methoxyfenozide for 48 h were investigated in two laboratory wind tunnel assays. The recapture assay examined the ability of treated males to orient to a single cage of treated females, and the data gathered were mean percentage of males recaptured per treatment. The male sexual behavior assay examined some specific orientation behaviors (associated with sexual excitability) of treated males when they were given a choice of two competing pheromone sources (cages of treated females), and the data gathered were mean time males spent in upwind plume orientations and at source contact (female cage) per treatment. Data from the recapture assay suggests that exposure to methoxyfenozide impacts male responsiveness more than female attractiveness. In contrast, data from the sexual behavior assay strongly revealed that exposure to methoxyfenozide-treated surfaces does negatively impact both the ability of calling females to attract males and of aroused males to display sustained upwind flight behavior and time spent at the female cages.

  19. Reduced reactivity to air on HF-treated YBa2Cu3O(7-x)surfaces

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Vasquez, R. P.; Hunt, B. D.; Foote, M. C.

    1989-01-01

    Treatment of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) films with a nonaqueous solution of HF in absolute ethanol results in the formation of an oxyfluoride with relative Y:Ba:Cu concentrations of 1:4:3 on the surface, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The passivation properties of chemically treated films were tested by monitoring the growth of the high binding energy O 1s peak, associated with nonsuperconducting surface species, as a function of air exposure time, for both HF-treated and untreated films. The native oxyfluoride is shown to reduce the reactivity of the superconductor to air.

  20. Wear Enhancement of Wheel-Rail Interaction by Ultrasonic Nanocrystalline Surface Modification Technique.

    PubMed

    Chang, Seky; Pyun, Young-Sik; Amanov, Auezhan

    2017-02-16

    In this study, an ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) technique was applied to normal and heat-treated rails made of 60 kgK steel to enhance the wear resistance of the wheel-rail interaction. The hardness and compressive residual stress values of the untreated and UNSM-treated rails were measured by the Brinell hardness tester and X-ray diffraction technique, respectively. It was found, according to the measurement results, that the hardness was increased by about 20% and 8%, whereas the compressive residual stress was induced by about 52% and 62% for the UNSM-treated normal and heat-treated rails, respectively. The UNSM-treated normal rail showed a slightly higher hardness than the heat-treated rail. The wear resistance of rails with respect to rotating speed and rolling time was assessed using a rolling contact wear (RCW) tester under dry conditions. The RCW test results revealed that the wear of the UNSM-treated rails was enhanced in comparison with those of the untreated rails. Also, the wear amount of the rails was increased with increasing the rotation speed. The UNSM-treated normal rail exhibited the highest wear resistance with respect to the rotation speed. The wear mechanisms of the rails are also discussed based on microscopic images of the worn out surfaces.

  1. Wear Enhancement of Wheel-Rail Interaction by Ultrasonic Nanocrystalline Surface Modification Technique

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Seky; Pyun, Young-Sik; Amanov, Auezhan

    2017-01-01

    In this study, an ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) technique was applied to normal and heat-treated rails made of 60 kgK steel to enhance the wear resistance of the wheel-rail interaction. The hardness and compressive residual stress values of the untreated and UNSM-treated rails were measured by the Brinell hardness tester and X-ray diffraction technique, respectively. It was found, according to the measurement results, that the hardness was increased by about 20% and 8%, whereas the compressive residual stress was induced by about 52% and 62% for the UNSM-treated normal and heat-treated rails, respectively. The UNSM-treated normal rail showed a slightly higher hardness than the heat-treated rail. The wear resistance of rails with respect to rotating speed and rolling time was assessed using a rolling contact wear (RCW) tester under dry conditions. The RCW test results revealed that the wear of the UNSM-treated rails was enhanced in comparison with those of the untreated rails. Also, the wear amount of the rails was increased with increasing the rotation speed. The UNSM-treated normal rail exhibited the highest wear resistance with respect to the rotation speed. The wear mechanisms of the rails are also discussed based on microscopic images of the worn out surfaces. PMID:28772549

  2. Helium atmospheric pressure plasma jets touching dielectric and metal surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Norberg, Seth A.; Johnsen, Eric; Kushner, Mark J.

    2015-07-01

    Atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are being investigated in the context plasma medicine and biotechnology applications, and surface functionalization. The composition of the surface being treated ranges from plastics, liquids, and biological tissue, to metals. The dielectric constant of these materials ranges from as low as 1.5 for plastics to near 80 for liquids, and essentially infinite for metals. The electrical properties of the surface are not independent variables as the permittivity of the material being treated has an effect on the dynamics of the incident APPJ. In this paper, results are discussed from a computational investigation of the interaction of an APPJ incident onto materials of varying permittivity, and their impact on the discharge dynamics of the plasma jet. The computer model used in this investigation solves Poisson's equation, transport equations for charged and neutral species, the electron energy equation, and the Navier-Stokes equations for the neutral gas flow. The APPJ is sustained in He/O2 = 99.8/0.2 flowing into humid air, and is directed onto dielectric surfaces in contact with ground with dielectric constants ranging from 2 to 80, and a grounded metal surface. Low values of relative permittivity encourage propagation of the electric field into the treated material and formation and propagation of a surface ionization wave. High values of relative permittivity promote the restrike of the ionization wave and the formation of a conduction channel between the plasma discharge and the treated surface. The distribution of space charge surrounding the APPJ is discussed.

  3. Grafting of PMMA brushes layer on Cu surface to create a stable superhydrophobic surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Junhong; Cai, Junyan; Li, Ming

    2016-11-01

    In this paper, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes were grafted on Cu micro-cone structured substrate by a simple one-step cathodic electro-initiated polymerization method which was carried out in aqueous solution at room temperature in the open air. The PMMA brushes were continuous, uniform and thickness-controllable, and it covalently bonded to the Cu surface. In the brushes, nitrophenyl moieties acted as cross-linker between PMMA chains. After removed from the solution followed by treated with water, the PMMA brushes (basically a hydrophilic material)/micro-cone structured Cu surface was hydrophilic with water contact angle (CA) of 74.4°. However, it exhibited superhydrophobicity by treating it in the acetone. The conversion from hydrophilic surface to superhydrophobic one may due to rearrangement of nitrophenyl moieties and PMMA chains at the topmost of the brushes. In addition, its water CA increased with grafting time of the brushes from 145° to about 166°, because there was no available space in thinner film for group reorientation. The surface was conversed to hydrophilic again after treated with hot water, but it was still superhydrophobic after treated in water at room temperature. This revealed that the group reorientation also easily occurred in hot water like in the acetone. More importantly, the surface retained good superhydrophobic stability in acidic environment and in long-time storage. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic surface had excellent resistance that can provide effective protection for the bare Cu substrate.

  4. Antibiotic bonding to polytetrafluoroethylene with tridodecylmethylammonium chloride

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Harvey, R.A.; Alcid, D.V.; Greco, R.S.

    Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) treated with the cationic surfactant, triodecylmethylammonium chloride (TDMAC), binds /sup 14/C-penicillin (1.5 to 2 mg antibiotic/cm graft), whereas untreated PTFE or PTFE treated with anionic detergents shows little binding of antibiotic. TDMAC-treated PTFE concomitantly binds penicillin and heparin, generating a surface that potentially can resist both infection and thrombosis. The retention of these biologically active molecules is not due to passive entrapment in the PTFE but reflects an ionic interaction between the anionic ligands and surface-bound TDMAC. Penicillin bound to PTFE is not removed by exhaustive washing in aqueous buffers but is slowly released in the presence ofmore » plasma or when the PTFE is placed in a muscle pouch in the rat. Muscle tissue adjacent to the treated PTFE shows elevated levels of antibiotic following implantation. PTFE treated with TDMAC and placed in a muscle pouch binds /sup 14/C-penicillin when it is locally irrigated with antibiotic or when penicillin is administered intravenously. Thus, the TDMAC surface treated either in vitro or in vivo with penicillin provides an effective in situ source for the timed release of antibiotic.« less

  5. Evaluation Of The Shear Bond Strength Between Dentin And Dental Luting Cement Following Dentin Surface Treatment By 980 Nm Diode Laser And Desensitizing Agent

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibrahim, T.; Gheith, M.

    2011-09-01

    Dentin hypersensitivity is described clinically as an exaggerated response to non-noxious sensory stimuli. Current treatment is concentrating on two approaches; to occlude the dentinal tubules or to block neural transmission. This is achieved through using dentin desensitizers and low power lasers. Forty eight freshly extracted human molar teeth were used in this study and divided equally into three groups. Group 1) control group, group 2) laser treated dentin surface group, and group 3) desensitizing agent dentin surface group. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of laser treated group showed melted globules, no carbonization, recrystalization and crystal growth of the apatite in some areas. In diode laser dentin surface treated group showed the highest shear bond strength mean value.

  6. Characterization of a Laser Surface-Treated Martensitic Stainless Steel.

    PubMed

    Al-Sayed, S R; Hussein, A A; Nofal, A A; Hassab Elnaby, S I; Elgazzar, H

    2017-05-29

    Laser surface treatment was carried out on AISI 416 machinable martensitic stainless steel containing 0.225 wt.% sulfur. Nd:YAG laser with a 2.2-KW continuous wave was used. The aim was to compare the physical and chemical properties achieved by this type of selective surface treatment with those achieved by the conventional treatment. Laser power of different values (700 and 1000 W) with four corresponding different laser scanning speeds (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 m•min-1) was adopted to reach the optimum conditions for impact toughness, wear, and corrosion resistance for laser heat treated (LHT) samples. The 0 °C impact energy of LHT samples indicated higher values compared to the conventionally heat treated (CHT) samples. This was accompanied by the formation of a hard surface layer and a soft interior base metal. Microhardness was studied to determine the variation of hardness values with respect to the depth under the treated surface. The wear resistance at the surface was enhanced considerably. Microstructure examination was characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The corrosion behavior of the LHT samples was also studied and its correlation with the microstructures was determined. The corrosion data was obtained in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature by means of a potentiodynamic polarization technique.

  7. Characterization of a Laser Surface-Treated Martensitic Stainless Steel

    PubMed Central

    Al-Sayed, S. R.; Hussein, A. A.; Nofal, A. A.; Hassab Elnaby, S. I.; Elgazzar, H.

    2017-01-01

    Laser surface treatment was carried out on AISI 416 machinable martensitic stainless steel containing 0.225 wt.% sulfur. Nd:YAG laser with a 2.2-KW continuous wave was used. The aim was to compare the physical and chemical properties achieved by this type of selective surface treatment with those achieved by the conventional treatment. Laser power of different values (700 and 1000 W) with four corresponding different laser scanning speeds (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 m·min−1) was adopted to reach the optimum conditions for impact toughness, wear, and corrosion resistance for laser heat treated (LHT) samples. The 0 °C impact energy of LHT samples indicated higher values compared to the conventionally heat treated (CHT) samples. This was accompanied by the formation of a hard surface layer and a soft interior base metal. Microhardness was studied to determine the variation of hardness values with respect to the depth under the treated surface. The wear resistance at the surface was enhanced considerably. Microstructure examination was characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The corrosion behavior of the LHT samples was also studied and its correlation with the microstructures was determined. The corrosion data was obtained in 3.5% NaCl solution at room temperature by means of a potentiodynamic polarization technique. PMID:28772955

  8. Heterogeneous Nucleation of Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate on Modified Silica Surfaces

    PubMed Central

    Miller, Carrie; Komunjer, Ljepša; Hlady, Vladimir

    2012-01-01

    Heterogeneous nucleation of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, CaHPO4•2H2O (DCPD) was studied on untreated planar fused silica and on three modified silica surfaces: octadecylsilyl (OTS) modified silica, human serum albumin treated OTS silica, and UV-oxidized 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilyl (MTS) modified silica. The supersaturation ratio of calcium and phosphate solution with respect to DCPD was kept below ~10. The nucleated crystals were observed 24 hours and one week after initial contact between supersaturated solutions and substrate surfaces using bright field and reflectance interference contrast microscopy. No DCPD crystals nucleated on albumin-treated OTS-silica. Majority of the DCDP crystals formed on the other modified silica surfaces appeared to be morphologically similar irrespective of the nature of nucleating substrate. Reflectance interference contrast microscopy provided a proof that the majority of the crystals on these substrates do not develop an extended contact with the substrate surface. The images showed that the most extended contact planes were between the DCPD crystals and MTS modified silica surface. The crystals nucleated on OTS-treated and untreated silica surfaces showed only few or none well-developed contact planes. PMID:25264399

  9. Surface analysis of 316 stainless steel treated with cold atmospheric plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williams, David F.; Kellar, Ewen J. C.; Jesson, David A.; Watts, John F.

    2017-05-01

    The surface of 316 stainless steel has been modified using cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to increase the surface free energy (by cleaning the and chemically activating the surface)IN preparation for subsequent processes such as painting, coating or adhesive bonding. The analyses carried out, on CAP treated 316 stainless steel surfaces, includes X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), imaging XPS (iXPS), and surface free energy (SFE) analysis using contact angle measurements. The CAP treatment is shown to increase the SFE of as-received 316 stainless steel from ∼39 mJ m-1 to >72 mJ m-1 after a short exposure to the plasma torch. This was found to correlate to a reduction in adventitious carbon, as determined by XPS analysis of the surface. The reduction from ∼90 at% to ∼30% and ∼39 at%, after being plasma treated for 5 min and 15 s respectively, shows that the process is relatively quick at changing the surface. It is suggested that the mechanism that causes the increase in surface free energy is chain scission of the hydrocarbon contamination triggered by free electrons in the plasma plume followed by chemical functionalisation of the metal oxide surface and some of the remaining carbon contamination layer.

  10. Rebamipide protects against glaucoma eyedrop-induced ocular surface disorders in rabbits

    PubMed Central

    Kawaguchi, Ichiro; Higashide, Tomomi; Takeji, Yasuhiro; Sakurai, Kazushi; Kawaguchi, Chiaki; Sugiyama, Kazuhisa

    2017-01-01

    Purpose This study aimed to determine if rebamipide eyedrops can improve ocular surface damage caused by the use of glaucoma eyedrops. Methods Female Kbl:Dutch rabbits were used to evaluate glaucoma eyedrop-induced ocular surface damage; one eye of each rabbit was untreated and the other was administered glaucoma eyedrops for 30 days. To evaluate the effects of rebamipide on ocular surface damage, one eye of each rabbit was administered vehicle-treated glaucoma eyedrops and the other was administered rebamipide-treated glaucoma eyedrops for 30 days. Corneal and conjunctival epithelial damage was evaluated using fluorescein and rose bengal staining, respectively. Conjunctival inflammation was observed by light microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Dark cells (in which the corneal microvilli were damaged) were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Results There were no significant differences in fluorescein staining between the untreated and glaucoma eyedrop-treated groups; however, rose bengal staining and the number of inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva significantly increased after glaucoma eyedrop treatment. There was a four-fold increase in the number of dark cells in the glaucoma eyedrop-treated group compared to untreated. In contrast, in the conjunctiva of the rebamipide-treated glaucoma eyedrop group, rose bengal staining scores, the number of inflammatory cells, and the number of dark cells were decreased compared to the vehicle-treated glaucoma eyedrop group. Conclusions Results from our in vivo rabbit study demonstrated that short-term use of glaucoma eyedrops induces corneal epithelium disorders at the cellular level, but that simultaneous use of rebamipide has the potential to protect and repair the ocular surface. PMID:29049370

  11. Rebamipide protects against glaucoma eyedrop-induced ocular surface disorders in rabbits.

    PubMed

    Kawaguchi, Ichiro; Kobayashi, Akira; Higashide, Tomomi; Takeji, Yasuhiro; Sakurai, Kazushi; Kawaguchi, Chiaki; Sugiyama, Kazuhisa

    2017-01-01

    This study aimed to determine if rebamipide eyedrops can improve ocular surface damage caused by the use of glaucoma eyedrops. Female Kbl:Dutch rabbits were used to evaluate glaucoma eyedrop-induced ocular surface damage; one eye of each rabbit was untreated and the other was administered glaucoma eyedrops for 30 days. To evaluate the effects of rebamipide on ocular surface damage, one eye of each rabbit was administered vehicle-treated glaucoma eyedrops and the other was administered rebamipide-treated glaucoma eyedrops for 30 days. Corneal and conjunctival epithelial damage was evaluated using fluorescein and rose bengal staining, respectively. Conjunctival inflammation was observed by light microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Dark cells (in which the corneal microvilli were damaged) were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. There were no significant differences in fluorescein staining between the untreated and glaucoma eyedrop-treated groups; however, rose bengal staining and the number of inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva significantly increased after glaucoma eyedrop treatment. There was a four-fold increase in the number of dark cells in the glaucoma eyedrop-treated group compared to untreated. In contrast, in the conjunctiva of the rebamipide-treated glaucoma eyedrop group, rose bengal staining scores, the number of inflammatory cells, and the number of dark cells were decreased compared to the vehicle-treated glaucoma eyedrop group. Results from our in vivo rabbit study demonstrated that short-term use of glaucoma eyedrops induces corneal epithelium disorders at the cellular level, but that simultaneous use of rebamipide has the potential to protect and repair the ocular surface.

  12. [Ocular Surface Evaluation in Patients Treated with Prostaglandin Analogues Considering Preservative Agent].

    PubMed

    Mlčáková, E; Mlčák, P; Karhanová, M; Langová, K; Marešová, K

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the ocular surface in patients treated with prostaglandin analogues considering contained preservative agent. 60 patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension treated with prostaglandin analogue monotherapy were enrolled in this observational study. 20 patients with glaucoma suspect or ocular hypertension without local or systemic glaucoma medication formed the control group. Demographic data and medical history were recorded for each participant. Patients filled in the Ocular surface disease index© (OSDI) questionnaire and underwent an ophthalmological examination including assessment of conjunctival hyperaemia according to Efron, tear film break up time (BUT) and fluorescein staining according to the Oxford grading scheme. Treated participants were divided into 3 groups according to the preservative contained in the currently used prostaglandin analogue: the preservative-free group (18 patients), the polyquaternium group (17 patients) and the benzalkonium chloride (BAK) group (25 patients). The control group had significantly lower fluorescein staining than the preservative-free group (p=0.001), the polyquaternium group (p=0.007) and the BAK group (p=0.002). The conjunctival hyperaemia was significantly lower in the preservative-free group compared to the polyquaternium group (p=0.011). There was no significant difference among the other groups. The difference neither in the OSDI score nor in the BUT was statistically important. This study confirmed that the ocular surface is worse in patients treated with prostaglandin analogue monotherapy than in people without glaucoma medication. A significant difference among treated patients depending on a preservative agent was not proved.Key words: benzalkonium chloride, glaucoma, ocular surface disease, preservatives, prostaglandin analogues.

  13. Particle morphology dependent superhydrophobicity in treated diatomaceous earth/polystyrene coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sedai, Bhishma R.; Alavi, S. Habib; Harimkar, Sandip P.; McCollum, Mark; Donoghue, Joseph F.; Blum, Frank D.

    2017-09-01

    Superhydrophobic surfaces have been prepared from three different types of diatomaceous earth (DE) particles treated with 3-(heptafluoroisopropoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (HFIP-TMS) and low molecular mass polystyrene. The untreated particles, consisting of CelTix DE (disk shape), DiaFil DE (rod shape) and EcoFlat DE (irregular), were studied using particle size analysis, bulk density, pore volume and surface area analysis (via Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, BET, methods). The treated particles were characterized with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angles, scanning electron microscopy, profilometry, and FTIR spectroscopy. The minimum amount of silane coupling agent on the DE surfaces required to obtain superhydrophobicity of the particles was determined and found to be dependent on the particle morphology. In the coatings made from different particles with 2.4 wt% HFIP-TMS, the minimum amounts of treated particles (loadings) for superhydrophobicity was determined with the less dense CelTix DE requiring about 30 wt%, DiaFil DE requiring about 40 wt%, and EcoFlat DE each requiring about 60 wt% loading of treated particles.

  14. Bioactivity of Ti-6Al-4V alloy implants treated with ibandronate after the formation of the nanotube TiO2 layer.

    PubMed

    Moon, So-Hee; Lee, Seung-Jae; Park, Il-Song; Lee, Min-Ho; Soh, Yun-Jo; Bae, Tae-Sung; Kim, Hyung-Seop

    2012-11-01

    Nanostructure surface of titanium implants treated with anodic oxidation, heat, and bisphosphonates, has been introduced to improve osseointegration of the implants. However, no information could be found about the efficiency of these approaches on Ti-6Al-4V alloy surfaces. This study examined the drug loading capacity of anodized nanotubular Ti-6Al-4V alloy surfaces in vitro as well as the bone response to surface immobilized bisphosphonates (BPs) on anodized nanotubular Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface in tibiae of rats. Ti-6Al-4V alloy titanium was divided into two groups: (1) control group (nontreated); (2) test group (anodized, heat-, and bisphosphonate-treated group). In vitro, amount of the drug released from the both groups' specimens was examined; all samples were 1 × 2 cm in size. In vivo, the 10 implants were placed inside of tibias of five rats. After 4 weeks, the bone response of the implants was evaluated using a removal torque test, and measuring bone contact and bone area. In addition, the surfaces of the extracted implants were observed by FE-SEM and EDS. In vitro, the drug loading capacity of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy surfaces was enhanced by anodizing surface modification. The values of the removal torque, bone contact, and bone area were significantly higher in the test group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, according to the EDS analysis, the amounts of Ca and P on the surface of the extracted implants were higher in the test group. Within the limits of this experiment, results of this research demonstrated that bisphosphonate-treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy implants with nanotubular surfaces have positive effects in bone-to-implant contact. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Inhibition of integrative cartilage repair by proteoglycan 4 in synovial fluid.

    PubMed

    Englert, Carsten; McGowan, Kevin B; Klein, Travis J; Giurea, Alexander; Schumacher, Barbara L; Sah, Robert L

    2005-04-01

    To determine the effects of the articular cartilage surface, as well as synovial fluid (SF) and its components, specifically proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) and hyaluronic acid (HA), on integrative cartilage repair in vitro. Blocks of calf articular cartilage were harvested, some with the articular surface intact and others without. Some of the latter types of blocks were pretreated with trypsin, and then with bovine serum albumin, SF, PRG4, or HA. Immunolocalization of PRG4 on cartilage surfaces was performed after treatment. Pairs of similarly treated cartilage blocks were incubated in partial apposition for 2 weeks in medium supplemented with serum and (3)H-proline. Following culture, mechanical integration between apposed cartilage blocks was assessed by measuring adhesive strength, and protein biosynthesis and deposition were determined by incorporated (3)H-proline. Samples with articular surfaces in apposition exhibited little integrative repair compared with samples with cut surfaces in apposition. PRG4 was immunolocalized at the articular cartilage surface, but not in deeper, cut surfaces (without treatment). Cartilage samples treated with trypsin and then with SF or PRG4 exhibited an inhibition of integrative repair and positive immunostaining for PRG4 at treated surfaces compared with normal cut cartilage samples, while samples treated with HA exhibited neither inhibited integrative repair nor PRG4 at the tissue surfaces. Deposition of newly synthesized protein was relatively similar under conditions in which integration differed significantly. These results support the concept that PRG4 in SF, which normally contributes to cartilage lubrication, can inhibit integrative cartilage repair. This has the desirable effect of preventing fusion of apposing surfaces of articulating cartilage, but has the undesirable effect of inhibiting integrative repair.

  16. The Surface Properties of Teeth Treated with Resin Infiltration or Amorphous Calcium Phosphate

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-04

    properties of color stability and surface roughness of demineralized enamel treated with resin infiltration (ICON) or with casein phosphopeptide...amorphous calcium phosphate (MI Paste, CPP-ACP). Methods: Fifty human enamel blocks (4 x 4 mm2) were prepared. Each block was treated with 1M HCl (pH...and 5 (see Figure 2). Conclusion: The results of this study do not provide conclusive evidence that the standard of care for enamel

  17. Ion Beam Surface Treatment: A New Technique for Thermally Modifying Surfaces Using Intense, Pulsed Ion Beams

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1995-07-01

    background gasses in the treatment chamber. Polishing of Ti - 6Al - 4V In other experiments we treated Ti - 6Al - 4V on the Anaconda accelerator (400 kV peak...4. IBEST treatment of a Ti - 6Al - 4V machined surface (top) treated with 4, 400 ns, 7 J/cm2 mixed proton and carbon beam pulses demonstrates...Figure 8. This technique shows promise for surface porosity reduction but also shows some microcracking on a 0.1 micron scale. 50 Before After Figure

  18. Laser surface texturing of 316L stainless steel in air and water: A method for increasing hydrophilicity via direct creation of microstructures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Razi, Sepehr; Madanipour, Khosro; Mollabashi, Mahmoud

    2016-06-01

    Laser processing of materials in water contact is sometimes employed for improving the machining, cutting or welding quality. Here, we demonstrate surface patterning of stainless steel grade 316L by nano-second laser processing in air and water. Suitable adjustments of laser parameters offer a variety of surface patterns on the treated targets. Furthermore alterations of different surface features such as surface chemistry and wettability are investigated in various processing circumstances. More than surface morphology, remarkable differences are observed in the surface oxygen content and wettability of the samples treated in air and water at the same laser processing conditions. Mechanisms of the changes are discussed extensively.

  19. Gas discharge plasma treatment of poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,3/1,4 cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) for enhanced paint adhesion

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Salapare, Hernando S., E-mail: hssalapare@up.edu.ph; Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila City 1000; College of Science, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Intramuros, Manila City 1002

    Low-energy hydrogen-ions and tetrafluoromethane-ions produced from a gas discharge ion source were irradiated to poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,3/1,4 cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) (PETG) sheets for enhancing paint adhesion. The ion beams were characterized using a cast steel mass spectrometer, while the untreated and treated samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, and profilometry. The paint adhesion was determined by using the standard method for evaluating adhesion by knife [ASTM D6677-07, Standard Test Method for Evaluating Adhesion by Knife (ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2012)] and was correlated with the calculation of the work of adhesion derived frommore » the Young–Dupré equation. After plasma treatment, a significant decrease in the contact angle was observed in all samples, except for the CF{sub 4} ion-treated samples with the discharge current of 3 mA and an irradiation time of 30 min. At longer irradiation times, the treated samples showed lesser changes in the contact angle measurement. The increase in the average and root-mean-square surface roughness was observed on the samples after plasma treatment. The samples treated with either H{sub 2} or CF{sub 4} ions for 15 min showed a direct correlation between the discharge current and surface roughness. The samples treated for 30 min showed no significant correlation between the surface roughness and discharge current, which can be attributed to the possible melting of the samples since PETG has a low melting point. The observation made in this study on the relationship of wettability and surface roughness is consistent with the Wenzel wetting mode. Scanning electron micrographs showed surface etching on the hydrogen ion-treated samples while no significant surface changes were observed for the CF{sub 4} ion-treated samples. In general, paint adhesion was stronger for samples that exhibited enhanced wettability and high work of adhesion. The optimal work of adhesion to double the paint adhesion performance was at least 84.79 mN/m. The increase in the surface roughness after the treatment provided an increased friction between the paint and the PETG surface. The increase in the paint adhesion was also due to the covalent, hydrogen, and van der Waals bonding that are typically observed for highly wettable surfaces.« less

  20. Corrosion behavior of heat-treated intermetallic titanium-nickel in hydrochloric acid solutions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Starosvetsky, D.; Khaselev, O.; Yahalom, J.

    1998-07-01

    Samples of 45% Ti-55% Ni alloy (Ti-Ni) were heat-treated in air at 450 C, and their anodic behavior in 0.3 M, 1 M, 2 M, and 4 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions was studied. In 0.3 M HCl, heat-treated Ti-Ni was passive, and very low anodic currents were observed. In 1 M and 2 M HCl, heat-treated Ti-Ni was dissolved actively, while heat-treated and surface-ground Ti-Ni became passive. The effect was explained by selective oxidation of Ti-Ni and formation of a layered structure on its surface with discontinuous titanium oxide and a nickel-enriched zone underneath. The latter was dissolved inmore » the HCl solutions, thus accelerating failure of the Ti-Ni samples. In 4 M HCl, heat-treated and heat-treated/ground samples were dissolved readily.« less

  1. Plasma treatment of polyethylene tubes in continuous regime using surface dielectric barrier discharge with water electrodes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galmiz, Oleksandr; Zemánek, Miroslav; Pavliňák, David; Černák, Mirko

    2018-05-01

    Combining the surface dielectric barrier discharges generated in contact with water based electrolytes, as the discharge electrodes, we have designed a new type of surface electric discharge, generating thin layers of plasma which propagate along the treated polymer surfaces. The technique was aimed to achieve uniform atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of polymeric tubes and other hollow bodies. The results presented in this work show the possibility of such system to treat outer surface of polymer materials in a continuous mode. The technical details of experimental setup are discussed as well as results of treatment of polyethylene tubes are shown.

  2. Surface improvement of EPDM rubber by plasma treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moraes, J. H.; da Silva Sobrinho, A. S.; Maciel, H. S.; Dutra, J. C. N.; Massi, M.; Mello, S. A. C.; Schreiner, W. H.

    2007-12-01

    The surface of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber was treated in N2/Ar and N2/H2/Ar RF plasmas in order to achieve similar or better adhesion properties than NBR (acrylonitrile-butadiene) rubber, nowadays used as thermal protection of rocket chambers. The surface properties were studied by contact angle measurements and by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The treated surfaces of the EPDM samples show a significant reduction in the contact angle measurement, indicating an increase in the surface energy. XPS analyses show the incorporation of polar nitrogen- and oxygen-containing groups on the rubber surface. After plasma treatment the presence of oxygen is observed due to surface oxidation which occurs when the samples are exposed to the air. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses indicate a decrease in the EPDM rubber surface roughness, promoted by surface etching during the plasma treatment. Strength tests indicate improvement of about 30% and 110% in the adhesion strength for the plasma treated EPDM/polyurethane liner interface and for the EPDM/epoxy adhesive interface, respectively. The adhesion strength of the EPDM/liner is similar to that obtained for the NBR/liner, which indicates that EPDM rubber can safely be used as thermal protection of the solid propellant rocket chamber.

  3. Characterization of Surface Modification of Polyethersulfone Membrane

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Surface modification of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane surface using UV/ozone-treated grafting and interfacial polymerization on membrane surface was investigated in order to improve the resistance of membrane surface to protein adsorption. These methods of surface modification were compared in te...

  4. Enhancing the biocompatibility of the polyurethane methacrylate and off-stoichiometry thiol-ene polymers by argon and nitrogen plasma treatment.

    PubMed

    Chen, Tiam Foo; Siow, Kim Shyong; Ng, Pei Yuen; Majlis, Burhanuddin Yeop

    2017-10-01

    Our studies focused on improving the biocompatibility properties of two microfluidic prototyping substrates i.e. polyurethane methacrylate (PUMA) and off-stoichiometry thiol-ene (OSTE-80) polymer by Ar and N 2 plasma treatment. The contact angle (CA) measurement showed that both plasma treatments inserted oxygen and nitrogen moieties increased the surface energy and hydrophilicity of PUMA and OSTE-80 polymer which corresponded to an increase of nitrogen to carbon ratios (N/C), as measured by XPS, to provide a conducive environment for cell attachments and proliferation. Under the SEM observation, the surface topography of PUMA and OSTE-80 polymer showed minimal changes after the plasma treatments. Furthermore, ageing studies showed that plasma-treated PUMA and OSTE-80 polymer had stable hydrophilicity and nitrogen composition during storage in ambient air for 15days. After in vitro cell culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on these surfaces for 24h and 72h, both trypan blue and alamar blue assays indicated that PUMA and OSTE-80 polymer treated with N 2 plasma had the highest viability and proliferation. The polar nitrogen moieties, specifically amide groups, encouraged the HUVECs adhesion on the plasma-treated PUMA and OSTE-80 surfaces. Interestingly, PUMA polymer treated with Ar and N 2 plasma showed different HUVECs morphology which was spindle and cobblestone-shaped respectively after 72h of incubation. On the contrary, a monolayer of well-spread HUVECs formed on the Ar and N 2 plasma-treated OSTE-80 polymers. These variable morphologies observed can be ascribed to the adherence HUVECs on the different elastic moduli of these surfaces whereby further investigation might be needed. Overall, Ar and N 2 plasma treatment had successfully altered the surface properties of PUMA and OSTE-80 polymer by increasing its surface energy, hydrophilicity and chemical functionalities to create a biocompatible surface for HUVECs adhesion and proliferation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. [Influence of carbodiimide-ethanol solution surface treatment on dentin microtensile bond strength].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yi; Liu, Yu-hua; Zhou, Yong-sheng; Chung, Kwok-hung

    2015-10-18

    To evaluate the microtensile bond strength changes and patterns of fractures of the bonding interface after dentine surface treatment with carbodiimide-ethanol solution. 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) dissolved in ethanol was diluted into different concentrations of 2, 1, 0.3, 0.1 and 0.01 mol/L EDC-ethanol solutions. Twenty-eight caries-free extracted human third molars were ground metallurgically to prepare flat occlusal mid-coronal dentin surfaces and etched with 35% (mass fraction) phosphoric acid gel. Then they were treated with EDC-ethanol solution for 60 s before the bonding procedure and randomly divided into five experimental groups corresponding to the tested EDC-ethanol concentrations. The ethanol treated and no pre-treated surfaces were used as controls. Single Bond 2 adhesive was applied and resin composite disk was stacked on the treated dentine surface. The teeth with resin composite disks were stored in water at room temperature for 24 h and then sectioned longitudinally to produce stick specimens for microtensile bond strength test. Fracture patterns were observed with a stereomicroscope. The dentin surfaces pre-treated with 2 mol/L [(22.17±13.31) MPa] and 1 mol/L [(45.31±17.80) MPa] EDC-ethanol solutions resulted in statistically significant lower bond strength value (P<0.05). Increasing numbers of fracture pattern at the resin-dentin interface were also found in this two groups with percentages of 81.2% and 41.3% respectively. No significant difference was observed in the groups with 0.3, 0.1, 0.01 mol/L EDC surface treatment (P>0.05). No significant difference of immediate bond strengths was found in the 0.3, 0.1, 0.01 mol/L groups compared with the control group. EDC-ethanol solution surface treatment with concentrations of 2 mol/L and 1 mol/L resulted in decreasing of the bonding strength.

  6. UV/O3 treatment as a surface modification of rice husk towards preparation of novel biocomposites

    PubMed Central

    Rajendran Royan, Nishata Royan; Sulong, Abu Bakar; Yuhana, Nor Yuliana; Ab Ghani, Mohd Hafizuddin; Ahmad, Sahrim

    2018-01-01

    The use of rice husks (RH) to reinforce polymers in biocomposites are increasing tremendously. However, the incompatibility between the hydrophilic RH fibers and the hydrophobic thermoplastic matrices leads to unsatisfactory biocomposites. Surface modification of the fiber surface was carried out to improve the adhesion between fiber and matrix. In this study, the effect of surface modification of RH via alkali, acid and ultraviolet-ozonolysis (UV/O3) treatments on the properties of composites recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) composites was investigated. The untreated and treated RH were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The composites containing 30 wt% of RH (treated and untreated) were then prepared via extrusion and followed by compression molding. As compared to untreated RH, all surface treated RH exhibited rougher surface and showed improved adhesion with rHDPE matrix. Tensile strength of UV/O3-treated RH composites showed an optimum result at 18.37 MPa which improved about 5% in comparison to the composites filled with untreated RH. UV/O3 treatment promotes shorter processing time and lesser raw material waste during treatment process where this is beneficial for commercialization in the future developments of wood plastic composites (WPCs). Therefore, UV/O3 treatment can be served as an alternative new method to modify RH surface in order to improve the adhesion between hydrophilic RH fibre and hydrophobic rHDPE polymer matrix. PMID:29847568

  7. Inhibition of biofilm formation on the surface of water storage containers using biosand zeolite silver-impregnated clay granular and silver impregnated porous pot filtration systems

    PubMed Central

    Moropeng, Resoketswe Charlotte; Mpenyana-Monyatsi, Lizzy; Momba, Maggie Ndombo Benteke

    2018-01-01

    Development of biofilms occurring on the inner surface of storage vessels offers a suitable medium for the growth of microorganisms and consequently contributes to the deterioration of treated drinking water quality in homes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the two point-of-use technologies (biosand zeolite silver-impregnated clay granular (BSZ-SICG) filter and silver-impregnated porous pot (SIPP) filter) deployed in a rural community of South Africa could inhibit the formation of biofilm on the surface of plastic-based containers generally used by rural households for the storage of their drinking water. Culture-based methods and molecular techniques were used to detect the indicator bacteria (Total coliforms, faecal coliform, E. coli) and pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Vibrio cholerae) in intake water and on the surface of storage vessels containing treated water. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to visualize the development of biofilm. Results revealed that the surface water source used by the Makwane community was heavily contaminated and harboured unacceptably high counts of bacteria (heterotrophic plate count: 4.4–4.3 Log10 CFU/100mL, total coliforms: 2.2 Log10 CFU/100 mL—2.1 Log10 CFU/100 mL, faecal coliforms: 1.9 Log10 CFU/100 mL—1.8 Log10 CFU/100 mL, E. coli: 1.7 Log10 CFU/100 mL—1.6 Log10 CFU/100 mL, Salmonella spp.: 3 Log10 CFU/100 mL -8 CFU/100 mL; Shigella spp. and Vibrio cholerae had 1.0 Log10 CFU/100 mL and 0.8 Log10 CFU/100 mL respectively). Biofilm formation was apparent on the surface of the storage containers with untreated water within 24 h. The silver nanoparticles embedded in the clay of the filtration systems provided an effective barrier for the inhibition of biofilm formation on the surface of household water storage containers. Biofilm formation occurred on the surface of storage plastic vessels containing drinking water treated with the SIPP filter between 14 and 21 days, and on those containing drinking water treated with the BSZ-SICG filter between 3 and 14 days. The attachment of target bacteria on the surface of the coupons inoculated in storage containers ranged from (0.07 CFU/cm2–227.8 CFU/cm2). To effectively prevent the development of biofilms on the surface of container-stored water, which can lead to the recontamination of treated water, plastic storage containers should be washed within 14 days for water treated with the SIPP filter and within 3 days for water treated with the BSZ-SICG filter. PMID:29621296

  8. Inhibition of biofilm formation on the surface of water storage containers using biosand zeolite silver-impregnated clay granular and silver impregnated porous pot filtration systems.

    PubMed

    Budeli, Phumudzo; Moropeng, Resoketswe Charlotte; Mpenyana-Monyatsi, Lizzy; Momba, Maggie Ndombo Benteke

    2018-01-01

    Development of biofilms occurring on the inner surface of storage vessels offers a suitable medium for the growth of microorganisms and consequently contributes to the deterioration of treated drinking water quality in homes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the two point-of-use technologies (biosand zeolite silver-impregnated clay granular (BSZ-SICG) filter and silver-impregnated porous pot (SIPP) filter) deployed in a rural community of South Africa could inhibit the formation of biofilm on the surface of plastic-based containers generally used by rural households for the storage of their drinking water. Culture-based methods and molecular techniques were used to detect the indicator bacteria (Total coliforms, faecal coliform, E. coli) and pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Vibrio cholerae) in intake water and on the surface of storage vessels containing treated water. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to visualize the development of biofilm. Results revealed that the surface water source used by the Makwane community was heavily contaminated and harboured unacceptably high counts of bacteria (heterotrophic plate count: 4.4-4.3 Log10 CFU/100mL, total coliforms: 2.2 Log10 CFU/100 mL-2.1 Log10 CFU/100 mL, faecal coliforms: 1.9 Log10 CFU/100 mL-1.8 Log10 CFU/100 mL, E. coli: 1.7 Log10 CFU/100 mL-1.6 Log10 CFU/100 mL, Salmonella spp.: 3 Log10 CFU/100 mL -8 CFU/100 mL; Shigella spp. and Vibrio cholerae had 1.0 Log10 CFU/100 mL and 0.8 Log10 CFU/100 mL respectively). Biofilm formation was apparent on the surface of the storage containers with untreated water within 24 h. The silver nanoparticles embedded in the clay of the filtration systems provided an effective barrier for the inhibition of biofilm formation on the surface of household water storage containers. Biofilm formation occurred on the surface of storage plastic vessels containing drinking water treated with the SIPP filter between 14 and 21 days, and on those containing drinking water treated with the BSZ-SICG filter between 3 and 14 days. The attachment of target bacteria on the surface of the coupons inoculated in storage containers ranged from (0.07 CFU/cm2-227.8 CFU/cm2). To effectively prevent the development of biofilms on the surface of container-stored water, which can lead to the recontamination of treated water, plastic storage containers should be washed within 14 days for water treated with the SIPP filter and within 3 days for water treated with the BSZ-SICG filter.

  9. 40 CFR 257.3-6 - Disease.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... this section. (1) Sewage sludge that is applied to the land surface or is incorporated into the soil is... incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (as listed in appendix II... surface or are incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Further Reduce Pathogens, prior to...

  10. 40 CFR 257.3-6 - Disease.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... this section. (1) Sewage sludge that is applied to the land surface or is incorporated into the soil is... incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (as listed in appendix II... surface or are incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Further Reduce Pathogens, prior to...

  11. 40 CFR 257.3-6 - Disease.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... this section. (1) Sewage sludge that is applied to the land surface or is incorporated into the soil is... incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (as listed in appendix II... surface or are incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Further Reduce Pathogens, prior to...

  12. 40 CFR 257.3-6 - Disease.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... this section. (1) Sewage sludge that is applied to the land surface or is incorporated into the soil is... incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (as listed in appendix II... surface or are incorporated into the soil are treated by a Process to Further Reduce Pathogens, prior to...

  13. Finishability of CCA pressure-treated wood

    Treesearch

    Alan Ross; Richard Carlson; William Feist; Steven Bussjaeger

    2000-01-01

    Thus, a need arose for the development of surface finishes for CCA-treated wood that could address the special requirements of this substrate and provide protection against the ravages of water, sunlight, mildew, and other aspects of weathering and wear. Initially, this need was not addressed, most wood preserving companies had little expertise in surface finishes and...

  14. EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COATINGS IN REDUCING DISLODGEABLE ARSENIC, CHROMIUM, AND COPPER FROM CCA TREATED WOOD; FINAL REPORT

    EPA Science Inventory

    EPA conducted a study to evaluate the effect of coatings on dislodgeable arsenic, chromium, and copper residues on the surfaces of chromated copper arsenate (CAA) treated wood. Dislodgeable CCA, determined by wipe sampling the wood surfaces, was the primary evaluation criterion f...

  15. Effect of various fire retardants on surface roughness of plywood

    Treesearch

    Nadir Ayrilmis; Suleyman Korkut; Ercan Tanritanir; Jerrold E. Winandy; Salim Hiziroglu

    2006-01-01

    In this study the surface roughness of plywood treated with various fire retardants was investigated. Commercially manufactured veneer of Akaba wood (Tetraberlinia bifoliolata) was treated with borax, boric acid, monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate, then experimental plywood panels were made from these veneer sheets. A stylus method was employed to evaluate...

  16. Influence of surface treatments on micropore structure and hydrogen adsorption behavior of nanoporous carbons.

    PubMed

    Kim, Byung-Joo; Park, Soo-Jin

    2007-07-15

    The scope of this work was to control the pore sizes of porous carbons by various surface treatments and to investigate the relation between pore structures and hydrogen adsorption capacity. The effects of various surface treatments (i.e., gas-phase ozone, anodic oxidation, fluorination, and oxygen plasma) on the micropore structures of porous carbons were investigated by N(2)/77 K isothermal adsorption. The hydrogen adsorption capacity was measured by H(2) isothermal adsorption at 77 K. In the result, the specific surface area and micropore volume of all of the treated samples were slightly decreased due to the micropore filling or pore collapsing behaviors. It was also found that in F(2)-treated carbons the center of the pore size distribution was shifted to left side, meaning that the average size of the micropores decreased. The F(2)- and plasma-treated samples showed higher hydrogen storage capacities than did the other samples, the F(2)-treated one being the best, indicating that the micropore size of the porous carbons played a key role in the hydrogen adsorption at 77 K.

  17. Microhardness and morphological changes induced by Nd:Yag laser on dental enamel: an in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Bedini, Rossella; Manzon, Licia; Fratto, Giovanni; Pecci, Raffaella

    2010-01-01

    The aim of this work was a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluation of the hardness and morphological changes of enamel irradiated by neodymium: yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser with different energy levels. Twenty-eight human teeth samples were divided into 4 groups: control, where enamel surface was not lased, and 3 test treated with 3 different levels of energy power 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 Watt, respectively. In each group, 5 samples underwent Vickers micro-hardness test and 2 samples were processed for SEM. No significant differences between treated and non treated samples were found by micro-hardness test. However, by SEM, test samples showed a rougher enamel surface than control. Specifically, the 0.6 Watt treated samples showed vertical scratches and glass-like areas, while in the other 2 groups enamel surface was covered by craters and cracks. These findings suggest that enamel should be lased at a low energy level to preserve its integrity and reduce demineralization, and thus for dental caries prevention purposes; while high energy level creates a retentive surface suitable for sealant or composite anchorage.

  18. Correction of small imperfections on white glazed china surfaces by laser radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Képíró, I.; Osvay, K.; Divall, M.

    2007-07-01

    A laser-assisted technique has been developed for correction of small diameter (1 mm) and shallow (0.5 mm) imperfections on the surface of gloss fired porcelain. To study the physics and establish the important parameters, artificially made holes in a porcelain sample have been first filled with correction material, then covered with raw glaze and treated by a pulsed, 7 kHz repetition rate CO 2 laser at 10.6 μm. The modification of the surface and the surrounding area have been quantified and studied with a large range of parameters of incident laser power (1-10 W), width of the laser pulses (10-125 μs) and duration of laser heating (60-480 s). Although the shine of the treated area, defined as the distribution of micro-droplets on the surface, is very similar to the untreated surfaces, the surroundings of the treated area usually show cracks. The measurement of both the spatial temperature distribution and the temporal cooling rate of the treated surface has revealed that a simple melting process always results in high gradient temperature distribution within the irradiated zone. Its inhomogeneous and fast cooling always generate at least micro-cracks on the surface within a few seconds after the laser was turned off. The duration and intensity of the laser irradiation have been then optimized in order to achieve the fastest possible melting of the surface, but without producing such high temperature gradients. To eliminate the cracks, more elaborated pre-heating and slowed-cooling-rate processes have been tried with prosperous results. These achievements complete our previous study, making possible to repair the most common surface imperfections and holes of gloss fired china samples.

  19. Relationship between enamel bond fatigue durability and surface free-energy characteristics with universal adhesives.

    PubMed

    Nagura, Yuko; Tsujimoto, Akimasa; Barkmeier, Wayne W; Watanabe, Hidehiko; Johnson, William W; Takamizawa, Toshiki; Latta, Mark A; Miyazaki, Masashi

    2018-04-01

    The relationship between enamel bond fatigue durability and surface free-energy characteristics with universal adhesives was investigated. The initial shear bond strengths and shear fatigue strengths of five universal adhesives to enamel were determined with and without phosphoric acid pre-etching. The surface free-energy characteristics of adhesive-treated enamel with and without pre-etching were also determined. The initial shear bond strength and shear fatigue strength of universal adhesive to pre-etched enamel were higher than those to ground enamel. The initial shear bond strength and shear fatigue strength of universal adhesive to pre-etched enamel were material dependent, unlike those to ground enamel. The surface free-energy of the solid (γ S ) and the hydrogen-bonding force (γSh) of universal adhesive-treated enamel were different depending on the adhesive, regardless of the presence or absence of pre-etching. The bond fatigue durability of universal adhesives was higher to pre-etched enamel than to ground enamel. In addition, the bond fatigue durability to pre-etched enamel was material dependent, unlike that to ground enamel. The surface free-energy characteristics of universal adhesive-treated enamel were influenced by the adhesive type, regardless of the presence or absence of pre-etching. The surface free-energy characteristics of universal adhesive-treated enamel were related to the results of the bond fatigue durability. © 2018 Eur J Oral Sci.

  20. Sanitation of wallboard colonized with Stachybotrys chartarum.

    PubMed

    Price, D L; Ahearn, D G

    1999-07-01

    Sections (8 cm2) of unused, nonsterile gypsum wallboard (dry wall) were inoculated with varying densities (10(4) to approximately 10(8)/ml) of conidia from 14- to 21-day cultures of Stachybotrys chartarum grown on cellulose agar. The sections were permitted to air dry and were placed into vessels with 86% or 92% RH and incubated at 22-25 degrees C for up to 12 weeks. The moisture content of the dryboard increased from near 10% to over 35%. Selected sections with confluent surface growth, mainly of S. chartarum, were obtained within 3 weeks. Sections were cleaned with a quaternary or quaternary and chlorine dioxide or a concentrated oxygen-saline solution and treated, in some cases, with a preservative system and returned to humidity vessels. Reemergence of S. chartarum from inoculated and treated surfaces occurred within 5 weeks only with sections treated with the quaternary alone. Other fungi, mostly species of Aspergillus, Chaetomium and Penicillium, slowly colonized (between 9-12 weeks) at least some areas of most treated surfaces and most uninoculated control surfaces. Stachybotrys chartarum was also found on several sections of uninoculated controls. Sections treated with a quaternary/acrylic and placed in a dynamic challenging chamber remained visually free of colonized fungi for over 90 days. These studies indicate that control samples of uninstalled wallboard, available from local distributors, can contain a baseline bioburden, including S. chartarum, that will colonize surfaces under high humidity conditions. Sanitation and preservation treatment of the wallboard can markedly delay regrowth of these fungi, particularly of S. chartarum.

  1. Amorphous layer formation in Al86.0Co7.6Ce6.4 glass-forming alloy by large-area electron beam irradiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, C. L.; Murray, J. W.; Voisey, K. T.; Clare, A. T.; McCartney, D. G.

    2013-09-01

    Amorphous Al-Co-Ce alloys are of interest because of their resistance to corrosion, but high cooling rates are generally required to suppress the formation of crystalline phases. In this study, the surface of a bulk crystalline Al-Co-Ce alloy of a glass-forming composition was treated using large area electron beam (LAEB) irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy shows that, compared to the microstructure of the original crystalline material, the treated surface exhibits greatly improved microstructural and compositional uniformity. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction conducted on the surface of treated samples indicates the formation of the amorphous phase following 25 and 50 pulses at 35 kV cathode voltage. However, when the samples are treated with 100 and 150 pulses at 35 kV cathode voltage of electron beam irradiation, the treated layer comprises localised crystalline regions in an amorphous matrix. In addition, the formation of cracks in the treated layer is found to be localised around the Al8Co2Ce phase in the bulk material. Overall, crack length per unit area had no clear change with an increase in the number of pulses.

  2. Aflatoxin Toxicity Reduction in Feed by Enhanced Binding to Surface-Modified Clay Additives

    PubMed Central

    Jaynes, William F.; Zartman, Richard E.

    2011-01-01

    Animal feeding studies have demonstrated that clay additives, such as bentonites, can bind aflatoxins in ingested feed and reduce or eliminate the toxicity. Bentonite deposits are found throughout the world and mostly consist of expandable smectite minerals, such as montmorillonite. The surfaces of smectite minerals can be treated with organic compounds to create surface-modified clays that more readily bind some contaminants than the untreated clay. Montmorillonites treated with organic cations, such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) and phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA), more effectively remove organic contaminants, such as benzene and toluene, from water than untreated clay. Similarly, montmorillonite treated with PTMA (Kd = 24,100) retained more aflatoxin B1 (AfB1) from aqueous corn flour than untreated montmorillonite (Kd = 944). Feed additives that reduced aflatoxin toxicity in animal feeding studies adsorbed more AfB1 from aqueous corn flour than feed additives that were less effective. The organic cations HDTMA and PTMA are considered toxic and would not be suitable for clay additives used in feed or food, but other non-toxic or nutrient compounds can be used to prepare surface-modified clays. Montmorillonite (SWy) treated with choline (Kd = 13,800) and carnitine (Kd = 3960) adsorbed much more AfB1 from aqueous corn flour than the untreated clay (Kd = 944). A choline-treated clay prepared from a reduced-charge, high-charge montmorillonite (Kd = 20,100) adsorbed more AfB1 than the choline-treated high-charge montmorillonite (Kd = 1340) or the untreated montmorillonite (Kd = 293). Surface-modified clay additives prepared using low-charge smectites and nutrient or non-toxic organic compounds might be used to more effectively bind aflatoxins in contaminated feed or food and prevent toxicity. PMID:22069725

  3. Aflatoxin toxicity reduction in feed by enhanced binding to surface-modified clay additives.

    PubMed

    Jaynes, William F; Zartman, Richard E

    2011-06-01

    Animal feeding studies have demonstrated that clay additives, such as bentonites, can bind aflatoxins in ingested feed and reduce or eliminate the toxicity. Bentonite deposits are found throughout the world and mostly consist of expandable smectite minerals, such as montmorillonite. The surfaces of smectite minerals can be treated with organic compounds to create surface-modified clays that more readily bind some contaminants than the untreated clay. Montmorillonites treated with organic cations, such as hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) and phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA), more effectively remove organic contaminants, such as benzene and toluene, from water than untreated clay. Similarly, montmorillonite treated with PTMA (K(d) = 24,100) retained more aflatoxin B1 (AfB1) from aqueous corn flour than untreated montmorillonite (K(d) = 944). Feed additives that reduced aflatoxin toxicity in animal feeding studies adsorbed more AfB1 from aqueous corn flour than feed additives that were less effective. The organic cations HDTMA and PTMA are considered toxic and would not be suitable for clay additives used in feed or food, but other non-toxic or nutrient compounds can be used to prepare surface-modified clays. Montmorillonite (SWy) treated with choline (K(d) = 13,800) and carnitine (K(d) = 3960) adsorbed much more AfB1 from aqueous corn flour than the untreated clay (K(d) = 944). A choline-treated clay prepared from a reduced-charge, high-charge montmorillonite (K(d) = 20,100) adsorbed more AfB1 than the choline-treated high-charge montmorillonite (K(d) = 1340) or the untreated montmorillonite (K(d) = 293). Surface-modified clay additives prepared using low-charge smectites and nutrient or non-toxic organic compounds might be used to more effectively bind aflatoxins in contaminated feed or food and prevent toxicity.

  4. Effects of blending of desalinated and conventionally treated surface water on iron corrosion and its release from corroding surfaces and pre-existing scales.

    PubMed

    Liu, Haizhou; Schonberger, Kenneth D; Peng, Ching-Yu; Ferguson, John F; Desormeaux, Erik; Meyerhofer, Paul; Luckenbach, Heidi; Korshin, Gregory V

    2013-07-01

    This study examined effects of blending desalinated water with conventionally treated surface water on iron corrosion and release from corroding metal surfaces and pre-existing scales exposed to waters having varying fractions of desalinated water, alkalinities, pH values and orthophosphate levels. The presence of desalinated water resulted in markedly decreased 0.45 μm-filtered soluble iron concentrations. However, higher fractions of desalinated water in the blends were also associated with more fragile corroding surfaces, lower retention of iron oxidation products and release of larger iron particles in the bulk water. SEM, XRD and XANES data showed that in surface water, a dense layer of amorphous ferrihydrite phase predominated in the corrosion products. More crystalline surface phases developed in the presence of desalinated water. These solid phases transformed from goethite to lepidocrocite with increased fraction of desalinated water. These effects are likely to result from a combination of chemical parameters, notably variations of the concentrations of natural organic matter, calcium, chloride and sulfate when desalinated and conventionally treated waters are blended. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Spectra investigation on surface characteristics of graphene oxide nanosheets treated with tartaric, malic and oxalic acids.

    PubMed

    Teng, Xiyao; Yan, Manqing; Bi, Hong

    2014-01-24

    The surface characteristics of graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) treated respectively with tartaric acid, malic acid and oxalic acid, have been investigated by mainly using optical spectroscopic methods including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, the electrochemical property of the products has also been studied. The data revealed that oxygen-containing groups such as OH, COOH and CO on the GO surface have been almost removed and thus reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (RGN) were obtained. Interestingly, the number of sp(2) domains of RGN increases as treated by tartaric acid

  6. Dentin surface treatment using a non-thermal argon plasma brush for interfacial bonding improvement in composite restoration

    PubMed Central

    Ritts, Andy Charles; Li, Hao; Yu, Qingsong; Xu, Changqi; Yao, Xiaomei; Hong, Liang; Wang, Yong

    2010-01-01

    The objective of this study is to investigate the treatment effects of non-thermal atmospheric gas plasmas on dentin surfaces for composite restoration. Extracted unerupted human third molars were used by removing the crowns and etching the exposed dentin surfaces with 35% phosphoric acid gel. The dentin surfaces were treated by using a non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma brush for various durations. The molecular changes of the dentin surfaces were analyzed using FTIR/ATR and an increase in carbonyl groups on dentin surfaces was detected with plasma treated dentin. Adper Single Bond Plus adhesive and Filtek Z250 dental composite were applied as directed. To evaluate the dentin/composite interfacial bonding, the teeth thus prepared were sectioned into micro-bars as the specimens for tensile test. Student Newman Keuls tests showed that the bonding strength of the composite restoration to peripheral dentin was significantly increased (by 64%) after 30 s plasma treatment. However, the bonding strength to plasma treated inner dentin did not show any improvement. It was found that plasma treatment of peripheral dentin surface up to 100 s gave an increase in interfacial bonding strength, while a prolong plasma treatment of dentin surfaces, e.g., 5 min treatments, showed a decrease in interfacial bonding strength. PMID:20831586

  7. Influence of electrical properties of treated surface on RF-excited plasma needle at atmospheric pressure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakiyama, Y.; Graves, D. B.; Stoffels, E.

    2008-05-01

    We present a comparison of a finite element analysis of the atmospheric pressure RF-excited plasma needle interacting with different surfaces with corresponding experimental observations of light emission spatial profiles. The gas used is helium with 1 ppm nitrogen as an impurity. The needle has a point-to-plane geometry with a radius of 30 µm at the tip and an inter-electrode gap of 1 mm. We employ a fluid model in two-dimensional axisymmetric coordinates. Our simulation results indicate that the plasma structure strongly depends on the electrical properties of the treated surface as well as the discharge mode. In the lower power corona mode with a dielectric surface, the plasma is confined near the needle tip. As a result, particle fluxes to the dielectric surface are relatively low and follow a Gaussian-like radial profile. In the higher power glow mode with a dielectric surface, the particle fluxes to the surface are orders of magnitude higher and the spatial distribution of the particle fluxes becomes radially more uniform due to a uniform ionization layer just above the treated surface. When a conductive plate replaces the dielectric surface in the glow mode, a quite intense ionization spot appears near the surface closest to the needle tip. Consequently, the particle fluxes to the surface peak near the symmetry axis under these conditions. These simulation results are validated by experimental observation of light emission spatial profiles.

  8. Surface characteristics of bioactive Ti fabricated by chemical treatment for cartilaginous-integration.

    PubMed

    Miyajima, Hiroyuki; Ozer, Fusun; Imazato, Satoshi; Mante, Francis K

    2017-09-01

    Artificial hip joints are generally expected to fail due to wear after approximately 15years and then have to be replaced by revision surgery. If articular cartilage can be integrated onto the articular surfaces of artificial joints in the same way as osseo-integration of titanium dental implants, the wear of joint implants may be reduced or prevented. However, very few studies have focused on the relationship between Ti surface and cartilage. To explore the possibility of cartilaginous-integration, we fabricated chemically treated Ti surfaces with H 2 O 2 /HCl, collagen type II and SBF, respectively. Then, we evaluated surface characteristics of the prepared Ti samples and assessed the cartilage formation by culturing chondrocytes on the Ti samples. When oxidized Ti was immersed in SBF for 7days, apatite was formed on the Ti surface. The surface characteristics of Ti indicated that the wettability was increased by all chemical treatments compared to untreated Ti, and that H 2 O 2 /HCl treated surface had significantly higher roughness compared to the other three groups. Chondrocytes produced significantly more cartilage matrix on all chemically treated Ti surfaces compared to untreated Ti. Thus, to realize cartilaginous-integration and to prevent wear of the implants in joints, application of bioactive Ti formed by chemical treatment would be a promising and effective strategy to improve durability of joint replacement. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Scanning electron microscope comparative surface evaluation of glazed-lithium disilicate ceramics under different irradiation settings of Nd:YAG and Er:YAG lasers.

    PubMed

    Viskic, Josko; Jokic, Drazen; Jakovljevic, Suzana; Bergman, Lana; Ortolan, Sladana Milardovic; Mestrovic, Senka; Mehulic, Ketij

    2018-01-01

    To evaluate the surface of glazed lithium disilicate dental ceramics after irradiation under different irradiation settings of Nd:YAG and Er:YAG lasers using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Three glazed-press lithium disilicate ceramic discs were treated with HF, Er:YAG, and Nd:YAG, respectively. The laser-setting variables tested were laser mode, repetition rate (Hz), power (W), time of exposure (seconds), and laser energy (mJ). Sixteen different variable settings were tested for each laser type, and all the samples were analyzed by SEM at 500× and 1000× magnification. Surface analysis of the HF-treated sample showed a typical surface texture with a homogenously rough pattern and exposed ceramic crystals. Er:YAG showed no effect on the surface under any irradiation setting. The surface of Nd:YAG-irradiated samples showed cracking, melting, and resolidifying of the ceramic glaze. These changes became more pronounced as the power increased. At the highest power setting (2.25 W), craters on the surface with large areas of melted or resolidified glaze surrounded by globules were visible. However, there was little to no exposure of ceramic crystals or visible regular surface roughening. Neither Er:YAG nor Nd:YAG dental lasers exhibited adequate surface modification for bonding of orthodontic brackets on glazed lithium disilicate ceramics compared with the control treated with 9.5% HF.

  10. Sorption and speciation of iodine in groundwater system: The roles of organic matter and organic-mineral complexes.

    PubMed

    Li, Junxia; Zhou, Hailing; Wang, Yanxin; Xie, Xianjun; Qian, Kun

    2017-06-01

    Characterizing the properties of main host of iodine in soil/sediment and the geochemical behaviors of iodine species are critical to understand the mechanisms of iodine mobilization in groundwater systems. Four surface soil and six subsurface sediment samples were collected from the iodine-affected area of Datong basin in northern China to conduct batch experiments and to evaluate the effects of NOM and/or organic-mineral complexes on iodide/iodate geochemical behaviors. The results showed that both iodine contents and k f -iodate values had positive correlations with solid TOC contents, implying the potential host of NOM for iodine in soil/sediment samples. The results of chemical removal of easily extracted NOM indicated that the NOM of surface soils is mainly composed of surface embedded organic matter, while sediment NOM mainly occurs in the form of organic-mineral complexes. After the removal of surface sorbed NOM, the decrease in k f -iodate value of treated surface soils indicates that surface sorbed NOM enhances iodate adsorption onto surface soil. By contrast, k f -iodate value increases in several H 2 O 2 -treated sediment samples, which was considered to result from exposed rod-like minerals rich in Fe/Al oxyhydroxide/oxides. After chemical removal of organic-mineral complexes, the lowest k f -iodate value for both treated surface soils and sediments suggests the dominant role of organic-mineral complexes on controlling the iodate geochemical behavior. In comparison with iodate, iodide exhibited lower affinities on all (un)treated soil/sediment samples. The understanding of different geochemical behaviors of iodine species helps to explain the occurrence of high iodine groundwater with iodate and iodide as the main species in shallow (oxidizing conditions) and deep (reducing conditions) groundwater. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Sorption and speciation of iodine in groundwater system: The roles of organic matter and organic-mineral complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Junxia; Zhou, Hailing; Wang, Yanxin; Xie, Xianjun; Qian, Kun

    2017-06-01

    Characterizing the properties of main host of iodine in soil/sediment and the geochemical behaviors of iodine species are critical to understand the mechanisms of iodine mobilization in groundwater systems. Four surface soil and six subsurface sediment samples were collected from the iodine-affected area of Datong basin in northern China to conduct batch experiments and to evaluate the effects of NOM and/or organic-mineral complexes on iodide/iodate geochemical behaviors. The results showed that both iodine contents and kf-iodate values had positive correlations with solid TOC contents, implying the potential host of NOM for iodine in soil/sediment samples. The results of chemical removal of easily extracted NOM indicated that the NOM of surface soils is mainly composed of surface embedded organic matter, while sediment NOM mainly occurs in the form of organic-mineral complexes. After the removal of surface sorbed NOM, the decrease in kf-iodate value of treated surface soils indicates that surface sorbed NOM enhances iodate adsorption onto surface soil. By contrast, kf-iodate value increases in several H2O2-treated sediment samples, which was considered to result from exposed rod-like minerals rich in Fe/Al oxyhydroxide/oxides. After chemical removal of organic-mineral complexes, the lowest kf-iodate value for both treated surface soils and sediments suggests the dominant role of organic-mineral complexes on controlling the iodate geochemical behavior. In comparison with iodate, iodide exhibited lower affinities on all (un)treated soil/sediment samples. The understanding of different geochemical behaviors of iodine species helps to explain the occurrence of high iodine groundwater with iodate and iodide as the main species in shallow (oxidizing conditions) and deep (reducing conditions) groundwater.

  12. Interface Trap Density Reduction for Al2O3/GaN (0001) Interfaces by Oxidizing Surface Preparation prior to Atomic Layer Deposition.

    PubMed

    Zhernokletov, Dmitry M; Negara, Muhammad A; Long, Rathnait D; Aloni, Shaul; Nordlund, Dennis; McIntyre, Paul C

    2015-06-17

    We correlate interfacial defect state densities with the chemical composition of the Al2O3/GaN interface in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures using synchrotron photoelectron emission spectroscopy (PES), cathodoluminescence and high-temperature capacitance-voltage measurements. The influence of the wet chemical pretreatments involving (1) HCl+HF etching or (2) NH4OH(aq) exposure prior to atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al2O3 were investigated on n-type GaN (0001) substrates. Prior to ALD, PES analysis of the NH4OH(aq) treated surface shows a greater Ga2O3 component compared to either HCl+HF treated or as-received surfaces. The lowest surface concentration of oxygen species is detected on the acid etched surface, whereas the NH4OH treated sample reveals the lowest carbon surface concentration. Both surface pretreatments improve electrical characteristics of MOS capacitors compared to untreated samples by reducing the Al2O3/GaN interface state density. The lowest interfacial trap density at energies in the upper band gap is detected for samples pretreated with NH4OH. These results are consistent with cathodoluminescence data indicating that the NH4OH treated samples show the strongest band edge emission compared to as-received and acid etched samples. PES results indicate that the combination of reduced carbon contamination while maintaining a Ga2O3 interfacial layer by NH4OH(aq) exposure prior to ALD results in fewer interface traps after Al2O3 deposition on the GaN substrate.

  13. The responses of immune cells to iron oxide nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Xu, Yaolin; Sherwood, Jennifer A; Lackey, Kimberly H; Qin, Ying; Bao, Yuping

    2016-04-01

    Immune cells play an important role in recognizing and removing foreign objects, such as nanoparticles. Among various parameters, surface coatings of nanoparticles are the first contact with biological system, which critically affect nanoparticle interactions. Here, surface coating effects on nanoparticle cellular uptake, toxicity and ability to trigger immune response were evaluated on a human monocyte cell line using iron oxide nanoparticles. The cells were treated with nanoparticles of three types of coatings (negatively charged polyacrylic acid, positively charged polyethylenimine and neutral polyethylene glycol). The cells were treated at various nanoparticle concentrations (5, 10, 20, 30, 50 μg ml(-1) or 2, 4, 8, 12, 20 μg cm(-2)) with 6 h incubation or treated at a nanoparticle concentration of 50 μg ml(-1) (20 μg cm(-2)) at different incubation times (6, 12, 24, 48 or 72 h). Cell viability over 80% was observed for all nanoparticle treatment experiments, regardless of surface coatings, nanoparticle concentrations and incubation times. The much lower cell viability for cells treated with free ligands (e.g. ~10% for polyethylenimine) suggested that the surface coatings were tightly attached to the nanoparticle surfaces. The immune responses of cells to nanoparticles were evaluated by quantifying the expression of toll-like receptor 2 and tumor necrosis factor-α. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and toll-like receptor 2 were not significant in any case of the surface coatings, nanoparticle concentrations and incubation times. These results provide useful information to select nanoparticle surface coatings for biological and biomedical applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  14. Evaluation of crystalline changes and resistance to demineralization of the surface of human dental enamel treated with Er:YAG laser and fluoride using x-ray diffraction analysis and Vickers microhardness

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Behroozibakhsh, Marjan; Shahabi, Sima; Ghavami-Lahiji, Mehrsima; Sadeghian, Safura; Sadat Faal Nazari, Neda

    2018-06-01

    This study aimed to investigate the changes in crystalline structure and resistance to demineralization of human dental surface enamel treated with erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser (Er:YAG) laser and fluoride. The enamel surfaces were divided into four groups according to the treatment process including, (L): irradiated with Er:YAG; (F): treated with acidulated phosphate fluoride gel (LF): Pre-irradiated surfaces with Er:YAG subjected to acidulated phosphate fluoride gel and (FL): laser irradiation was performed on the fluoridated enamel surface. Before and after the treatment procedure, the samples were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the Vickers microhardness test. The surface microhardness values also were measured after a pH-cycling regime and acid challenge. The a-axis of all lased groups was contracted after treatment procedure. Measurement of the area under the peaks showed the highest crysallinity in the FL group. The hardness values of all laser treated samples significantly reduced after treatment procedure compared to the F group (p  ⩽  0.001). The morphological observations showed remarkable changes on the lased enamel surfaces including cracks, craters and exposed prisms. These findings suggest, irradiation of the Er:YAG laser accompanying with fluoride application can induce some beneficial crystalline changes regarding the acid-resistance properties of enamel, however, the craters and cracks produced by laser irradiation can promote enamel demineralization and consequently the positive effects of the Er:YAG laser will be eliminated.

  15. Effect of air polishing with glycine powder on titanium abutment surfaces.

    PubMed

    Cochis, Andrea; Fini, Milena; Carrassi, Antonio; Migliario, Mario; Visai, Livia; Rimondini, Lia

    2013-08-01

    The aim of the present study was to evaluate morphological changes induced by glycine powder air polishing on titanium surfaces and its effect on bacteria recolonization in comparison with sodium bicarbonate powder. 5 mm wide and 1 mm thick titanium grade II disks were divided into three groups of treatments: (i) no treatment; (ii) air polishing with glycine powder; (iii) air polishing with sodium bicarbonate powder. Specimens were characterized by laser profilometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and then installed onto removable appliances worn for 24 h by healthy volunteers. Surface contamination was evaluated using SEM and counting the number of colony forming units (CFU). SEM observation revealed an increased roughness with the formation of craters on samples treated with sodium bicarbonate powder, while not in glycine ones. Statistical analysis failed to show significant differences of both Ra and Rmax parameters in treated groups. SEM observation of specimens surfaces, after 24 h of permanence in the oral cavity, showed a higher contamination of the disks treated with sodium bicarbonate compared with those not treated (P < 0.05). Conversely, the group treated with glycine showed the lower contamination if compared with bicarbonate-treated group (P < 0.05). Air polishing with glycine powder may be considered as a better method to remove plaque from dental implant because glycine is less aggressive than sodium bicarbonate powder. Moreover, the use of glycine powder seems to have an active role on the inhibition of bacterial recolonization of implants in a short test period (24 h). Further studies are needed to demonstrate the bacteriostatic properties of glycine, envisaged on the basis of reduced contamination of the disks polished with glycine compared with those not treated. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  16. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Malik, Hitendra K., E-mail: hkmalik@physics.iitd.ac.in; Singh, Omveer; Dahiya, Raj P.

    We have established a hot cathode arc discharge plasma system, where different stainless steel samples can be treated by monitoring the plasma parameters and nitriding parameters independently. In the present work, a mixture of 70% N{sub 2} and 30% H{sub 2} gases was fed into the plasma chamber and the treatment time and substrate temperature were optimized for treating 304L Stainless Steel samples. Various physical techniques such as x-ray diffraction, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and micro-vickers hardness tester were employed to determine the structural, surface composition and surface hardness of the treated samples.

  17. Characterization of atmospheric pressure plasma treated wool/cashmere textiles: Treatment in nitrogen

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zanini, Stefano; Citterio, Attilio; Leonardi, Gabriella; Riccardi, Claudia

    2018-01-01

    We performed atmospheric pressure plasma treatments of wool/cashmere (15/85%) textiles with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in nitrogen. The chemical properties of the plasma treated samples were investigated with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FTIR/ATR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), and fatty acid gas chromatographic analysis. Changes in mechanical properties and tactile performance of textiles after the plasma treatment were determined using the KES-F system. The analyses reveal significant surface modification of the treated fabrics, which enhances their surface wettability.

  18. Surface modification of argon/oxygen plasma treated vulcanized ethylene propylene diene polymethylene surfaces for improved adhesion with natural rubber

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Basak, Ganesh C.; Bandyopadhyay, Abhijit; Neogi, Sudarsan; Bhowmick, Anil K.

    2011-01-01

    Vulcanized ethylene propylene diene polymethylene (EPDM) rubber surface was treated in a radio frequency capacitatively coupled low pressure argon/oxygen plasma to improve adhesion with compounded natural rubber (NR) during co-vulcanization. The plasma modified surfaces were analyzed by means of contact angle measurement, surface energy, attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray sulfur mapping and atomic force microscopy. Several experimental variables such as plasma power, length of exposure time and composition of the argon-oxygen gas mixture were considered. It was delineated that plasma treatment changed both surface composition and roughness, and consequently increased peel strength. The change in surface composition was mainly ascribed to the formation of C-O and -Cdbnd O functional groups on the vulcanized surfaces. A maximum of 98% improvement in peel strength was observed after plasma treatment.

  19. Surface treated polypropylene (PP) fibres for reinforced concrete

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    López-Buendía, Angel M., E-mail: buendia@uv.es; Romero-Sánchez, María Dolores; Climent, Verónica

    Surface treatments on a polypropylene (PP) fibre have contributed to the improvement of fibre/concrete adhesion in fibre-reinforced concrete. The treatments to the PP fibre were characterized by contact angle measurements, ATR-IR and XPS to analyse chemical alterations. The surface topography and fibre/concrete interaction were analysed by several microscopic techniques, namely optical petrographic, and scanning electron microscopy. Treatment modified the surface chemistry and topography of the fibre by introducing sodium moieties and created additional fibre surface roughness. Modifications in the fibre surface led to an increase in the adhesion properties between the treated fibres and concrete and an improvement in themore » mechanical properties of the fibre-reinforced concrete composite as compared to the concrete containing untreated PP fibres. Compatibility with the concrete and increased roughness and mineral surface was also improved by nucleated portlandite and ettringite mineral association anchored on the alkaline PP fibre surface, which is induced during treatment.« less

  20. Cost/performance of solar reflective surfaces for parabolic dish concentrators

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bouquet, F.

    1980-01-01

    Materials for highly reflective surfaces for use in parabolic dish solar concentrators are discussed. Some important factors concerning performance of the mirrors are summarized, and typical costs are treated briefly. Capital investment cost/performance ratios for various materials are computed specifically for the double curvature parabolic concentrators using a mathematical model. The results are given in terms of initial investment cost for reflective surfaces per thermal kilowatt delivered to the receiver cavity for various operating temperatures from 400 to 1400 C. Although second surface glass mirrors are emphasized, first surface, chemically brightened and anodized aluminum surfaces as well as second surface, metallized polymeric films are treated. Conventional glass mirrors have the lowest cost/performance ratios, followed closely by aluminum reflectors. Ranges in the data due to uncertainties in cost and mirror reflectance factors are given.

  1. Ceramic fabrication process before firing-surface treatment of ceramic powder

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tsunoda, T.

    1984-01-01

    The surface treatment of powders is discussed. Stability of ceramic powders and surfaces and the improvement of moldability are addressed. Characteristics of surface treatment technology are given, including formation of inorganic surface-treated layers, liquid phase reactions, gas treatment, surface treatment by coupling agents, and the formation of results of surface treatment.

  2. A comparative study of thermochemical and cold plasma treatment on lignin-based activated carbon for adsorbing Fe(III)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shi, Shukai; Wang, Xin; Chen, Weimin; Chen, Minzhi; Zhou, Xiaoyan

    2018-05-01

    The as-prepared lignin-based activated carbon (LAC) was post-treated by urea and radio-frequency cold plasma separately. The obtained results demonstrated that the BET surface and total volumes of the LAC and plasma-treated LACs were greater than the urea-modified sample. The analysis of surface elemental composition showed that the nitrogen content of urea-modified LAC and nitrogen plasma-treated LAC are 3.79% and 2.62% higher than that of original LAC respectively, while the oxygen content of air plasma-treated LAC is 10.23% higher than that of original LAC. The Fe(III) ions adsorbed studies with pseudo-second order kinetic model revealed that urea-modified LAC had faster chemisorption rates while air plasma-treated LAC had larger adsorption capacity within 3 h. Moreover, the adsorption capacity and chemisorption rates of LAC post-treated by nitrogen plasma are inferior to the air plasma-treated LAC.

  3. Plasma surface modification of polypropylene track-etched membrane to improve its performance properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kravets, L. I.; Elinson, V. M.; Ibragimov, R. G.; Mitu, B.; Dinescu, G.

    2018-02-01

    The surface and electrochemical properties of polypropylene track-etched membrane treated by plasma of nitrogen, air and oxygen are studied. The effect of the plasma-forming gas composition on the surface morphology is considered. It has been found that the micro-relief of the membrane surface formed under the gas-discharge etching, changes. Moreover, the effect of the non-polymerizing gas plasma leads to formation of oxygen-containing functional groups, mostly carbonyl and carboxyl. It is shown that due to the formation of polar groups on the surface and its higher roughness, the wettability of the plasma-modified membranes improves. In addition, the presence of polar groups on the membrane surface layer modifies its electrochemical properties so that conductivity of plasma-treated membranes increase.

  4. Biocide leaching during field experiments on treated articles.

    PubMed

    Schoknecht, Ute; Mathies, Helena; Wegner, Robby

    2016-01-01

    Biocidal products can be sources of active substances in surface waters caused by weathering of treated articles. Marketing and use of biocidal products can be limited according to the European Biocidal Products Regulation if unacceptable risks to the environment are expected. Leaching of active substances from treated articles was observed in field experiments to obtain information on leaching processes and investigate the suitability of a proposed test method. Leaching under weathering conditions proceeds discontinuously and tends to decrease with duration of exposure. It does not only mainly depend on the availability of water but is also controlled by transport processes within the materials and stability of the observed substances. Runoff amount proved to be a suitable basis to compare results from different experiments. Concentrations of substances are higher in runoff collected from vertical surfaces compared to horizontal ones, whereas the leached amounts per surface area are higher from horizontal surfaces. Gaps in mass balances indicate that additional processes such as degradation and evaporation may be relevant to the fate of active substances in treated articles. Leached amounts of substances were considerably higher when the materials were exposed to intermittent water contact under laboratory conditions as compared to weathering of vertically exposed surfaces. Experiences from the field experiments were used to define parameters of a procedure that is now provided to fulfil the requirements of the Biocidal Products Regulation. The experiments confirmed that the amount of water which is in contact with exposed surfaces is the crucial parameter determining leaching of substances.

  5. Effect of fusion mixture treatment on the surface of low grade natural ruby

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakthivel, R.; Pradhan, K. C.; Nayak, B. B.; Dash, Tapan; Sahu, R. K.; Mishra, B. K.

    2017-05-01

    Improvement in aesthetic look of low grade natural ruby (gemstone) surface was clearly evident after fusion mixture treatment. Surface impurities of the gemstone were significantly reduced to give it a face lift. The processing consists of heat treatment (1000 °C) of the raw gemstone with fusion mixture (sodium and potassium carbonates), followed by hydrochloric acid digestion (90 °C) and ultrasonic cleaning.Both the untreated and the treated gemstone were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy (diffuse reflectance),photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The paper consolidates the results of these studies and presents the effect of the typical chemical treatment (stated above) on the low grade natural ruby. While X-ray diffraction study identifies the occurrence of alumina phase in both the treated and the untreated gemstones, the UV-vis spectra exhibit strong characteristic absorption of Cr3+at 400 and 550 nm wavelength for the treated gemstone in contrast to weak absorption observed for the untreated gemstone at such wavelengths, thus showing the beneficial effect of fusion mixture treatment. Peaks observed for the gemstone (for both treated and untreated samples) in the excitation spectra of photoluminescence show a good correlation with observed UV-vis (diffuse reflectance) spectra. Photoluminescence emission spectra of the untreated gemstone show characteristic emission at 695 nm for Cr3+ ion (as in alumina matrix), but its emission intensity significantly reduces after fusion mixture treatment. It is found that the surface of the fusion mixture treated ruby gemstone looks much brighter than the corresponding untreated surface.

  6. Effects of silica coating and silane surface conditioning on the bond strength of rebonded metal and ceramic brackets.

    PubMed

    Atsü, Saadet; Çatalbaş, Bülent; Gelgör, İbrahim Erhan

    2011-01-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tribochemical silica coating and silane surface conditioning on the bond strength of rebonded metal and ceramic brackets. Twenty debonded metal and 20 debonded ceramic brackets were randomly assigned to receive one of the following surface treatments (n=10 for each group): (1) sandblasting (control); (2) tribochemical silica coating combined with silane. Brackets were rebonded to the enamel surface on the labial and lingual sides of premolars with a light-polymerized resin composite. All specimens were stored in distilled water for 1 week and then thermocycled (5,000 cycles) between 5-55ºC. Shear bond strength values were measured using a universal testing machine. Student's t-test was used to compare the data (α=0.05). Failure mode was assessed using a stereomicroscope, and the treated and non-treated bracket surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Rebonded ceramic brackets treated with silica coating followed by silanization had significantly greater bond strength values (17.7±4.4 MPa) than the sandblasting group (2.4±0.8 MPa, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed between the rebonded metal brackets treated with silica coating with silanization (15±3.9 MPa) and the sandblasted brackets (13.6±3.9 MPa). Treated rebonded ceramic specimens primarily exhibited cohesive failure in resin and adhesive failure at the enamel-adhesive interface. In comparison to sandblasting, silica coating with aluminum trioxide particles followed by silanization resulted in higher bond strengths of rebonded ceramic brackets.

  7. The role of beaded activated carbon's surface oxygen groups on irreversible adsorption of organic vapors.

    PubMed

    Jahandar Lashaki, Masoud; Atkinson, John D; Hashisho, Zaher; Phillips, John H; Anderson, James E; Nichols, Mark

    2016-11-05

    The objective of this study is to determine the contribution of surface oxygen groups to irreversible adsorption (aka heel formation) during cyclic adsorption/regeneration of organic vapors commonly found in industrial systems, including vehicle-painting operations. For this purpose, three chemically modified activated carbon samples, including two oxygen-deficient (hydrogen-treated and heat-treated) and one oxygen-rich sample (nitric acid-treated) were prepared. The samples were tested for 5 adsorption/regeneration cycles using a mixture of nine organic compounds. For the different samples, mass balance cumulative heel was 14 and 20% higher for oxygen functionalized and hydrogen-treated samples, respectively, relative to heat-treated sample. Thermal analysis results showed heel formation due to physisorption for the oxygen-deficient samples, and weakened physisorption combined with chemisorption for the oxygen-rich sample. Chemisorption was attributed to consumption of surface oxygen groups by adsorbed species, resulting in formation of high boiling point oxidation byproducts or bonding between the adsorbates and the surface groups. Pore size distributions indicated that different pore sizes contributed to heel formation - narrow micropores (<7Å) in the oxygen-deficient samples and midsize micropores (7-12Å) in the oxygen-rich sample. The results from this study help explain the heel formation mechanism and how it relates to chemically tailored adsorbent materials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Secondary electron emission characteristics of ion-textured copper and high-purity isotropic graphite surfaces

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Curren, A. N.; Jensen, K. A.

    1984-01-01

    Experimentally determined values of true secondary electron emission and relative values of reflected primary electron yield for untreated and ion textured oxygen free high conductivity copper and untreated and ion textured high purity isotropic graphite surfaces are presented for a range of primary electron beam energies and beam impingement angles. This investigation was conducted to provide information that would improve the efficiency of multistage depressed collectors (MDC's) for microwave amplifier traveling wave tubes in space communications and aircraft applications. For high efficiency, MDC electrode surfaces must have low secondary electron emission characteristics. Although copper is a commonly used material for MDC electrodes, it exhibits relatively high levels of secondary electron emission if its surface is not treated for emission control. Recent studies demonstrated that high purity isotropic graphite is a promising material for MDC electrodes, particularly with ion textured surfaces. The materials were tested at primary electron beam energies of 200 to 2000 eV and at direct (0 deg) to near grazing (85 deg) beam impingement angles. True secondary electron emission and relative reflected primary electron yield characteristics of the ion textured surfaces were compared with each other and with those of untreated surfaces of the same materials. Both the untreated and ion textured graphite surfaces and the ion treated copper surface exhibited sharply reduced secondary electron emission characteristics relative to those of untreated copper. The ion treated graphite surface yielded the lowest emission levels.

  9. Segmented Mirror Telescope Model and Simulation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-06-01

    mirror surface is treated as a grid of masses and springs. The actuators have surface normal forces applied to individual masses. The equation to...are not widely treated in the literature. The required modifications for the wavefront reconstruction algorithm of a circular aperture to correctly...Zernike polynomials, which are particularly suitable to describe the common optical character- izations of astigmatism , coma, defocus and others [9

  10. 78 FR 25081 - Reissuance of Final NPDES General Permits for Facilities/Operations That Generate, Treat, and/or...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-04-29

    ..., Landfill, and Surface Disposal in EPA Region 8 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... operations that generate, treat, and/or use/ dispose of sewage sludge by means of land application, landfill... application, landfill, and surface disposal in the States of CO, MT, ND, and WY and in Indian country in the...

  11. Treatability of U.S. wood species with pigment emulsified creosote

    Treesearch

    Douglas M. Crawford; Rodney C. De Groot; John B. Watkins; Harry Greaves; Karl J. Schmalzl; T. L. Syers

    2000-01-01

    Since the 1920s creosote has been used extensively in the United States for treatment of construction timbers, poles, and posts. However, creosote has the tendency to exude or bbleedc from some treated commodities, producing a tar-like covered surface. In the United States, creosote-treated products exhibiting cleaner dried surfaces and a reduced tendency to bleed have...

  12. Mechanical properties of moso bamboo treated with chemical agents

    Treesearch

    Benhua Fei; Zhijia Liu; Zehui Jiang; Zhiyong Cai

    2013-01-01

    Bamboo is a type of biomass material and has great potential as a bioenergy resource for the future in China. Surface chemical and thermal–mechanical behavior play an important role in the manufacturing process of bamboo composites and pellets. In this study, moso bamboo was treated by sodium hydrate solution and acetic acid solution. Surface chemical and dynamic...

  13. A high-coverage nanoparticle monolayer for the fabrication of a subwavelength structure on InP substrates.

    PubMed

    Kim, Dae-Seon; Park, Min-Su; Jang, Jae-Hyung

    2011-08-01

    Subwavelength structures (SWSs) were fabricated on the Indium Phosphide (InP) substrate by utilizing the confined convective self-assembly (CCSA) method followed by reactive ion etching (RIE). The surface condition of the InP substrate was changed by depositing a 30-nm-thick SiO2 layer and subsequently treating the surface with O2 plasma to achieve better surface coverage. The surface coverage of nanoparticle monolayer reached 90% by using O2 plasma-treated SiO2/InP substrate among three kinds of starting substrates such as the bare InP, SiO2/InP and O2 plasma-treated SiO2/InP substrate. A nanoparticle monolayer consisting of polystyrene spheres with diameter of 300 nm was used as an etch mask for transferring a two-dimensional periodic pattern onto the InP substrate. The fabricated conical SWS with an aspect ratio of 1.25 on the O2 plasma-treated SiO2/InP substrate exhibited the lowest reflectance. The average reflectance of the conical SWS was 5.84% in a spectral range between 200 and 900 nm under the normal incident angle.

  14. Activity of titania and zeolite samples dosed with triethylamine

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baker, Caitlin; Gole, James L.; Brauer, Jonathan

    2016-01-01

    Certain properties of titania and the ammonium- and proton-form of Y zeolites (silica/alumina ratio of 5.2) were explored before and after treatment by triethylamine (TEA). The effect of the triethylamine upon the physical and chemical properties of both titania and the zeolite were characterized by physical and chemical adsorption methods. BET surface area data showed enhanced surface area of the TEA-treated nanotitania over the untreated nanotitania whereas the TEA-treated zeolite showed a considerable decrease in surface area compared to the untreated zeolite. TPD of the TEA-treated Y zeolite showed that weakly adsorbed TEA left the surface between 150 and 300more » oC; strongly adsorbed TEA decomposed to ethylene and ammonia at higher temperatures. XPS, IR, and Raman spectroscopies, powder XRD, and 27Al MAS-NMR spectroscopy were used to further characterize the changes introduced by in-situ nitridation. Pre-adsorbed triethylamine decorated acid sites so as to neutralize these sites for the reaction of methanol to dimethylether. Carbon monoxide and ormaldehyde, products of the methanol probe reaction, were observed-- suggesting that basic sites are present in this treated zeolite and titania.« less

  15. Germanium oxide removal by citric acid and thiol passivation from citric acid-terminated Ge(100).

    PubMed

    Collins, Gillian; Aureau, Damien; Holmes, Justin D; Etcheberry, Arnaud; O'Dwyer, Colm

    2014-12-02

    Many applications of germanium (Ge) are underpinned by effective oxide removal and surface passivation. This important surface treatment step often requires H-X (X = Cl, Br, I) or HF etchants. Here, we show that aqueous citric acid solutions are effective in the removal of GeOx. The stability of citric acid-treated Ge(100) is compared to HF and HCl treated surfaces and analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Further Ge surface passivation was investigated by thiolation using alkane monothiols and dithiols. The organic passivation layers show good stability with no oxide regrowth observed after 3 days of ambient exposure.

  16. Capability evaluation of ultrasonic cavitation peening at different standoff distances.

    PubMed

    Bai, Fushi; Saalbach, Kai-Alexander; Long, Yangyang; Twiefel, Jens; Wallaschek, Jörg

    2018-03-01

    Ultrasonic cavitation peening is a novel surface treatment technology which utilizes the effect of cavitation bubble collapses to improve the properties of metal surfaces. In order to obtain high impact during ultrasonic cavitation peening, a small standoff distance between a sound radiator and a rigid reflector (the surface of treated specimen) is necessary. However, the effects of different standoff distances on the capability of ultrasonic cavitation peening are not yet clear. In this paper, a simplified model was developed to evaluate the cavitation capability at different standoff distances. Meanwhile, to validate the theoretical model, the plastic deformation or erosion on the peening surface before and after treatment were compared. It was found that at a very small standoff distance the impact pressure generated by cavitation bubbles did not cause much deformation or erosion, as the dynamics of cavitation bubbles was limited. At a large standoff distance, due to much attenuation of sound propagation in the bubbly liquid, little impact pressure was generated by the collapse of cavitation bubbles and reached the treated surface. A fixed vibration amplitude, however, corresponded to a standoff distance which caused the largest deformation or erosion on the treated surface. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Effects of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide on the corrosion behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy with a smooth surface or treated with double-acid-etching.

    PubMed

    Faverani, Leonardo P; Assunção, Wirley G; de Carvalho, Paulo Sérgio P; Yuan, Judy Chia-Chun; Sukotjo, Cortino; Mathew, Mathew T; Barao, Valentim A

    2014-01-01

    Diabetes and infections are associated with a high risk of implant failure. However, the effects of such conditions on the electrochemical stability of titanium materials remain unclear. This study evaluated the corrosion behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy, with a smooth surface or conditioned by double-acid-etching, in simulated body fluid with different concentrations of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide. For the electrochemical assay, the open-circuit-potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic test were used. The disc surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Their surface roughness and Vickers microhardness were also tested. The quantitative data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and independent t-tests (α = 0.05). In the corrosion parameters, there was a strong lipopolysaccharide correlation with the Ipass (passivation current density), Cdl (double-layer capacitance), and Rp (polarization resistance) values (p<0.05) for the Ti-6Al-4V alloy with surface treatment by double-acid-etching. The combination of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide was correlated with the Icorr (corrosion current density) and Ipass (p<0.05). The acid-treated groups showed a significant increase in Cdl values and reduced Rp values (p<0.05, t-test). According to the topography, there was an increase in surface roughness (R2 = 0.726, p<0.0001 for the smooth surface; R2 = 0.405, p = 0.036 for the double-acid-etching-treated surface). The microhardness of the smooth Ti-6Al-4V alloy decreased (p<0.05) and that of the treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy increased (p<0.0001). Atomic force microscopy showed changes in the microstructure of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy by increasing the surface thickness mainly in the group associated with dextrose and lipopolysaccharide. The combination of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide affected the corrosion behavior of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface treated with double-acid-etching. However, no dose-response corrosion behavior could be observed. These results suggest a greater susceptibility to corrosion of titanium implants in diabetic patients with associated infections.

  18. Effects of Dextrose and Lipopolysaccharide on the Corrosion Behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V Alloy with a Smooth Surface or Treated with Double-Acid-Etching

    PubMed Central

    Faverani, Leonardo P.; Assunção, Wirley G.; de Carvalho, Paulo Sérgio P.; Yuan, Judy Chia-Chun; Sukotjo, Cortino; Mathew, Mathew T.; Barao, Valentim A.

    2014-01-01

    Diabetes and infections are associated with a high risk of implant failure. However, the effects of such conditions on the electrochemical stability of titanium materials remain unclear. This study evaluated the corrosion behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy, with a smooth surface or conditioned by double-acid-etching, in simulated body fluid with different concentrations of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide. For the electrochemical assay, the open-circuit-potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic test were used. The disc surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Their surface roughness and Vickers microhardness were also tested. The quantitative data were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and independent t-tests (α = 0.05). In the corrosion parameters, there was a strong lipopolysaccharide correlation with the Ipass (passivation current density), Cdl (double-layer capacitance), and Rp (polarization resistance) values (p<0.05) for the Ti-6Al-4V alloy with surface treatment by double-acid-etching. The combination of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide was correlated with the Icorr (corrosion current density) and Ipass (p<0.05). The acid-treated groups showed a significant increase in Cdl values and reduced Rp values (p<0.05, t-test). According to the topography, there was an increase in surface roughness (R2 = 0.726, p<0.0001 for the smooth surface; R2 = 0.405, p = 0.036 for the double-acid-etching-treated surface). The microhardness of the smooth Ti-6Al-4V alloy decreased (p<0.05) and that of the treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy increased (p<0.0001). Atomic force microscopy showed changes in the microstructure of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy by increasing the surface thickness mainly in the group associated with dextrose and lipopolysaccharide. The combination of dextrose and lipopolysaccharide affected the corrosion behavior of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface treated with double-acid-etching. However, no dose-response corrosion behavior could be observed. These results suggest a greater susceptibility to corrosion of titanium implants in diabetic patients with associated infections. PMID:24671257

  19. Immobilization of Active Bacteriophages on Polyhydroxyalkanoate Surfaces.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chanchan; Sauvageau, Dominic; Elias, Anastasia

    2016-01-20

    A rapid, efficient technique for the attachment of bacteriophages (phages) onto polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) surfaces has been developed and compared to three reported methods for phage immobilization. Polymer surfaces were modified to facilitate phage attachment using (1) plasma treatment alone, (2) plasma treatment followed by activation by 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (sulfo-NHS), (3) plasma-initiated acrylic acid grafting, or (4) plasma-initiated acrylic acid grafting with activation by EDC and sulfo-NHS. The impact of each method on the surface chemistry of PHA was investigated using contact angle analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Each of the four treatments was shown to result in both increased hydrophilicity and in the modification of the surface functional groups. Modified surfaces were immersed in suspensions of phage T4 for immobilization. The highest level of phage binding was observed for the surfaces modified by plasma treatment alone. The change in chemical bond states observed for surfaces that underwent plasma treatment is suspected to be the cause of the increased binding of active phages. Plasma-treated surfaces were further analyzed through phage-staining and fluorescence microscopy to assess the surface density of immobilized phages and their capacity to capture hosts. The infective capability of attached phages was confirmed by exposing the phage-immobilized surfaces to the host bacteria Escherichia coli in both plaque and infection dynamic assays. Plasma-treated surfaces with immobilized phages displayed higher infectivity than surfaces treated with other methods; in fact, the equivalent initial multiplicity of infection was 2 orders of magnitude greater than with other methods. Control samples - prepared by immersing polymer surfaces in phage suspensions (without prior plasma treatment) - did not show any bacterial growth inhibition, suggesting they did not bind phages from the suspension.

  20. Conversion of CH4/CO2 to syngas over Ni-Co/Al2O3-ZrO2 nanocatalyst synthesized via plasma assisted co-impregnation method: Surface properties and catalytic performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahemi, Nader; Haghighi, Mohammad; Akbar Babaluo, Ali; Fallah Jafari, Mahdi; Khorram, Sirous

    2013-09-01

    Ni/Al2O3 catalyst promoted by Co and ZrO2 was prepared by co-impregnation method and treated with glow discharge plasma. The catalytic activity of the synthesized nanocatalysts has been tested toward conversion of CH4/CO2 to syngas. The physicochemical characterizations like XRD, EDX, FESEM, TEM, BET, FTIR, and XPS show that plasma treatment results in smaller particle size, more surface concentration, and uniform morphology. The dispersion of nickel in plasma-treated nanocatalyst was also significantly improved, which was helpful for controlling the ensemble size of active phase atoms on the support surface. Improved physicochemical properties caused 20%-30% enhancement in activity of plasma-treated nanocatalyst that means to achieve the same H2 or CO yield, the plasma-treated nanocatalyst needed about 100 °C lower reaction temperature. The H2/CO ratio got closer to 1 at higher temperatures and finally at 850 °C H2/CO = 1 is attained for plasma-treated nanocatalyst. Plasma-treated nanocatalyst due to smaller Ni particles and strong interaction between active phase and support has lower tendency to keep carbon species on its structure and hence excellent stability can be observed for this catalyst.

  1. Determination of bulk and surface superconducting properties of N 2-doped cold worked, heat treated and electro-polished SRF grade niobium

    DOE PAGES

    Chetri, Santosh; Larbalestier, David C.; Lee, Peter J.; ...

    2015-12-01

    In this study, nitrogen-doped cavities show significant performance improvement in the medium accelerating field regime due to a lowered RF surface resistivity. However, the mechanism of enhancement has not been clearly explained. Our experiments explore how N 2-doping influences Nb bulk and surface superconducting properties, and compare the N 2-doped properties with those obtained previously with conventionally treated samples. High purity Nb-rod was mechanically deformed and post treated based on a typical SRF cavity treatment recipe. The onset of flux penetration at H c1, and the upper and the surface critical fields, H c2 and H c3, were characterized bymore » magnetic hysteresis and AC susceptibility techniques. The surface depth profile responsible for superconductivity was examined by changing AC amplitude in AC susceptibility, and the microstructure was directly observed with EBSD-OIM. We are also investigating surface chemistry for detailed composition using XPS. We have found that N 2-doping at 800 °C significantly reduces the H c3/H c2 ratio towards the ideal value of ~1.7, and conclude that AC susceptibility is capable of following changes to the surface properties induced by N 2-doping.« less

  2. Enhancement of surface durability of space materials and structures in LEO environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gudimenko, Y.; Ng, R.; Kleiman, J. I.; Iskanderova, Z. A.; Tennyson, R. C.; Hughes, P. C.; Milligan, D.; Grigorevski, A.; Shuiski, M.; Kiseleva, L.; Edwards, D.; Finckenor, M.

    2003-09-01

    Results of on-going program that involves surface modification treatments of thin polymer films and various organic-based thermal control coatings by an innovative Photosil surface modification technology for space durability improvement are presented, as well as results of ground-based testing in an oxygen plasma asher and in fast atomic oxygen (FAO) beam facility. In addition, independent ground-based FAO + VUV test results from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) are also presented. Recent results are presented to further improve the AO durability of conductive thermal control paints, never previously treated by the Photosil process. The thermal control coatings evaluated in this program represent existing commercially available space-approved materials and experimental coatings, which are still under development. Functional properties and performance characteristics, such as AO stability, thermal optical properties, surface resistivity, and outgassing characteristics of pristine and treated materials were also verified. FAO+VUV exposure tests results revealed that some of the successfully treated materials did not show any mass loss or surface morphology change, thus indicating good protection from the severe oxidative environment. A few complementary surface analysis techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) have been used to examine the composition and structure of the protective surface-modified layer.

  3. Effect of repair resin type and surface treatment on the repair strength of heat-polymerized denture base resin.

    PubMed

    Alkurt, Murat; Yeşil Duymuş, Zeynep; Gundogdu, Mustafa

    2014-01-01

    Acrylic resin denture fracture is common in prosthodontic practice. When fractured denture bases are repaired, recurrent fractures frequently occur at the repair surface interface or adjacent areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments on the flexural strength of the acrylic resin denture base repaired with heat-polymerized acrylic resin, autopolymerizing resin, and light-polymerized acrylic resin. Ninety-six specimens of heat-polymerized acrylic resin were prepared according to the American Dental Association Specification No. 12 (65.0 × 10.0 × 2.5 mm) and sectioned into halves to create a repair gap (3.0 × 10 × 2.5 mm). The sectioned specimens were divided into 3 groups according to their repair materials. The specimens from each group were divided into 4 subgroups according to their surface treatments: a control group without any surface treatment; an experimental group treated with methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA group); an experimental group treated with airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide particles of 250-μm particle size (abrasion group); and an experimental group treated with erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (laser group). After the surface treatments, the 3 materials were placed into the repair gaps and then polymerized. After all of the specimens had been ground and polished, they were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 1 week and subjected to a 3-point bend test. Data were analyzed with a 2-way analysis of variance, and the Tukey honestly significant difference test was performed to identify significant differences (α=.05). The effects of the surface treatments and repair resins on the surface of the denture base resin were examined with scanning electron microscopy. Significant differences were found among the groups in terms of repair resin type (P<.001). All surface-treated specimens had higher flexural strength than controls, except the surface treated with the methyl methacrylate in the heat-polymerized group. A significant difference between the control and abrasion groups (P=.013) was found. The scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the application of surface treatments modified the surface of the denture base resin. The repair procedure with heat-polymerized resin exhibited significantly higher flexural strength than that of the autopolymerized and light-polymerized resins. In addition, the airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide particles of 250-μm particle size improved the flexural strength of the specimens tested. Copyright © 2014 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Tailored adhesion behavior of polyelectrolyte thin films deposited on plasma-treated poly(dimethylsiloxane) for functionalized membranes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bassil, Joelle; Alem, Halima; Henrion, Gérard; Roizard, Denis

    2016-04-01

    Completely homogenous films formed via the layer-by-layer assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and the poly(styrene sulfonate) were successfully obtained on plasma-treated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrates. To modify the hydrophobicity of the PDMS surface, a cold plasma treatment was previously applied to the membrane, which led to the creation of hydrophilic groups on the surface of the membrane. PDMS wettability and surface morphology were successfully correlated with the plasma parameters. A combination of contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis was used to demonstrate that homogeneous and hydrophilic surfaces could be achieved on PDMS cold-plasma-treated membranes. The stability of the assembled PEL layer on the PDMS was evaluated using a combination of pull-off testing and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which confirmed the relevance of a plasma pre-treatment as the adhesion of the polyelectrolyte multilayers was greatly enhanced when the deposition was completed on an activated PDMS surface at 80 W for 5 min.

  5. Improved GaSb surfaces using a (NH4)2S/(NH4)2S04 solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murape, D. M.; Eassa, N.; Nyamhere, C.; Neethling, J. H.; Betz, R.; Coetsee, E.; Swart, H. C.; Botha, J. R.; Venter, A.

    2012-05-01

    Bulk (1 0 0) n-GaSb surfaces have been treated with a sulphur based solution ((NH4)2S/(NH4)2SO4) to which sulphur has been added, not previously reported for the passivation of GaSb surfaces. Au/n-GaSb Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) fabricated on the treated material show significant improvement compared to that of the similar SBDs on the as-received material as evidenced by the lower ideality factor (n), higher barrier height (ϕb) and lower contact resistance obtained. Additionally, the reverse leakage current, although not saturating, has been reduced by almost an order of magnitude at -0.2 V. The sample surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The native oxide, Sb-O, present on the as-received material is effectively removed on treating with ([(NH4)2S/(NH4)2SO4]+S) and (NH4)2S. Analysis of the as-received surface by XPS, prior to and after argon sputtering, suggests that the native oxide layer is ≤8.5 nm.

  6. Water Uptake Behavior and Young Modulus Prediction of Composites Based on Treated Sisal Fibers and Poly(Lactic Acid)

    PubMed Central

    Orue, Ander; Eceiza, Arantxa; Peña-Rodriguez, Cristina; Arbelaiz, Aitor

    2016-01-01

    The main aim of this work was to study the effect of sisal fiber surface treatments on water uptake behavior of composites based on untreated and treated fibers. For this purpose, sisal fibers were treated with different chemical treatments. All surface treatments delayed the water absorption of fibers only for a short time of period. No significant differences were observed in water uptake profiles of composites based on fibers with different surface treatments. After water uptake period, tensile strength and Young modulus values of sisal fiber/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were decreased. On the other hand, composites based on NaOH + silane treated fibers showed the lowest diffusion coefficient values, suggesting that this treatment seemed to be the most effective treatment to reduce water diffusion rate into the composites. Finally, Young modulus values of composites, before water uptake period, were predicted using different micromechanical models and were compared with experimental data. PMID:28773524

  7. Suppression of the pathogenic effects of Strongylus edentatus larvae with thiabendazole.

    PubMed Central

    Slocombe, J O; McCraw, B M

    1975-01-01

    Four pony foals were inoculated with Strongylus edentatus infective larvae and on days 3 and 4 postinfection two of the ponies were treated with thiabendazole, each at the rate of 440 mg/kg of body weight. Total circulating eosinophil counts in untreated ponies increased to over 1700 per cu mm after the second week postinfection. In the treated ponies as well as in an uninfected untreated pony eosinophil counts did not increase beyond 100 per cu mm. At necropsy on day 35 postinfection the cecum, colon and omentum of treated ponies were normal and few tracks were present on the surface of the liver. In untreated ponies nodules were observed on the serosal surface of the cecum and right ventral colon and white foci and tracks were numerous on the surface of the liver. A total of 53 fourth stage larvac was recovered from the livers of the thiabendazole treated ponies and 1194 from the untreated ones. Images Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Fig. 6. PMID:1139410

  8. Surface properties of thermally treated composite wood panels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Croitoru, Catalin; Spirchez, Cosmin; Lunguleasa, Aurel; Cristea, Daniel; Roata, Ionut Claudiu; Pop, Mihai Alin; Bedo, Tibor; Stanciu, Elena Manuela; Pascu, Alexandru

    2018-04-01

    Composite finger-jointed spruce and oak wood panels have been thermally treated under standard pressure and oxygen content conditions at two different temperatures, 180 °C and respectively 200 °C for short time periods (3 and 5 h). Due to the thermally-aided chemical restructuration of the wood components, a decrease in water uptake and volumetric swelling values with up to 45% for spruce and 35% for oak have been registered, comparing to the reference samples. In relation to water resistance, a 15% increase of the dispersive component of the surface energy has been registered for the thermal-treated spruce panels, which impedes water spreading on the surface. The thermal-treated wood presents superior resistance to accelerated UV exposure and subsequently, with up to 10% higher Brinell hardness values than reference wood. The proposed thermal treatment improves the durability of the finger-jointed wood through a more economically and environmental friendly method than traditional impregnation, with minimal degradative impact on the structural components of wood.

  9. Preparation of grout for stabilization of abandoned in-situ oil shale retorts

    DOEpatents

    Mallon, Richard G.

    1982-01-01

    A process for the preparation of grout from burned shale by treating the burned shale in steam at approximately 700.degree. C. to maximize the production of the materials alite and larnite. Oil shale removed to the surface during the preparation of an in-situ retort is first retorted on the surface and then the carbon is burned off, leaving burned shale. The burned shale is treated in steam at approximately 700.degree. C. for about 70 minutes. The treated shale is then ground and mixed with water to produce a grout which is pumped into an abandoned, processed in-situ retort, flowing into the void spaces and then bonding up to form a rigid, solidified mass which prevents surface subsidence and leaching of the spent shale by ground water.

  10. In Vitro Adhesion of Streptococcus sanguinis to Dentine Root Surface After Treatment with Er:Yag Laser, Ultrasonic System, or Manual Curette

    PubMed Central

    Martins, Fernanda L.; Giorgetti, Ana Paula O.; de Freitas, Patrícia M.; Duarte, Poliana M.

    2009-01-01

    Abstract Objective: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the dentine root surface roughness and the adherence of Streptococcus sanguinis (ATCC 10556) after treatment with an ultrasonic system, Er:YAG laser, or manual curette. Background Data: Bacterial adhesion and formation of dental biofilm after scaling and root planing may be a challenge to the long-term stability of periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: Forty flattened bovine roots were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: ultrasonic system (n = 10); Er:YAG laser (n = 10); manual curette (n = 10); or control untreated roots (n = 10). The mean surface roughness (Ra, μm) of the specimens before and after exposure to each treatment was determined using a surface profilometer. In addition, S. sanguinis was grown on the treated and untreated specimens and the amounts of retained bacteria on the surfaces were measured by culture method. Results: All treatments increased the Ra; however, the roughest surface was produced by the curettes. In addition, the specimens treated with curettes showed the highest S. sanguinis adhesion. There was a significant positive correlation between roughness values and bacterial cells counts. Conclusion: S. sanguinis adhesion was the highest on the curette-treated dentine root surfaces, which also presented the greatest surface roughness. PMID:19712018

  11. Ocular surface reconstruction with a tissue-engineered nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheet for the treatment of severe ocular surface diseases.

    PubMed

    Kobayashi, Masakazu; Nakamura, Takahiro; Yasuda, Makoto; Hata, Yuiko; Okura, Shoki; Iwamoto, Miyu; Nagata, Maho; Fullwood, Nigel J; Koizumi, Noriko; Hisa, Yasuo; Kinoshita, Shigeru

    2015-01-01

    Severe ocular surface diseases (OSDs) with severe dry eye can be devastating and are currently some of the most challenging eye disorders to treat. To investigate the feasibility of using an autologous tissue-engineered cultivated nasal mucosal epithelial cell sheet (CNMES) for ocular surface reconstruction, we developed a novel technique for the culture of nasal mucosal epithelial cells expanded ex vivo from biopsy-derived human nasal mucosal tissues. After the protocol, the CNMESs had 4-5 layers of stratified, well-differentiated cells, and we successfully generated cultured epithelial sheets, including numerous goblet cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of keratins 3, 4, and 13; mucins 1, 16, and 5AC; cell junction and basement membrane assembly proteins; and stem/progenitor cell marker p75 in the CNMESs. We then transplanted the CNMESs onto the ocular surfaces of rabbits and confirmed the survival of this tissue, including the goblet cells, up to 2 weeks. The present report describes an attempt to overcome the problems of treating severe OSDs with the most severe dry eye by treating them using tissue-engineered CNMESs to supply functional goblet cells and to stabilize and reconstruct the ocular surface. The present study is a first step toward assessing the use of tissue-engineered goblet-cell transplantation of nonocular surface origin for ocular surface reconstruction. ©AlphaMed Press.

  12. Finite difference elastic wave modeling with an irregular free surface using ADER scheme

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Almuhaidib, Abdulaziz M.; Nafi Toksöz, M.

    2015-06-01

    In numerical modeling of seismic wave propagation in the earth, we encounter two important issues: the free surface and the topography of the surface (i.e. irregularities). In this study, we develop a 2D finite difference solver for the elastic wave equation that combines a 4th- order ADER scheme (Arbitrary high-order accuracy using DERivatives), which is widely used in aeroacoustics, with the characteristic variable method at the free surface boundary. The idea is to treat the free surface boundary explicitly by using ghost values of the solution for points beyond the free surface to impose the physical boundary condition. The method is based on the velocity-stress formulation. The ultimate goal is to develop a numerical solver for the elastic wave equation that is stable, accurate and computationally efficient. The solver treats smooth arbitrary-shaped boundaries as simple plane boundaries. The computational cost added by treating the topography is negligible compared to flat free surface because only a small number of grid points near the boundary need to be computed. In the presence of topography, using 10 grid points per shortest shear-wavelength, the solver yields accurate results. Benchmark numerical tests using several complex models that are solved by our method and other independent accurate methods show an excellent agreement, confirming the validity of the method for modeling elastic waves with an irregular free surface.

  13. Adhesive and morphological characteristics of surface chemically modified polytetrafluoroethylene films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hopp, B.; Kresz, N.; Kokavecz, J.; Smausz, T.; Schieferdecker, H.; Döring, A.; Marti, O.; Bor, Z.

    2004-01-01

    In the present paper, we report an experimental determination of adhesive and topographic characteristics of chemically modified surface of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) films. The surface chemistry was modified by ArF excimer laser irradiation in presence of triethylene-tetramine photoreagent. The applied laser fluence was varied in the range of 0.4-9 mJ/cm 2, and the number of laser pulses incident on the same area was 1500. To detect the changes in the adhesive features of the treated Teflon samples, we measured receding contact angle for distilled water and adhesion strength, respectively. It was found that the receding contact angle decreased from 96° to 30-37° and the adhesion strength of two-component epoxy glue to the treated sample surface increased from 0.03 to 9 MPa in the applied laser fluence range. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the adhesion of human cells to the modified Teflon samples is far better than to the untreated ones. The contact mode and pulsed force mode atomic force microscopic investigations of the treated samples demonstrated that the measured effective contact area of the irradiated films does not differ significantly from that of the original films, but the derived adhesion force is stronger on the modified samples than on the untreated ones. Hence, the increased adhesion of the treated Teflon films is caused by the higher surface energy.

  14. Study of wettability and cell viability of H implanted stainless steel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shafique, Muhammad Ahsan; Ahmad, Riaz; Rehman, Ihtesham Ur

    2018-03-01

    In the present work, the effect of hydrogen ion implantation on surface wettability and biocompatibility of stainless steel is investigated. Hydrogen ions are implanted in the near-surface of stainless steel to facilitate hydrogen bonding at different doses with constant energy of 500 KeV, which consequently improve the surface wettability. Treated and untreated sample are characterized for surface wettability, incubation of hydroxyapatite and cell viability. Contact angle (CA) study reveals that surface wettability increases with increasing H-ion dose. Raman spectroscopy shows that precipitation of hydroxyapatite over the surface increase with increasing dose of H-ions. Cell viability study using MTT assay describes improved cell viability in treated samples as compared to the untreated sample. It is found that low dose of H-ions is more effective for cell proliferation and the cell count decreases with increasing ion dose. Our study demonstrates that H ion implantation improves the surface wettability and biocompatibility of stainless steel.

  15. Comparison of surface characteristics of retrieved cobalt-chromium femoral heads with and without ion implantation.

    PubMed

    McGrory, Brian J; Ruterbories, James M; Pawar, Vivek D; Thomas, Reginald K; Salehi, Abraham B

    2012-01-01

    Nitrogen ion implantation of CoCr is reported to produce increased surface hardness and a lower friction surface. Femoral heads with and without ion implantation retrieved from 1997 to 2003 were evaluated for surface roughness (average surface roughness [Ra], mean peak height [Rpm], and maximum distance from peak to valley [Rmax]), nanohardness, and the ion-treated layer thickness. The difference in average Rmax (P = .033) and average Rpm (P = .008) was statistically significant, but there was no correlation between the average or maximum roughness parameters (average surface roughness, Rmax, and Rpm) and time in vivo (P > .05). Overall, nanohardness was greater for the low-friction ion-treated heads (P < .001); and it decreased with increasing time in vivo (P = .01). Ion treatment produces an increased surface hardness, but the advantage of this increased hardness appears to dissipate over time in vivo. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Phosphine Functionalization GaAs(111)A Surfaces

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Traub, M.; Biteen, J; Michalak, D

    Phosphorus-functionalized GaAs surfaces have been prepared by exposure of Cl-terminated GaAs(111)A surfaces to triethylphosphine (PEt3) or trichlorophosphine (PCl3), or by the direct functionalization of the native-oxide terminated GaAs(111)A surface with PCl3. The presence of phosphorus on each functionalized surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High-resolution, soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to evaluate the As and Ga 3d regions of such surfaces. On PEt3 treated surfaces, the Ga 3d spectra exhibited a bulk Ga peak as well as peaks that were shifted to 0.35, 0.92 and 1.86 eV higher binding energy. These peaks were assigned to residual Cl-terminated Gamore » surface sites, surficial Ga2O and surficial Ga2O3, respectively. For PCl3-treated surfaces, the Ga 3d spectra displayed peaks ascribable to bulk Ga(As), Ga2O, and Ga2O3, as well as a peak shifted 0.30 eV to higher binding energy relative to the bulk signal. A peak corresponding to Ga(OH)3, observed on the Cl-terminated surface, was absent from all of the phosphine-functionalized surfaces. After reaction of the Cl-terminated GaAs(111)A surface with PCl3 or PEt3, the As 3d spectral region was free of As oxides and As0. Although native oxide-terminated GaAs surfaces were free of As oxides after reaction with PCl3, such surfaces contained detectable amounts of As0. Photoluminescence measurements indicted that phosphine-functionalized surfaces prepared from Cl-terminated GaAs(111)A surfaces had better electrical properties than the native-oxide capped GaAs(111)A surface, while the native-oxide covered surface treated with PCl3 showed no enhancement in PL intensity.« less

  17. Enhanced chromium adsorption capacity via plasma modification of natural zeolites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cagomoc, Charisse Marie D.; Vasquez, Magdaleno R., Jr.

    2017-01-01

    Natural zeolites such as mordenite are excellent adsorbents for heavy metals. To enhance the adsorption capacity of zeolite, sodium-exchanged samples were irradiated with 13.56 MHz capacitively coupled radio frequency (RF) argon gas discharge. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] was used as the test heavy metal. Pristine and plasma-treated zeolite samples were soaked in 50 mg/L Cr solution and the amount of adsorbed Cr(VI) on the zeolites was calculated at predetermined time intervals. Compared with untreated zeolite samples, initial Cr(VI) uptake was 70% higher for plasma-treated zeolite granules (50 W 30 min) after 1 h of soaking. After 24 h, all plasma-treated zeolites showed increased Cr(VI) uptake. For a 2- to 4-month period, Cr(VI) uptake increased about 130% compared with untreated zeolite granules. X-ray diffraction analyses between untreated and treated zeolite samples revealed no major difference in terms of its crystal structure. However, for plasma-treated samples, an increase in the number of surface defects was observed from scanning electron microscopy images. This increase in the number of surface defects induced by plasma exposure played a crucial role in increasing the number of active sorption sites on the zeolite surface.

  18. Effect of dry-ozone exposure on different polymer surfaces and their resulting biocidal action on sporulated bacteria

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahfoudh, A.; Poncin-Épaillard, F.; Moisan, M.; Barbeau, J.

    2010-08-01

    The current work describes a novel technique by which certain types of polymers subjected to dry gaseous ozone acquire the ability to inactivate microorganisms, including those as resistant as bacterial spores. The originality and advantages of this ozone treatment of polymer surfaces rest on its simplicity (achieved at ambient temperature and pressure, a one step process …) and its efficacy. The inactivation efficiency is found to be specific to the nature of the treated polymer: 24 h after deposition of 10 6B. atrophaeus spores from a 100 µL suspension, high inactivation rates are observed with polymethyldisiloxane (99.997%, almost 5 log) and polystyrene (99.7%, more than 2 log), a lower rate with polyurethane (99.1%, 2 log) whereas polytetrafluoroethylene shows no detectable biocidal activity. Changes in hydrophilicity of these surfaces are monitored by means of contact-angle measurements while topographic modifications are characterized through atomic force microscopy. Ozone exposure brings about important topographic changes and chemical modifications on some polymers, which can be correlated with oxidation processes, increased wettability and surface energy. Variations of the dispersive and non-dispersive (polar) components of the surface energy are partially correlated with the polymer biocidal response. Furthermore, the basic component of the treated polymer (in contrast to its acidic component) seems to be correlated with the biocidal activity of the treated surfaces. Chemical species bearing ester groups, probably partially-oxidized styrene oligomers, as revealed by chemical analysis, could be involved in the biocidal activity. On practical grounds, since some of these treated polymers can strongly reduce microorganism loads on their surfaces, they could be particularly useful in hospital environment.

  19. Variation of arsenic concentration on surfaces of in-service CCA-treated wood planks in a park and its influencing field factors.

    PubMed

    Tang, Ya; Gao, Wei; Wang, Xiuli; Ding, Shiming; An, Taicheng; Xiao, Weiyang; Wong, Ming H; Zhang, Chaosheng

    2015-01-01

    Wood preservatives can protect wood from dry rot, fungi, mould and insect damage, and chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has been used as an inorganic preservative for many years. However, wood treated with CCA has been restricted from residential uses in the EU from June 30, 2004, due to its potential toxicity. Such a regulation is not in place in China yet, and CCA-treated wood is widely used in public parks. A portable XRF analyser was used to investigate arsenic (As) concentration on surfaces of in-service CCA-treated wood planks in a popular park as well as the influencing field factors of age in-service, immersion and human footfall. With a total of 1207 readings, the observed As concentrations varied from below the detection limit (<10 mg/kg) to 15,746 mg/kg with a median of 1160 mg/kg. Strong variation of As concentrations were observed in different wood planks of the same age, on the surface of the same piece of wood, inside the same piece of wood, and different surfaces of walkway planks, hand rails and poles in the field. The oldest planks exhibited high As concentrations, which was related to its original treatment with high retention of CCA preservative. The effect of immersion in the field for about 4 months was insignificant for As concentration on the surfaces. However, a significant reduction of As was observed for immersion combined with human footfall (wiping by shoes). Human traffic in general caused slightly reduced and more evenly distributed As concentrations on the wood surfaces. The strong variation, slow aging and relatively weak immersion effects found in this study demonstrate that the in-service CCA-treated wood poses potential health risks to the park users, due to easy dermal contact especially when the wood is wet after rainfall. It is suggested that further comprehensive investigations and risk assessments of CCA-treated wood in residential areas in China are needed, and precautionary measures should be considered to reduce the potential risks to residents and visitors, especially children.

  20. Transnasal endoscopic approach with powered instrumentation for treating squamous papilloma in the nasopharyngeal surface of the soft palate.

    PubMed

    Lee, J-H; Lee, Y-O; Lee, C-H; Cho, K-S

    2013-05-01

    To demonstrate a safe and effective method for complete resection of squamous papilloma in the nasopharyngeal surface of the soft palate. This technique was used on a patient in whom the papilloma had twice recurred following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Case report and review of the relevant literature. The patient reported in this paper had recurrent squamous papilloma in the nasopharyngeal surface of the soft palate following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. He also suffered from nasal regurgitation when drinking water. This lesion, which was difficult to access, was successfully treated via a transnasal endoscopic approach using powered instrumentation. This case report highlights a novel approach for the complete removal of a recurrent papilloma in a relatively inaccessible location. Compared with a transoral approach such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, the transnasal endoscopic approach using powered instrumentation could provide a safer, faster, easier and less invasive means of treating squamous papilloma in the nasopharyngeal surface of the soft palate, especially for a lesion that recurs following a transoral approach.

  1. Surface micro-dissolve method of imparting self-cleaning property to cotton fabrics in NaOH/urea aqueous solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fan, Tao; Hu, Ruimin; Zhao, Zhenyun; Liu, Yiping; Lu, Ming

    2017-04-01

    A simple and economical micro-dissolved process of embedding titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles into surface zone of cotton fabrics was developed. TiO2 was coated on cotton fabrics in 7% wt NaOH/12% wt urea aqueous solution at low temperature. Photocatalytic efficiency of cotton fabrics treated with TiO2 nanoparticles was studied upon measuring the photocatalytic decoloration of Rhodamine B (RhB) under ultraviolet irradiation. Self-cleaning property of cotton fabric coated with TiO2 was evaluated with color depth of samples (K/S value). The treated fabrics were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR), tensile strength, stiffness and whiteness. The results indicated, TiO2 nanoparticles could be embedded on the surface layer of cotton fabrics throuth surface micro-dissolve method. Treated cotton fabrics possessed distinct photocatalytic efficiency and self-cleaning properties. Tensile strength and whiteness of modified cotton fabrics appeared moderately increasement.

  2. Surface modification of air plasma spraying WC-12%Co cermet coating by laser melting technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Afzal, M.; Ajmal, M.; Nusair Khan, A.; Hussain, A.; Akhter, R.

    2014-03-01

    Tungsten carbide cermet powder with 12%Co was deposited on stainless steel substrate by air plasma spraying method. Two types of coatings were produced i.e. thick (430 µm) and thin (260 µm) with varying porosity and splat morphology. The coated samples were treated with CO2 laser under the shroud of inert atmosphere. A series of experimentation was done in this regard, to optimize the laser parameters. The plasma sprayed coated surfaces were then laser treated on the same parameters. After laser melting the treated surfaces were characterized and compared with as-sprayed surfaces. It was observed that the thickness of the sprayed coatings affected the melt depth and the achieved microstructures. It was noted that phases like Co3W3C, Co3W9C4 and W were formed during the laser melting in both samples. The increase in hardness was attributed to the formation of these phases.

  3. Effect of plasma treatment (He/CH4) on glass surface for the reduction of powder flux adhesion in the spray drying process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramlan, Nadiah; Zamri, Nazirah Wahidah Mohd; Maskat, Mohd Yusof; Hoong, Chin Oi; Theng, Lau Yen; Zubairi, Saiful Irwan

    2018-04-01

    A 50Hz glow discharge He/CH4 plasma was generated and applied for the modification of glass surface to reduce powder adhesion on the wall of spray dryer. The hydrophobicity of the glass samples determined by the water droplet contact angle and adhesion weight on glass, dependent on the CH4 flow rate and plasma exposure time. There was a peak that appeared at 1470 cm-1 on the surface of treated glass indicating the presence of CH3 groups from ATR-FTIR data. Surface morphology analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed changes of roughness in the surface-treated glass. The presence of alkyl group (CH3) that deposited on the glass surface is one of the factors that contribute to the increase in the surface roughness. The surface roughness will reflect the value of contact angle where hydrophobic surface are rougher compared to hydrophilic surface. The plasma treatment could enhance the value of the contact angle and thus reduced the adhesion on the spray dryer glass surface.

  4. Effect of Atmospheric Plasma Treatment to Titanium Surface on Initial Osteoblast-Like Cell Spreading. .

    PubMed

    Kim, In-Hye; Son, Jun-Sik; Kwon, Tae-Yub; Kim, Kyo-Han

    2015-01-01

    Plasma treatments are becoming a popular method for modifying the characteristics of a range of substrate surfaces. Atmospheric pressure plasma is cost-efficient, safe and simple compared to high-pressure plasma. This study examined the effects of atmospheric pressure plasma to a titanium (Ti) surface on osteoblast-like cell (osteoblast) spreading and cellular networks. The characteristics of the Ti surface before and after the atmospheric plasma treatment were analyzed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, and an optical 3D profiling system. The morphology of osteoblasts attached to the Ti surfaces was observed by SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The atmospheric pressure plasma made the Ti surfaces more hydrophilic. The osteoblasts that adhered to the untreated surface were round and spherical, whereas the cells covered a larger surface area on the plasma-treated surface. The plasma-treated Ti surface showed enhanced cell spreading and migration with more developed cellular networks. In conclusion, an atmospheric plasma treatment is a potential surface modifying method that can enhance the initial the cell affinity at the early stages in vitro.

  5. Biocompatibility enhancement of rare earth magnesium alloy by laser surface processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nie, Shilin; Wang, Yuqing; Liu, Haifeng; Guan, Yingchun

    2018-01-01

    Although magnesium and magnesium alloys are considered biocompatible and biodegradable, insufficient biocompatibility in body fluid environment is still the major drawback of magnesium alloys for their successful applications as biodegradable orthopaedic implants. In this work, magnesium alloy surface with both enhanced corrosion resistance and better cell adhesion property was directly fabricated by laser surface processing. Laser surface melting was used to improve corrosion resistance of Mg-6Gd-0.6Ca alloy. After laser surface melting, laser surface texturing was utilized on melted surface for better cell adhesion property. The corrosion resistance of laser-treated and as-received samples were evaluated using electrochemical technique. The effect of laser surface treatment on phase and microstructure evolution was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. This work investigated the effect of laser treatment on cell distribution across the surface of magnesium alloy substrates. Osteoblast was cultured on the laser-treated surface and as-received surface. Cell morphology was observed with a scanning electron microscopy, and cell viability was evaluated by optical density measurement.

  6. Recycling of drinking water treatment residue as an additional medium in columns for effective P removal from eutrophic surface water.

    PubMed

    Wang, Changhui; Wu, Yu; Bai, Leilei; Zhao, Yaqian; Yan, Zaisheng; Jiang, Helong; Liu, Xin

    2018-07-01

    This study assesses the feasibility of recycling drinking water treatment residue (DWTR) to treat eutrophic surface water in a one-year continuous flow column test. Heat-treated DWTR was used as an additional medium (2%-4%) in columns in case excessive organic matter and N were released from the DWTR to surface water. The results indicated that with minimal undesirable effects on other water properties, DWTR addition substantially enhanced P removal, rendering P concentrations in treated water oligotrophic and treated water unsuitable for Microcystis aeruginosa breeding. Long-term stable P removal by DWTR-column treatment was mainly attributed to the relatively low P levels in raw water (<0.108 mg L -1 ) and high P adsorption capability of DWTR, as confirmed by increases in amorphous Al/Fe in DWTR after the tests and low adsorption of P in the mobile forms. The major components of DWTR showed minimal changes, and potential metal pollution from DWTR was not a factor to consider during recycling. DWTR also enriched functional bacterial genera that benefitted biogeochemical cycles and multiple pollution control (e.g., Dechloromonas, Geobacter, Leucobacter, Nitrospira, Rhodoplanes, and Sulfuritalea); an apparent decrease in Mycobacterium with potential pathogenicity was observed in DWTR-columns. Regardless, limited denitrification of DWTR-columns was observed as a result of low bioavailability of C in surface water. This finding indicates that DWTR can be used with other methods to ensure denitrification for enhanced treatment effects. Overall, the use of DWTR as an additional medium in column systems can potentially treat eutrophic surface water. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Synthesis of activated carbon from oil fly ash for removal of H2S from gas stream

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aslam, Zaheer; Shawabkeh, Reyad A.; Hussein, Ibnelwaleed A.; Al-Baghli, Nadhir; Eic, Mladen

    2015-02-01

    Activated carbon (AC) is made from waste oil fly ash (OFA) which is produced in large quantities from power generation plants through combustion of heavy fuel oil. OFA contains ∼80% carbon that makes it suitable for producing AC by physicochemical treatments using a mixture of HNO3, H2SO4, and H3PO4 acids to remove non-carbonaceous impurities. The acid treated OFA is then activated by CO2 at 990 °C. The physico-chemical treatments of OFA have increased the surface area from 4 to 375 m2/g. Surface morphology and pore volume of AC are characterized by combined SEM and EDX techniques. Elemental analysis shows that sulfur content is reduced from 7.1 wt% in untreated OFA to 0.51 wt% for the treated OFA. The AC is further treated with HNO3 and NH4OH solutions in order to attach the carboxylic and amine groups on the surface, respectively. FTIR characterization is used to confirm the presence of the functional groups on the surface of AC at different stages of its development. The performance of functionalized AC samples is tested for the removal of H2S from a synthetic natural gas by carrying out breakthrough experiments. The results from these tests have shown maximum adsorption capacity of 0.3001 mg/g for NH4OH functionalized activated carbon with 86.43% regeneration efficiency. The ammonium hydroxide treated AC is found to be more effective for H2S removal than acid treated AC as confirmed by breakthrough experiments. The results indicate that the presence of more acidic functionalities on the surface reduces the H2S adsorption efficiency from the gas mixture.

  8. A comparative study of different bleaching agents on the morphology of human enamel: an in vitro SEM study.

    PubMed

    Uthappa, Roshan; Suprith, M L; Bhandary, Shreetha; Dash, Sumit

    2012-11-01

    The purpose of the study was to compare two different commercial bleaching agents, Opalescence with Colgate Platinum, and 30% phosphoric acid used as aggressive agent on the morphology of human enamel. Ten freshly extracted, noncarious, human maxillary central incisors extracted for periodontal reasons were used in this study. The labial surface of the disinfected teeth were polished using a polishing paste with the help of rubber cup and a slow speed handpiece. Each tooth was sectioned at cement-enamel junction and the crown was separated into four specimens, all taken from labial surface. Group 1 was treated with Colgate Platinum for 7 hours, group 2 with Opalescence for 7 hours, group 3 was treated with 30% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds and group 4 was untreated and used as control. After the treatment period, the specimens were washed with normal saline and stored in sterile bottle and sealed. Photomicrographs obtained from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after surface treatments were examined for no alteration, slight alteration, moderate alteration and severe alterations. The specimens treated with commercial bleaching agents revealed no enamel surface morphologic alterations compared to control group. The specimen treated with phosphoric acid showed severe alterations. Ten percent carbamide peroxide evaluated in this study does not etch tooth enamel or alter enamel surface morphology as do conventional etching techniques. Carbamine peroxide is a safe and effective tooth whitening agent even when used for extended period of time. The enamel surface remains smooth which reduces caries due to plaque collection.

  9. Topographic assessment of human enamel surface treated with different topical sodium fluoride agents: Scanning electron microscope consideration.

    PubMed

    Brar, Gurlal Singh; Arora, Amandeep Singh; Khinda, Vineet Inder Singh; Kallar, Shiminder; Arora, Karuna

    2017-01-01

    Continuous balanced demineralization and remineralization are natural dynamic processes in enamel. If the balance is interrupted and demineralization process dominates, it may eventually lead to the development of carious lesions in enamel and dentine. Fluoride helps control decay by enhancing remineralization and altering the structure of the tooth, making the surface less soluble. One hundred and twenty sound human permanent incisors randomly and equally distributed into six groups as follows: Group I - Control, II - Sodium fluoride solution, III - Sodium fluoride gel, IV - Sodium fluoride varnish, V - Clinpro Tooth Crème (3M ESPE), and VI-GC Tooth Mousse Plus or MI Paste Plus. The samples were kept in artificial saliva for 12 months, and the topical fluoride agents were applied to the respective sample groups as per the manufacturer instructions. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) evaluation of all the samples after 6 and 12 months was made. Morphological changes on the enamel surface after application of fluoride in SEM revealed the presence of globular precipitate in all treated samples. Amorphous, globular, and crystalline structures were seen on the enamel surface of the treated samples. Clear differences were observed between the treated and untreated samples. Globular structures consisting of amorphous CaF2precipitates, which acted as a fluoride reservoir, were observed on the enamel surface after action of different sodium fluoride agents. CPP-ACPF (Tooth Mousse) and Tricalcium phosphate with fluoride (Clinpro tooth crème) are excellent delivery vehicles available in a slow release amorphous form to localize fluoride at the tooth surface.

  10. Enhancing surface functionality of reduced graphene oxide biosensors by oxygen plasma treatment for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.

    PubMed

    Chae, Myung-Sic; Kim, Jinsik; Jeong, Dahye; Kim, YoungSoo; Roh, Jee Hoon; Lee, Sung Min; Heo, Youhee; Kang, Ji Yoon; Lee, Jeong Hoon; Yoon, Dae Sung; Kim, Tae Geun; Chang, Suk Tai; Hwang, Kyo Seon

    2017-06-15

    We performed oxygen plasma treatment on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to improve its surface reactivity with respect to biomolecular interactions. Oxygen-plasma-treated rGO surfaces were employed as reactive interfaces for the detection of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as the target analytes. By measuring the changes in electrical characteristics and confirmation through topographic analysis, the oxygen-plasma-treated rGO sensors had enhanced surface functionality for better antibody immobilization and sensing performance, with a 3.33-fold steeper slope for the electrical responses versus analyte concentration curve (logarithmic scale) compared to the untreated. The elicited biomolecular reactivity of the rGO surfaces with the oxygen plasma treatment remained at 46-51% of the initial value even after aging for 6h in ambient conditions. This phenomenon was also confirmed by pretreating the rGO surfaces with a blocking agent and subsequently subjecting them to antibody immobilization. Finally, the feasibility of the oxygen-plasma-treated rGO sensors as a diagnostic tool was evaluated with clinical samples of neural-derived exosomal Aβ peptides extracted from apparent AD patients and normal controls (NC). In contrast to the untreated sensors (p=0.0460), the oxygen-plasma-treated rGO sensors showed a significant p-value in the identification of clinical samples of AD and NC subjects (p<0.001). These results suggest that oxygen plasma treatment improves sensor performance without complicated fabrication procedures and should aid in the development of novel diagnostic tools based on carbon nanomaterials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Femtosecond laser-induced surface wettability modification of polystyrene surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Bing; Wang, XinCai; Zheng, HongYu; Lam, YeeCheong

    2016-12-01

    In this paper, we demonstrated a simple method to create either a hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface. With femtosecond laser irradiation at different laser parameters, the water contact angle (WCA) on polystyrene's surface can be modified to either 12.7° or 156.2° from its original WCA of 88.2°. With properly spaced micro-pits created, the surface became hydrophilic probably due to the spread of the water droplets into the micro-pits. While with properly spaced micro-grooves created, the surface became rough and more hydrophobic. We investigated the effect of laser parameters on WCAs and analyzed the laser-treated surface roughness, profiles and chemical bonds by surface profilometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For the laser-treated surface with low roughness, the polar (such as C—O, C=O, and O—C=O bonds) and non-polar (such as C—C or C—H bonds) groups were found to be responsible for the wettability changes. While for a rough surface, the surface roughness or the surface topography structure played a more significant role in the changes of the surface WCA. The mechanisms involved in the laser surface wettability modification process were discussed.

  12. Intrinsic Charge Trapping Observed as Surface Potential Variations in diF-TES-ADT Films.

    PubMed

    Hoffman, Benjamin C; McAfee, Terry; Conrad, Brad R; Loth, Marsha A; Anthony, John E; Ade, Harald W; Dougherty, Daniel B

    2016-08-24

    Spatial variations in surface potential are measured with Kelvin probe force microscopy for thin films of 2,8-difluoro-5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)anthradithiophenes (diF-TES-ADT) grown on SiO2 and silane-treated SiO2 substrates by organic molecular beam deposition. The variations are observed both between and within grains of the polycrystalline organic film and are quantitatively different than electrostatic variations on the substrate surfaces. The skewness of surface potential distributions is larger on SiO2 than on HMDS-treated substrates. This observation is attributed to the impact of substrate functionalization on minimizing intrinsic crystallographic defects in the organic film that can trap charge.

  13. Effect of oxygen vacancies and phases on catalytic properties of hydrogen-treated nanoceria particles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lan, Yuan-Pei; Sohn, Hong Yong

    2018-03-01

    Nanoceria powder was treated by hydrogen or air at different temperatures and atmospheres, and the phases, oxygen vacancies, catalytic properties of the treated samples were investigated. After treating, the crystallites on the ceria surface were fused, and the SEM and TEM images indicated that the particle size increased with treatment temperature. Both Raman and XPS spectra showed the oxygen vacancies in nanoceria increased with treatment temperature in hydrogen, and at the same temperature CeO2 treated in hydrogen had a higher Ce3+ fraction than that treated in air. The nanoceria after being treated in hydrogen at 900 °C contained the Ce2O3 phase together with CeO2 which was revealed by XRD and TEM results. Oxygen vacancies were found to enhance CO conversion, but the high temperature needed to generate the oxygen vacancies caused the fusion of the crystallites on the ceria surface and thus its area decreased, which resulted in lower catalytic activity. The catalytic activity of nanoceria treated in hydrogen at 900 °C measured higher than that of the ceria powders treated at 700 °C in hydrogen or 900 °C in air, which indicated that the Ce2O3 phase present in the treated nanoceria particles enhanced the catalytic activity.

  14. The importance of particle size in porous titanium and nonporous counterparts for surface energy and its impact on apatite formation.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xiao-Bo; Li, Yun-Cang; Hodgson, Peter D; Wen, Cuie

    2009-07-01

    The importance of particle size in titanium (Ti) fabricated by powder metallurgy for the surface energy and its impact on the apatite formation was investigated. Four sorts of Ti powders of different mean particle size were realized through 20min, 2h, 5h and 8h of ball milling, respectively. Each sort of Ti powder was used to fabricate porous Ti and its nonporous counterparts sharing similar surface morphology, grain size and chemical composition, and then alkali-heat treatment was conducted on them. Surface energy was measured on the surfaces of the nonporous Ti counterparts due to the difficulty in measuring the porous surfaces directly. The surface energy increase on the alkali-heat-treated porous and nonporous Ti was observed due to the decrease in the particle size of the Ti powders and the presence of Ti-OH groups brought by the alkali-heat treatment. The apatite-inducing ability of the alkali-heat-treated porous and nonporous Ti with different surface energy values was evaluated in modified simulated body fluid and results indicated that there was a strong correlation between the apatite-inducing ability and the surface energy. The alkali-heat-treated porous and nonporous Ti discs prepared from the powders with an average particle size of 5.89+/-0.76microm possessed the highest surface energy and the best apatite-inducing ability when compared to the samples produced from the powders with the average particle size varying from 19.79+/-0.31 to 10.25+/-0.39microm.

  15. Characterization of Ti6Al7Nb alloy foams surface treated in aqueous NaOH and CaCl2 solutions.

    PubMed

    Bütev, Ezgi; Esen, Ziya; Bor, Şakir

    2016-07-01

    Ti6Al7Nb alloy foams having 53-73% porosity were manufactured via evaporation of magnesium space holders. A bioactive 1µm thick sodium hydrogel titanate layer, NaxH2-xTiyO2y+1, formed after 5M NaOH treatment, was converted to crystalline sodium titanate, Na2TiyO2y+1, as a result of post-heat treatment. On the other hand, subsequent CaCl2 treatment of NaOH treated specimens induced calcium titanate formation. However, heat treatment of NaOH-CaCl2 treated specimens led to the loss of calcium and disappearance of the titanate phase. All of the aforementioned surface treatments reduced yield strengths due to the oxidation of the cell walls of the foams, while elastic moduli remained mostly unchanged. Accordingly, equiaxed dimples seen on the fracture surfaces of as-manufactured foams turned into relatively flat and featureless fracture surfaces after surface treatments. On the other hand, Ca- and Na-rich coating preserved their mechanical stabilities and did not spall during fracture. The relation between mechanical properties of foams and macro-porosity fraction were found to obey a power law. The foams with 63 and 73% porosity met the desired biocompatibility requirements with fully open pore structures and elastic moduli similar to that of bone. In vitro tests conducted in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed that NaOH-heat treated surfaces exhibit the highest bioactivity and allow the formation of Ca-P rich phases having Ca/P ratio of 1.3 to form within 5 days. Although Ca-P rich phases formed only after 15 days on NaOH-CaCl2 treated specimens, the Ca/P ratio was closer to that of apatite found in bone. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Influence of the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant on surface water in the Santa Cruz River and local aquifers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    LaBrie, H. M.; Brusseau, M. L.; Huth, H.

    2015-12-01

    As water resources become limited in Arizona due to drought and excessive use of ground water, treated wastewater effluent is becoming essential in creating natural ecosystems and recharging the decreasing groundwater supplies. Therefore, future water supplies are heavily dependent of the flow (quantity) and quality of the treated effluent. The Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP) releases treated wastewater from both Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico into the Santa Cruz River. This released effluent not only has the potential to impact surface water, but also groundwater supplies in Southern Arizona. In the recent past, the NIWTP has had reoccurring issues with elevated levels of cadmium, in addition to other, more infrequent, releases of high amounts of other metals. The industrial demographic of the region, as well as limited water quality regulations in Mexico makes the NIWTP and its treated effluent an important area of study. In addition, outdated infrastructure can potentially lead to damaging environmental impacts, as well as human health concerns. The Santa Cruz River has been monitored and studied in the past, but in recent years, there has been a halt in research regarding the state of the river. Data from existing water quality databases and recent sampling reports are used to address research questions regarding the state of the Santa Cruz River. These questions include: 1) How will change in flow eventually impact surface water and future groundwater supplies 2) What factors influence this flow (such as extreme flooding and drought) 3) What is the impact of effluent on surface water quality 4) Can changes in surface water quality impact groundwater quality 5) How do soil characteristics and surface flow impact the transport of released contaminants Although outreach to stakeholders across the border and updated infrastructure has improved the quality of water in the river, there are many areas to improve upon as the demand for treated wastewater increases.

  17. Preparation of grout for stabilization of abandoned in-situ oil shale retorts. [Patent application

    DOEpatents

    Mallon, R.G.

    1979-12-07

    A process is described for the preparation of grout from burned shale by treating the burned shale in steam at approximately 700/sup 0/C to maximize the production of the materials alite and larnite. Oil shale removed to the surface during the preparation of an in-situ retort is first retorted on the surface and then the carbon is burned off, leaving burned shale. The burned shale is treated in steam at approximately 700/sup 0/C for about 70 minutes. The treated shale is then ground and mixed with water to produce a grout which is pumped into an abandoned, processed in-situ retort, flowing into the void spaces and then bonding up to form a rigid, solidified mass which prevents surface subsidence and leaching of the spent shale by ground water.

  18. Effects of laser shock peening with contacting foil on micro laser texturing surface of Ti6Al4V

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dai, Fengze; Zhang, Zidong; Ren, Xudong; Lu, Jinzhong; Huang, Shu

    2018-02-01

    Ti6Al4V samples with micro-dimple arrays were subjected to laser shock peening in contact with foil (HCLSP). The surface roughness, micro-hardness, the residual stress distribution and the surface morphology of the micro-dimple arrays were studied to evaluate the effects of HCLSP. Moreover, the surface topography of the foils in contact was also analyzed. The gap existence between the foil and the to-be treated surface led the mechanism of HCLSP to be different compared to regular laser shock peening. The surface roughness reduction, the work-hardening effects, the compressive residual stress and the micro crack enclosure were achieved. A simplified ball-hitting-surface model was utilized to analyze the HCLSP impact. The model could well explain the experimental results. When treated by the HCLSP with H62 foil at the laser power density of 4.24 GW/cm2, the Ti6Al4V samples with micro-dimple arrays exhibit well surface topography and mechanical performance.

  19. Predation and behavioral changes in the neotropical lacewing Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin.

    PubMed

    Luna, René Fernando; Bestete, Luziani Rezende; Torres, Jorge Braz; da Silva-Torres, Christian Sherley Araújo

    2018-05-24

    Pyrethroid insecticides are widely recommended against various defoliating pest species, but usually lack efficacy against sucking pests such as aphids, which are preferred prey of lacewing larvae. Interaction of pyrethroids and lacewings are likely to occur in fields infested by both defoliating and sap-sucking pests and should provide a complementary control. Therefore, our study aimed to estimate dose-mortality curves and behavioral changes by Chrysoperla externa exposed to lambda-cyhalothrin. We tested the susceptibility of two populations from different locations and insecticide history exposure through topical application. Based on the LD 50 -calculated, the population exhibiting the greater LD 50 was exposed to resistance enhancement (Sel) by treating larvae once for seven successive generations. The population with lower LD 50 was kept without selection (Nsel). Subsequently, walking, predation and oviposition behavioral after exposure to dried insecticide residues were investigated. After seven generations with insecticide selection, the resistance rations between Sel and Nsel populations were 5.85- and 9.37-fold higher for larvae and 3.38- and 2.75-fold higher for adults, respectively. Selected females caged in partially treated arenas laid similar eggs number on both treated and untreated surfaces, while Nsel females laid fewer eggs on treated surfaces. Insecticide repellency was not observed in either population, although irritability was observed for Nsel larvae. Selected larvae confined on fully and partially treated surfaces walked further, for a longer time, and with greater speeds compared to Nsel larvae. Furthermore, Sel and Nsel larvae had reduced predation rates when confined on treated surfaces, and Nsel larvae consumed less prey than Sel larvae. Results indicate changes in susceptibility, behavior, and predation rate of C. externa following exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin.

  20. The effect of oxygen plasma pretreatment and incubation in modified simulated body fluids on the formation of bone-like apatite on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (70/30).

    PubMed

    Qu, Xue; Cui, Wenjin; Yang, Fei; Min, Changchun; Shen, Hong; Bei, Jianzhong; Wang, Shenguo

    2007-01-01

    In this study, biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) (70/30) films and scaffolds were first treated with oxygen plasma and then incubated in a modified simulated body fluid 1.5SBF0 to prepare a bone-like apatite layer. The formation of the apatite and its influence on osteoblast-like cells growth were investigated. It was found that the bone-like apatite formability of PLGA(70/30) was enhanced by plasma pretreatment. The changes of surface chemistry and surface topography induced by oxygen plasma treatment were both effective for apatite formation. The apatite formability increased with increasing plasma-treating time. Under a treating condition of 20 W for 30 min, oxygen plasma treatment could penetrate into the inner scaffold. After 6 days incubation, the apatite formed in plasma-treated scaffold was better distributed than in untreated scaffold, and the weight and mechanical strength of the plasma-treated scaffold were both enhanced. Compared with PLGA(70/30), the apatite layer formed on oxygen plasma-treated PLGA(70/30) surface enhanced adhesion and proliferation of OCT-1 osteoblast-like cell, but had no significant effect on cell's ALP activity at day 7. A prolonged investigation is being in process to further verify the bone-like apatite effects on osteogenic differentiation.

  1. Increasing amounts of chemical weed control increase growth of white ash, white oak, and black walnut saplings in a tall fescue sod

    Treesearch

    Jonathan D. Carlisle; Wayne A. Geyer; J. W. Van Sambeek

    2003-01-01

    Effective weed control in young deciduous plantations is often prescribed to enhance survivability and growth (Bey and others 1975). Chemical weed control often employs broadcast, strip, and spot applications that markedly affect the ground surface area treated. Our study investigates the effect of four levels of treated surface area of a tank mix of glyphosate and...

  2. Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes on frankfurters surface treated with lauric arginate and/or a liquid smoke extract delivered using the Sprayed Lethality in Container (SLIC®) technology

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The objective of this study was to determine the viability of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) on commercially-produced frankfurters prepared without lactates that were surface treated with 0 or 4 mL of a blend of LAE (CytoGuard; 1.0% LAE final concentration) diluted in a concentrated liquid smoke extrac...

  3. Effect of oxygen plasma treatment on the electrochemical performance of the rayon and polyacrylonitrile based carbon felt for the vanadium redox flow battery application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dixon, D.; Babu, D. J.; Langner, J.; Bruns, M.; Pfaffmann, L.; Bhaskar, A.; Schneider, J. J.; Scheiba, F.; Ehrenberg, H.

    2016-11-01

    Oxygen plasma treatment was applied on commercially available graphite felt electrodes based on rayon (GFA) and polyacrylonitrile (GFD). The formation of functional groups on the surface of the felt was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The BET studies of the plasma treated electrodes showed no significant increase in surface area for both the rayon as well as the PAN based felts. Both plasma treated electrodes showed significantly enhanced V3+/V2+ redox activity compared to the pristine electrodes. Since an increase of the surface area has been ruled out for plasma treated electrode the enhanced activity could be attributed to surface functional groups. Interestingly, plasma treated GFD felts showed less electrochemical activity towards V5+/V4+ compared to the pristine electrode. Nevertheless, an overall increase of the single cell performance was still observed as the negative electrode is known to be the performance limiting electrode. Thus, to a great extent the present work helps to preferentially understand the importance of functional groups on the electrochemical activity of negative and positive redox reaction. The study emphasizes the need of highly active electrodes especially at the negative electrode side as inactive electrodes can still facilitate hydrogen evolution and degrade the electrolyte in VRFBs.

  4. Novel β-TCP Coated Titanium Nanofiber Surface for Enhanced Bone Growth.

    PubMed

    Lim, Hyun-Pil; Park, Sang-Won; Yun, Kwi-Dug; Park, Chan; Ji, Min-Kyung; Oh, Gye-Jeong; Lee, Jong-Tak; Lee, Kwangmin

    2018-02-01

    In this study, we examined the effect of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) coating on alkali-treated CP Grade II titanium surface via RF magnetron sputtering on osteoblast like cell (MC3T3-E1) viability and bone formation in rat tibia. The specimens were divided into three groups; commercially pure titanium (control group), alkali-treated titanium with nanofiber structure (NF group) and β-TCP coating on alkali-treated titanium with nanofiber structure (TNF group). The surface characteristics of specimens were observed under a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and contact angle was measured. The cell viability was assessed in vitro after 1 day, 3 days and 7 days. Implants of 2.0 mm diameter and 5.0 mm length were inserted into the tibia of rats. After 4 wks, the histomorphometric analysis was performed. Group NF and group TNF showed improved hydrophilicity of Ti. Group TNF showed significantly higher cell viability (P < 0.05) after 7 days. The bone to implant contact (BIC) ratio of the control group, NF group, and TNF group were 32.3%, 35.5%, and 63.9%, respectively. The study results suggested that β-TCP coated alkali-treated titanium surface via RF magnetron sputtering might be effective in implant dentistry due to enhanced hydrophilicity, improved cell response, and better osseointegration.

  5. Study on structural, morphological and thermal properties of surface modified polyvinylchloride (PVC) film under air, argon and oxygen discharge plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suganya, Arjunan; Shanmugavelayutham, Gurusamy; Serra Rodríguez, Carmen

    2016-09-01

    The effect of air, argon, oxygen DC glow discharge plasma on the polyvinylchloride (PVC) film synthesized by solution casting technique, were evaluated via changes in physio-chemical properties such as structural, morphological, crystalline, thermal properties. The PVC film was plasma treated as a function of exposure time and different plasma forming gases, while other operating parameters such as power and pressure remained constant at 100 W and 2 Pa respectively. The plasma treated PVC were characterized by static contact angle, ATR-FTIR, XPS, AFM and T-peel analysis. It was found that various gaseous plasma treatments have improved the polar components, surface roughness on the surface of PVC which was confirmed by XPS, AFM, resulting in highly enhanced wettability and adhesion. X-ray diffraction study showed that plasma treatment does not persuade considerable change, even though it vaguely induces the crystallinity. The thermal properties of plasma treated PVC were evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and it was observed that O2 plasma treatment gives higher glass transition temperature of 87.21 °C compared with the untreated one. The glass transition temperature slightly increased for Oxygen plasma treated material due to the presence of higher concentration of the polar functional groups on the PVC surface due to strong intramolecular bonding.

  6. Clinical outcomes of using lasers for peri-implantitis surface detoxification: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Mailoa, James; Lin, Guo-Hao; Chan, Hsun-Liang; MacEachern, Mark; Wang, Hom-Lay

    2014-09-01

    The aim of this systematic review is to compare the clinical outcomes of lasers with other commonly applied detoxification methods for treating peri-implantitis. An electronic search of four databases and a hand search of peer-reviewed journals for relevant articles were conducted. Comparative human clinical trials and case series with ≥ 6 months of follow-up in ≥ 10 patients with peri-implantitis treated with lasers were included. Additionally, animal studies applying lasers for treating peri-implantitis were also included. The included studies had to report probing depth (PD) reduction after the therapy. Seven human prospective clinical trials and two animal studies were included. In four and three human studies, lasers were accompanied with surgical and non-surgical treatments, respectively. The meta-analyses showed an overall weighted mean difference of 0.00 mm (95% confidence interval = -0.18 to 0.19 mm) PD reduction between the laser and conventional treatment groups (P = 0.98) for non-surgical intervention. In animal studies, laser-treated rough-surface implants had a higher percentage of bone-to-implant contact than smooth-surface implants. In a short-term follow-up, lasers resulted in similar PD reduction when compared with conventional implant surface decontamination methods.

  7. An in vitro investigation of bacteria-osteoblast competition on oxygen plasma-modified PEEK.

    PubMed

    Rochford, Edward T J; Subbiahdoss, Guruprakash; Moriarty, T Fintan; Poulsson, Alexandra H C; van der Mei, Henny C; Busscher, Henk J; Richards, R Geoff

    2014-12-01

    Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) films were oxygen plasma treated to increase surface free energy and characterized by X-ray photoelectron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and water contact angles. A parallel plate flow chamber was used to measure Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and U-2 OS osteosarcomal cell-line adhesion to the PEEK films in separate monocultures. In addition, bacteria and U-2 OS cells were cocultured to model competition between osteoblasts and contaminating bacteria for the test surfaces. Plasma treatment of the surfaces increased surface oxygen content and decreased the hydrophobicity of the materials, but did not lead to a significant difference in bacterial or U-2 OS cell adhesion in the monocultures. In the S. epidermidis coculture experiments, the U-2 OS cells adhered in greater numbers on the treated surfaces compared to the untreated PEEK and spread to a similar extent. However, in the presence of S. aureus, cell death of the U-2 OS occurred within 10 h on all surfaces. The results of this study suggest that oxygen plasma treatment of PEEK may maintain the ability of osteoblast-like cells to adhere and spread, even in the presence of S. epidermidis contamination, without increasing the risk of preoperative bacterial adhesion. Therefore, oxygen plasma-treated PEEK remains a promising method to improve implant surface free energy for osseointegration. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. Dependence of nanomechanical modification of polymers on plasma-induced cross-linking

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tajima, S.; Komvopoulos, K.

    2007-01-01

    The nanomechanical properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) modified by inductively coupled, radio-frequency Ar plasma were investigated by surface force microscopy. The polymer surface was modified under plasma conditions of different ion energy fluences and radiation intensities obtained by varying the sample distance from the plasma power source. Nanoindentation results of the surface stiffness versus maximum penetration depth did not reveal discernible differences between untreated and plasma-treated LDPE, presumably due to the small thickness of the modified surface layer that resulted in a substrate effect. On the contrary, nanoscratching experiments demonstrated a significant increase in the surface shear resistance of plasma-modifiedmore » LDPE due to chain cross-linking. These experiments revealed an enhancement of cross-linking with increasing ion energy fluence and radiation intensity, and a tip size effect on the friction force and dominant friction mechanisms (adhesion, plowing, and microcutting). In addition, LDPE samples with a LiF crystal shield were exposed to identical plasma conditions to determine the role of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the cross-linking process. The cross-linked layer of plasma-treated LDPE exhibited much higher shear strength than that of VUV/UV-treated LDPE. Plasma-induced surface modification of the nanomechanical properties of LDPE is interpreted in the context of molecular models of the untreated and cross-linked polymer surfaces derived from experimental findings.« less

  9. Recovery of nonwetting characteristics by surface modification of gallium-based liquid metal droplets using hydrochloric acid vapor.

    PubMed

    Kim, Daeyoung; Thissen, Peter; Viner, Gloria; Lee, Dong-Weon; Choi, Wonjae; Chabal, Yves J; Lee, Jeong-Bong J B

    2013-01-01

    The applicability of gallium-based liquid metal alloy has been limited by the oxidation problem. In this paper, we report a simple method to remove the oxide layer on the surface of such alloy to recover its nonwetting characteristics, using hydrochloric acid (HCl) vapor. Through the HCl vapor treatment, we successfully restored the nonwetting characteristics of the alloy and suppressed its viscoelasticity. We analyzed the change of surface chemistry before and after the HCl vapor treatment using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and low-energy ion-scattering spectroscopy (LEIS). Results showed that the oxidized surface of the commercial gallium-based alloy Galinstan (Ga(2)O(3) and Ga(2)O) was replaced with InCl(3) and GaCl(3) after the treatment. Surface tension and static contact angle on a Teflon-coated glass of the HCl-vapor-treated Galinstan were measured to be 523.8 mN/m and 152.5°. A droplet bouncing test was successfully carried out to demonstrate the nonwetting characteristics of the HCl-vapor-treated Galinstan. Finally, the stability of the transformed surface of the HCl-vapor-treated Galinstan was investigated by measuring the contact angle and LEIS spectra after reoxidation in an ambient environment.

  10. Bioactive glasses containing Au nanoparticles. Effect of calcination temperature on structure, morphology, and surface properties.

    PubMed

    Lusvardi, Gigliola; Malavasi, Gianluca; Aina, Valentina; Bertinetti, Luca; Cerrato, Giuseppina; Magnacca, Giuliana; Morterra, Claudio; Menabue, Ledi

    2010-06-15

    Bioactive glasses containing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been synthesized via the sol-gel route using HAuCl(4) x 3 H(2)O as gold precursor. The formation process of AuNPs was studied as a function of the thermal treatment, which induces nucleation of Au particles and influences their nature, optical properties, shape, size, and distribution. The physicochemical characterization indicates that the sample treated at 600 degrees C presents the best characteristics to be used as a bioactive material, namely high surface area, high amount of AuNPs located at the glass surface, presence of micropores, and abundant surface OH groups. In the case of samples either aged at 60 degrees C or calcined at 150 degrees C, AuNPs just begin their formation, and at this stage the gel is not completely polymerized and dried yet. A thermal treatment at higher temperatures (900 degrees C) causes the aggregation of AuNPs, forming "AuMPs" (i.e., Au microparticles) in a densified glass-ceramic material with low surface area, absence of pores, and low number of surface OH groups. These features induce in the glass-ceramic materials treated at high-temperatures a lower bioactivity (evidenced by SBF reaction), as compared with that exhibited by the glass samples treated at 600 degrees C.

  11. A Strontium-Modified Titanium Surface Produced by a New Method and Its Biocompatibility In Vitro

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Chundong; Zhang, Yanli; Wang, Lichao; Zhang, Xinhua; Chen, Qiuyue; Wu, Buling

    2015-01-01

    Objective To present a new and effective method of producing titanium surfaces modified with strontium and to investigate the surface characteristics and in vitro biocompatibility of titanium (Ti) surfaces modified with strontium (Sr) for bone implant applications. Materials and Methods Sr-modified Ti surfaces were produced by sequential treatments with NaOH, strontium acetate, heat and water. The surface characteristics and the concentration of the Sr ions released from the samples were examined. Cell adhesion, morphology and growth were investigated using osteoblasts isolated from the calvaria of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins was examined to assess the effect of the Sr-modified Ti surfaces on osteoblasts. Results The modified titanium surface had a mesh structure with significantly greater porosity, and approximately5.37±0.35at.% of Sr was incorporated into the surface. The hydrophilicity was enhanced by the incorporation of Sr ions and water treatment. The average amounts of Sr released from the Sr-modified plates subjected to water treatment were slight higher than the plates without water treatment. Sr promoted cellular adhesion, spreading and growth compared with untreated Ti surfaces. The Sr-modified Ti plates also promoted expression of osteogenesis-related genes,and expression of OPN and COL-І by osteoblasts. Ti plates heat treated at 700°C showed increased bioactivity in comparison with those treated at 600°C. Water treatment upregulated the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. Conclusions These results show that Sr-modification of Ti surfaces may improve bioactivity in vitro. Water treatment has enhanced the response of osteoblasts. The Sr-modified Ti heat-treated at 700°C exhibited better bioactivity compared with that heated at 600°C. PMID:26529234

  12. A Strontium-Modified Titanium Surface Produced by a New Method and Its Biocompatibility In Vitro.

    PubMed

    Liu, Chundong; Zhang, Yanli; Wang, Lichao; Zhang, Xinhua; Chen, Qiuyue; Wu, Buling

    2015-01-01

    To present a new and effective method of producing titanium surfaces modified with strontium and to investigate the surface characteristics and in vitro biocompatibility of titanium (Ti) surfaces modified with strontium (Sr) for bone implant applications. Sr-modified Ti surfaces were produced by sequential treatments with NaOH, strontium acetate, heat and water. The surface characteristics and the concentration of the Sr ions released from the samples were examined. Cell adhesion, morphology and growth were investigated using osteoblasts isolated from the calvaria of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. Expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins was examined to assess the effect of the Sr-modified Ti surfaces on osteoblasts. The modified titanium surface had a mesh structure with significantly greater porosity, and approximately5.37±0.35at.% of Sr was incorporated into the surface. The hydrophilicity was enhanced by the incorporation of Sr ions and water treatment. The average amounts of Sr released from the Sr-modified plates subjected to water treatment were slight higher than the plates without water treatment. Sr promoted cellular adhesion, spreading and growth compared with untreated Ti surfaces. The Sr-modified Ti plates also promoted expression of osteogenesis-related genes,and expression of OPN and COL-І by osteoblasts. Ti plates heat treated at 700°C showed increased bioactivity in comparison with those treated at 600°C. Water treatment upregulated the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. These results show that Sr-modification of Ti surfaces may improve bioactivity in vitro. Water treatment has enhanced the response of osteoblasts. The Sr-modified Ti heat-treated at 700°C exhibited better bioactivity compared with that heated at 600°C.

  13. Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing of Robust Superhydrophobic Coating on Metallic Engineering Materials.

    PubMed

    Dong, Shuliang; Wang, Zhenlong; Wang, Yukui; Bai, Xuelin; Fu, Yong Qing; Guo, Bin; Tan, Chaoliang; Zhang, Jia; Hu, PingAn

    2018-01-17

    Creating a robust superhydrophobic surface on the conventional engineering materials at mass production is of great importance for a self-cleaning, anti-icing, nonwetting surface and low flow resistance in industrial applications. Herein, we report a roll-to-roll strategy to create durable and robust superhydrophobic surfaces with designed micro-/nanoscale hierarchical structures on many conventional engineering materials by combining electrical discharge machining and coating of carbon nanoparticles, followed by oil penetration and drying. The treated surface shows good superhydrophobic properties with a static water contact angle of 170 ± 2° and slide angle of 3 ± 1°. The treated surface also exhibits good resilience and maintains the performance after being tested in various harsh conditions, including water flushing for several days, sand abrasion, scratching with sandpapers, and corrosive solution. Significantly, the superhydrophobic surfaces also show a high efficiency of self-cleaning properties even after oil contamination during applications.

  14. Method for adhesion of metal films to ceramics

    DOEpatents

    Lowndes, Douglas H.; Pedraza, Anthony J.; DeSilva, Melvin J.; Kumar, Rajagopalan A.

    1997-01-01

    Methods for making strongly bonded metal-ceramic materials. The methods include irradiating a portion of the surface of the ceramic material with a pulsed ultraviolet laser having an energy density sufficient to effect activation of the irradiated surface of the ceramic material so that adhesion of metals subsequently deposited onto the irradiated surface is substantially increased. Advantages of the invention include (i) the need for only a small number of laser pulses at relatively low focused energy density, (ii) a smoother substrate surface, (iii) activation of the laser-treated surface which provides a chemical bond between the surface and a metal deposited thereon, (iv) only low temperature annealing is required to produce the strong metal-ceramic bond; (v) the ability to obtain strong adhesion between ceramic materials and oxidation resistant metals; (vi) ability to store the laser treated ceramic materials for later deposition of metals thereon.

  15. Surface treatment of CFRP composites using femtosecond laser radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oliveira, V.; Sharma, S. P.; de Moura, M. F. S. F.; Moreira, R. D. F.; Vilar, R.

    2017-07-01

    In the present work, we investigate the surface treatment of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites by laser ablation with femtosecond laser radiation. For this purpose, unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix composites were treated with femtosecond laser pulses of 1024 nm wavelength and 550 fs duration. Laser tracks were inscribed on the material surface using pulse energies and scanning speeds in the range 0.1-0.5 mJ and 0.1-5 mm/s, respectively. The morphology of the laser treated surfaces was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy. We show that, by using the appropriate processing parameters, a selective removal of the epoxy resin can be achieved, leaving the carbon fibers exposed. In addition, sub-micron laser induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are created on the carbon fibers surface, which may be potentially beneficial for the improvement of the fiber to matrix adhesion in adhesive bonds between CFRP parts.

  16. Au-nanoparticles grafted on plasma treated PE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Švorčík, V.; Chaloupka, A.; Řezanka, P.; Slepička, P.; Kolská, Z.; Kasálková, N.; Hubáček, T.; Siegel, J.

    2010-03-01

    Polyethylene (PE) surface was treated with Ar plasma. Activated surface was grafted from methanol solution of 1,2-ethanedithiol. Then the sample was immersed into freshly prepared colloid solution of Au-nanoparticles. Finally Au layer was sputtered on the samples. Properties of the modified PE were studied using various methods: AFM, EPR, RBS and nanoindentation. It was shown that the plasma treatment results in degradation of polymer chain (AFM) and creation of free radicals by EPR. After grafting with dithiol, the concentration of free radicals declines. The presence of Au and S in the surface layer after the coating with Au-nanoparticles was proved by RBS. Plasma treatment changes PE surface morphology and increases surface roughness, too. Another significant change in surface morphology and roughness was observed after deposition of Au-nanoparticles. Nanoindentation measurements show that the grafting with Au-nanoparticles increases adhesion of subsequently sputtered Au layer.

  17. Gigacycle fatigue behavior by ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification.

    PubMed

    Ahn, D G; Amanov, A; Cho, I S; Shin, K S; Pyoun, Y S; Lee, C S; Park, I G

    2012-07-01

    Nanocrystalline surface layer up to 84 microm in thick is produced on a specimen made of Al6061-T6 alloy by means of surface treatment called ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) technique. The refined grain size is produced in the top-layer and it is increased with increasing depth from the top surface. Vickers microhardness measurement for each nanocrystalline surface layer is performed and measurement results showed that the microhardness is increased from 116 HV up to 150 HV, respectively. In this study, fatigue behavior of Al6061-T6 alloy was studied up to 10(7)-10(9) cycles by using a newly developed ultrasonic fatigue testing (UFT) rig. The fatigue results of the UNSM-treated Al6061-T6 alloy specimens were compared with those of the untreated specimens. The microstructure of the untreated and UNSM-treated specimens was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopey (SEM) and transmission electron microscopey (TEM).

  18. Method for adhesion of metal films to ceramics

    DOEpatents

    Lowndes, D.H.; Pedraza, A.J.; DeSilva, M.J.; Kumar, R.A.

    1997-12-30

    Methods for making strongly bonded metal-ceramic materials are disclosed. The methods include irradiating a portion of the surface of the ceramic material with a pulsed ultraviolet laser having an energy density sufficient to effect activation of the irradiated surface of the ceramic material so that adhesion of metals subsequently deposited onto the irradiated surface is substantially increased. Advantages of the invention include (i) the need for only a small number of laser pulses at relatively low focused energy density, (ii) a smoother substrate surface, (iii) activation of the laser-treated surface which provides a chemical bond between the surface and a metal deposited thereon, (iv) only low temperature annealing is required to produce the strong metal-ceramic bond; (v) the ability to obtain strong adhesion between ceramic materials and oxidation resistant metals; (vi) ability to store the laser treated ceramic materials for later deposition of metals thereon. 7 figs.

  19. Genotoxicity and inflammatory investigation in mice treated with magnetite nanoparticles surface coated with polyaspartic acid

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sadeghiani, N.; Barbosa, L. S.; Silva, L. P.; Azevedo, R. B.; Morais, P. C.; Lacava, Z. G. M.

    2005-03-01

    In this study, some biological tests were carried out with a magnetic fluid (MF) sample based on magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) surface coated with polyaspartic acid (PAMF). The tests were performed from 1 to 30 days after injection of 50 μL of PAMF in Swiss mice. The PAMF biocompatibility/toxicity was evaluated through cytometry, micronuclei assay, and morphology of several organs. All observed results were time and dose dependent. The data indicate that MNPs surface-treated with polyaspartic acid may be considered as a potential precursor of anticancer drugs.

  20. Tissue response to surface-treated tantalum implants: preliminary observations in primates.

    PubMed

    Meenaghan, M A; Natiella, J R; Moresi, J L; Flynn, H E; Wirth, J E; Baier, R E

    1979-07-01

    Samples of capacitor grade tantalum were surface-treated by a variety of methods. These surface treatments allowed testing of the same basic material which was mill-finished, metallurgically polished, electrochemically oxidized, sintered with a porous surface, and glow-discharged. Surface characterization was accomplished by contact angle measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy-dispensed x-ray analysis, and internal reflection spectroscopy. Subsequent to characterization, the material was surgically implanted in the subperiosteal region of the mandible, the buccal mucosa, and the subcutaneous paravertebral region of the back of Macaca speciosa (stumptail monkey). The tissue reaction at intervals of up to three weeks was evaluated morphologically and ultrastructurally. Significant differences in tissue response were noted at the interfaces with glow-discharge-treated versus lower surface energy samples. Adjacent to the glow-discharge-treated implants, two distinct tissue zones were identified. Zone No. 1, nearest the implant, exhibited an increased cellularity. This consisted of 4-5 layers of highly active mesenchymal cells or fibroblast-like cells with spindle-shaped nuclei and prominent cytoplasmic features. At various foci along the interface, hyperchromatic nuclear forms were noted to project into the space left by removal of the implant. These observations, coupled with a predominance of intercellular ground-substance material and less collagen at the interface, may indicate some form of bioadhesion. The deeper Zone No. 2 was 2-3 times as thick consisted of typical fibroblastic cells with a lamellar configuration, bordered by an occasional delicate-lined space. Independent of implantation site or surface texture, all other implants showed occasional multinucleated giant cells and a decrease in the cellular character of Zone No. 1. Both zones were reduced in thickness and composed of more mature fibroblasts. Some specimens exhibited intracytoplasmic vacuolization. It may be concluded, therefore, that surface-free energy of the implanted specimens played a significant role in inducing differential tissue response to otherwise similar pure metal samples.

  1. Low-density polyethylene films treated by an atmospheric Ar-O2 post-discharge: functionalization, etching, degradation and partial recovery of the native wettability state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abou Rich, S.; Dufour, T.; Leroy, P.; Nittler, L.; Pireaux, J. J.; Reniers, F.

    2014-02-01

    To optimize the adhesion of layers presenting strong barrier properties on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) surfaces, we investigated the influence of argon and argon-oxygen atmospheric pressure post-discharges. This study was performed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and dynamic water contact angle (WCA) measurements. After the plasma treatment, a slight increase in the roughness was emphasized, more particularly for the samples treated in a post-discharge supplied in oxygen. Measurements of the surface roughness and of the oxygen surface concentration suggested the competition of two processes playing a role on the surface hydrophilicity and occurring during the post-discharge treatment: the etching and the activation of the surface. The etching rate was estimated to about 2.7 nm s-1 and 5.8 nm s-1 for Ar and Ar-O2 post-discharges, respectively. The mechanisms underlying this etching were investigated through experiments, in which we discuss the influence of the O2 flow rate and the distance (gap) separating the plasma torch from the LDPE surface located downstream. O atoms and NO molecules (emitting in the UV range) detected by OES seem to be good candidates to explain the etching process. An ageing study is also presented to evidence the stability of the treated surfaces over 60 days. After 60 days of storage, we showed that whatever the O2 flow rate, the treated films registered a loss of their hydrophilic state since their WCA increased towards a common threshold of 80°. This ‘hydrophobic recovery’ effect was mostly attributed to the reorientation of induced polar chemical groups into the bulk of the material. Indeed, the relative concentrations of the carbonyl and carboxyl groups at the surface decreased with the storage time and seemed to reach a plateau after 30 days.

  2. The interplay of plasma treatment and gold coating and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene: On the cytocompatibility.

    PubMed

    Novotná, Zdenka; Rimpelová, Silvie; Juřík, Petr; Veselý, Martin; Kolská, Zdenka; Hubáček, Tomáš; Ruml, Tomáš; Švorčík, Václav

    2017-02-01

    We have investigated the application of Ar plasma for creation of nanostructured ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (PE) surface in order to enhance adhesion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (L929). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the interface between plasma-treated and gold-coated PE on adhesion and spreading of cells. The surface properties of pristine samples and its modified counterparts were studied by different experimental techniques (gravimetry, goniometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrokinetic analysis), which were used for characterization of treated and sputtered layers, polarity and surface chemical structure, respectively. Further, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to study the surface morphology and roughness. Biological responses of cells seeded on PE samples were evaluated in terms of cell adhesion, spreading, morphology and proliferation. Detailed cell morphology and intercellular connections were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As it was expected the thickness of a deposited gold film was an increasing function of the sputtering time. Despite the fact that plasma treatment proceeded in inert plasma, oxidized degradation products were formed on the PE surface which would contribute to increased hydrophilicity (wettability) of the plasma treated polymer. The XPS method showed a decrease in carbon concentration with increasing plasma treatment. Cell adhesion measured on the interface between plasma treated and gold coated PE was inversely proportional to the thickness of a gold layer on a sample. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. Influence of enamel surface preparation on composite bond strength.

    PubMed

    Matos, Adriana Bona; Tate, William H; Powers, John M

    2003-09-01

    To evaluate the influence of air-particle abrasion and treatments on in vitro tensile bond strength of resin composite bonded to human enamel was evaluated using a single-bottle adhesive. Human teeth were divided into 12 groups of three treatments (none, 27-microm Al2O3 air-particle abrasion, 50-microm Al2O3 air-particle abrasion) and four conditioners [none, phosphoric acid (PA), NRC (no-rinse conditioner), and PA/NRC]. Bonding agent (Prime & Bond NT) and a resin composite (TPH Spectrum) were applied as inverted cones. Specimens were stored for 24 hours at 37 degrees C and debonded in tension using a testing machine at 0.5 mm/minute. Phosphoric acid treatment used with Prime & Bond NT produced the best bond strengths (24 MPa) to enamel for surfaces treated with 27-microm air-particle abrasion and for surfaces not treated with air-particle abrasion (control). With one exception, air-particle abraded surfaces resulted in bond strengths between 9 to 16 MPa. NRC with or without the use of phosphoric acid in general did not improve tensile bond strength to enamel when compared to surfaces not treated with NRC.

  4. Crystal-face-selective adsorption of Au nanoparticles onto polycrystalline diamond surfaces.

    PubMed

    Kondo, Takeshi; Aoshima, Shinsuke; Hirata, Kousuke; Honda, Kensuke; Einaga, Yasuaki; Fujishima, Akira; Kawai, Takeshi

    2008-07-15

    Crystal-face-selective adsorption of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) was achieved on polycrystalline boron-doped diamond (BDD) surface via the self-assembly method combined with a UV/ozone treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of crystal-face-selective adsorption on an inorganic solid surface. Hydrogen-plasma-treated BDD samples and those followed by UV/ozone treatment for 2 min or longer showed almost no adsorption of AuNP after immersion in the AuNP solution prepared by the citrate reduction method. However, the samples treated by UV/ozone for 10 s showed AuNP adsorption on their (111) facets selectively after the immersion. Moreover, the sample treated with UV/ozone for 40-60 s showed AuNP adsorption on the whole surface. These results indicate that the AuNP adsorption behavior can be controlled by UV/ozone treatment time. This phenomenon was highly reproducible and was applied to a two-step adsorption method, where AuNPs from different batches were adsorbed on the (111) and (100) surface in this order. Our findings may be of great value for the fabrication of advanced nanoparticle-based functional materials via bottom-up approaches with simple macroscale procedures.

  5. Water Droplet and Cavitation Erosion Behavior of Laser-Treated Stainless Steel and Titanium Alloy: Their Similarities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mann, B. S.

    2013-12-01

    This article deals with water droplet and cavitation erosion behavior of diode laser-treated X10CrNiMoV1222 stainless steel and Ti6Al4V alloy. After laser surface treatment, the water droplet and cavitation erosion resistance (WDER and CER) of these materials improved significantly. The main reason for the improvement is the increased surface hardness and formation of fine-grained microstructures after laser surface treatment. It is observed that there is a similarity in both the phenomena. The WDER and CER can be correlated with a single mechanical property based on modified ultimate resilience (MUR) provided the laser-treated layers are free from microcracks and interface defects. The CER and WDER behavior of HPDL-treated X10CrNiMoV1222 stainless steel and Ti6Al4V alloy samples using different test equipment as per ASTM G32-2003 and ASTM G73-1978, their correlation with MUR, and their damage mechanism compared on the basis of XRD analyses, optical and scanning electron micrographs are discussed and reported in this article.

  6. Bio-functionalisation of polyether ether ketone using plasma immersion ion implantation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wakelin, Edgar; Yeo, Giselle; Kondyurin, Alexey; Davies, Michael; McKenzie, David; Weiss, Anthony; Bilek, Marcela

    2015-12-01

    Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is used here to improve the surface bioactivity of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) by modifying the chemical and mechanical properties and by introducing radicals. Modifications to the chemical and mechanical properties are characterised as a function of ion fluence (proportional to treatment time) to determine the suitability of the treated surfaces for biological applications. Radical generation increases with treatment time, where treatments greater than 400 seconds result in a high concentration of long-lived radicals. Radical reactions are responsible for oxidation of the surface, resulting in a permanent increase in the polar surface energy. The nano-scale reduced modulus was found to increase with treatment time at the surface from 4.4 to 5.2 GPa. The macromolecular Young's modulus was also found to increase, but by an amount corresponding to the volume fraction of the ion implanted region. The treated surface layer exhibited cracking under cyclical loads, associated with an increased modulus due to dehydrogenation and crosslinking, however it did not show any sign of delamination, indicating that the modified layer is well integrated with the substrate - a critical factor for bioactive surface coatings to be used in-vivo. Protein immobilisation on the PIII treated surfaces was found to saturate after 240 seconds of treatment, indicating that there is room to tune surface mechanical properties for specific applications without affecting the protein coverage. Our findings indicate that the modification of the chemical and mechanical properties by PIII treatments as well as the introduction of radicals render PEEK well suited for use in orthopaedic implantable devices.

  7. The effect of MTAD, an endodontic irrigant, on fibroblast attachment to periodontally affected root surfaces: A SEM analysis.

    PubMed

    Ghandi, Mostafa; Houshmand, Behzad; Nekoofar, Mohammad H; Tabor, Rachel K; Yadeghari, Zahra; Dummer, Paul M H

    2013-03-01

    Root surface debridement (RSD) is necessary to create an environment suitable for reattachment of the periodontium. Root surface conditioning may aid the formation of a biocompatible surface suitable for cell reattachment. BioPure™ MTAD (mixture of Doxycycline, citric acid and a detergent) is an endodontic irrigant with antibacterial properties and the ability to remove smear layer. It was hypothesized that MTAD may be useful for root surface conditioning. The efficacy of MTAD as a conditioner was measured by examining fibroblast attachment to root surfaces. Thirty-two specimens of human teeth with advanced periodontal disease were used. The surfaces were root planed until smooth. Half of the specimens were treated with 0.9% saline and the other samples with Biopure MTAD. As a negative control group, five further samples were left unscaled with surface calculus. Human gingival fibroblast cells HGF1-PI1 were cultured and poured over the tooth specimens and incubated. After fixation, the samples were sputter-coated with gold and examined with a SEM. The morphology and number of attached, fixed viable cells were examined. The data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney-U statistical test. There was no significant difference between the numbers of attached cells in the experimental group treated with MTAD and the control group treated with saline. Little or no attached cells were seen in the negative control group. RSD created an environment suitable for cell growth and attachment in a laboratory setting. The use of MTAD did not promote the attachment and growth of cells on the surface of human roots following RSD.

  8. Toxicity of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood to non-target marine fouling communities in Langstone Harbour, Portsmouth, UK.

    PubMed

    Brown, C J; Eaton, R A

    2001-04-01

    The effect of the anti-marine-borer timber preservative chromated copper arsenate (CCA) (a pressure impregnated solution of copper, chromium and arsenic compounds) on non-target marine fouling animals was investigated during a subtidal exposure trial. Panels of Scots pine treated to target retentions of 12, 24 and 48 kg CCA per m-3 of wood, plus untreated controls were submerged at a coastal site on the south coast of the UK for 6, 12 and 18 months. After each exposure period the fouling communities that formed on the surface of panels were assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Community structure was similar on panels treated to the three CCA loadings, but was significantly different from community structure on untreated panels. The total number of species (species richness) was similar on all panels, although the number of individual organisms attached to the surface of panels was significantly higher on CCA-treated panels than on untreated panels. k-dominance curves revealed that the difference in numbers of individuals between CCA-treated and untreated panels was caused by higher numbers of the dominant species (Elminius modestus, Hydroides ezoensis, and Electra pilosa) on CCA-treated panels. Other species were present in similar numbers on panels of all treatments. Results indicate that there are no detrimental toxic effects to epibiota caused by the presence of CCA preservative within the matrix of the wood at any of the treatment levels. Differences in community structure between CCA-treated and untreated panels may be due to enhanced larval settlement on CCA-treated timber by some species as a result of modifications to the surface properties of the timber by the CCA preservative.

  9. The Effects of Gas Composition on the Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Modification of Polyethylene Films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Jie; Qiu, Yiping

    2015-05-01

    Polyethylene (PE) films are treated using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) with He or He/O2 gas for different periods of time. The influence of gas type on the plasma-polymer interactions is studied. The surface contact angle of the PE film can be effectively lowered to 58° after 20 s of He/O2 plasma treatment and then remains almost unchanged for longer treatment durations, while, for He plasma treatment, the film surface contact angle drops gradually to 47° when the time reaches 120 s. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the root mean square (RMS) roughness was significantly higher for the He/O2 plasma treated samples than for the He plasma treated counterparts, and the surface topography of the He/O2 plasma treated PE films displays evenly distributed dome-shaped small protuberances. Chemical composition analysis reveals that the He plasma treated samples have a higher oxygen content but a clearly lower percentage of -COO than the comparable He/O2 treated samples, suggesting that differences exist in the mode of incorporating oxygen between the two gas condition plasma treatments. Electron spin resonance (ESR) results show that the free radical concentrations of the He plasma treated samples were clearly higher than those of the He/O2 plasma treated ones with other conditions unchanged. supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (Nos. JUSRP1044 and JUSRP1045), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51203062 and 51302110), and the Cooperative Innovation Fund, Project of Jiangsu Province, China (Nos. BY2012064, BY2013015-31 and BY2013015-32)

  10. Rapid infrared heating of a surface

    DOEpatents

    Sikka, Vinod K.; Blue, Craig A.; Ohriner, Evan Keith

    2002-01-01

    High energy flux infrared heaters are used to treat an object having a surface section and a base section such that a desired characteristic of the surface section is physically, chemically, or phasically changed while the base section remains unchanged.

  11. Rapid infrared heating of a surface

    DOEpatents

    Sikka, Vinod K.; Blue, Craig A.; Ohriner, Evan Keith

    2001-01-01

    High energy flux infrared heaters are used to treat an object having a surface section and a base section such that a desired characteristic of the surface section is physically, chemically, or phasically changed while the base section remains unchanged.

  12. Rapid infrared heating of a surface

    DOEpatents

    Sikka, Vinod K.; Blue, Craig A.; Ohriner, Evan Keith

    2003-12-23

    High energy flux infrared heaters are used to treat an object having a surface section and a base section such that a desired characteristic of the surface section is physically, chemically, or phasically changed while the base section remains unchanged.

  13. Surface modification of polyester fabrics by atmospheric-pressure air/He plasma for color strength and adhesion enhancement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Chunming; Zhao, Meihua; Wang, Libing; Qu, Lijun; Men, Yajing

    2017-04-01

    Surface properties of water-based pigmented inks for ink-jet printed polyester fabrics were modified with atmospheric-pressure air/He plasma to improve the color strength and pigment adhesion of the treated surfaces. The influence of various parameters, including the surface morphology, chemical compositions, surface energy and dynamic contact angles of the control and plasma treated samples was studied. Color strength and edge definition were used to evaluate the ink-jet printing performance of fabrics. The change in pigment adhesion to polyester fibers was analyzed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy). AFM (Atomic force microscope) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analyses indicated the increase in surface roughness and the oxygen-containing polar groups(Cdbnd O, Csbnd OH and COOH) reinforced the fixation of pigments on the fiber surface. The result from this study suggested that the improved pigment color yield was clearly affected by alteration of pigment adhesion enhanced by plasma surface modification. Polyester fabrics exhibited better surface property and ink-jet printing performance after the air/He mixture plasma treatment comparing with those after air plasma treatment.

  14. Physical and chemical behavior of flowing endothermic jet fuels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ward, Thomas Arthur

    Hydrocarbon fuels have been used as cooling media for aircraft jet engines for decades. However, modern aircraft engines are reaching a practical heat transfer limit beyond which the convective heat transfer provided by fuels is no longer adequate. One solution is to use an endothermic fuel that absorbs heat through a series of pyrolytic chemical reactions. However, many of the physical and chemical processes involved in endothermic fuel degradation are not well understood. The purpose of this dissertation is to study different characteristics of endothermic fuels using experiments and computational models. In the first section, data from three flow experiments using heated Jet-A fuel and additives were analyzed (with the aid of CFD calculations) to study the effects of treated surfaces on surface deposition. Surface deposition is the primary impediment in creating an operational endothermic fuel heat exchanger system, because deposits can obstruct fuel pathways causing a catastrophic system failure. As heated fuel flows through a fuel system, trace species within the fuel react with dissolved O2 to form surface deposits. At relatively higher fuel temperatures, the dissolved O2 is depleted, and pyrolytic chemistry becomes dominant (at temperatures greater than ˜500 °C). In the first experiment, the dissolved O2 consumption of heated fuel was measured on different surface types over a range of temperatures. It is found that use of treated tubes significantly delays oxidation of the fuel. In the second experiment, the treated length of tubing was progressively increased, which varied the characteristics of the thermal-oxidative deposits formed. In the third experiment, pyrolytic surface deposition in either fully treated or untreated tubes is studied. It is found that the treated surface significantly reduced the formation of surface deposits for both thermal oxidative and pyrolytic degradation mechanisms. Moreover, it is found that the chemical reactions resulting in pyrolytic deposition on the untreated surface are more sensitive to pressure level than those causing pyrolytic deposition on the treated surface. The second section describes the development of a two-dimensional computational model of the heat and mass transport associated with a flowing fuel using a unique global chemical kinetics model. This model calculates the changing flow properties of a supercritical reacting fuel by use of experimentally derived proportional product distributions. The third section studies the effects of pressure on flowing; mildly-cracked, supercritical n-decane. The experimental results are studied with the aid of the computational model described in section 2, expanded to deal with variable pressures. The experiments indicate that increasing pressure enhances the processes in which n-decane converts to (C5--C9) n-alkane products instead of decomposing into lower molecular weight products (C1--C4): Increasing pressure also increases the overall conversion rate of supercritical n-decane flowing through a reactor. Computational modeling of the experiment shows how the flow properties are influenced by pressure. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

  15. Experimental dosing of wetlands with coagulants removes mercury from surface water and decreases mercury bioaccumulation in fish

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Ackerman, Joshua T.; Kraus, Tamara E.C.; Fleck, Jacob A.; Krabbenhoft, David P.; Horwarth, William R.; Bachand, Sandra M.; Herzog, Mark; Hartman, Christopher; Bachand, Philip A.M.

    2015-01-01

    Mercury pollution is widespread globally, and strategies for managing mercury contamination in aquatic environments are necessary. We tested whether coagulation with metal-based salts could remove mercury from wetland surface waters and decrease mercury bioaccumulation in fish. In a complete randomized block design, we constructed nine experimental wetlands in California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, stocked them with mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and then continuously applied agricultural drainage water that was either untreated (control), or treated with polyaluminum chloride or ferric sulfate coagulants. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in surface waters were decreased by 62% and 63% in polyaluminum chloride treated wetlands and 50% and 76% in ferric sulfate treated wetlands compared to control wetlands. Specifically, following coagulation, mercury was transferred from the filtered fraction of water into the particulate fraction of water which then settled within the wetland. Mosquitofish mercury concentrations were decreased by 35% in ferric sulfate treated wetlands compared to control wetlands. There was no reduction in mosquitofish mercury concentrations within the polyaluminum chloride treated wetlands, which may have been caused by production of bioavailable methylmercury within those wetlands. Coagulation may be an effective management strategy for reducing mercury contamination within wetlands, but further studies should explore potential effects on wetland ecosystems.

  16. Experimental dosing of wetlands with coagulants removes mercury from surface water and decreases mercury bioaccumulation in fish.

    PubMed

    Ackerman, Joshua T; Kraus, Tamara E C; Fleck, Jacob A; Krabbenhoft, David P; Horwath, William R; Bachand, Sandra M; Herzog, Mark P; Hartman, C Alex; Bachand, Philip A M

    2015-05-19

    Mercury pollution is widespread globally, and strategies for managing mercury contamination in aquatic environments are necessary. We tested whether coagulation with metal-based salts could remove mercury from wetland surface waters and decrease mercury bioaccumulation in fish. In a complete randomized block design, we constructed nine experimental wetlands in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, stocked them with mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and then continuously applied agricultural drainage water that was either untreated (control), or treated with polyaluminum chloride or ferric sulfate coagulants. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in surface waters were decreased by 62% and 63% in polyaluminum chloride treated wetlands and 50% and 76% in ferric sulfate treated wetlands compared to control wetlands. Specifically, following coagulation, mercury was transferred from the filtered fraction of water into the particulate fraction of water which then settled within the wetland. Mosquitofish mercury concentrations were decreased by 35% in ferric sulfate treated wetlands compared to control wetlands. There was no reduction in mosquitofish mercury concentrations within the polyaluminum chloride treated wetlands, which may have been caused by production of bioavailable methylmercury within those wetlands. Coagulation may be an effective management strategy for reducing mercury contamination within wetlands, but further studies should explore potential effects on wetland ecosystems.

  17. Enhancement of valve metal osteoconductivity by one-step hydrothermal treatment.

    PubMed

    Zuldesmi, Mansjur; Waki, Atsushi; Kuroda, Kensuke; Okido, Masazumi

    2014-09-01

    In this study, we produced super-hydrophilic surfaces of valve metals (Ti, Nb, Ta and Zr) by one-step hydrothermal treatment. Their surface characteristics and osteoconductivity using an in vivo test were then assessed. These data were compared with that of as-polished, as-anodized and both anodized+hydrothermally treated samples. Changes in surface chemistry, surface morphology and structure were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The results revealed that the water contact angles of valve metals were decreased by hydrothermal treatment and continued to reduce dramatically until lower than 10° after being immersed in phosphate buffered solution. By producing super-hydrophilic surfaces, the osteoconductivity of these hydrothermally treated valve metals was enhanced by up to 55%. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Improvement of the adsorption of quaternary ammonium on polypropylene affinity membrane through the control of its surface properties.

    PubMed

    Hachache, Naima; Bal, Youcef; Debarnot, Dominique; Poncin-Epaillard, Fabienne

    2014-02-01

    Polypropylene fiber meshes were plasma-treated in order to attach new chemical functions corresponding to acidic or basic groups without altering the roughness of such thin material. An almost complete wettability of these plasma-treated materials is obtained. Because of the plasma-grafting of acid or amino moieties, such surface treatment allows increasing the adsorption rate of quaternary ammonium molecule like Aliquat 336. This increase was explained by specific interactions of ammonium head of the Aliquat 336 and hydrophilic group of plasma-treated PP, followed by the adsorption of a further layer of Aliquat 336 through hydrophobic interactions of its hydrocarbon chain. These interactions between the carrier and the polymeric surface were characterized leading to physisorption mechanism. Such new material could be applied to the extraction process since no evidence of aging was given. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. N and Cr ion implantation of natural ruby surfaces and their characterization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rao, K. Sudheendra; Sahoo, Rakesh K.; Dash, Tapan; Magudapathy, P.; Panigrahi, B. K.; Nayak, B. B.; Mishra, B. K.

    2016-04-01

    Energetic ions of N and Cr were used to implant the surfaces of natural rubies (low aesthetic quality). Surface colours of the specimens were found to change after ion implantation. The samples without and with ion implantation were characterized by diffuse reflectance spectra in ultra violet and visible region (DRS-UV-Vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and nano-indentation. While the Cr-ion implantation produced deep red surface colour (pigeon eye red) in polished raw sample (without heat treatment), the N-ion implantation produced a mixed tone of dark blue, greenish blue and violet surface colour in the heat treated sample. In the case of heat treated sample at 3 × 1017 N-ions/cm2 fluence, formation of colour centres (F+, F2, F2+ and F22+) by ion implantation process is attributed to explain the development of the modified surface colours. Certain degree of surface amorphization was observed to be associated with the above N-ion implantation.

  20. Friction and wear on laser textured Ti6Al4V surface subjected to laser shock peening with contacting foil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dai, F. Z.; Geng, J.; Tan, W. S.; Ren, X. D.; Lu, J. Z.; Huang, Shu

    2018-07-01

    The Ti6Al4V micro-dimple surfaces fabricated by a masked laser surface texturing (MLST) technique within water were subjected to soft contact laser shock peening (SCLSP) and hard contact laser shock peening (HCLSP). The effects of these two LSP methods on topography, micro-hardness and residual stress distribution were studied. The friction and wear performance under dry friction and oil lubrication were also studied. The enclosure of micro cracks in the micro-dimple bottom was observed when treated by SCLSP and HCLSP. The dry friction and wear test showed that the MLST+HCLSP surfaces had the best wear resistance performance. In the oil lubricated friction test, the occurrence of the hydrodynamic lubrication effect occurred on the micro-dimple surfaces. The MLST+HCLSP exhibited the best friction and wear resistance performance. These were due to the micro-hardness increase, the producing of compressive residual stress and the surface roughness reduction of as treated surfaces.

  1. Tribological Properties of Surface-Textured and Plasma-Nitrided Pure Titanium Under Oil Lubrication Condition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Baosen; Dong, Qiangsheng; Ba, Zhixin; Wang, Zhangzhong; Shi, Hancheng; Xue, Yanting

    2018-01-01

    Plasma nitriding was conducted as post-treatment for surface texture on pure titanium to obtain a continuous nitriding layer. Supersonic fine particles bombarding (SFPB) was carried out to prepare surface texture. The surface morphologies and chemical composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscope and energy disperse spectroscopy. The microstructures of modified layers were characterized by transmission electron microscope. The tribological properties of surface-textured and duplex-treated pure titanium under oil lubrication condition were systematically investigated in the ball-on-plate reciprocating mode. The effects of applied load and sliding velocity on the tribological behavior were analyzed. The results show that after duplex treatments, the grains size in modified layer becomes slightly larger, and hardness is obviously improved. Wear resistance of duplex-treated pure titanium is significantly improved referenced to untreated and surface-textured pure titanium, which is 3.22 times as much as untreated pure titanium and 2.15 times of that for surface-textured pure titanium, respectively.

  2. Thermal oxidation of single crystal aluminum antimonide and materials having the same

    DOEpatents

    Sherohman, John William; Yee, Jick Hong; Coombs, III, Arthur William; Wu, Kuang Jen J.

    2012-12-25

    In one embodiment, a method for forming a non-conductive crystalline oxide layer on an AlSb crystal includes heat treating an AlSb crystal in a partial vacuum atmosphere at a temperature conducive for air adsorbed molecules to desorb, surface molecule groups to decompose, and elemental Sb to evaporate from a surface of the AlSb crystal and exposing the AlSb crystal to an atmosphere comprising oxygen to form a crystalline oxide layer on the surface of the AlSb crystal. In another embodiment, a method for forming a non-conductive crystalline oxide layer on an AlSb crystal includes heat treating an AlSb crystal in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature conducive for decomposition of an amorphous oxidized surface layer and evaporation of elemental Sb from the AlSb crystal surface and forming stable oxides of Al and Sb from residual surface oxygen to form a crystalline oxide layer on the surface of the AlSb crystal.

  3. Structure and wettability property of the growth and nucleation surfaces of thermally treated freestanding CVD diamond films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pei, Xiaoqiang; Cheng, Shaoheng; Ma, Yibo; Wu, Danfeng; Liu, Junsong; Wang, Qiliang; Yang, Yizhou; Li, Hongdong

    2015-08-01

    This paper reports the surface features and wettability properties of the (1 0 0)-textured freestanding chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond films after thermal exposure in air at high temperature. Thermal oxidation at proper conditions eliminates selectively nanodiamonds and non-diamond carbons in the films. The growth side of the films contains (1 0 0)-oriented micrometer-sized columns, while its nucleation side is formed of nano-sized tips. The examined wettability properties of the as-treated diamond films reveal a hydrophilicity and superhydrophilicity on the growth surface and nucleation surface, respectively, which is determined by oxygen termination and geometry structure of the surface. When the surface termination is hydrogenated, the wettability of nucleation side converted from superhydrophilicity to high hydrophobicity, while the hydrophilicity of the growth side does not change significantly. The findings open a possibility for realizing freestanding diamond films having not only novel surface structures but also multifunction applications, especially proposed on the selected growth side or nucleation side in one product.

  4. An in vitro bacterial adhesion assessment of surface-modified medical-grade PVC.

    PubMed

    Asadinezhad, Ahmad; Novák, Igor; Lehocký, Marián; Sedlarík, Vladimir; Vesel, Alenka; Junkar, Ita; Sáha, Petr; Chodák, Ivan

    2010-06-01

    Medical-grade polyvinyl chloride was surface modified by a multistep physicochemical approach to improve bacterial adhesion prevention properties. This was fulfilled via surface activation by diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge plasma followed by radical graft copolymerization of acrylic acid through surface-initiated pathway to render a structured high density brush. Three known antibacterial agents, bronopol, benzalkonium chloride, and chlorhexidine, were then individually coated onto functionalized surface to induce biological properties. Various modern surface probe techniques were employed to explore the effects of the modification steps. In vitro bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation assay was performed. Escherichia coli strain was found to be more susceptible to modifications rather than Staphylococcus aureus as up to 85% reduction in adherence degree of the former was observed upon treating with above antibacterial agents, while only chlorhexidine could retard the adhesion of the latter by 50%. Also, plasma treated and graft copolymerized samples were remarkably effective to diminish the adherence of E. coli. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. The surface modification of clay particles by RF plasma technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Sang-Keol

    In this study, the surface coatings of ball clay, organoclay and exfoliated clay prepared by sol-gel process were done by RF plasma polymerization to improve the surface activity of the clay filler. Characterization of the above plasma-treated clays has been carried out by various techniques. The effects of plasma-treated clays as substitute of carbon black in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) on the curing and mechanical properties were investigated. After plasma treatment, the tensile properties of organo and exfoliated clay were not unsatisfactory to that of carbon black filler system. Moreover, only 10 phr filler loading of plasma-treated organoclay in EPDM vulcanizates showed better results than 40 phr filler loading of carbon black in EPDM vulcanizates. The main objective of this study was to verify the applicability of the plasma technique for modifying clay surfaces for their use in the tire manufacturing industry. Another purpose was to reveal the advantage of the plasma technique used to obtain modified-clay and improved properties that those materials can display.

  6. On the Electrodeposition of Ca-P Coatings on Nitinol Alloy: A Comparison Between Different Surface Modification Methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Etminanfar, M. R.; Khalil-Allafi, J.

    2016-02-01

    In this study, a combination of surface modification process and the electrochemical deposition of Ca-P coatings was used for the modification of the Nitinol shape memory alloy. DSC, SEM, GIB-XRD, FT-Raman, XPS, and FTIR measurements were performed for the characterization of the samples. Results indicated that chemical etching and boiling of the samples in distilled water formed TiO film on the surface. After the chemical modification, subsequent aging of the sample, at 470 °C for 30 min, converted the oxide film to a stable structure of titanium dioxide. In that case, the treated substrate indicated a superelastic behavior. At the same electrochemical condition, the treated substrate revealed more stable and uniform Ca-P coatings in comparison with the abraded Nitinol substrate. This difference was attributed to the presence of hydroxyl groups on the titanium dioxide surface. Also, after soaking the sample in SBF, the needle-like coating on the treated substrate was completely covered with the hydroxyapatite phase which shows a good bioactivity of the coating.

  7. Influence of low concentration acid treatment on lithium disilicate core/veneer ceramic bond strength

    PubMed Central

    Garcia, Rudan P.; Conti, Paulo CR.; Pereira, Jefferson R.; Valle, Accácio Ld.

    2013-01-01

    Objective: This study evaluated the influence of low concentration acid treatment on the shear bond strength between lithium disilicate (LD) infrastructure and veneering porcelain. The surface morphology characteristic after this acid treatment was also examined. Study Design: LD reinforced ceramic cylinders (n=10) (IPS e.max Press, Ivoclar-Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were treated (LD-treated) with a low concentration acid solution (Invex Liquid – Ivoclar-Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) or not treated with the acid solution (LD-untreated). They were veneered with a glass ceramic (IPS e.max Ceram, Ivoclar-Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein). A metal ceramic group (CoCr) was tested as control. Shear bond strength (SBS) was conducted using a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min. Surface morphology characteristics after acid treatment were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Results: The acid treatment at low concentrations did not influence the SBS of the LD/veneering porcelain interface. The CoCr group showed the significant higher SBS value (35.59 ± 5.97 MPa), followed by LD-untreated group (27.76 ± 3.59 MPa) and LD-treated (27.02 ± 4.79 MPa). The fracture modes were predominantly adhesive for CoCr group and cohesive within the infrastructure for DL groups. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed no morphological differences between treated and untreated LD surfaces. Conclusions: Low concentration acid treatment did not improved SBS of veneering ceramic to LD and did not cause morphological changes on the LD surface. Key words:Lithium disilicate, glass ceramics, acid etching, shear bond strength, scanning electron microscopy. PMID:24455073

  8. Enhanced bone-integration capability of alkali- and heat-treated nanopolymorphic titanium in micro-to-nanoscale hierarchy.

    PubMed

    Ueno, Takeshi; Tsukimura, Naoki; Yamada, Masahiro; Ogawa, Takahiro

    2011-10-01

    This study introduces nanopolymorphic features of alkali- and heat-treated titanium surfaces, comprising of tuft-like, plate-like, and nodular structures that are smaller than 100 nm and determines whether and how the addition of these nanofeatures to a microroughened titanium surface affects bone-implant integration. A comprehensive assessment of biomechanical, interfacial, and histological analyses in a rat model was performed for machined surfaces without microroughness, sandblasted-microroughened surfaces, and micro-nano hybrid surfaces created by sandblasting and alkali and heat treatment. The microroughened surface accelerated the establishment of implant biomechanical fixation at the early healing stage compared with the non-microroughened surface but did not increase the implant fixation at the late healing stage. The addition of the nanopolymorphic features to the microroughened surface further increased implant fixation throughout the healing time. The area of the new bone within 50 μm proximity of the implant surfaces, which was increased 2-3-fold using microroughened surfaces, was further increased 2-fold using nanopolymorphic surfaces. In contrast, the bone area in a 50-200 μm zone was not influenced by either microroughened or nanopolymorphic surfaces. The percentage of bone-implant contact, which was increased 4-5-fold, using microroughened surfaces, was further increased substantially by over 2-fold throughout the healing period. The percentage of soft tissue intervention between bone and implant surfaces, which was reduced to half by microroughened surfaces, was additionally reduced by the nanopolymorphic surfaces to between one-third and one-fourth, resulting in only 5-7% soft tissue intervention compared with 60-75% for the non-microroughened surface. Thus, using an exemplary alkali- and heat-treated nanopolymorphic surface, this study identified critical parameters necessary to describe the process and consequences of bone-implant integration, for which nanofeatures have specific and substantial roles beyond those of microfeatures. Nanofeature-enhanced osteoconductivity, which resulted in both the acceleration and elevation of bone-implant integration, has clearly been demonstrated. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Boron Diffusion in Surface-Treated Framing Lumber

    Treesearch

    Patricia K. Lebow; Stan T. Lebow; Steven A. Halverson

    2013-01-01

    The extent of boron penetration in framing lumber treated by spray applications during construction is not well quantified. This study evaluated the effect of formulation and concentration on diffusion of boron in lumber specimens that were equilibrated in conditions that produced wood moisture contents of 18 to 21 percent. One set of specimens was pressure treated...

  10. Fabrication of hydroxyapatite and TiO 2 nanorods on microarc-oxidized titanium surface using hydrothermal treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Song, Ho-Jun; Kim, Ji-Woo; Kook, Min-Suk; Moon, Won-Jin; Park, Yeong-Joon

    2010-09-01

    AC-type microarc oxidation (MAO) and hydrothermal treatment techniques were used to enhance the bioactivity of commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti). The porous TiO 2 layer fabricated by the MAO treatment had a dominant anatase structure and contained Ca and P ions. The MAO-treated specimens were treated hydrothermally to form HAp crystallites on the titanium oxide layer in an alkaline aqueous solution (OH-solution) or phosphorous-containing alkaline solution (POH-solution). A small number of micro-sized hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystallites and a thin layer composed of nano-sized HAps were formed on the Ti-MAO-OH group treated hydrothermally in an OH-solution, whereas a large number of micro-sized HAp crystallites and dense anatase TiO 2 nanorods were formed on the Ti-MAO-POH group treated hydrothermally in a POH-solution. The layer of bone-like apatite that formed on the surface of the POH-treated sample after soaking in a modified simulated body fluid was thicker than that on the OH-treated samples.

  11. Treated carbon fibers with improved performance for electrochemical and chemical applications

    DOEpatents

    Chu, X.; Kinoshita, Kimio

    1999-02-23

    A treated mesophase carbon fiber is disclosed having a high density of exposed edges on the fiber surface, and a method is described for making such a treated fiber. A carbon electrode is also described which is constructed from such treated mesophase carbon fibers. The resulting electrode, formed from such treated flexible carbon fibers, is characterized by a high density of active sites formed from such exposed edges, low corrosion, and good mechanical strength, and may be fabricated into various shapes. The treated mesophase carbon fibers of the invention are formed by first loading the surface of the mesophase carbon fiber with catalytic metal particles to form catalytic etch sites on a hard carbon shell of the fiber. The carbon fiber is then subject to an etch step wherein portions of the hard carbon shell or skin are selectively removed adjacent the catalytic metal particles adhering to the carbon shell. This exposes the underlying radial edges of the graphite-like layers within the carbon shell of the mesophase carbon fiber, which exposed radial edges then act as active sites of a carbon electrode subsequently formed from the treated mesophase carbon fibers. 14 figs.

  12. Treated carbon fibers with improved performance for electrochemical and chemical applications

    DOEpatents

    Chu, Xi; Kinoshita, Kimio

    1999-01-01

    A treated mesophase carbon fiber is disclosed having a high density of exposed edges on the fiber surface, and a method of making such a treated fiber. A carbon electrode is also described which is constructed from such treated mesophase carbon fibers. The resulting electrode, formed from such treated flexible carbon fibers, is characterized by a high density of active sites formed from such exposed edges, low corrosion, and good mechanical strength, and may be fabricated into various shapes. The treated mesophase carbon fibers of the invention are formed by first loading the surface of the mesophase carbon fiber with catalytic metal particles to form catalytic etch sites on a hard carbon shell of the fiber. The carbon fiber is then subject to an etch step wherein portions of the hard carbon shell or skin are selectively removed adjacent the catalytic metal particles adhering to the carbon shell. This exposes the underlying radial edges of the graphite-like layers within the carbon shell of the mesophase carbon fiber, which exposed radial edges then act as active sites of a carbon electrode subsequently formed from the treated mesophase carbon fibers.

  13. The threshold effects of Nd and Ho: YAG laser-induced surface modification on demineralization of dentin surfaces.

    PubMed

    Kinney, J H; Haupt, D L; Balooch, M; White, J M; Bell, W L; Marshall, S J; Marshall, G W

    1996-06-01

    Laser irradiation alters the structure of dentin and produces surface layers that give the appearance of being more enamel-like. The laser-modified surface may be more resistant to demineralization; hence, many investigators are proposing continued development of the laser as a possible preventive treatment for caries. The purpose of this study was to explore the morphological changes that occur in dentin when treated at threshold illuminance with two clinically interesting laser wavelengths, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the laser-treated surface at resisting demineralization in an acid-gel solution. The Nd: YAG laser (wavelength 1060 nm) produced significant recrystallization and grain growth of the apatite, without the formation of second phases such as beta-tricalcium phosphate. This recrystallized surface layer showed resistance to demineralization; however, the layer did not provide protection of the underlying dentin from demineralization because of cracks and macroscopic voids that allowed for penetration of the demineralizing gel. The Ho: YAG laser-treated surface (wavelength 2100 nm) did not show significant evidence of recrystallization and grain growth, and only a trace amount of an acid-resistant layer was observed with demineralization. It is speculated that the Ho:YAG laser is coupling with absorbed water, and that the heat transfer from the water to the mineral phase is inefficient. For the purposes of creating a demineralization-resistant layer, threshold illuminance with both Nd: YAG and Ho: YAG was ineffective.

  14. Method of fabricating nested shells and resulting product

    DOEpatents

    Henderson, Timothy M.; Kool, Lawrence B.

    1982-01-01

    A multiple shell structure and a method of manufacturing such structure wherein a hollow glass microsphere is surface treated in an organosilane solution so as to render the shell outer surface hydrophobic. The surface treated glass shell is then suspended in the oil phase of an oil-aqueous phase dispersion. The oil phase includes an organic film-forming monomer, a polymerization initiator and a blowing agent. A polymeric film forms at each phase boundary of the dispersion and is then expanded in a blowing operation so as to form an outer homogeneously integral monocellular substantially spherical thermoplastic shell encapsulating an inner glass shell of lesser diameter.

  15. High Power Diode Laser-Treated HP-HVOF and Twin Wire Arc-Sprayed Coatings for Fossil Fuel Power Plants

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mann, B. S.

    2013-08-01

    This article deals with high power diode laser (HPDL) surface modification of twin wire arc-sprayed (TWAS) and high pressure high velocity oxy-fuel (HP-HVOF) coatings to combat solid particle erosion occurring in fossil fuel power plants. To overcome solid particle impact wear above 673 K, Cr3C2-NiCr-, Cr3C2-CoNiCrAlY-, and WC-CrC-Ni-based HVOF coatings are used. WC-CoCr-based HVOF coatings are generally used below 673 K. Twin wire arc (TWA) spraying of Tafa 140 MXC and SHS 7170 cored wires is used for a wide range of applications for a temperature up to 1073 K. Laser surface modification of high chromium stainless steels for steam valve components and LPST blades is carried out regularly. TWA spraying using SHS 7170 cored wire, HP-HVOF coating using WC-CoCr powder, Ti6Al4V alloy, and high chromium stainless steels (X20Cr13, AISI 410, X10CrNiMoV1222, 13Cr4Ni, 17Cr4Ni) were selected in the present study. Using robotically controlled parameters, HPDL surface treatments of TWAS-coated high strength X10CrNiMoV1222 stainless steel and HP-HVOF-coated AISI 410 stainless steel samples were carried out and these were compared with HPDL-treated high chromium stainless steels and titanium alloy for high energy particle impact wear (HEPIW) resistance. The HPDL surface treatment of the coatings has improved the HEPIW resistance manifold. The improvement in HPDL-treated stainless steels and titanium alloys is marginal and it is not comparable with that of HPDL-treated coatings. These coatings were also compared with "as-sprayed" coatings for fracture toughness, microhardness, microstructure, and phase analyses. The HEPIW resistance has a strong relationship with the product of fracture toughness and microhardness of the HPDL-treated HP-HVOF and TWAS SHS 7170 coatings. This development opens up a possibility of using HPDL surface treatments in specialized areas where the problem of HEPIW is very severe. The HEPIW resistance of HPDL-treated high chromium stainless steels and titanium alloys, HPDL-treated TWAS SHS 7170 and HP-HVOF coatings, and their micrographs and X-ray diffraction analysis is reported in this article.

  16. Selective and conventional house-spraying of DDT and bendiocarb against Anopheles pseudopunctipennis in southern Mexico.

    PubMed

    Casas, M; Torres, J L; Bown, D N; Rodríguez, M H; Arredondo-Jiménez, J I

    1998-12-01

    Indoor feeding behaviors and mortalities of Anopheles pseudopunctipennis females were evaluated following contact with selective (bands covering mosquitoes' preferred resting areas) and full applications of DDT and bendiocarb on indoor sprayable surfaces. The DDT residues provoked strong avoidance behavior. To a lesser degree, mosquitoes were also repelled by bendiocarb-sprayed surfaces. Because of strong irritancy/repellency, unfed mosquitoes were driven outdoors in proportionally higher numbers. The resting time on selectively or fully DDT-sprayed huts was greatly reduced in comparison to bendiocarb-sprayed huts. Although unfed mosquitoes tended to rest on non-DDT-sprayed surfaces in the selectively treated hut, the man-biting rate was similar with both types of treatments. Unfed mosquitoes were repelled less from selectively bendiocarb-treated surfaces. Similar reductions in postfed resting times were observed on all surfaces suggesting that once fed, mosquitoes rested on sprayed surfaces for shorter intervals of time. Engorged mosquitoes had normal resting behavior (pre- and postspray) within the range of preferred resting heights in both DDT- and bendiocarb-sprayed huts, but the proportion of mosquitoes fed in the DDT-treated huts was lower. Selective spraying of walls was as effective as spraying the complete walls with both insecticides, but DDT was more effective in reducing mosquito-human contact. These studies show that by more effectively targeting vector behavior, a cost-effective alternative to traditional control techniques can be achieved.

  17. Effect of tray-based and trayless tooth whitening systems on microhardness of enamel surface and subsurface.

    PubMed

    Teixeira, Erica C N; Ritter, André V; Thompson, Jeffrey Y; Leonard, Ralph H; Swift, Edward J

    2004-12-01

    To evaluate the effect of tray-based and trayless tooth whitening systems on surface and subsurface microhardness of human enamel. Enamel slabs were obtained from recently extracted human third molars. Specimens were randomly assigned to six groups according to tooth whitening treatment (n = 10): 6.0% hydrogen peroxide (HP) (Crest Whitestrips), 6.5% HP (Crest Professional Whitestrips), 7.5% HP (Day White Excel 3), 9.5% HP (Day White Excel 3), 10% carbamide peroxide (Opalescence), and a control group (untreated). Specimens were treated for 14 days following manufacturers' recommended protocols, and were immersed in artificial saliva between treatments. Enamel surface Knoop microhardness (KHN) was measured immediately before treatment, and at days 1, 7, and 14 of treatment. After treatment, subsurface microhardness was measured at depths of 50-500 microm. Data were analyzed for statistical significance using analysis of variance. Differences in microhardness for treated vs. untreated enamel surface were not statistically significant at any time interval. For 6.5% and 9.5% HP, there was a decrease in surface microhardness values during treatment, but at the end of treatment the microhardness values were not statistically different from the baseline values. For the enamel subsurface values, no differences were observed between treated vs. untreated specimens at each depth. Trayless and tray-based tooth whitening treatments do not significantly affect surface or subsurface enamel microhardness.

  18. Creation of hydrophilic nitric oxide releasing polymers via plasma surface modification.

    PubMed

    Pegalajar-Jurado, A; Joslin, J M; Hawker, M J; Reynolds, M M; Fisher, E R

    2014-08-13

    Herein, we describe the surface modification of an S-nitrosated polymer derivative via H2O plasma treatment, resulting in polymer coatings that maintained their nitric oxide (NO) releasing capabilities, but exhibited dramatic changes in surface wettability. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based hydrophobic polymer was nitrosated to achieve a material capable of releasing the therapeutic agent NO. The NO-loaded films were subjected to low-temperature H2O plasma treatments, where the treatment power (20-50 W) and time (1-5 min) were varied. The plasma treated polymer films were superhydrophilic (water droplet spread completely in <100 ms), yet retained 90% of their initial S-nitrosothiol content. Under thermal conditions, NO release profiles were identical to controls. Under buffer soak conditions, the NO release profile was slightly lowered for the plasma-treated materials; however, they still result in physiologically relevant NO fluxes. XPS, SEM-EDS, and ATR-IR characterization suggests the plasma treatment resulted in polymer rearrangement and implantation of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups. Plasma treated samples maintained both hydrophilic surface properties and NO release profiles after storage at -18 °C for at least 10 days, demonstrating the surface modification and NO release capabilities are stable over time. The ability to tune polymer surface properties while maintaining bulk properties and NO release properties, and the stability of those properties under refrigerated conditions, represents a unique approach toward creating enhanced therapeutic biopolymers.

  19. Effect of surface etching on the oxidation behavior of plasma chromizing-treated AISI440B stainless steel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meng, T. X.; Guo, Q.; Xi, W.; Ding, W. Q.; Liu, X. Z.; Lin, N. M.; Yu, S. W.; Liu, X. P.

    2018-03-01

    Double glow plasma surface alloying was applied to prepare chromizing layer in the surface of AISI440B stainless steel. Prior to chromizing, the stainless steel was etched by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition to change the surface morphology and composition, and then heated for chromizing at 950 °C for 3 h. The cyclical oxidation of steel after chromizing was carried out at 900 °C for 100 h. Scanning electron microscopy, glow discharge optical emission spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer were used to characterize microstructure, composition and phase structure of alloyed and oxidized samples. The results show that the surface was composed of the Cr-rich top layer and Cr23C6, Cr7C3 and {Cr,Fe}7C3 below layer after chromizing. The bonding between the chromizing layer and the substrate after etching treatment was obviously strengthened. AISI440B steel shows a poor oxidation resistance and the weight gain oxidized for 100 h was up to 31.1 mg/cm2. Weight gains for chromizing and etching + chromizing treated samples were 0.67 mg/cm2 and 8 mg/cm2, respectively. Both oxidized surfaces of chromizing and etching + chromizing were composed of Cr2O3, but the oxide scale of etching + chromizing treated samples was more compact than that of samples without etching.

  20. Improved polymeric surface for adhesion through electron stimulated chemical modification of polymeric surface

    DOEpatents

    Kelber, J.A.

    1987-04-08

    Treating polymer surfaces, e.g., Teflon, particularly very thin surfaces, e.g., 50-10,000 A, with low energy electron radiation, e.g., 100-1000 eV, in a high vacuum environment, e.g., less than 10 /sup /minus/6/ Torr, to enhance the ability of the surface to be adhered to a variety of substrates.

  1. Surface composition XPS analysis of a plasma treated polystyrene: Evolution over long storage periods.

    PubMed

    Ba, Ousmane M; Marmey, Pascal; Anselme, Karine; Duncan, Anthony C; Ponche, Arnaud

    2016-09-01

    A polystyrene surface (PS) was initially treated by cold nitrogen and oxygen plasma in order to incorporate in particular amine and hydroxyl functions, respectively. The evolution of the chemical nature of the surface was further monitored over a long time period (580 days) by chemical assay, XPS and contact angle measurements. Surface density quantification of primary amine groups was performed using three chemical amine assays: 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (4-NBZ), Sulfo succinimidyl 6-[3'(2 pyridyldithio)-pionamido] hexanoate (Sulfo-LC-SPDP) and iminothiolane (ITL). The results showed amine densities were in the range of 2 per square nanometer (comparable to the results described in the literature) after 5min of nitrogen plasma treatment. Over the time period investigated, chemical assays, XPS and contact angles suggest a drastic significant evolution of the chemical nature of the surface within the first two weeks. Beyond that time period and up to almost two years, nitrogen plasma modified substrates exhibits a slow and continuous oxidation whereas oxygen plasma modifed polystyrene surface is chemically stable after two weeks of storage. The latter appeared to "ease of" showing relatively mild changes within the one year period. Our results suggest that it may be preferable to wait for a chemical "stabilization" period of two weeks before subsequent covalent immobilization of proteins onto the surface. The originality of this work resides in the study of the plasma treated surface chemistry evolution over long periods of storage time (580 days) considerably exceeding those described in the literature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Bond strength between a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network and a composite for repair: effect of several ceramic surface treatments.

    PubMed

    Silva, Pollyanna Nogueira Ferreira da; Martinelli-Lobo, Carolina Machado; Bottino, Marco Antonio; Melo, Renata Marques de; Valandro, Luiz Felipe

    2018-01-01

    The effects of several ceramic surface treatments on bond strength of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network and resin composite as repair material were evaluated. CAD-CAM blocks of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (Vita Enamic) were sliced and subjected to aging process, followed by embedding in acrylic resin. The bonding/repair area was treated as follows (n = 30): C- without treatment; UA- universal adhesive application; FM- 10% hydrofluoric acid and silane application; OM-airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide and silane application; RP- tribochemical silica coating; and CA- surface grinding and application of universal adhesive. Composite resin cylinders were made on the treated surface. Specimens from each group were assigned randomly to two subgroups (n = 15) considering storage condition: Baseline (shear tests after 48 hours) or Storage (tests after 6 months under distilled water). The treated surfaces were analyzed by goniometry, roughness, and SEM. Two-way ANOVA and 1-way ANOVA were applied to analyze the bond data and roughness / contact angle data, respectively, followed by Tukey's test (α = 5%). Surface treatments and storage conditions affected bond strengths (p < 0.01). Surface grinding (CA) followed by universal adhesive promoted the highest value of bond strength (14.5 ± 4.8 MPa for baseline, 8.5 ± 3.4 MPa for storage) and the roughest ceramic surface. Grinding with silicon carbide paper (simulating diamond bur) followed by the application of a universal adhesive system is the best option for repairing fractures of the polymer-infiltrated ceramic network.

  3. [Influence of surface chemical properties and pore structure characteristics of activated carbon on the adsorption of nitrobenzene from aqueous solution].

    PubMed

    Liu, Shou-Xin; Chen, Xi; Zhang, Xian-Quan

    2008-05-01

    Commercial activated carbon was treated by HNO3 oxidation and then subsequently heat treated under N2 atmosphere. Effect of surface chemical properties and pore structure on the adsorption performance of nitrobenzene was investigated. N2/77K adsorption isotherm and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the pore structure and surface morphology of carbon. Boehm titration, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the point of zero charge (pH(PZC)) measurement and elemental analysis were used to characterize the surface properties. The results reveal that HNO3 oxidation can modify the surface chemical properties, increase the number of acidic surface oxygen-containing groups and has trivial effect on the pore structure of carbon. Further heat treatment can cause the decomposition of surface oxygen-containing groups, and increase the external surface area and the number of mesopores. Adsorption capacity of nitrobenzene on AC(NO-T), AC(raw) and AC(NO) was 1011.31, 483.09 and 321.54 mg x g(-1), respectively. Larger external surface area and the number of meso-pores, together with the less acid surface oxygen-containing groups were the main reason for the larger adsorption capacity AC(NO-T).

  4. Effect of Air-Polishing on Titanium Surfaces, Biofilm Removal, and Biocompatibility: A Pilot Study

    PubMed Central

    Bennani, Vincent; Hwang, Linda; Tawse-Smith, Andrew; Dias, George J.; Cannon, Richard D.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose. The aims of this in vitro study were to evaluate morphological changes induced by glycine powder air-polishing on titanium surfaces, biofilm removal, and biocompatibility. Material and Methods. Titanium grade IV discs were allocated into two groups: (1) discs without biofilm and (2) discs for Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation. Discs in each group were further subdivided into (a) no treatment and (b) air-polishing treatment with glycine powder. Discs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and confocal microscopy. Bacterial biofilms were quantified using a crystal violet dye-binding assay. Biocompatibility was evaluated by measuring the coverage and viability of L929 fibroblast cells cultured on the discs. Results. Air-polishing increased the roughness of treated discs (P < 0.05). EDS analysis did not show significant differences in the chemical composition of treated and nontreated discs. The amount of residual biofilm on treated discs was 8.6-fold lower than untreated controls (P < 0.05). Coverage of treated discs by fibroblasts was half that of untreated discs (P < 0.05) although both groups had the same cell viability. Conclusions. Air-polishing removed a significant amount of biofilm from titanium surfaces. The “polishing” was accompanied by increased surface roughness, but there were no changes in chemical and elemental compositions, nor the biocompatibility. PMID:26881198

  5. Corrosion Inhibition of Cold-rolled Low Carbon Steel with Pulse Fiber Laser Ablation in Water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chan, Sze Ney; Wong, Wai Yin; Walvekar, Rashmi; Kadhum, Abdul Amir H.; Khalid, Mohammad; Lim, Kean Long

    2018-04-01

    This study aims at the use of a fiber laser for modifying the surface properties of cold-rolled low carbon steel via a pulse laser ablation technique in water. The effect on the corrosion behavior of the fiber laser-treated metal surface was investigated in NaCl and HCl environments. Electrochemical tests showed significant improvement in the corrosion resistance of the laser-treated sample in NaCl, with an increase in open-circuit potential (OCP) from - 0.65 to - 0.60 V and an inhibition efficiency of 89.22% as obtained from the impedance study. Such improvement was less significant in an acidic environment. Lower corrosion rates of 20.9 mpy and 5.819 × 103 mpy were obtained for the laser-treated samples in neutral and acidic electrolytes, respectively, than the corrosion rates obtained for the as-received samples (33.2 mpy and 11.98 × 103 mpy). Morphological analysis indicated a passive film built by spherical grains of regular size on the metal surface after laser treatment. The corrosion inhibition effects in NaCl were evident by the nonexistence of the common corrosion products of lepidocrocite and crystalline structures that were seen on as-received samples; only polyhedral crystals with micrograins grown on them were seen covering the laser-treated surface. Therefore, the laser treatment using a fiber laser source improved the corrosion resistance of cold-rolled low carbon steel.

  6. Remineralisation of enamel white spot lesions pre-treated with chitosan in the presence of salivary pellicle.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jing; Lynch, Richard J M; Watson, Timothy F; Banerjee, Avijit

    2018-05-01

    To investigate the remineralisation of chitosan pre-treated enamel white spot lesions (WSLs) by bioglass in the presence of the pellicle layer. 50 artificial enamel white spot lesions were created by acidic gel. Two lesions were used to investigate the formation of the pellicle layer by treating with human whole saliva for 3 min. 48 lesions were assigned to 6 experimental groups (n = 8): (1) bioactive glass slurry, (2) bioactive glass containing polyacrylic acid (BG + PAA) slurry, (3) chitosan pre-treated WSLs with BG slurry (CS-BG), (4) chitosan pre-treated WSLs with BG + PAA slurry (CS-BG + PAA), (5) "standard" remineralisation solution (RS) and (6) de-ionised water (negative control, NC). Remineralisation was carried out using a pH-cycling model for 7 days. Before each treatment using remineralising agents, 3-min pellicle was formed on lesions' surfaces. Mineral content changes, surface and subsurface microhardness and ultrastructure were evaluated by Raman intensity mapping, Knoop microhardness and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Data were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's test (p < 0.05 is considered as significant). Despite the heterogeneously formed pellicle layer, all groups showed an increase in surface mineral content after pH-cycling. Chitosan pre-treatment enhanced the subsurface remineralisation of WSLs using bioglass as both pre-treated groups showed greater surface and subsurface microhardness compared to NC. CS-BG exhibited denser subsurface structure than BG, while in CS-BG + PAA the crystals were bigger in size but resemble more enamel-like compared to BG + PAA as shown in SEM observations. Remineralisation of RS was limited to the surface as no significant subsurface changes of mechanical properties and structure were found. Chitosan pre-treatment can enhance WSL remineralisation with bioglass biomaterials when a short-term salivary pellicle is present. A further investigation using a long-term pH-cycling model with mature pellicle is suggested with regards to clinical application. Chitosan pre-treatment has the potential in clinical application to remineralise subsurface lesions to achieve lesion consolidation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. PARAMETERS OF TREATED STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES IMPORTANT FOR RESISTANCE TO BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION

    EPA Science Inventory

    Use of materials that are resistant to bacterial contamination could enhance food safety during processing. Common finishing treatments of stainless steel surfaces used for components of poultry processing equipment were tested for resistance to bacterial attachment. Surface char...

  8. Effects of air polishing and an amino acid buffered hypochlorite solution to dentin surfaces and periodontal ligament cell survival, attachment, and spreading.

    PubMed

    Schmidlin, Patrick R; Fujioka-Kobayashi, Masako; Mueller, Heinz-Dieter; Sculean, Anton; Lussi, Adrian; Miron, Richard J

    2017-06-01

    The aim of this study is to examine morphological changes of dentin surfaces following air polishing or amino acid buffered hypochlorite solution application and to assess their influence on periodontal ligament (PDL) cell survival, attachment, and spreading to dentin discs in vitro. Bovine dentin discs were treated with either (i) Classic, (ii) Plus, or (iii) Perio powder (EMS). Furthermore, Perisolv® a hypochlorite solution buffered with various amino acids was investigated. Untreated dentin discs served as controls. Morphological changes to dentin discs were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Human PDL cells were seeded onto the respectively treated discs, and samples were then investigated for PDL cell survival, attachment, and spreading using a live/dead assay, adhesion assay, and SEM imaging, respectively. Both control and Perisolv®-rinsed dentin discs demonstrated smooth surfaces at low and high magnifications. The Classic powders demonstrated the thickest coating followed by the Powder Plus. The Perio powder demonstrated marked alterations of dentin discs by revealing the potential to open dentinal tubules even before rinsing. Seeding of PDL cells demonstrated an almost 100 % survival rate on all samples demonstrating very high biocompatibility for all materials. Significantly higher PDL cell numbers were observed on samples treated with the Perio powder and the Perisolv® solution (approximately 40 % more cells; p < 0.05). SEM imaging revealed the potential for PDL cells to attach and spread on all surfaces. The results from the present study demonstrate that cell survival and spreading of PDL cells on root surfaces is possible following either air polishing or application with Perisolv®. Future in vitro and animal testing is necessary to further characterize the beneficial effects of either system in a clinical setting. The use of air polishing or application with Perisolv amino acid buffered hypochlorite solution was effective in treating root surfaces and allowed for near 100 % PDL cell survival, attachment, and spreading onto all root surfaces.

  9. Influence of nano-structured alumina coating on shear bond strength between Y-TZP ceramic and various dual-cured resin cements.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jung-Jin; Choi, Jung-Yun; Seo, Jae-Min

    2017-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano-structured alumina surface coating on shear bond strength between Y-TZP ceramic and various dual-cured resin cements. A total of 90 disk-shaped zirconia specimens (HASS CO., Gangneung, Korea) were divided into three groups by surface treatment method: (1) airborne particle abrasion, (2) tribochemicalsilica coating, and (3) nano-structured alumina coating. Each group was categorized into three subgroups of ten specimens and bonded with three different types of dual-cured resin cements. After thermocycling, shear bond strength was measured and failure modes were observed through FE-SEM. Two-way ANOVA and the Tukey's HSD test were performed to determine the effects of surface treatment method and type of cement on bond strength ( P <.05). To confirm the correlation of surface treatment and failure mode, the Chi-square test was used. Groups treated with the nanostructured alumina coating showed significantly higher shear bond strength compared to other groups treated with airborne particle abrasion or tribochemical silica coating. Clearfil SA Luting showed a significantly higher shear bond strength compared to RelyX ARC and RelyX Unicem. The cohesive failure mode was observed to be dominant in the groups treated with nano-structured alumina coating, while the adhesive failure mode was prevalent in the groups treated with either airborne particle abrasion or tribochemical silica coating. Nano-structured alumina coating is an effective zirconia surface treatment method for enhancing the bond strength between Y-TZP ceramic and various dual-cured resin cements.

  10. Extracellular esterases of phylloplane yeast Pseudozyma antarctica induce defect on cuticle layer structure and water-holding ability of plant leaves.

    PubMed

    Ueda, Hirokazu; Mitsuhara, Ichiro; Tabata, Jun; Kugimiya, Soichi; Watanabe, Takashi; Suzuki, Ken; Yoshida, Shigenobu; Kitamoto, Hiroko

    2015-08-01

    Aerial plant surface (phylloplane) is a primary key habitat for many microorganisms but is generally recognized as limited in nutrient resources. Pseudozyma antarctica, a nonpathogenic yeast, is commonly isolated from plant surfaces and characterized as an esterase producer with fatty acid assimilation ability. In order to elucidate the biological functions of these esterases, culture filtrate with high esterase activity (crude enzyme) of P. antarctica was applied onto leaves of tomato and Arabidopsis. These leaves showed a wilty phenotype, which is typically associated with water deficiency. Furthermore, we confirmed that crude enzyme-treated detached leaves clearly lost their water-holding ability. In treated leaves of both plants, genes associated to abscisic acid (ABA; a plant stress hormone responding osmotic stress) were activated and accumulation of ABA was confirmed in tomato plants. Microscopic observation of treated leaf surfaces revealed that cuticle layer covering the aerial epidermis of leaves became thinner. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis exhibited that fatty acids with 16 and 18 carbon chains were released in larger amounts from treated leaf surfaces, indicating that the crude enzyme has ability to degrade lipid components of cuticle layer. Among the three esterases detected in the crude enzyme, lipase A, lipase B, and P. antarctica esterase (PaE), an in vitro enzyme assay using para-nitrophenyl palmitate as substrate demonstrated that PaE was the most responsible for the degradation. These results suggest that PaE has a potential role in the extraction of fatty acids from plant surfaces, making them available for the growth of phylloplane yeasts.

  11. Effects of surface treatment of aluminium alloy 1050 on the adhesion and anticorrosion properties of the epoxy coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharifi Golru, S.; Attar, M. M.; Ramezanzadeh, B.

    2015-08-01

    The objective of this work is to investigate the effects of zirconium-based (Zr) conversion coating on the adhesion properties and corrosion resistance of an epoxy/polyamide coating applied on the aluminium alloy 1050 (AA1050). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), atomic force microscope (AFM) and contact angle measuring device were employed in order to characterize the surface characteristics of the Zr treated AA1050 samples. The epoxy/polyamide coating was applied on the untreated and Zr treated samples. The epoxy coating adhesion to the aluminium substrate was evaluated by pull-off test before and after 30 days immersion in 3.5% w/w NaCl solution. In addition, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and salt spray tests were employed to characterize the corrosion protection properties of the epoxy coating applied on the AA1050 samples. Results revealed that the surface treatment of AA1050 by zirconium conversion coating resulted in the increase of surface free energy and surface roughness. The dry and recovery (adhesion strength after 30 days immersion in the 3.5 wt% NaCl solution) adhesion strengths of the coatings applied on the Zr treated aluminium samples were greater than untreated sample. In addition, the adhesion loss of the coating applied on the Zr treated aluminium substrate was lower than other samples. Also, the results obtained from EIS and salt spray test clearly revealed that the Zr conversion coating could enhance the corrosion protective performance of the epoxy coating significantly.

  12. Electrical characteristics of TMAH-surface treated Ni/Au/Al2O3/GaN MIS Schottky structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reddy, M. Siva Pratap; Lee, Jung-Hee; Jang, Ja-Soon

    2014-03-01

    The electrical characteristics and reverse leakage mechanisms of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) surface-treated Ni/Au/Al2O3/GaN metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) diodes were investigated by using the current-voltage ( I-V) and capacitance-voltage ( C-V) characteristics. The MIS diode was formed on n-GaN after etching the AlGaN in the AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. The TMAH-treated MIS diode showed better Schottky characteristics with a lower ideality factor, higher barrier height and lower reverse leakage current compared to the TMAH-free MIS diode. In addition, the TMAH-free MIS diodes exhibited a transition from Poole-Frenkel emission at low voltages to Schottky emission at high voltages, whereas the TMAH-treated MIS diodes showed Schottky emission over the entire voltage range. Reasonable mechanisms for the improved device-performance characteristics in the TMAH-treated MIS diode are discussed in terms of the decreased interface state density or traps associated with an oxide material and the reduced tunneling probability.

  13. Sub-ablative Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation under all-ceramic restorations: effects on demineralization and shear bond strength.

    PubMed

    Bağlar, Serdar

    2018-01-01

    This study evaluated the caries resistant effects of sub-ablative Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation alone and combined with fluoride in comparison with fluoride application alone on enamel prepared for veneer restorations. And also, evaluated these treatments' effects on the shear bond strength of all-ceramic veneer restorations. One hundred and thirty-five human maxillary central teeth were assigned to groups of 1a-control, 1b-laser treated, 1c-fluoride treated, 1d-laser + fluoride treated for shear bond testing and to groups of 2a-positive control(non-demineralised), 2b-laser treated, 2c-fluoride treated, 2d-laser + fluoride treated, 2e-negative control (demineralised) for microhardness testing (n = 15, N = 135). Demineralisation solutions of microhardness measurements were used for the ICP-OES elemental analysis. The parameters for laser irradiation were as follows: power output, 0.25 W; total energy density, 62.5 J/cm 2 and energy density per pulse, 4.48 J/cm 2 with an irradiation time of 20 s and with no water cooling. Five percent NaF varnish was used as fluoride preparate. ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests were performed (α = 5%). Surface treatments showed no significant effects on shear bond strength values (p = 0.579). However, significant differences were found in microhardness measurements and in elemental analysis of Ca and P amounts (p < 0.01). Surface-treated groups showed significantly high VNH values and significantly low ICP-OES values when compared with non-treated (-control) group while there were no significance among surface-treated groups regarding VHN and ICP-OES values. Sub-ablative Er,Cr:YSGG treatment alone or combined with fluoride is as an effective method as at least fluoride alone for preventing the prepared enamel to demineralization with no negative effect on shear bond strength.

  14. Low Temperature Surface Carburization of Stainless Steels

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Collins, Sunniva R; Heuer, Arthur H; Sikka, Vinod K

    2007-12-07

    Low-temperature colossal supersaturation (LTCSS) is a novel surface hardening method for carburization of austenitic stainless steels (SS) without the precipitation of carbides. The formation of carbides is kinetically suppressed, enabling extremely high or colossal carbon supersaturation. As a result, surface carbon concentrations in excess of 12 at. % are routinely achieved. This treatment increases the surface hardness by a factor of four to five, improving resistance to wear, corrosion, and fatigue, with significant retained ductility. LTCSS is a diffusional surface hardening process that provides a uniform and conformal hardened gradient surface with no risk of delamination or peeling. The treatmentmore » retains the austenitic phase and is completely non-magnetic. In addition, because parts are treated at low temperature, they do not distort or change dimensions. During this treatment, carbon diffusion proceeds into the metal at temperatures that constrain substitutional diffusion or mobility between the metal alloy elements. Though immobilized and unable to assemble to form carbides, chromium and similar alloying elements nonetheless draw enormous amounts of carbon into their interstitial spaces. The carbon in the interstitial spaces of the alloy crystals makes the surface harder than ever achieved before by more conventional heat treating or diffusion process. The carbon solid solution manifests a Vickers hardness often exceeding 1000 HV (equivalent to 70 HRC). This project objective was to extend the LTCSS treatment to other austenitic alloys, and to quantify improvements in fatigue, corrosion, and wear resistance. Highlights from the research include the following: • Extension of the applicability of the LTCSS process to a broad range of austenitic and duplex grades of steels • Demonstration of LTCSS ability for a variety of different component shapes and sizes • Detailed microstructural characterization of LTCSS-treated samples of 316L and other alloys • Thermodynamic modeling to explain the high degree of carbon solubility possible in austenitic grades under the LTCSS process and experimental validation of model results • Corrosion testing to determine the corrosion resistance improvement possible from the LTCSS process • Erosion testing to determine the erosion resistance improvement possible from the LTCSS process • Wear testing to quantify the wear resistance improvement possible from the LTCSS process • Fatigue testing for quantifying the extent of improvement from the LTCSS process • Component treating and testing under simulated and in-line commercial operations XRD verified expanded austenite lattice, with no evidence of carbide precipitation. Carbon concentration profiles via Auger and electron dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) showed carbon levels in excess of 12 at. % in treated, type 316 SS. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of pulled-to-failure treated tensile specimens showed slip bands and no de-cohesion of the treated layer, verifying that the layer remains ductile. Compressive stresses in excess of 2 GPa (300 ksi) have been calculated at the surface of the case. Phase diagram (CALPHAD) (ThermoCalc) and Wagner dilute solution thermodynamic models were developed that calculate the solubility of carbon in austenite as a function of alloying content for the process time and temperature. Several commercial alloys have been modeled, and the model has been used to design experimental alloys with enhanced affinity for carbon solubility at treatment temperatures. Four experimental alloys were melted, rolled, and manufactured into test specimens, and the LTCSS treatment indicated successfully enhanced results and validated the predictions based on thermodynamic modeling. Electrochemical polarization curves show a 600 to 800 mV increase in pitting potential in treated (900-1000 mV) versus non-treated (200-300 mV) type 316 in chloride solutions. Treated 316L showed crevice-corrosion behavior similar to that of Ti-6Al-4V and Hastelloy C22. Cavitation tests showed significant increases in cavitation resistance for treated materials as compared to the non-treated materials. Standard ASTM pin-on-disk sliding friction and reciprocating friction wear tests also indicate significant enhancement in wear properties. Fatigue testing showed an order of magnitude improvement for treated versus non-treated Type 316 at the same maximum stress level (R = -1). The maximum stress at 107 cycles and the endurance stress for infinite life, improved by approximately 50%, from 30 to 45 ksi. The energy savings from this project is estimated at 21.8 trillion Btu/year by 2020. This energy savings will be associated with a CO2 reduction of 1.3 million ton/year. One application of this technology in a sludge pump of a cardboard recycling plant during the course of this project has resulted in an energy savings of 84. 106 Btu and cost savings of $900.« less

  15. Effects of copper amine treatments on mechanical, biological and surface/interphase properties of poly (vinyl chloride)/wood composites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Haihong

    2005-11-01

    The copper ethanolamine (CuEA) complex was used as a wood surface modifier and a coupling agent for wood-PVC composites. Mechanical properties of composites, such as unnotched impact strength, flexural strength and flexural toughness, were significantly increased, and fungal decay weight loss was dramatically decreased by wood surface copper amine treatments. It is evident that copper amine was a very effective coupling agent and decay inhibitor for PVC/wood flour composites, especially in high wood flour loading level. A DSC study showed that the heat capacity differences (DeltaCp) of composites before and after PVC glass transition were reduced by adding wood particles. A DMA study revealed that the movements of PVC chain segments during glass transition were limited and obstructed by the presence of wood molecule chains. This restriction effect became stronger by increasing wood flour content and by using Cu-treated wood flour. Wood flour particles acted as "physical cross-linking points" inside the PVC matrix, resulting in the absence of the rubbery plateau of PVC and higher E', E'' above Tg, and smaller tan delta peaks. Enhanced mechanical performances were attributed to the improved wetting condition between PVC melts and wood surfaces, and the formation of a stronger interphase strengthened by chemical interactions between Cu-treated wood flour and the PVC matrix. Contact angles of PVC solution drops on Cu-treated wood surfaces were decreased dramatically compared to those on the untreated surfaces. Acid-base (polar), gammaAB, electron-acceptor (acid) (gamma +), electron-donor (base) (gamma-) surface energy components and the total surface energies increased after wood surface Cu-treatments, indicating a strong tendency toward acid-base or polar interactions. Improved interphase and interfacial adhesion were further confirmed by measuring interfacial shear strength between wood and the PVC matrix.

  16. Surface Oxide Net Charge of a Titanium Alloy; Comparison Between Effects of Treatment With Heat or Radiofrequency Plasma Glow Discharge

    PubMed Central

    MacDonald, Daniel E.; Rapuano, Bruce E.; Schniepp, Hannes C.

    2010-01-01

    In the current study, we have compared the effects of heat and radiofrequency plasma glow discharge (RFGD) treatment of a Ti6Al4V alloy on the physico-chemical properties of the alloy’s surface oxide. Titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) disks were passivated alone, heated to 600 °C, or RFGD plasma treated in pure oxygen. RFGD treatment did not alter the roughness, topography, elemental composition or thickness of the alloy’s surface oxide layer. In contrast, heat treatment altered oxide topography by creating a pattern of oxide elevations approximately 50–100 nm in diameter. These nanostructures exhibited a three-fold increase in roughness compared to untreated surfaces when RMS roughness was calculated after applying a spatial high-pass filter with a 200 nm cutoff wavelength. Heat treatment also produced a surface enrichment in aluminum and vanadium oxides. Both RFGD and heat treatment produced similar increases in oxide wettability. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of metal surface oxide net charge signified by a long range force of attraction to or repulsion from a (negatively charged) silicon nitride AFM probe were also obtained for all three experimental groups. Force measurements showed that the RFGD-treated Ti6Al4V samples demonstrated a higher net positive surface charge at pH values below 6 and a higher net negative surface charge at physiological pH (pH values between 7 and 8) compared to control and heat-treated samples These findings suggest that RFGD treatment of metallic implant materials can be used to study the role of negatively charged surface oxide functional groups in protein bioactivity, osteogenic cell behavior and osseointegration independently of oxide topography. PMID:20880672

  17. The effect of MTAD, an endodontic irrigant, on fibroblast attachment to periodontally affected root surfaces: A SEM analysis

    PubMed Central

    Ghandi, Mostafa; Houshmand, Behzad; Nekoofar, Mohammad H.; Tabor, Rachel K.; Yadeghari, Zahra; Dummer, Paul M. H.

    2013-01-01

    Background: Root surface debridement (RSD) is necessary to create an environment suitable for reattachment of the periodontium. Root surface conditioning may aid the formation of a biocompatible surface suitable for cell reattachment. BioPure™ MTAD (mixture of Doxycycline, citric acid and a detergent) is an endodontic irrigant with antibacterial properties and the ability to remove smear layer. It was hypothesized that MTAD may be useful for root surface conditioning. The efficacy of MTAD as a conditioner was measured by examining fibroblast attachment to root surfaces. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two specimens of human teeth with advanced periodontal disease were used. The surfaces were root planed until smooth. Half of the specimens were treated with 0.9% saline and the other samples with Biopure MTAD. As a negative control group, five further samples were left unscaled with surface calculus. Human gingival fibroblast cells HGF1-PI1 were cultured and poured over the tooth specimens and incubated. After fixation, the samples were sputter-coated with gold and examined with a SEM. The morphology and number of attached, fixed viable cells were examined. The data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney-U statistical test. Results: There was no significant difference between the numbers of attached cells in the experimental group treated with MTAD and the control group treated with saline. Little or no attached cells were seen in the negative control group. Conclusion: RSD created an environment suitable for cell growth and attachment in a laboratory setting. The use of MTAD did not promote the attachment and growth of cells on the surface of human roots following RSD. PMID:23869124

  18. Biocompatibility study of plasma-coated nitinol (NiTi alloy) stents.

    PubMed

    Wang, G; Shen, Y; Cao, Y; Yu, Q; Guidoin, R

    2007-12-01

    The authors aimed to assess the surface modification effects of plasma coatings on biocompatibility of nitinol intravascular stent in terms of anticoagulation, haemocytolysis rate, hydrophilicity, cytotoxicity and so on. In order to improve their surface adhesive properties to endothelial cells, NiTi alloy intravascular stents were treated and coated using a low-temperature plasma deposition technique. It was found that plasma coating changed the surface morphology of the stents to a micron-level surface roughness in the range of 1-5 microm. In comparison with the untreated control, the plasma-treated NiTi alloy intravascular stents showed increased surface hydrophilicity and enhanced anticoagulation property. Testing results on plasma-coated NiTi stents indicated that they complied with the standard of national biologic safety evaluation of medical apparatus and instrument (GB/T16886-1997, People's Republic of China) in terms of haemocytolysis rate, cytotoxicity and pyretogen.

  19. Adsorption of benzene and toluene from aqueous solutions onto activated carbon and its acid and heat treated forms: influence of surface chemistry on adsorption.

    PubMed

    Wibowo, N; Setyadhi, L; Wibowo, D; Setiawan, J; Ismadji, S

    2007-07-19

    The influence of surface chemistry and solution pH on the adsorption of benzene and toluene on activated carbon and its acid and heat treated forms were studied. A commercial coal-based activated carbon F-400 was chosen as carbon parent. The carbon samples were obtained by modification of F-400 by means of chemical treatment with HNO3 and thermal treatment under nitrogen flow. The treatment with nitric acid caused the introduction of a significant number of oxygenated acidic surface groups onto the carbon surface, while the heat treatment increases the basicity of carbon. The pore characteristics were not significantly changed after these modifications. The dispersive interactions are the most important factor in this adsorption process. Activated carbon with low oxygenated acidic surface groups (F-400Tox) has the best adsorption capacity.

  20. Application of atmospheric pressure plasma in polymer and composite adhesion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Hang

    An atmospheric pressure helium and oxygen plasma was used to investigate surface activation and bonding in polymer composites. This device was operated by passing 1.0-3.0 vol% of oxygen in helium through a pair of parallel plate metal electrodes powered by 13.56 or 27.12 MHz radio frequency power. The gases were partially ionized between the capacitors where plasma was generated. The reactive species in the plasma were carried downstream by the gas flow to treat the substrate surface. The temperature of the plasm gas reaching the surface of the substrate did not exceed 150 °C, which makes it suitable for polymer processing. The reactive species in the plasma downstream includes ~ 1016-1017 cm-3 atomic oxygen, ~ 1015 cm-3 ozone molecule, and ~ 10 16 cm-3 metastable oxygen molecule (O2 1Deltag). The substrates were treated at 2-5 mm distance from the exit of the plasma. Surface properties of the substrates were characterized using water contact angle (WCA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Subsequently, the plasma treated samples were bonded adhesively or fabricated into composites. The increase in mechanical strength was correlated to changes in the material composition and structure after plasma treatment. The work presented hereafter establishes atmospheric pressure plasma as an effective method to activate and to clean the surfaces of polymers and composites for bonding. This application can be further expanded to the activation of carbon fibers for better fiber-resin interactions during the fabrication of composites. Treating electronic grade FR-4 and polyimide with the He/O2 plasma for a few seconds changed the substrate surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, which allowed complete wetting of the surface by epoxy in underfill applications. Characterization of the surface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows formation of oxygenated functional groups, including hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups, on the polymer surface after plasma treatment. The resulting strength of the bond based on lap-shear and T-peel tests correlates well with the concentration of oxygen on the polymer surface. The failure modes observed for lap-shear and T-peel tests changed from interfacial to cohesive after the plasma activation. Treating carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy composites with the atmospheric plasma resulted in the removal of fluorinated contaminants in shallow surface layers. For contaminants that diffused deeply into the composite surface, mechanical abrasion was needed in addition to the plasma treatment to remove the impurities. While cleaning the composite, plasma also generated active oxygen groups on the substrate surface. The presence of these groups improved the adhesive bonding strength of the composite even in the presence of residual fluorine contaminants. Thus, it was speculated that plasma treatment can promote better polymer adhesion with or without fluorine contamination. Carbon nanotube sheets were also treated by the helium oxygen plasma, and the CNT surface turn from super hydrophobic to hydrophilic after a few seconds of exposure. The nanotube surface contained 15% of oxygen in the form of hydroxyl groups. Chemical coupling agents were added to the plasma activated CNT surfaces in order to crosslink the CNTs and to create bonding sites for the resin matrix. Stretched, activated and functionalized CNT was cured with dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) to produce a sheet composite with a tensile strength of 636 MPa, a modulus of 28 GPa, and a density of 1.4 g/cm 3. This may be compared to aerospace-grade aluminum with tensile strength of 572 MPa, modulus of 72 GPa, and density of 2.7 g/cm3. This work demonstrates that new high-strength composite can be produced with the use of atmospheric plasma activation and chemical crosslinking of the fiber matrix.

  1. Healing of Fatigue Crack by High-Density Electropulsing in Austenitic Stainless Steel Treated with the Surface-Activated Pre-Coating

    PubMed Central

    Hosoi, Atsushi; Kishi, Tomoya; Ju, Yang

    2013-01-01

    A technique to heal a fatigue crack in austenitic stainless steel SUS316 by applying a controlled, high-density pulsed current was developed. A surface-activated pre-coating (SAPC), which eliminates the oxide layer and coats a Ni film on the crack surface, was used to improve the adhesion between crack surfaces. Cracks were observed by scanning electron microscopy before and after the application of high-density electropulsing. To evaluate the healing effect of the SAPC during crack propagation, fatigue tests were conducted under a constant stress intensity factor. The fatigue crack treated with the SAPC was found to be effectively healed as a result of electropulsing, and also showed a slower rate of crack propagation. PMID:28788327

  2. Influence of local anesthetics upon human polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in vitro. Reduction of lysosomal enzyme release and superoxide anion production

    PubMed Central

    1977-01-01

    Cationic local anesthetics have been reported to influence cellular responses to surface stimuli by interfering with the function of microtubules and microfilaments. Since unimpaired microtubule and microfilament functions are required by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in order to respond normally to surface stimulation, we have studied effects of the local anesthetic, tetracaine on the function and morphology of these cells in vitro. Tetracaine (0.25--1.0 mM) significantly reduced extracellular release of the lysosomal enzymes, beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to serum-treated zymosan (a particulate stimulus), zymosan- treated serum (a soluble stimulus), and to the surface-active lectin, concanavalin A. Tetracaine also significantly reduced superoixde anion production (superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction) by these cells. Tetrancaine was not cytotoxic and its effects could be reversed completely by washing cells once with buffer. Electron microscope examination of tetracaine-treated cells revealed marked alterations of surface membranes. Microtubules and microfilaments appeared normal in "resting" polymorphonuclear leukocytes, but the increase in microtubules normally observed in stimulated cells was not seen after tetracaine treatment. These results suggest that tetracaine interferes with those interactions between immune reactants and the polymorphonuclear leukocyte cell surface which provoke exocytosis and increased oxidative metabolism. PMID:195003

  3. The preparation of polytrifluorochloroethylene (PCTFE) micro-particles and application on treating bearing steel surfaces to improve the lubrication effect for copper-graphite (Cu/C)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Hailin; Zhang, Pengpeng; Ren, Shanshan; Guo, Junde; Li, Xing; Dong, Guangneng

    2018-01-01

    Contact mechanical seal is a normal technology applied on middle axis of liquid rocket turbo pump, and the kinetic and static seal rings contact low temperature rocket propellant. Copper-graphite (Cu/C) composite as an excellent self-lubrication material was widely used in aerospace industry, this study took Cu/C as ball and bearing steel as disk to investigate the tribology properties, and distilled water were used to simulate the lox tribology performances. This study prepared polytrifluorochloroethylene (PCTFE) micro-particles which were coated on the oxide surfaces of bearing steel disk at temperature of 150 °C. The tribology results showed that the oxide surfaces treated with micro PCTFE particles have lower fiction coefficient and lower wear rate than original disk in water, and the wear morphology revealed that the treated surfaces obviously had less Cu/C composite transfer film than original disk. Meanwhile SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS and light microscope etc revealed that PCTFE micro-particles could associate with the oxide surfaces and caused higher water contact angle, due to the properties of the fluorine-containing composite may cause the good lubrication effect in water. Thus this technology shows great potential to enhance tribological performances for aerospace industry on a large scale.

  4. Effect of soybean-lecithin as an enhancer of buccal mucosa absorption of insulin.

    PubMed

    Tian, Weiqun; Hu, Qiaolin; Xu, Ying; Xu, Yi

    2012-01-01

    Transmucosal delivery is a suitable route for insulin non-injection administration. In order to understand how insulin passes through mucosa with soybean-lecithin as an enhancing absorption. The penetration rate of insulin molecular through porcine buccal mucosa was investigated by measuring transbuccal fluxes in the Ussing Chambers. The imaging morphology of rabbits buccal mucosa was analyzed by using non-contact mode atomic force microscopy. The permeation rate can be increased by co-administration of soybean-lecithin. Untreated buccal mucosa showed relatively smooth surface characteristics, with many small crater-like pits and indentations spread over mucosa surfaces. Buccal mucosa that had been treated with 1.0% (w/v) sodium deoxycholic acid (pH 7.4) appeared to much more indentations characteristic, which treated with 2.5% (w/v) soybean-lecithin (pH 7.4) and 2.5% (w/v) Azone or laurocapram (pH 7.4) appeared rather different, the surface mucosa treated with soybean-lecithin emulsion showed a fine, rippling effect whereas those exposed to Azone display a more coarse, undulating surface feature. As a result of that Azone could damage the surface of the buccal mucosa, but soybean-lecithin could not. This study demonstrated that soybean-lecithin is a better and safer enhancer for insulin transmucosal delivery.

  5. Microbial safety and overall quality of cantaloupe fresh-cut pieces prepared from whole fruit after wet steam treatment.

    PubMed

    Ukuku, Dike O; Geveke, David J; Chau, Lee; Niemira, Brendan A

    2016-08-16

    Fresh-cut cantaloupes have been associated with outbreaks of Salmonellosis. Minimally processed fresh-cut fruits have a limited shelf life because of deterioration caused by spoilage microflora and physiological processes. The objectives of this study were to use a wet steam process to 1) reduce indigenous spoilage microflora and inoculated populations of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of cantaloupes, and 2) reduce the populations counts in cantaloupe fresh-cut pieces after rind removal and cutting. The average inocula of Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes was 10(7)CFU/ml and the populations recovered on the cantaloupe rind surfaces after inoculation averaged 4.5, 4.8 and 4.1logCFU/cm(2), respectively. Whole cantaloupes were treated with a wet steam processing unit for 180s, and the treated melons were stored at 5°C for 29days. Bacterial populations in fresh-cut pieces prepared from treated and control samples stored at 5 and 10°C for up to 12days were determined and changes in color (CIE L*, a*, and b*) due to treatments were measured during storage. Presence and growth of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were determined in fresh-cut cantaloupe samples. There were no visual signs of physical damage on all treated cantaloupe surfaces immediately after treatments and during storage. All fresh-cut pieces from treated cantaloupes rind surfaces were negative for bacterial pathogens even after an enrichment process. Steam treatment significantly (p<0.05) changed the color of the fresh-cut pieces. Minimal wet steam treatment of cantaloupes rind surfaces designated for fresh-cut preparation will enhance the microbial safety of fresh-cut pieces, by reducing total bacterial populations. This process holds the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of foodborne illness associated with fresh-cut fruits. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  6. Formulation of glutaraldehyde disinfectant for alginate impressions.

    PubMed

    Unemori, M; Matsuya, Y; Matsuya, S; Akashi, A; Mizuno, K; Akamine, A

    1999-12-01

    The effect of buffer agents incorporated in glutaraldehyde disinfectants on the surface quality of dental models was examined by the measurement of surface roughness, X-ray diffraction analysis and SEM observation. Seven experimental glutaraldehyde disinfectants were prepared using two buffer agents, potassium acetate alone or potassium acetate and sodium hydrogen carbonate in combination. Four kinds of sulfate--zinc, calcium, potassium and magnesium sulfate--were added to these disinfectants in order to accelerate the hydration of calcium sulfate hemihydrate. The impressions treated with the experimental disinfectants for 1 h produced stone surfaces which had significantly lower surface roughness values than those treated with the commercial disinfectants (p < 0.05). The X-ray diffraction analysis and SEM observation showed that these superior surfaces were produced as a result of significant reductions in the amount of residual calcium sulfate hemihydrate. Replacement of buffer agents in commercial glutaraldehyde disinfectants with chemicals such as those studied in the present study will improve the surface quality of dental stone.

  7. Effect of Ti Substrate Ion Implantation on the Physical Properties of Anodic TiO2 Nanotubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jedi-Soltanabadi, Zahra; Ghoranneviss, Mahmood; Ghorannevis, Zohreh; Akbari, Hossein

    2018-03-01

    The influence of nitrogen-ion implantation on the titanium (Ti) surface is studied. The nontreated Ti and the Ti treated with ion implantation were anodized in an ethylene-glycol-based electrolyte solution containing 0.3 wt% ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and 3 vol% deionized (DI) water at a potential of 60 V for 1 h at room temperature. The current density during the growth of the TiO2 nanotubes was monitored in-situ. The surface roughnesses of the Ti substrates before and after the ion implantation were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface roughness was lower for the treated Ti substrate. The morphology of the anodic TiO2 nanotubes was studied by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Clearly, the titanium nanotubes grown on the treated substrate were longer. In addition, some ribs were observed on their walls. The optical band gap of the anodic TiO2 nanotubes was characterized by using a diffuse reflection spectral (DRS) analysis. The anodic TiO2 nanotubes grown on the treated Ti substrate revealed a band gap energy of approximately 3.02 eV.

  8. Comparison of in vitro estrogenic activity and estrogen concentrations in source and treated waters from 25 U.S. drinking water treatment plants

    EPA Science Inventory

    In vitro bioassays have been successfully used to screen for estrogenic activity in wastewater and surface water, however, few have been applied to treated drinking water. Here, extracts of source and treated drinking water samples were assayed for estrogenic activity using T47D...

  9. Heat treating of manufactured components

    DOEpatents

    Ripley, Edward B [Knoxville, TN

    2012-05-22

    An apparatus for heat treating manufactured components using microwave energy and microwave susceptor material is disclosed. The system typically includes an insulating vessel placed within a microwave applicator chamber. A moderating material is positioned inside the insulating vessel so that a substantial portion of the exterior surface of each component for heat treating is in contact with the moderating material.

  10. Durable anti-fogging effect and adhesion improvement on polymer surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moser, E. M.; Gilliéron, D.; Henrion, G.

    2010-01-01

    The hydrophobic properties of polymeric surfaces may cause fogging in transparent packaging and poor adhesion to printing colours and coatings. Novel plasma processes for durable functionalization of polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate substrates were developed and analysed using optical emission spectroscopy. A worm-like nano pattern was created on the polypropylene surface prior to the deposition of thin polar plasma polymerised layers. For both substrates, highly polar surfaces exhibiting a surface tension of up to 69 mN/m and a water contact angle of about 10° were produced - providing the anti-fogging effect. The deposition of thin plasma polymerised layers protects the increased surface areas and enables to tailoring the surface energy of the substrate in a wide range. Wetting characteristics were determined by dynamic contact angle measurements. Investigations of the chemical composition of several layers using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and FT-infrared spectroscopy were correlated with functional testing. The surface topography was investigated using atomic force microscopy. The weldability and peeling-off characteristics of the plasma treated polymer films could be adjusted by varying the process parameters. Global and specific migration analyses were undertaken in order to ensure the manufacturing of plasma treated polymer surfaces for direct food contact purposes.

  11. Laser Surface Preparation of Epoxy Composites for Secondary Bonding: Optimization of Ablation Depth

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Palmieri, Frank L.; Hopkins, John; Wohl, Christopher J.; Lin, Yi; Connell, John W.; Belcher, Marcus A.; Blohowiak, Kay Y.

    2015-01-01

    Surface preparation has been identified as one of the most critical aspects of attaining predictable and reliable adhesive bonds. Energetic processes such as laser ablation or plasma treatment are amenable to automation and are easily monitored and adjusted for controlled surface preparation. A laser ablation process was developed to accurately remove a targeted depth of resin, approximately 0.1 to 20 micrometers, from a carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite surface while simultaneously changing surface chemistry and creating micro-roughness. This work demonstrates the application of this process to prepare composite surfaces for bonding without exposing or damaging fibers on the surface. Composite panels were prepared in an autoclave and had a resin layer approximately 10 micrometers thick above the fiber reinforcement. These composite panels were laser surface treated using several conditions, fabricated into bonded panels and hygrothermally aged. Bond performance of aged, experimental specimens was compared with grit blast surface treated specimens using a modified double cantilever beam test that enabled accelerated saturation of the specimen with water. Comparison of bonded specimens will be used to determine how ablation depth may affect average fracture energies and failure modes.

  12. Improved laser damage threshold for chalcogenide glasses through surface microstructuring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Florea, Catalin; Sanghera, Jasbinder; Busse, Lynda; Shaw, Brandon; Aggarwal, Ishwar

    2011-03-01

    We demonstrate improved laser damage threshold of chalcogenide glasses with microstructured surfaces as compared to chalcogenide glasses provided with traditional antireflection coatings. The surface microstructuring is used to reduce Fresnel losses over large bandwidths in As2S3 glasses and fibers. The treated surfaces show almost a factor of two of improvement in the laser damage threshold when compared with untreated surfaces.

  13. Chemically Layered Porous Solids

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Koontz, Steve

    1991-01-01

    Aerogels and other porous solids in which surfaces of pores have chemical properties varying with depth below macroscopic surfaces prepared by sequences of chemical treatments. Porous glass or silica bead treated to make two depth zones having different chemical properties. Beads dropped along tube filled with flowing gas containing atomic oxygen, generated in microwave discharge. General class of materials treatable include oxides of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, tin, titanium, and nickel, and mixtures of these oxides. Potential uses of treated materials include chromatographic separations, membrane separations, controlled releases of chemicals, and catalysis.

  14. Treating Tooth Surface Loss: Adhesive Restoration of the Worn Anterior Dentition.

    PubMed

    Patel, Mahul

    2016-08-01

    The treatment of tooth surface loss (TSL) is becoming more common in primary health care and a diverse variety of patients are presenting with this condition are often being treated by general dental practitioners. This article highlights the importance of comprehensive planning and adept execution that can enhance the patient's outcome and experience. Stages of clinical planning and treatment approaches using a selection of restorative materials utilising various established adhesive clinical techniques will be presented and discussed.

  15. Carbon Materials Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Composite and Battery Anode Composed of the Same

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hung, Ching-Cheh (Inventor)

    2006-01-01

    A method of forming a composite material for use as an anode for a lithium-ion battery is disclosed. The steps include selecting a carbon material as a constituent part of the composite, chemically treating the selected carbon material to receive nanoparticles, incorporating nanoparticles into the chemically treated carbon material and removing surface nanoparticles from an outside surface of the carbon material with incorporated nanoparticles. A material making up the nanoparticles alloys with lithium.

  16. Incorporation of nisin into a meat binding system to inhibit bacteria on beef surfaces.

    PubMed

    Cutter, C N; Siragusa, G R

    1998-07-01

    In two separate experiments, the bacteriocin, nisin, was incorporated into a commercially available meat binding system (Fibrimex) and applied to meat surfaces as a way of inhibiting the meat spoilage organism, Brochothrix thermosphacta during extended refrigerated storage. In experiment 1, pre-rigor lean beef carcass tissue (BCT) was inoculated with B. thermosphacta, left untreated (U), treated with 10 micrograms ml-1 nisin (N), Fibrimex (F) or Fibrimex containing 10 micrograms ml-1 nisin (FN), held aerobically at 4 degrees C for up to 7 d, and populations of B. thermosphacta and nisin activity determined. Experiment 2 determined the effects of the same treatments but on post-rigor, frozen and thawed lean BCT that was inoculated, vacuum-packaged, and stored at 4 degrees C for up to 14 d. In both experiments, N- and FN-treated tissues exhibited significantly lower populations of B. thermosphacta compared to U- and F-treated tissues, for the duration of refrigerated storage. Nisin activity was detected up to 7 d in N- and FN-treated samples from experiment 1. However, activity was detected only to days 0 and 2 in FN- and N-treated samples, respectively, from experiment 2. These studies indicate that the addition of a bacteriocin to a meat binding system and application to meat surfaces may be useful in reducing undesirable bacteria in restructured meat products.

  17. Comparative study on Ti/Zr/V and chromate conversion treated aluminum alloys: Anti-corrosion performance and epoxy coating adhesion properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhu, Wen; Li, Wenfang; Mu, Songlin; Fu, Nianqing; Liao, Zhongmiao

    2017-05-01

    In this study, a Ti/Zr/V conversion coating (TZVCC) was deposited on the surface of aluminum alloy 6063 (AA6063) as an alternative of the chromate conversion coating (CCC). Both the TZVCC treated AA6063 (TZVCC/AA6063) and CCC treated AA6063 (CCC/AA6063) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM) and contact angle measuring device. The anti-corrosion performance of the TZVCC/AA6063 and CCC/AA6063 was evaluated by electrochemical measurements and neutral salt spray tests. It showed that both the surface roughness and surface free energy of the AA6063 were significantly increased after TZVCC treatment. The anti-corrosion performance of TZVCC/AA6063 was superior to that of CCC/AA6063. In addition, the effects of the TZVCC and CCC on the adhesion properties and anti-corrosion performance of epoxy coating applied on samples were examined by pull-off tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The dry, wet and recovery adhesive strengths of the epoxy coating on TZVCC treated samples (epoxy coated TZVCC/AA6063) were very close to those of epoxy coating on CCC treated ones (epoxy coated CCC/AA6063). The epoxy coated TZVCC/AA6063 showed better corrosion resistance than the epoxy coated CCC/AA6063 and epoxy coated AA6063.

  18. Effect of the application of surface treatments before and after sintering on the flexural strength, phase transformation and surface topography of zirconia.

    PubMed

    Kurtulmus-Yilmaz, Sevcan; Aktore, Huseyin

    2018-05-01

    To evaluate the effects of airborne-particle abrasion (APA) and Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation on 4-point-flexural strength, phase transformation and morphologic changes of zirconia ceramics treated at pre-sintered or post-sintered stage. Three hundred and forty-two bar shaped zirconia specimens were milled with different sizes according to the flexural strength test (n = 10), X-ray diffraction (XRD) (n = 4) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) (n = 4) analyses. For each test protocol, specimens were divided into 4 main groups whether the surface treatments applied before or after sintering and whether the specimens received heat treatment or not as pre-sintered, post-sintered no-heat and post-sintered heat-treated groups, and a group was served as control. Main groups were further divided into 6 equal subgroups according to surface treatment method applied (2 W-, 3 W-, 4 W-, 5 W-, 6 W-laser irradiations and APA). Surface treatments were applied to pre-sintered groups before sintering and to post-sintered groups after sintering. Post-sintered heat-treated groups were subjected to veneer ceramic firing simulation after surface treatments. Flexural strength and flexural modulus values were statistically analysed and monoclinic phase content was calculated. Weibull analysis was used to evaluate strength reliability and fractographic analysis was conducted. Highest flexural strength values were detected at post-sintered no-heat APA and 4W-laser groups (P < 0.05). Pre-sintered groups showed statistically lower flexural strength values. Heat treatment decreased the strength of the specimens. Monoclinic phase content was only detected at post-sintered no-heat groups and the highest amount was detected at APA group. Rougher surfaces and deeper irregularities were detected at FE-SEM images pre-sintered groups. Application of surface treatments at pre-sintered stage may be detrimental for zirconia ceramics in terms of flexural strength. Treating the surface of zirconia ceramic before sintering process is not recommended due to significant decrease in flexural strength values. 2 W-4 W Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiations can be regarded as alternative surface treatment methods when zirconia restoration would be subjected to veneer ceramic firing procedures. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Modification of polymeric surface for improved adhesion via electron beam exposure

    DOEpatents

    Kelber, Jeffry A.

    1989-01-01

    Treating polymer surfaces, e.g., Teflon, particularly very thin surfaces, e.g., 50-10,000 .ANG. with low energy electron radiation, e.g., 100-1000 eV, in a high vacuum environment, e.g., less than 10.sup.-6 Torr, to enhance the ability of the surface to be adhered to a variety of substrates.

  20. Comparison of the protection effectiveness of acrylic polyurethane coatings containing bark extracts on three heat-treated North American wood species: Surface degradation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kocaefe, Duygu; Saha, Sudeshna

    2012-04-01

    High temperature heat-treatment of wood is a very valuable technique which improves many properties (biological durability, dimensional stability, thermal insulating characteristics) of natural wood. Also, it changes the natural color of wood to a very attractive dark brown color. Unfortunately, this color is not stable if left unprotected in external environment and turns to gray or white depending on the wood species. To overcome this problem, acrylic polyurethane coatings are applied on heat-treated wood to delay surface degradations (color change, loss of gloss, and chemical modifications) during aging. The acrylic polyurethane coatings which have high resistance against aging are further modified by adding bark extracts and/or lignin stabilizer to enhance their effectiveness in preventing the wood aging behavior. The aging characteristic of this coating is compared with acrylic polyurethane combined with commercially available organic UV stabilizers. In this study, their performance on three heat-treated North American wood species (jack pine, quaking aspen and white birch) are compared under accelerated aging conditions. Both the color change data and visual assessment indicate improvement in protective characteristic of acrylic polyurethane when bark extracts and lignin stabilizer are used in place of commercially available UV stabilizer. The results showed that although acrylic polyurethane with bark extracts and lignin stabilizer was more efficient compared to acrylic polyurethane with organic UV stabilizers in protecting heat-treated jack pine, it failed to protect heat-treated aspen and birch effectively after 672 h of accelerated aging. This degradation was not due to the coating adhesion loss or coating degradation during accelerated aging; rather, it was due to the significant degradation of heat-treated aspen and birch surface beneath this coating. The XPS results revealed formation of carbonyl photoproducts after aging on the coated surfaces and chain scission of Csbnd N of urethane linkages.

  1. Structure-property and composition-property relationships for poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces modified by helium plasma-based ion implantation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tóth, A.; Veres, M.; Kereszturi, K.; Mohai, M.; Bertóti, I.; Szépvölgyi, J.

    2011-10-01

    The surfaces of untreated and helium plasma-based ion implantation (He PBII) treated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) samples were characterised by reflectance colorimetry, contact angle studies and measurements of surface electrical resistance. The results were related to the structural and compositional data obtained by the authors earlier on parallel samples by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. Inverse correlations between lightness and ID/ IG ratio and between chroma and ID/ IG ratio were obtained, suggesting that the PBII-treated PET samples darken and their colourfulness decreases with the increase of the portion of aromatic sp 2 carbon rings in the chemical structure of the modified layer. Direct correlation between water contact angle and the ID/ IG ratio and inverse correlations between surface energy and ID/ IG ratio and between dispersive component of surface energy and ID/ IG ratio were found, reflecting that surface wettability, surface energy and its dispersive component decrease with the formation of surface structure, characterised again by enhanced portion of aromatic sp 2 carbon rings. The surface electrical resistance decreased with the increase of the surface C-content determined by XPS and also with the increase of the surface concentration of conjugated double bonds, reflected by the increase of the π → π* shake-up satellite of the C 1s peak.

  2. Measurements of the thickness compressibility of an n-octadecyltriethoxysilane monolayer self-assembled on mica.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sungsoo; Cho, Kilwon; Curry, Joan E

    2005-08-30

    The surface forces apparatus technique and the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts theory were used to study the elastic properties of an n-octadecyltriethoxysilane self-assembled monolayer (OTE-SAM) on both untreated and plasma-treated mica. Our aim was to measure the thickness compressibilities of OTE monolayers on untreated and plasma-treated mica and to estimate their surface densities and phase-states from the film compressibility. The compressibility moduli of OTE are (0.96 +/- 0.02) x 10(8) N/m(2) on untreated mica and (1.24 +/- 0.06) x 10(8) N/m(2) on plasma-treated mica. This work suggests that the OTE phase-state is pseudocrystalline. In addition, the results from the compressibility measurements in water vapor suggest that the OTE-SAM on both untreated and plasma-treated mica is not homogeneous but rather contains both crystalline polymerized OTE domains and somewhat hydrophilic gaseous regions.

  3. [Bonding strength of resin and tooth enamel after teeth bleaching with cold plasma].

    PubMed

    Zhu, Meng-meng; Wang, Guo-min; Sun, Ke; Li, Ying-long; Pan, Jie

    2016-02-18

    To investigate the immediate bond strength and surface structure of resin and the tooth enamel which treated by cold plasma. In the study, 40 bovine incisors were divided into two equal parts. In this sense, all enamel adhesive samples were prepared and then randomly divided into 4 groups (n =20). group 1: acid + single bond 2+resin composite (control group); group 2:beyond bleaching+ acid+single bond 2+resin composite; group 3: treated by cold plasma for 5 minutes+ acid+single bond 2+resin composite; group 4: treated by cold plasma for 5 minutes+single bond 2+resin composite. Single bond 2 bonding system and Filtek Z250 resin were used in this experiment. The shear bond strength was tested by universal testing machine. The surface of the enamel in different processes was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Statistical analyses by the single factor analysis of variance and multiple pairwise comparisons were performed with SPSS 17.0 . The shear bond strength of group 4 (8.60 MPa) was significantly lower than that of the other three groups (P<0.05). The shear bond strength of group 2 (17.89 MPa) was higher than that of group 4, but lower than group 1 and group 3 (P<0.05).There was no significant difference between group 1 (34.82 MPa) and group 3 (34.69 MPa). Scanning electron microscope indicated that the enamel treated by cold plasma had slight molten form, which was different from etched enamel surface.The fractured surface of group 3 was mix fracture, which was similar to the control group (group 1). Compared with the conventional clinic bleaching, immediate bond strength of resin-enamel that treated by cold plasma has not been affected.

  4. Testing the Effect of Aggressive Beverage on the Damage of Enamel Structure.

    PubMed

    Lutovac, Mitar; Popova, Olga V; Macanovic, Gordana; Kristina, Radoman; Lutovac, Bojana; Ketin, Sonja; Biocanin, Rade

    2017-12-15

    Dental erosion is a common problem in modern societies, owing to the increased consumption of acid drinks such as soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juice. Examining the enamel surface with the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) enables more precise registering and defining the changes of enamel surface structure and microhardness. This method can be used to compare the efficiency of application of different preventive and therapy materials and medicaments in dentistry. The chronic regular consumption of low pH cola drinks encouraged the erosion of the teeth. The loss of anatomy and sensitivity are direct results of acid cola dissolving coronal tooth material. Under the influence of coca cola, a change of crystal structure and nanomorphology on enamel surface occurs. This paper reflects dental damage from abusive cola drinking, and the clinical presentation can be explained from data presented in this thesis. The trial was conducted on a total of 40 extracted teeth which were divided into two groups treated with the solution of coca cola during 5 minutes, and then prepared and tested with a standard AFM procedure, type SPM-5200. Quantitative analysis was performed by comparing the roughness parameters (Ra) of the treated and non-treated sample. Based on the test of a hypothesis of the existence of differences between the treated and untreated sample, with an application of a t-test, it is shown that there are statistically highly significant differences between Ra of the treated sample with a 5-minute treatment of coca cola and Ra of the same sample without the treatment. Use of AFM enables successful monitoring of changes on enamel surface as well as the interpretation of the ultrastructural configuration of the crystal stage and the damage created under the influence of different external factors.

  5. Monoclonal antibodies reactive with secreted-excreted products from the amphids and the cuticle surface of Globodera pallida affect nematode movement and delay invasion of potato roots.

    PubMed

    Fioretti, L; Porter, A; Haydock, P J; Curtis, R

    2002-12-19

    This paper describes Excreted-secreted proteins (ES) proteins that were immunolocalised in the cuticle, amphids and subventral glands of second stage juveniles of the two species of potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis). Monoclonal antibodies reactive with these ES proteins were used in a bioassay to investigate their effect on nematode movement and on their ability to invade potato roots. Antibodies recognising the nematode cuticle surface and the amphids affected nematode movement and delayed nematode penetration of roots. These effects were temporary, since the nematodes were able to recover and infect potato roots. Movement of second stage juveniles treated with the antibodies was impaired for the first 30 min after inoculation: the juveniles remained close to the point of introduction and moved slowly and abnormally. They recovered normal movement after 1-2 h, possibly because the turnover rate of the secreted proteins meant that they were no longer blocked by the monoclonal antibodies. No effect was observed on second stage juveniles treated with an antibody reactive with secretions from the oesophageal glands. Nematodes treated with antibodies reactive with the nematode cuticle surface were notably more affected than those treated with other antibodies; nematodes failed to recover movement when in continuous contact with the antibodies. It is possible that the physical presence of the antibodies on the nematode surface affected their motility. Nematodes treated with antibodies reactive with secretions from the amphids were temporarily unable to move towards potato roots and their exploratory behaviour was greatly affected by the antibody treatment. Whether these antibodies were able to inhibit temporarily the function of the amphids or this effect was due to physical presence of the antibodies blocking the amphidial pore remains to be determined.

  6. Surface Characteristics and Adhesion Behavior of Escherichia coli O157:H7: Role of Extracellular Macromolecules

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Surface macromolecule cleavage experiments were conducted on enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells to investigate the influence of these macromolecules on cell surface properties. Electrophoretic mobility, hydrophobicity, and titration experiments were carried out on proteinase K treate...

  7. Surface treatment of polypropylene (PP) film by 50 Hz dielectric barrier discharge produced in air and argon/air mixture at atmospheric pressure

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Joshi, Ujjwal Man, E-mail: umjoshi@gmail.com; Subedi, Deepak Prasad, E-mail: deepaksubedi2001@yahoo.com

    Thin films of polypropylene (PP) are treated for improving hydrophilicity using non-thermal plasma generated by 50 Hz line frequency dielectric barrier discharge produced in air and argon/air mixture at atmospheric pressure. PP samples before and after the treatments are studied using contact angle measurements, surface free energy calculations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Distilled water (H{sub 2}O), glycerol (C{sub 3}H{sub 8}O{sub 3}) and diiodomethane (CH{sub 2}I{sub 2}) are used as test liquids. The contact angle measurements between test liquids and PP samples are used to determine total surface free energy using sessile drop technique. PP films show a remarkable increase inmore » surface free energy after plasma treatment. SEM analysis of the plasma-treated PP films shows that plasma treatment introduces greater roughness on the surface leading to the increased surface free energy. Furthermore, it is found that introducing a small quantity of argon can enhance the surface treatment remarkably.« less

  8. Suppressed Superconductivity on the Surface of Superconducting RF Quality Niobium for Particle Accelerating Cavities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sung, Z. H.; Polyanskii, A. A.; Lee, P. J.; Gurevich, A.; Larbalestier, D. C.

    2011-03-01

    Significant performance degradation of superconducting RF (radio frequency) niobium cavities in high RF field is strongly associated with the breakdown of superconductivity on localized multi-scale surface defects lying within the 40 nm penetration depth. These defects may be on the nanometer scale, like grain boundaries and dislocations or even at the much larger scale of surface roughness and welding pits. By combining multiple superconducting characterization techniques including magneto-optical (MO) imaging and direct transport measurement with non-contact characterization of the surface topology using scanning confocal microscopy, we were able to show clear evidence of suppression of surface superconductivity at chemically treated RF-quality niobium. We found that pinning of vortices along GBs is weaker than pinning of vortices in the grains, which may indicate suppressed superfluid density on GBs. We also directly measured the local magnetic characteristics of BCP-treated Nb sample surface using a micro-Hall sensor in order to further understanding of the effect of surface topological features on the breakdown of superconducting state in RF mode.

  9. Fracture surface analysis in composite and titanium bonding

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Devilbiss, T. A.; Wightman, J. P.

    1985-01-01

    To understand the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composite materials, it is necessary to understand the mechanical properties of the matrix materials and of the reinforcing fibers. Another factor that can affect the mechanical properties of a composite material is the interaction between the fiber and the matrix. In general, composites with strong fiber matrix bonding will give higher modulus, lower toughness composites. Composites with weak bonding will have a lower modulus and more ductility. The situation becomes a bit more complex when all possibilities are examined. To be considered are the following: the properties of the surface layer on the fiber, the interactive forces between polymer and matrix, the surface roughness and porosity of the fiber, and the morphology of the matrix polymer at the fiber surface. In practice, the surface of the fibers is treated to enhance the mechanical properties of a composite. These treatments include anodization, acid etching, high temperature oxidation, and plasma oxidation, to name a few. The goal is to be able to predict the surface properties of carbon fibers treated in various ways, and then to relate surface properties to fiber matrix bonding.

  10. Using micro-patterned surfaces to inhibit settlement and biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis.

    PubMed

    Chang, Siyuan; Chen, Xiaodong; Jiang, Shuo; Chen, Jinchun; Shi, Lin

    2017-07-01

    Biofilm is a biological complex caused by bacteria attachment to the substrates and their subsequent reproduction and secretion. This phenomenon reduces heat transfer efficiency and causes significant losses in treated sewage heat-recovering systems. This paper describes a physical approach to inhibit bacteria settlement and biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis, which is the dominant species in treated sewage. Here, micro-patterned surfaces with different characteristics (stripe and cube) and dimensions (1-100 μm) were fabricated as surfaces of interest. Model sewage was prepared and a rotating coupon device was used to form the biofilms. Precision balance, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were employed to investigate the inhibitory effects and the mechanisms of the biofilm-surface interactions. The results have shown that surfaces with small pattern sizes (1 and 2 μm) all reduced biofilm formation significantly. Interestingly, the CLSM images showed that the surfaces do not play a role in "killing" the bacteria. These findings are useful for future development of new process surfaces on which bacteria settlement and biofilm formation can be inhibited or minimized.

  11. Topical administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist as a therapy for aqueous-deficient dry eye in autoimmune disease.

    PubMed

    Vijmasi, Trinka; Chen, Feeling Y T; Chen, Ying Ting; Gallup, Marianne; McNamara, Nancy

    2013-01-01

    Dry eye is commonly associated with autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome (SS), in which exocrinopathy of the lacrimal gland leads to aqueous tear deficiency and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). KCS is among the most common and debilitating clinical manifestations of SS that is often recalcitrant to therapy. We established mice deficient in the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene as a model for autoimmune-mediated aqueous-deficient dry eye. In Aire-deficient mice, CD4+ T cells represent the main effector cells and local signaling via the interleukin-1 (IL-1/IL-1R1) pathway provides an essential link between autoreactive CD4+ T cells and ocular surface disease. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of topical administration of IL-1R1 antagonist (IL-1RA) anakinra in alleviating ocular surface damage resulting from aqueous-deficient dry eye in the setting of autoimmune disease. We compared the effect of commercially available IL-1R1 antagonist, anakinra (50 μg/mL concentration) to that of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) vehicle control as a treatment for dry eye. Age-matched, Aire-deficient mice were treated three times daily with anakinra or CMC vehicle for 14 days using side-by-side (n = 4 mice/group) and paired-eye (n = 5) comparisons. We assessed (1) ocular surface damage with lissamine green staining; (2) tear secretion with wetting of phenol-red threads; (3) goblet cell (GC) mucin glycosylation with lectin histochemistry; (4) immune cell infiltration using anti-F4/80, CD11c, and CD4 T cell antibodies; and (5) gene expression of cornified envelope protein, Small Proline-Rich Protein-1B (SPRR1B) with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Aire-deficient mice treated with anakinra experienced significant improvements in ocular surface integrity and tear secretion. After 7 days of treatment, lissamine green staining decreased in eyes treated with anakinra compared to an equivalent increase in staining following treatment with CMC vehicle alone. By day 14, lissamine green staining in anakinra-treated eyes remained stable while eyes treated with CMC vehicle continued to worsen. Accordingly, there was a progressive decline in tear secretion in eyes treated with the CMC vehicle compared to a progressive increase in the anakinra-treated eyes over the 2-week treatment period. Aberrant acidification of GC mucins and pathological keratinization of the ocular surface were significantly reduced in anakinra-treated eyes. Significantly fewer Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin positive goblet cells were noted in the conjunctiva of anakinra-treated eyes with a corresponding decrease in the expression of the pathological keratinization marker, SPRR1B. Finally, there was a downward trend in the infiltration of each immune cell type following anakinra treatment, but the cell counts compared to eyes treated with the vehicle alone were not significantly different. IL-1R antagonist, anakinra, demonstrates therapeutic benefits as a topical treatment for aqueous-deficient dry eye in a spontaneous mouse model of autoimmune KCS that mimics the clinical characteristics of SS. Targeting the IL-1/IL-1R1 signaling pathway through topical administration of IL-1RA may provide a novel option to improve ocular surface integrity, increase tear secretion, and restore the normal glycosylation pattern of GC mucins in patients with SS.

  12. Topical administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist as a therapy for aqueous-deficient dry eye in autoimmune disease

    PubMed Central

    Vijmasi, Trinka; Chen, Feeling YT; Chen, Ying Ting; Gallup, Marianne

    2013-01-01

    Purpose Dry eye is commonly associated with autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), in which exocrinopathy of the lacrimal gland leads to aqueous tear deficiency and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). KCS is among the most common and debilitating clinical manifestations of SS that is often recalcitrant to therapy. We established mice deficient in the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene as a model for autoimmune-mediated aqueous-deficient dry eye. In Aire-deficient mice, CD4+ T cells represent the main effector cells and local signaling via the interleukin-1 (IL-1/IL-1R1) pathway provides an essential link between autoreactive CD4+ T cells and ocular surface disease. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of topical administration of IL-1R1 antagonist (IL-1RA) anakinra in alleviating ocular surface damage resulting from aqueous-deficient dry eye in the setting of autoimmune disease. Methods We compared the effect of commercially available IL-1R1 antagonist, anakinra (50 μg/mL concentration) to that of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) vehicle control as a treatment for dry eye. Age-matched, Aire-deficient mice were treated three times daily with anakinra or CMC vehicle for 14 days using side-by-side (n=4 mice/group) and paired-eye (n=5) comparisons. We assessed (1) ocular surface damage with lissamine green staining; (2) tear secretion with wetting of phenol-red threads; (3) goblet cell (GC) mucin glycosylation with lectin histochemistry; (4) immune cell infiltration using anti-F4/80, CD11c, and CD4 T cell antibodies; and (5) gene expression of cornified envelope protein, Small Proline-Rich Protein-1B (SPRR1B) with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Aire-deficient mice treated with anakinra experienced significant improvements in ocular surface integrity and tear secretion. After 7 days of treatment, lissamine green staining decreased in eyes treated with anakinra compared to an equivalent increase in staining following treatment with CMC vehicle alone. By day 14, lissamine green staining in anakinra-treated eyes remained stable while eyes treated with CMC vehicle continued to worsen. Accordingly, there was a progressive decline in tear secretion in eyes treated with the CMC vehicle compared to a progressive increase in the anakinra-treated eyes over the 2-week treatment period. Aberrant acidification of GC mucins and pathological keratinization of the ocular surface were significantly reduced in anakinra-treated eyes. Significantly fewer Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin positive goblet cells were noted in the conjunctiva of anakinra-treated eyes with a corresponding decrease in the expression of the pathological keratinization marker, SPRR1B. Finally, there was a downward trend in the infiltration of each immune cell type following anakinra treatment, but the cell counts compared to eyes treated with the vehicle alone were not significantly different. Conclusions IL-1R antagonist, anakinra, demonstrates therapeutic benefits as a topical treatment for aqueous-deficient dry eye in a spontaneous mouse model of autoimmune KCS that mimics the clinical characteristics of SS. Targeting the IL-1/IL-1R1 signaling pathway through topical administration of IL-1RA may provide a novel option to improve ocular surface integrity, increase tear secretion, and restore the normal glycosylation pattern of GC mucins in patients with SS. PMID:24068863

  13. Methods and apparatuses for cutting, abrading, and drilling

    DOEpatents

    Bingham, Dennis N.; Swainston, Richard C.; Palmer, Gary L.; Ferguson, Russell L.

    2001-01-01

    Methods and apparatuses for treating a surface of a work piece are described. In one implementation, a laser delivery subsystem is configured to direct a laser beam toward a treatment zone on a work surface. A cryogenic material delivery subsystem is operably coupled with the laser delivery subsystem and is configured to direct a stream comprising cryogenic material toward the treatment zone. Both the laser beam and stream cooperate to treat material of the work surface within the treatment zone. In one aspect, a nozzle assembly provides the laser beam and stream of cryogenic material along a common flow axis. In another aspect, the laser beam and stream are provided along different axes.

  14. Characterization of Hybrid Epoxy Nanocomposites

    PubMed Central

    Simcha, Shelly; Dotan, Ana; Kenig, Samuel; Dodiuk, Hanna

    2012-01-01

    This study focused on the effect of Multi Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) content and its surface treatment on thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy nanocomposites. MWCNTs were surface treated and incorporated into two epoxy systems. MWCNT's surface treatments were based on: (a) Titania coating obtained by sol-gel process and (b) a nonionic surfactant. Thermo-mechanical properties improvement was obtained following incorporation of treated MWCNT. It was noticed that small amounts of titania coated MWCNT (0.05 wt %) led to an increase in the glass transition temperature and stiffness. The best performance was achieved adding 0.3 wt % titania coated MWCNT where an increase of 10 °C in the glass transition temperature and 30% in storage modulus were obtained. PMID:28348313

  15. An "adiabatic-hindered-rotor" treatment allows para-H(2) to be treated as if it were spherical.

    PubMed

    Li, Hui; Roy, Pierre-Nicholas; Le Roy, Robert J

    2010-09-14

    In para-H(2)-{molecule} interactions, the common assumption that para-H(2) may be treated as a spherical particle is often substantially in error. For example, quantum mechanical eigenvalues on a full four-dimensional (4D) potential energy surface for para H(2)-{linear molecule} species often differ substantially from those calculated from the corresponding two-dimensional (2D) surface obtained by performing a simple spherical average over the relative orientations of the H(2) moiety. However, use of an "adiabatic-hindered-rotor" approximation can yield an effective 2D surface whose spectroscopic properties are an order of magnitude closer to those yielded by a full 4D treatment.

  16. Antischistosomal activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) against Schistosoma mansoni harbored in C57 mice.

    PubMed

    Mostafa, Osama M S; Eid, Refaat A; Adly, Mohamed A

    2011-08-01

    The repeated chemotherapy of schistosomiasis has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant schistosome strains. The development of such resistance has drawn the attention of many authors to alternative drugs. Many medicinal plants were studied to investigate their antischistosomal potency. The present work aimed to evaluate antischistosomal activity of crude aqueous extract of ginger against Schistosoma mansoni. Sixteen mice of C57 strain were exposed to 100 ± 10 cercariae per mouse by the tail immersion method; the mice were divided into two groups: untreated group and ginger-treated one. All mice were sacrificed at the end of 10th week post-infection. Worm recovery and egg counting in the hepatic tissues and faeces were determined. Surface topography of the recovered worms was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Histopathological examination of liver and intestine was done using routine histological procedures. The worm burden and the egg density in liver and faeces of mice treated with ginger were fewer than in non-treated ones. Scanning electron microscopical examination revealed that male worms recovered from mice treated with ginger lost their normal surface architecture, since its surface showed partial loss of tubercles' spines, extensive erosion in inter-tubercle tegumental regions and numerous small blebs around tubercles. Histopathological data indicated a reduction in the number and size of granulomatous inflammatory infiltrations in the liver and intestine of treated mice compared to non-treated mice. The results of the present work suggested that ginger has antischistosomal activities and provided a basis for subsequent experimental and clinical trials.

  17. Kenaf Bast Fibers—Part II: Inorganic Nanoparticle Impregnation for Polymer Composites

    DOE PAGES

    Shi, Jinshu; Shi, Sheldon Q.; Barnes, H. Michael; ...

    2011-01-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate an inorganic nanoparticle impregnation (INI) technique to improve the compatibility between kenaf bast fibers and polyolefin matrices. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of the INI-treated fibers showing that the CaCO 3 nanoparticle crystals grew onto the fiber surface. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to verify the CaCO 3 nanoparticle deposits on the fiber surface. The tension tests of the individual fiber were conducted, and the results showed that the tensile strength of the fibers increased significantly (more than 20%) after the INI treatments. Polymermore » composites were fabricated using the INI-treated fiber as reinforcement and polypropylene (PP) as the matrix. The results showed that the INI treatments improved the compatibility between kenaf fibers and PP matrix. The tensile modulus and tensile strength of the composites reinforced with INI-treated fibers increased by 25.9% and 10.4%, respectively, compared to those reinforced with untreated kenaf fibers.« less

  18. Diagnostics of microwave assisted electron cyclotron resonance plasma source for surface modification of nylon 6

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    More, Supriya E.; Das, Partha Sarathi; Bansode, Avinash; Dhamale, Gayatri; Ghorui, S.; Bhoraskar, S. V.; Sahasrabudhe, S. N.; Mathe, Vikas L.

    2018-01-01

    Looking at the increasing scope of plasma processing of materials surface, here we present the development and diagnostics of a microwave assisted Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma system suitable for surface modification of polymers. Prior to the surface-treatment, a detailed diagnostic mapping of the plasma parameters throughout the reactor chamber was carried out by using single and double Langmuir probe measurements in Ar plasma. Conventional analysis of I-V curves as well as the elucidation form of the Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) has become the source of calibration of plasma parameters in the reaction chamber. The high energy tail in the EEDF of electron temperature is seen to extend beyond 60 eV, at much larger distances from the ECR zone. This proves the suitability of the rector for plasma processing, since the electron energy is much beyond the threshold energy of bond breaking in most of the polymers. Nylon 6 is used as a representative candidate for surface processing in the presence of Ar, H2 + N2, and O2 plasma, treated at different locations inside the plasma chamber. In a typical case, the work of adhesion is seen to almost get doubled when treated with oxygen plasma. Morphology of the plasma treated surface and its hydrophilicity are discussed in view of the variation in electron density and electron temperature at these locations. Nano-protrusions arising from plasma treatment are set to be responsible for the hydrophobicity. Chemical sputtering and physical sputtering are seen to influence the surface morphology on account of sufficient electron energies and increased plasma potential.

  19. Roughness of human enamel surface submitted to different prophylaxis methods.

    PubMed

    Castanho, Gisela Muassab; Arana-Chavez, Victor E; Fava, Marcelo

    2008-01-01

    The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate alterations in the surface roughness and micromorphology of human enamel submitted to three prophylaxis methods. Sixty-nine caries-free molars with exposed labial surfaces were divided into three groups. Group I was treated with a rotary instrument set at a low speed, rubber cup and a mixture of water and pumice; group II with a rotary instrument set at a low speed, rubber cup and prophylaxis paste Herjos-F (Vigodent S/A Indústria e Comércio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); and group III with sodium bicarbonate spray Profi II Ceramic (Dabi Atlante Indústrias Médico Odontológicas Ltda, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil). All procedures were performed by the same operator for 10 s, and samples were rinsed and stored in distilled water Pre and post-treatment surface evaluation was completed using a surface profilometer (Perthometer S8P, Marh, Perthen, Germany) in 54 samples. In addition, the other samples were coated with gold and examined in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of this study were statistically analyzed with the paired t-test (Student), the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Dunn (5%) test. The sodium bicarbonate spray led to significantly rougher surfaces than the pumice paste. The use of prophylaxis paste showed no statistically significant difference when compared with the other methods. Based on SEM analysis, the sodium bicarbonate spray presented an irregular surface with granular material and erosions. Based on this study, it can be concluded that there was an increased enamel surface roughness when teeth were treated with sodium bicarbonate spray when compared with teeth treated with pumice paste.

  20. Increased affinity of endothelial cells to NiTi using ultraviolet irradiation: An in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Tateshima, Satoshi; Kaneko, Naoki; Yamada, Masahiro; Duckwiler, Gary; Vinuela, Fernando; Ogawa, Takahiro

    2018-04-01

    Nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi) is one of the most popular materials used endovascularly because of its shape memory and superelasticity. The NiTi device needs to be covered by endothelial cells after being placed in the blood vessel to reduce ischemic complications. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on the biocompatibility of NiTi surfaces with endothelial cells. NiTi sheets were treated with UV irradiation for 48 h and human aorta derived endothelial cells were used in this study. UV irradiation converted the NiTi surface to hydrophilic state and increased albumin adsorption. The number of endothelial cell migration, attachment, proliferation as well as their metabolic activity were significantly increased on UV treated NiTi. This study provides the first evidence of the photoactivation of NiTi surfaces by UV irradiation and demonstrates improved biocompatibility of UV-treated NiTi surfaces with vascular endothelial cells. These results suggest that UV irradiation may promote endothelialization of NiTi devices in blood vessels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 1034-1038, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Analytical Debye-Huckel model for electrostatic potentials around dissolved DNA.

    PubMed

    Wagner, K; Keyes, E; Kephart, T W; Edwards, G

    1997-07-01

    We present an analytical, Green-function-based model for the electric potential of DNA in solution, treating the surrounding solvent with the Debye-Huckel approximation. The partial charge of each atom is accounted for by modeling DNA as linear distributions of atoms on concentric cylindrical surfaces. The condensed ions of the solvent are treated with the Debye-Huckel approximation. The resultant leading term of the potential is that of a continuous shielded line charge, and the higher order terms account for the helical structure. Within several angstroms of the surface there is sufficient information in the electric potential to distinguish features and symmetries of DNA. Plots of the potential and equipotential surfaces, dominated by the phosphate charges, reflect the structural differences between the A, B, and Z conformations and, to a smaller extent, the difference between base sequences. As the distances from the helices increase, the magnitudes of the potentials decrease. However, the bases and sugars account for a larger fraction of the double helix potential with increasing distance. We have found that when the solvent is treated with the Debye-Huckel approximation, the potential decays more rapidly in every direction from the surface than it did in the concentric dielectric cylinder approximation.

  2. Antibacterial effect of hydrogen peroxide-titanium dioxide suspensions in the decontamination of rough titanium surfaces.

    PubMed

    Wiedmer, David; Petersen, Fernanda Cristina; Lönn-Stensrud, Jessica; Tiainen, Hanna

    2017-07-01

    The chemical decontamination of infected dental implants is essential for the successful treatment of peri-implantitis. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial effect of a hydrogen peroxide-titanium dioxide (H 2 O 2 -TiO 2 ) suspension against Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. Titanium (Ti) coins were inoculated with a bioluminescent S. epidermidis strain for 8 h and subsequently exposed to H 2 O 2 with and without TiO 2 nanoparticles or chlorhexidine (CHX). Bacterial regrowth, bacterial load and viability after decontamination were analyzed by continuous luminescence monitoring, live/dead staining and scanning electron microscopy. Bacterial regrowth was delayed on surfaces treated with H 2 O 2 -TiO 2 compared to H 2 O 2 . H 2 O 2 -based treatments resulted in a lower bacterial load compared to CHX. Few viable bacteria were found on surfaces treated with H 2 O 2 and H 2 O 2 -TiO 2 , which contrasted with a uniform layer of dead bacteria for surfaces treated with CHX. H 2 O 2 -TiO 2 suspensions could therefore be considered an alternative approach in the decontamination of dental implants.

  3. Influence of Oxidation Treatments and Surface Finishing on the Electrochemical Behavior of Ni-20Cr HVOF Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ruiz-Luna, H.; Porcayo-Calderon, J.; Alvarado-Orozco, J. M.; Mora-García, A. G.; Martinez-Gomez, L.; Trápaga-Martínez, L. G.; Muñoz-Saldaña, J.

    2017-12-01

    The low-temperature electrochemical behavior of HVOF Ni-20Cr coatings was assessed. The coatings were evaluated in different conditions including as-sprayed, as-ground, and heat-treated in air and argon atmospheres. A detailed analysis of the coatings was carried out by means of XRD, SEM, and EPMA, prior and after the corrosion test. The corrosion rate was analyzed in a NaCl solution saturated with CO2. Results demonstrate that the use of a low-oxygen partial pressure favors the formation of a Cr2O3 layer on the surface of the coatings. According to the electrochemical results, the lower corrosion rates were obtained for the heat-treated coatings irrespective of the surface finishing, being the ground and argon heat-treated condition that shows the best corrosion performance. This behavior is due to the synergistic effect of the low-pressure heat treatment and the grinding processes. The grinding promotes a more homogeneous reaction area without surface heterogeneities such as voids, and the pre-oxidation treatment decreases the porosity content of the coating and also allows the growing of a Cr-rich oxide scale which acts as a barrier against the ions of the aqueous solution.

  4. VERU-SOLVE™ MARINE 200 HP

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Technical product bulletin: this surface washing agent used in oil spill cleanups separates the oil and water from the sand or soiled surface. Suitable for treating shorelines, beaches, rocks, marshes, sensitive environments, and access limited areas.

  5. Evaluation of performance and cost-effectiveness of thin pavement surface treatments : final report.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1993-05-01

    This study describes the findings from the study of 87 closely monitored sites in the State of Oregon which were treated with different types of thin surface materials. All of these surface treatments had a total thickness of two inches or less, and ...

  6. A novel algorithm for delineating wetland depressions and mapping surface hydrologic flow pathways using LiDAR data

    EPA Science Inventory

    In traditional watershed delineation and topographic modeling, surface depressions are generally treated as spurious features and simply removed from a digital elevation model (DEM) to enforce flow continuity of water across the topographic surface to the watershed outlets. In re...

  7. Laser Surface Preparation and Bonding of Aerospace Structural Composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Belcher, Marcus A.; Wohl, Christopher J.; Connell, John W.

    2009-01-01

    A Nd:YAG laser was used to etch patterns conducive to adhesive bonding onto CFRP surfaces. These were compared to typical pre-bonding surface treatments including grit blasting, manual abrasion, and peel ply. Laser treated composites were then subjected to optical microscopy, contact angle measurements, and post-bonding mechanical testing.

  8. Efficacy of pyriproxyfen for control of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera) on concrete surfaces

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen was evaluated as a surface treatment for control of three stored-product psocid pests, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, L. decolor (Pearman), and L. paeta Pearman (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae). Nymphs were exposed for 35 d on a concrete surface treated with...

  9. Tuning the deposition of molecular graphene nanoribbons by surface functionalization.

    PubMed

    Konnerth, R; Cervetti, C; Narita, A; Feng, X; Müllen, K; Hoyer, A; Burghard, M; Kern, K; Dressel, M; Bogani, L

    2015-08-14

    We show that individual, isolated graphene nanoribbons, created with a molecular synthetic approach, can be assembled on functionalised wafer surfaces treated with silanes. The use of surface groups with different hydrophobicities allows tuning the density of the ribbons and assessing the products of the polymerisation process.

  10. Tuning the deposition of molecular graphene nanoribbons by surface functionalization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Konnerth, R.; Cervetti, C.; Narita, A.; Feng, X.; Müllen, K.; Hoyer, A.; Burghard, M.; Kern, K.; Dressel, M.; Bogani, L.

    2015-07-01

    We show that individual, isolated graphene nanoribbons, created with a molecular synthetic approach, can be assembled on functionalised wafer surfaces treated with silanes. The use of surface groups with different hydrophobicities allows tuning the density of the ribbons and assessing the products of the polymerisation process.

  11. Correlation between surface properties and wettability of multi-scale structured biocompatible surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gorodzha, S. N.; Surmeneva, M. A.; Prymak, O.; Wittmar, A.; Ulbricht, M.; Epple, M.; Teresov, A.; Koval, N.; Surmenev, R. A.

    2015-11-01

    The influence of surface properties of radio-frequency (RF) magnetron deposited hydroxyapatite (HA) and Si-containing HA coatings on wettability was studied. The composition and morphology of the coatings fabricated on titanium (Ti) were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface wettability was studied using contact angle analysis. Different geometric parameters of acid-etched (AE) and pulse electron beam (PEB)-treated Ti substrates and silicate content in the HA films resulted in the different morphology of the coatings at micro- and nano- length scales. Water contact angles for the HA coated Ti samples were evaluated as a combined effect of micro roughness of the substrate and nano-roughness of the HA films resulting in higher water contact angles compared with acid-etched (AE) or pulse electron beam (PEB) treated Ti substrates.

  12. Colour change evaluation on UV radiation exposure for Păun-Repedea calcareous geomaterial

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pelin, V.; Sandu, I.; Munteanu, M.; Iurcovschi, C. T.; Gurlui, S.; Sandu, AV; Vasilache, V.; Brȃnzilă, M.; Sandu, I. G.

    2016-06-01

    When talking about the preservation treatments that can be applied to natural stones used in different constructions, the surface hydrophobization plays an important part, especially when referring to porous surfaces like the calcareous oolithic stones specific to Repedea area, Iasi County, Romania. The present paper presents a method that evaluates the hydrophobization efficiency of two types of pellicles, involving UV artificial ageing and colorimetric analysis of the treated surfaces. The evaluation was done through continuous colorimetric monitoring and by comparing the evolution of the chromatic modifications of the two treated surfaces with the original colorimetric values and with the witness area, which was exposed to UV radiations under the same conditions, but left chemical untreated. The techniques used during this experiment were: CIE L*a*b* colorimetry, OM, SEM-EDX, UV radiation exposure and Spectrum Irradiance Measurement.

  13. Surface modification of electrospun PVA/chitosan nanofibers by dielectric barrier discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure and studies of their mechanical properties and biocompatibility.

    PubMed

    Das, Punamshree; Ojah, Namita; Kandimalla, Raghuram; Mohan, Kiranjyoti; Gogoi, Dolly; Dolui, Swapan Kumar; Choudhury, Arup Jyoti

    2018-03-22

    In this paper, surface of electrospun PVA/Cs nanofibers is modified using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and the relationship between the observed mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the nanofibers and plasma-induced surface properties is discussed. Plasma treatment of electrospun PVA/Cs nanofibers is carried out with both inert (argon, Ar) and reactive (oxygen, O 2 ) gases at atmospheric pressure. Incorporation of oxygen-containing polar functional groups on the surface of Ar-plasma treated (PVA/Cs/Ar) and O 2 -plasma treated (PVA/Cs/O 2 ) nanofibers and increase in surface roughness contribute to the improvement of surface wettability and the decrease of contact angle with water of the nanofibers. Both PVA/Cs/Ar and PVA/Cs/O 2 nanofibers show high tensile strength (11.6-15.6%) and Young's modulus (33.8-37.3%) as compared to the untreated one. Experimental results show that in terms of haemolytic activity the PVA/Cs/Ar and PVA/Cs/O 2 nanofibers do not cause structural changes of blood cells and meet the biocompatibility requirements for blood-contacting polymeric materials. MTT cell viability results further reveals improvement in biocompatibility of PVA/Cs nanofibers after Ar and O 2 plasma treatment. The results suggest that DBD plasma treated electrospun PVA/Cs nanofibers have the potential to be used as wound dressing and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Protective effect of zinc-hydroxyapatite toothpastes on enamel erosion: An in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Poggio, Claudio; Gulino, Chiara; Mirando, Maria; Colombo, Marco; Pietrocola, Giampiero

    2017-01-01

    The aim of the present study was to test the impact of different toothpastes with Zinc-Hydroxyapatite (Zn-HAP) on preventing and repairing enamel erosion compared to toothpastes with and without fluoride. The following four toothpastes were tested: two toothpastes with Zn-HAP, one toothpaste with fluoride and one toothpaste without fluoride. An additional control group was used in which enamel specimens were not treated with toothpaste. Repeated erosive challenges were provided by immersing bovine enamel specimens (10 per group) in a soft drink for 2 min (6mL, room temperature) at 0, 8, 24 and 32 h. After each erosive challenge, the toothpastes were applied neat onto the surface of specimens for 3 min without brushing and removed with distilled water. Between treatments the specimens were kept in artificial saliva. Enamel hardness, after the erosive challenge and toothpaste treatment was monitored using surface micro-hardness measurements. As expected, repeated erosive challenge by a soft drink for total of 8 min significantly reduced enamel surface hardness (ANOVA, p < 0.05). No re-hardening of the surface softened enamel was observed in the group treated with fluoride-free toothpaste. Surface hardness of the softened enamel increased when the specimens were treated with the fluoride toothpaste and the two toothpastes with Zn-HAP ( p < 0.05). Toothpaste with Zn-HAP resulted in significant enamel remineralisation of erosively challenged enamel, indicating that these toothpastes could provide enamel health benefits relevant to enamel erosion. Key words: Enamel, erosion, remineralization, surface hardness, toothpastes.

  15. Reuse of spent granular activated carbon for organic micro-pollutant removal from treated wastewater.

    PubMed

    Hu, Jingyi; Shang, Ran; Heijman, Bas; Rietveld, Luuk

    2015-09-01

    Spent granular activated carbons (sGACs) for drinking water treatments were reused via pulverizing as low-cost adsorbents for micro-pollutant adsorption from a secondary treated wastewater effluent. The changes of physicochemical characteristics of the spent carbons in relation to the fresh carbons were determined and were correlated to the molecular properties of the respective GAC influents (i.e. a surface water and a groundwater). Pore size distribution analysis showed that the carbon pore volume decreased over a wider size range due to preloading by surface water, which contains a broader molecular weight distribution of organic matter in contrast to the groundwater. However, there was still considerable capacity available on the pulverized sGACs for atrazine adsorption in demineralized water and secondary effluent, and this was particularly the case for the groundwater spent GAC. However, as compared to the fresh counterparts, the decreased surface area and the induced surface acidic groups on the pulverized sGACs contributed both to the lower uptake and the more impeded adsorption kinetic of atrazine in the demineralized water. Nonetheless, the pulverized sGACs, especially the one preloaded by surface water, was less susceptible to adsorption competition in the secondary effluent, due to its negatively charged surface which can repulse the accessibility of the co-present organic matter. This suggests the reusability of the drinking water spent GACs for micro-pollutant adsorption in the treated wastewater. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Impacts of papain and neuraminidase enzyme treatment on electrohydrodynamics and IgG-mediated agglutination of type A red blood cells.

    PubMed

    Hyono, Atsushi; Gaboriaud, Fabien; Mazda, Toshio; Takata, Youichi; Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Duval, Jérôme F L

    2009-09-15

    The stability of native and enzyme-treated human red blood cells of type A (Rh D positive) against agglutination is investigated under conditions where it is mediated by immunoglobuline G (IgG) anti-D antibody binding. The propensity of cells to agglutinate is related to their interphasic (electrokinetic) properties. These properties significantly depend on the concentration of proteolytic papain enzyme and protease-free neuraminidase enzyme that the cells are exposed to. The analysis is based on the interpretation of electrophoretic data of cells by means of the numerical theory for the electrokinetics of soft (bio)particles. A significant reduction of the hydrodynamic permeability of the external soft glycoprotein layer of the cells is reported under the action of papain. This reflects a significant decrease in soft surface layer thickness and a loss in cell surface integrity/rigidity, as confirmed by nanomechanical AFM analysis. Neuraminidase action leads to an important decrease in the interphase charge density by removing sialic acids from the cell soft surface layer. This is accompanied by hydrodynamic softness modulations less significant than those observed for papain-treated cells. On the basis of these electrohydrodynamic characteristics, the overall interaction potential profiles between two native cells and two enzyme-treated cells are derived as a function of the soft surface layer thickness in the Debye-Hückel limit that is valid for cell suspensions under physiological conditions (approximately 0.16 M). The thermodynamic computation of cell suspension stability against IgG-mediated agglutination then reveals that a decrease in the cell surface layer thickness is more favorable than a decrease in interphase charge density for inducing agglutination. This is experimentally confirmed by agglutination data collected for papain- and neuraminidase-treated cells.

  17. The Impact of Plasma Treatment of Cercon® Zirconia Ceramics on Adhesion to Resin Composite Cements and Surface Properties.

    PubMed

    Tabari, Kasra; Hosseinpour, Sepanta; Mohammad-Rahimi, Hossein

    2017-01-01

    Introduction: In recent years, the use of ceramic base zirconia is considered in dentistry for all ceramic restorations because of its chemical stability, biocompatibility, and good compressive as well as flexural strength. However, due to its chemical stability, there is a challenge with dental bonding. Several studies have been done to improve zirconia bonding but they are not reliable. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of plasma treatment on bonding strength of zirconia. Methods: In this in vitro study, 180 zirconia discs' (thickness was 0.85-0.9 mm) surfaces were processed with plasma of oxygen, argon, air and oxygen-argon combination with 90-10 and 80-20 ratio (n=30 for each group) after being polished by sandblast. Surface modifications were assessed by measuring the contact angle, surface roughness, and topographical evaluations. Cylindrical Panavia f2 resin-cement and Diafill were used for microshear strength bond measurements. The data analysis was performed by SPSS 20.0 software and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test as the post hoc. Results: Plasma treatment in all groups significantly reduces contact angle compare with control ( P =0.001). Topographic evaluations revealed coarseness promotion occurred in all plasma treated groups which was significant when compared to control ( P <0.05), except argon plasma treated group that significantly decreased surface roughness ( P <0.05). In all treated groups, microshear bond strength increased, except oxygen treated plasma group which decreased this strength. Air and argon-oxygen combination (both groups) significantly increased microshear bond strength ( P <0.05). Conclusion: According to this research, plasmatic processing with dielectric barrier method in atmospheric pressure can increase zirconia bonding strength.

  18. Alteration by prolactin of surface charge and membrane fluidity of rat 13762 mammary ascites tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Zarkower, D A; Plank, L D; Kunze, E; Keith, A; Todd, P; Hymer, W C

    1984-03-01

    Intraperitoneal injection of ovine prolactin (100 micrograms/d) in Fischer 344 rats bearing transplantable 13762 mammary ascites tumor (MAT) cells modifies the surface charge density and membrane fluidity of the tumor cells. In each of five experiments the mean electrophoretic mobility (epm) of MAT cells taken from prolactin-treated rats was significantly lower than that of cells from nonhormone-treated controls. Prolactin concentrations were increased in vivo by (a) direct intraperitoneal injection of ovine prolactin; (b) subcutaneous implantation of diethylstilbestrol-containing silastic capsules to produce pituitary prolactin secreting tumors; or (c) a single subcutaneous injection of polyestradiol phosphate, a long-acting estrogen. In an effort to establish that the prolactin effect was a direct one, two in vivo protocols were used: (a) MAT cells were coincubated with anterior pituitary halves obtained from nontumor-bearing littermates; or (b) rat or ovine prolactin was added to serum-free culture media containing MAT cells. In both protocols, the epm of the prolactin-treated cells was significantly lower. The isoelectric focusing pH of whole cells was increased by prolactin treatment from 4.93 to 5.12, consistent with a reduction in the number of surface carboxyl groups. The fluidity of membranes of treated cells was drastically increased, as measured by spin-label probe rotation rates. These combined results imply that the hormone exerts its effect by stimulating events in the cell that lead to a reduction of the average density of carboxylic acid residues on the tumor cell surface.

  19. Influence of laser surface treated on the characterization and corrosion behavior of Al-Fe aerospace alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pariona, Moisés Meza; Teleginski, Viviane; dos Santos, Kelly; de Lima, Angela A. O. C.; Zara, Alfredo J.; Micene, Katieli Tives; Riva, Rudimar

    2013-07-01

    In this research laser surface remelting without protective coating with a 2 kW Yb-fiber laser (IPG YLR-2000S) was applied in the Al-1.5 wt.%Fe alloy in order to investigate the layer treated with different techniques of superficial characterization, thereby, the technique of optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and low-angle X-ray diffraction were used. The present work mainly focuses on the corrosion study by diverse techniques in aggressive environment of the laser-treated area and the substrate material was carried out, thereby, at open circuit potential testing, the results have shown a displacement to more anodic values in the corrosion potential for the laser-treated specimen when compared to the untreated specimen; in potentiodynamic polarization tests have shown that as a result of the laser treatment, the corrosion current can be reduced by as much as ten times, and a passive region was obtained, which served as an effective barrier for reducing anodic dissolution and finally, the result in cyclic polarization curves of the untreated sample there was a greater area of the hysteresis loop, implying that it is more susceptible to corrosion. This study was complemented by other techniques mentioned above in order to elucidate this study. Laser surface remelting process has definitely modified the surface film, which results in higher corrosion resistance, a large range of passivation and a lower area of the hysteresis loop.

  20. Exploring topical anti-glaucoma medication effects on the ocular surface in the context of the current understanding of dry eye.

    PubMed

    Wong, Aaron B C; Wang, Michael T M; Liu, Kevin; Prime, Zak J; Danesh-Meyer, Helen V; Craig, Jennifer P

    2018-07-01

    To assess tear film parameters, ocular surface characteristics, and dry eye symptomology in patients receiving topical anti-glaucoma medications. Thirty-three patients with a diagnosis of open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, receiving unilateral topical anti-glaucoma medication for at least 6 months, were recruited in a cross-sectional, investigator-masked, paired-eye comparison study. Tear film parameters, ocular surface characteristics, and dry eye symptomology of treated and fellow eyes were evaluated and compared. The mean ± SD age of the participants was 67 ± 12 years, and the mean ± SD treatment duration was 5.3 ± 4.4 years. Treated eyes had poorer non-invasive tear film breakup time (p = 0.03), tear film osmolarity (p = 0.04), bulbar conjunctival hyperaemia (p = 0.04), eyelid margin abnormality grade (p = 0.01), tear meniscus height (p = 0.03), and anaesthetised Schirmer value (p = 0.04) than fellow eyes. There were no significant differences in dry eye symptomology, meibomian gland assessments, and ocular surface staining between treated and fellow eyes (all p > 0.05). Adverse changes in tear film stability, tear osmolarity, conjunctival hyperaemia, and eyelid margins were observed in treated eyes. This suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may be implicated in the development of dry eye in patients receiving long term topical anti-glaucoma therapy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. The effect of Ca/P concentration and temperature of simulated body fluid on the growth of hydroxyapatite coating on alkali-treated 316L stainless steel.

    PubMed

    Lin, Feng-Huei; Hsu, Yao-Shan; Lin, Shih-Hsun; Sun, Jui-Sheng

    2002-10-01

    316L-SS is one of the important materials both in orthopaedics and dentistry for bone screw/plate, intra-medullary rod, fixation wire, HIP joint, and knee joint. However, the biocompatibility and bone-bonding ability troubled researches for years. In the study, a simple chemical method was tried so as to establish and induce a bioactive HA layer on the surface of 316L stainless steel. When the metallic substrates treated with 10 M NaOH aqueous solution and subsequently heated at 600 degrees C, a thin sodium chromium oxide layer was formed on the surfaces as the linking layer for HA and 316L-SS. After 316L-SS treated with alkali solution, it would soak into a simulated body fluid with higher concentration of calcium and phosphorous ions to increase the possibility of nucleation of HA. However, the iron oxide and iron chromium oxides were formed on the surface when calcium and phosphorous ions increased. This resulted in loosening the HA layer. When the alkali-treated 316L-SS was soaked into SBF at a temperature of 80 degrees C, it could form a dense and uniform bone-like hydroxyapatite layer on the surface. In the research, the mechanism of the formation of sodium chromium oxide and HA would also be described by the analysis of X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersion spectrophotometer, and Fourier transformation infrared.

  2. Particle film affects black pecan aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on pecan.

    PubMed

    Cottrell, Ted E; Wood, Bruce W; Reilly, Charles C

    2002-08-01

    Three species of aphids attack pecan foliage, Carya illinoensis (Wang.) K. Koch, and cause economic damage. We tested a kaolin-based particle film against one of these aphid species, black pecan aphid, Melanocallis caryaefoliae (Davis). Effect of particle film on host selection, adult mortality, and production of nymphs by M. caryaefoliae was tested on seedling pecans in the laboratory. Fewer M. caryaefoliae adults selected treated foliage compared with untreated foliage. A higher percentage of adults that did select treated foliage were recovered from upper leaf surfaces compared with the percentage of adults recovered from upper leaf surfaces of untreated leaves. Observations with a microscope revealed an accumulation of particle film on aphid body parts, especially on tarsi, and strongly suggests that aphid mobility was restricted. Adult mortality was higher on treated foliage and led to an overall decrease in production of nymphs on those seedlings. In addition, we measured spectral properties of treated seedling pecan foliage. Light reflectance by treated foliage was increased and absorptance decreased compared with control foliage whereas transmittance of light through control and particle film-treated leaves was similar. We did not detect any phytotoxic effect on pecan due to application of particle film.

  3. Retention in Treated Wastewater Affects Survival and Deposition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in Sand Columns

    PubMed Central

    Li, Jiuyi; Zhao, Xiaokang; Tian, Xiujun; Li, Jin; Sjollema, Jelmer

    2015-01-01

    The fate and transport of pathogenic bacteria from wastewater treatment facilities in the Earth's subsurface have attracted extensive concern over recent decades, while the impact of treated-wastewater chemistry on bacterial viability and transport behavior remains unclear. The influence of retention time in effluent from a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant on the survival and deposition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains in sand columns was investigated in this paper. In comparison to the bacteria cultivated in nutrient-rich growth media, retention in treated wastewater significantly reduced the viability of all strains. Bacterial surface properties, e.g., zeta potential, hydrophobicity, and surface charges, varied dramatically in treated wastewater, though no universal trend was found for different strains. Retention in treated wastewater effluent resulted in changes in bacterial deposition in sand columns. Longer retention periods in treated wastewater decreased bacterial deposition rates for the strains evaluated and elevated the transport potential in sand columns. We suggest that the wastewater quality should be taken into account in estimating the fate of pathogenic bacteria discharged from wastewater treatment facilities and the risks they pose in the aquatic environment. PMID:25595758

  4. Influence of Operating Parameters on Surface Properties of RF Glow Discharge Oxygen Plasma Treated TiO2/PET Film for Biomedical Application

    EPA Science Inventory

    Thin transparent titania (TiO2) films were coated on the surface of flexible poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) surface using standard sol gel techniques. The TiO2/PET thin film surfaces were further modified by exposing the films to a RF glow discharge oxygen plasma. The exposu...

  5. Effects of titanium nanotubes on the osseointegration, cell differentiation, mineralisation and antibacterial properties of orthopaedic implant surfaces.

    PubMed

    Su, E P; Justin, D F; Pratt, C R; Sarin, V K; Nguyen, V S; Oh, S; Jin, S

    2018-01-01

    The development and pre-clinical evaluation of nano-texturised, biomimetic, surfaces of titanium (Ti) implants treated with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanotube arrays is reviewed. In vitro and in vivo evaluations show that TiO 2 nanotubes on Ti surfaces positively affect the osseointegration, cell differentiation, mineralisation, and anti-microbial properties. This surface treatment can be superimposed onto existing macro and micro porous Ti implants creating a surface texture that also interacts with cells at the nano level. Histology and mechanical pull-out testing of specimens in rabbits indicate that TiO 2 nanotubes improves bone bonding nine-fold (p = 0.008). The rate of mineralisation associated with TiO 2 nanotube surfaces is about three times that of non-treated Ti surfaces. In addition to improved osseointegration properties, TiO 2 nanotubes reduce the initial adhesion and colonisation of Staphylococcus epidermidis Collectively, the properties of Ti implant surfaces enhanced with TiO 2 nanotubes show great promise. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B(1 Supple A):9-16. ©2018 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.

  6. Long-term reduction in poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface hydrophobicity via cold-plasma treatments.

    PubMed

    Larson, B J; Gillmor, S D; Braun, J M; Cruz-Barba, L E; Savage, D E; Denes, F S; Lagally, M G

    2013-10-22

    Poly(dimethylsiloxane), PDMS, a versatile elastomer, is the polymer of choice for microfluidic systems. It is inexpensive, relatively easy to pattern, and permeable to oxygen. Unmodified PDMS is highly hydrophobic. It is typically exposed to an oxygen plasma to reduce this hydrophobicity. Unfortunately, the PDMS surface soon returns to its original hydrophobic state. We present two alternative plasma treatments that yield long-term modification of the wetting properties of a PDMS surface. An oxygen plasma pretreatment followed by exposure to a SiCl4 plasma and an oxygen-CCl4 mixture plasma both cause a permanent reduction in the hydrophobicity of the PDMS surface. We investigate the properties of the plasma-treated surfaces with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements. We propose that the plasma treated PDMS surface is a dynamic mosaic of high- and low-contact-angle functionalities. The SiCl4 and CCl4 plasmas attach polar groups that block coverage of the surface by low-molecular-weight groups that exist in PDMS. We describe an application that benefits from these new plasma treatments, the use of a PDMS stencil to form dense arrays of DNA on a surface.

  7. Metal-oxide assisted surface treatment of polyimide gate insulators for high-performance organic thin-film transistors.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sohee; Ha, Taewook; Yoo, Sungmi; Ka, Jae-Won; Kim, Jinsoo; Won, Jong Chan; Choi, Dong Hoon; Jang, Kwang-Suk; Kim, Yun Ho

    2017-06-14

    We developed a facile method for treating polyimide-based organic gate insulator (OGI) surfaces with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) by introducing metal-oxide interlayers, called the metal-oxide assisted SAM treatment (MAST). To create sites for surface modification with SAM materials on polyimide-based OGI (KPI) surfaces, the metal-oxide interlayer, here amorphous alumina (α-Al 2 O 3 ), was deposited on the KPI gate insulator using spin-coating via a rapid sol-gel reaction, providing an excellent template for the formation of a high-quality SAM with phosphonic acid anchor groups. The SAM of octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA) was successfully treated by spin-coating onto the α-Al 2 O 3 -deposited KPI film. After the surface treatment by ODPA/α-Al 2 O 3 , the surface energy of the KPI thin film was remarkably decreased and the molecular compatibility of the film with an organic semiconductor (OSC), 2-decyl-7-phenyl-[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (Ph-BTBT-C 10 ), was increased. Ph-BTBT-C 10 molecules were uniformly deposited on the treated gate insulator surface and grown with high crystallinity, as confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The mobility of Ph-BTBT-C 10 thin-film transistors (TFTs) was approximately doubled, from 0.56 ± 0.05 cm 2 V -1 s -1 to 1.26 ± 0.06 cm 2 V -1 s -1 , after the surface treatment. The surface treatment of α-Al 2 O 3 and ODPA significantly decreased the threshold voltage from -21.2 V to -8.3 V by reducing the trap sites in the OGI and improving the interfacial properties with the OSC. We suggest that the MAST method for OGIs can be applied to various OGI materials lacking reactive sites using SAMs. It may provide a new platform for the surface treatment of OGIs, similar to that of conventional SiO 2 gate insulators.

  8. Effect of Extreme Wettability on Platelet Adhesion on Metallic Implants: From Superhydrophilicity to Superhydrophobicity.

    PubMed

    Moradi, Sona; Hadjesfandiari, Narges; Toosi, Salma Fallah; Kizhakkedathu, Jayachandran N; Hatzikiriakos, Savvas G

    2016-07-13

    In order to design antithrombotic implants, the effect of extreme wettability (superhydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity) on the biocompatibility of the metallic substrates (stainless steel and titanium) was investigated. The wettability of the surface was altered by chemical treatments and laser ablation methods. The chemical treatments generated different functionality groups and chemical composition as evident from XPS analysis. The micro/nanopatterning by laser ablation resulted in three different pattern geometry and different surface roughness and consequently wettability. The patterned surface were further modified with chemical treatments to generate a wide range of surface wettability. The influence of chemical functional groups, pattern geometry, and surface wettability on protein adsorption and platelet adhesion was studied. On chemically treated flat surfaces, the type of hydrophilic treatment was shown to be a contributing factor that determines the platelet adhesion, since the hydrophilic oxidized substrates exhibit less platelet adhesion in comparison to the control untreated or acid treated surfaces. Also, the surface morphology, surface roughness, and superhydrophobic character of the surfaces are contributing factors to platelet adhesion on the surface. Our results show that superhydrophobic cauliflower-like patterns are highly resistant to platelet adhesion possibly due to the stability of Cassie-Baxter state for this pattern compared to others. Our results also show that simple surface treatments on metals offer a novel way to improve the hemocompatibility of metallic substrates.

  9. Remineralization of early enamel caries lesions using different bioactive elements containing toothpastes: An in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yu; Mei, Li; Gong, Lin; Li, Jialing; He, Shaowei; Ji, Yan; Sun, Weibin

    2016-09-14

    Demineralization can be arrested or reversed when remineralization agents are applied to incipient carious or non-cavitated carious lesions. A large number of therapeutic agents including non-fluoridated products have been developed to promote enamel remineralization. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of different bioactive elements containing toothpastes in remineralization of artificial enamel lesions. Artificial carious lesions were created on 40 human enamel slabs, and were randomly divided into four groups: (1) control group (no treatment), (2) casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate group (CPP-ACP, GC Tooth Mousse), (3) 8% arginine and calcium carbonate group (ACC, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief), (4) calcium sodium phosphosilicate group (CSP, NovaMin®). All samples were subjected to 15 days of pH-cycling. Subsequently, a one-hour acid resistance test was carried out. Surface hardness of the samples was assessed using the Knoop hardness test, and surface morphology and roughness were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey's test and paired t test. The three tested toothpastes exhibited a significantly higher remineralization efficacy compared with the control group (P< 0.05 for all). After pH-cycling, the specimens treated with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief and NovaMin® showed a significant higher surface hardness (P< 0.001 and P= 0.03, respectively) and lower surface roughness (P< 0.05 for both) compared those treated with GC Tooth Mousse. While after the acid resistance test, all groups showed a significant loss of surface hardness (P< 0.001 for all) and significant increase of surface roughness (P< 0.05). The specimens treated with Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief and NovaMin® still showed a significant higher surface hardness and lower surface roughness in comparison with those treated with GC Tooth Mousse (P< 0.05 for all). No significant difference was found in surface hardness and roughness between Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief and NovaMin® during the pH-cycling test and acid resistance test (P= 0.45 and P= 0.83, respectively). Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief and NovaMin® present an advantage in enhancing remineralization and inhibiting demineralization for early enamel carious lesions in comparison with GC Tooth Mousse.

  10. Effects of different preparation procedures during tooth whitening on enamel bonding.

    PubMed

    Wilson, Dustin; Xu, Changqi; Hong, Liang; Wang, Yong

    2009-04-01

    The objective of this study was to assess effects of some clinically related preparation procedures during tooth whitening on enamel bonding properties. Sixty-two extracted human teeth were cleaned and divided into four groups. Forty-two of the teeth were left with their natural surface intact while 20 teeth were polished to form a flat surface. Half of the tooth served as the experimental side and received one of the two whitening products: Opalescence (10% carbamide peroxide) and Crest Whitestrips (6.5% hydrogen peroxide), for 2 weeks. Post-bleaching intervals included: 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks. On these days, tooth (10 mm x 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm) sections were evaluated using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and tensile bond strength tests. T-test, ANOVA test, and mixed model regression analysis were used to assess the differences. No significant difference existed between natural surface and polished surface teeth for all groups at both Day One and Week Two (P > 0.05). On Day One, both treated groups had significant lower bond strength than the control group (P = 0.002). After 2 weeks, no significant difference existed between any group (P = 0.381). SEM indicated that resin-enamel interfaces in bleached enamel exhibited more defects in granular formations when compared to the control. Raman results indicated a lower degree of polymerization (DP) of adhesive at the interface for treated teeth surfaces. In summary, pre-bleaching surface treatments such as polish or non-polish, had no effect on bond strength. Bleaching significantly decreased bond strength initially, but after 2 weeks, bleaching had no significant effect on bond strength. Storage time had significant effect on Opalescence treated enamel, but not on control and Whitestrip treated enamel. The decrease of bond strength may be related to interfacial defects and low DP due to oxygen release after bleaching.

  11. Hydrophilic surface modification of coronary stent using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet for endothelialization.

    PubMed

    Shim, Jae Won; Bae, In-Ho; Park, Dae Sung; Lee, So-Youn; Jang, Eun-Jae; Lim, Kyung-Seob; Park, Jun-Kyu; Kim, Ju Han; Jeong, Myung Ho

    2018-03-01

    The first two authors contributed equally to this study. Bioactivity and cell adhesion properties are major factors for fabricating medical devices such as coronary stents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the advantages of atmospheric-pressure plasma jet in enhancing the biocompatibility and endothelial cell-favorites. The experimental objects were divided into before and after atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment with the ratio of nitrogen:argon = 3:1, which is similar to air. The treated surfaces were basically characterized by means of a contact angle analyzer for the activation property on their surfaces. The effect of atmospheric-pressure plasma jet on cellular response was examined by endothelial cell adhesion and XTT analysis. It was difficult to detect any changeable morphology after atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment on the surface. The roughness was increased after atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment compared to nonatmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment (86.781 and 7.964 nm, respectively). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the surface concentration of the C-O groups increased slightly from 6% to 8% after plasma activation. The contact angle dramatically decreased in the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treated group (22.6 ± 15.26°) compared to the nonatmospheric-pressure plasma jet treated group (72.4 ± 15.26°) ( n = 10, p < 0.05). The effect of the increment in hydrophilicity due to the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet on endothelial cell migration and proliferation was 85.2% ± 12.01% and 34.2% ± 2.68%, respectively, at 7 days, compared to the nonatmospheric-pressure plasma jet treated group (58.2% ± 11.44% in migration, n = 10, p < 0.05). Taken together, the stent surface could easily obtain a hydrophilic property by the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet method. Moreover, the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet might affect re-endothelialization after stenting.

  12. Reduction of Salmonella on chicken breast fillets stored under aerobic or modified atmosphere packaging by the application of lytic bacteriophage preparation SalmoFreshTM.

    PubMed

    Sukumaran, Anuraj T; Nannapaneni, Rama; Kiess, Aaron; Sharma, Chander Shekhar

    2016-03-01

    The present study evaluated the efficacy of recently approved Salmonella lytic bacteriophage preparation (SalmoFresh™) in reducing Salmonella on chicken breast fillets, as a surface and dip application. The effectiveness of phage in combination with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and the ability of phage preparation in reducing Salmonella on chicken breast fillets at room temperature was also evaluated. Chicken breast fillets inoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella Typhimurium, S. Heidelberg, and S. Enteritidis were treated with bacteriophage (10(9) PFU/mL) as either a dip or surface treatment. The dip-treated samples were stored at 4°C aerobically and the surface-treated samples were stored under aerobic and MAP conditions (95% CO2/5% O2) at 4°C for 7 d. Immersion of Salmonella-inoculated chicken breast fillets in bacteriophage solution reduced Salmonella (P < 0.05) by 0.7 and 0.9 log CFU/g on d 0 and d 1 of storage, respectively. Surface treatment with phage significantly (P < 0.05) reduced Salmonella by 0.8, 0.8, and 1 log CFU/g on d 0, 1, and 7 of storage, respectively, under aerobic conditions. Higher reductions in Salmonella counts were achieved on chicken breast fillets when the samples were surface treated with phage and stored under MAP conditions. The Salmonella counts were reduced by 1.2, 1.1, and 1.2 log CFU/g on d 0, 1, and 7 of storage, respectively. Bacteriophage surface application on chicken breast fillets stored at room temperature reduced the Salmonella counts by 0.8, 0.9, and 0.4 log CFU/g after 0, 4, and 8 h, respectively, compared to the untreated positive control. These findings indicate that lytic phage preparation was effective in reducing Salmonella on chicken breast fillets stored under aerobic and modified atmosphere conditions. © 2015 Poultry Science Association Inc.

  13. Mesenchymal stromal cell and osteoblast responses to oxidized titanium surfaces pre-treated with λ = 808 nm GaAlAs diode laser or chlorhexidine: in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Chellini, Flaminia; Giannelli, Marco; Tani, Alessia; Ballerini, Lara; Vallone, Larissa; Nosi, Daniele; Zecchi-Orlandini, Sandra; Sassoli, Chiara

    2017-08-01

    Preservation of implant biocompatibility following peri-implantitis treatments is a crucial issue in odontostomatological practice, being closely linked to implant re-osseointegration. Our aim was to assess the responses of osteoblast-like Saos2 cells and adult human bone marrow-mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to oxidized titanium surfaces (TiUnite ® , TiU) pre-treated with a 808 ± 10 nm GaAlAs diode laser operating in non-contact mode, in continuous (2 W, 400 J/cm 2 ; CW) or pulsed (20 kHz, 7 μs, 0.44 W, 88 J/cm 2 ; PW) wave, previously demonstrated to have a strong bactericidal effect and proposed as optional treatment for peri-implantitis. The biocompatibility of TiU surfaces pre-treated with chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) was also evaluated. In particular, in order to mimic the in vivo approach, TiU surfaces were pre-treated with CHX (0.2%, 5 min); CHX and rinse; and CHX, rinse and air drying. In some experiments, the cells were cultured on untreated TiU before being exposed to CHX. Cell viability (MTS assay), proliferation (EdU incorporation assay; Ki67 confocal immunofluorescence analysis), adhesion (morphological analysis of actin cytoskeleton organization), and osteogenic differentiation (osteopontin confocal immunofluorescence analysis; mineralized bone-like nodule formation) analyses were performed. CHX resulted cytotoxic in all experimental conditions. Diode laser irradiation preserved TiU surface biocompatibility. Notably, laser treatment appeared even to improve the known osteoconductive properties of TiU surfaces. Within the limitations of an in vitro experimentation, this study contributes to provide additional experimental basis to support the potential use of 808 ± 10 nm GaAlAs diode laser at the indicated irradiation setting, in the treatment of peri-implantitis and to discourage the use of CHX.

  14. Surface Modification of Direct-Current and Radio-Frequency Oxygen Plasma Treatments Enhance Cell Biocompatibility

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Rex C.-C.; Liu, Cheng; Yang, Chyun-Yu

    2017-01-01

    The sand-blasting and acid etching (SLA) method can fabricate a rough topography for mechanical fixation and long-term stability of titanium implant, but can not achieve early bone healing. This study used two kinds of plasma treatments (Direct-Current and Radio-Frequency plasma) to modify the SLA-treated surface. The modification of plasma treatments creates respective power range and different content functional OH groups. The results show that the plasma treatments do not change the micron scale topography, and plasma-treated specimens presented super hydrophilicity. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)-examined result showed that the functional OH content of the RF plasma-treated group was higher than the control (SLA) and DC treatment groups. The biological responses (protein adsorption, cell attachment, cell proliferation, and differentiation) promoted after plasma treatments, and the cell responses, have correlated to the total content of amphoteric OH groups. The experimental results indicated that plasma treatments can create functional OH groups on SLA-treated specimens, and the RF plasma-treated SLA implant thus has potential for achievement of bone healing in early stage of implantation. PMID:29068417

  15. Coating extracellular matrix proteins on a (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-treated glass substrate for improved cell culture.

    PubMed

    Masuda, Hiro-taka; Ishihara, Seiichiro; Harada, Ichiro; Mizutani, Takeomi; Ishikawa, Masayori; Kawabata, Kazushige; Haga, Hisashi

    2014-01-01

    We demonstrate that a (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-treated glass surface is superior to an untreated glass surface for coating with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins when used as a cell culture substrate to observe cell physiology and behavior. We found that MDCK cells cultured on untreated glass coated with ECM removed the coated ECM protein and secreted different ECM proteins. In contrast, the cells did not remove the coated ECM protein when seeded on (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-treated (i.e., silanized) glass coated with ECM. Furthermore, the morphology and motility of cells grown on silanized glass differed from those grown on non-treated glass, even when both types of glass were initially coated with laminin. We also found that cells on silanized glass coated with laminin had higher motility than those on silanized glass coated with fibronectin. Based on our results, we suggest that silanized glass is a more suitable cell culture substrate than conventional non-treated glass when coated by ECM for observations of ECM effects on cell physiology.

  16. Sulfur passivation techniques for III-V wafer bonding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jackson, Michael James

    The use of direct wafer bonding in a multijunction III-V solar cell structure requires the formation of a low resistance bonded interface with minimal thermal treatment. A wafer bonded interface behaves as two independent surfaces in close proximity, hence a major source of resistance is Fermi level pinning common in III-V surfaces. This study demonstrates the use of sulfur passivation in III-V wafer bonding to reduce the energy barrier at the interface. Two different sulfur passivation processes are addressed. A dry sulfur passivation method that utilizes elemental sulfur vapor activated by ultraviolet light in vacuum is compared with aqueous sulfide and native oxide etch treatments. Through the addition of a sulfur desorption step in vacuum, the UV-S treatment achieves bondable surfaces free of particles contamination or surface roughening. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of the sulfur treated GaAs surfaces find lower levels of oxide and the appearance of sulfide species. After 4 hrs of air exposure, the UV-S treated GaAs actually showed an increase in the amount of sulfide bonded to the semiconductor, resulting in less oxidation compared to the aqueous sulfide treatment. Large area bonding is achieved for sulfur treated GaAs / GaAs and InP / InP with bulk fracture strength achieved after annealing at 400 °C and 300 °C respectively, without large compressive forces. The electrical conductivity across a sulfur treated 400 °C bonded n-GaAs/n-GaAs interface significantly increased with a short anneal (1-2 minutes) at elevated temperatures (50--600 °C). Interfaces treated with the NH4OH oxide etch, on the other hand, exhibited only mild improvement in accordance with previously published studies in this area. TEM and STEM images revealed similar interfacial microstructure changes with annealing for both sulfur treated and NH4OH interfaces, whereby some areas have direct semiconductor-semiconductor contact without any interfacial layer. Fitting the observed temperature dependence of zero bias conductance using a model for tunneling through a grain boundary reveals that the addition of sulfur at the interface lowered the interfacial energy barrier by 0.2 eV. The interface resistance for these sulfur-treated structures is less than 0.03 O·cm 2 at room temperature. These results emphasize that sulfur passivation techniques reduce interface states that otherwise limit the implementation of wafer bonding for high efficiency solar cells and other devices.

  17. Influence of aramid fiber moisture regain during atmospheric plasma treatment on aging of treatment effects on surface wettability and bonding strength to epoxy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ren, Yu; Wang, Chunxia; Qiu, Yiping

    2007-09-01

    One of the main differences between a low-pressure plasma treatment and an atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is that in atmosphere, the substrate material may absorb significant amount of water which may potentially influence the plasma treatment effects. This paper investigates how the moisture absorbed by aramid fibers during the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment influences the aging behavior of the modified surfaces. Kevlar 49 fibers with different moisture regains (MR) (0.5, 3.5 and 5.5%, respectively) are treated with atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) with helium as the carrier gas and oxygen as the treatment gas. Surface wettability and chemical compositions, and interfacial shear strengths (IFSS) to epoxy for the aramid fibers in all groups are determined using water contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and micro-bond pull out tests, respectively. Immediately after the plasma treatment, the treated fibers have substantially lower water contact angles, higher surface oxygen and nitrogen contents, and larger IFSS to epoxy than those of the control group. At the end of 30 day aging period, the fibers treated with 5.5% moisture regain had a lower water contact angle and more polar groups on the fiber surface, leading to 75% improvement of IFSS over the control fibers, while those for the 0.5 and 3.5% moisture regain groups were only 30%.

  18. The effect of osteotomy dimension on osseointegration to resorbable media-treated implants: a study in the sheep.

    PubMed

    Galli, Silvia; Jimbo, Ryo; Tovar, Nick; Yoo, Daniel Y; Anchieta, Rodolfo B; Yamaguchi, Satoshi; Coelho, Paulo G

    2015-03-01

    The drilling technique and the surface characteristics are known to influence the healing times of oral implants. The influence of osteotomy dimension on osseointegration of microroughned implant surfaces treated with resorbable blasting media was tested in an in vivo model. Ninety-six implants (ø4.5 mm, 8 mm in length) with resorbable blasting media-treated surfaces were placed in the ileum of six sheep. The final osteotomy diameters were 4.6 mm (reamer), 4.1 mm (loose), 3.7 mm (medium), and 3.2 mm (tight). After three and six weeks of healing, the implants were biomechanically tested and histologically evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using Page L trend test for ordered and paired sample and linear regression, with significance level at p < 0.05. An overall increase in all dependent variables was observed with the reduction of osteotomy diameter. In addition, all osseointegration scores increased over time. At three weeks, the retention was significantly higher for smaller osteotomies. The histological sections depicted intimate contact of bone with all the implant surfaces and osteoblast lines were visible in all sections. The resorbable blasting media microroughed surfaces achieved successful osseointegration for all the instrumentation procedures tested, with higher osseointegration scores for the high insertion torque group. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

  19. GREEN BEAST™ OIL SPILL & ODOR REMEDIATOR

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Technical product bulletin: this surface washing agent used in oil spill cleanups works best applied at high pressure, for treating hydrocarbons on beaches, rocks, and hard surfaces. Preferably applied over 3 consecutive days on heavy spills.

  20. Cooptimization of Adhesion and Power Conversion Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells by Controlling Surface Energy of Buffer Layers.

    PubMed

    Lee, Inhwa; Noh, Jonghyeon; Lee, Jung-Yong; Kim, Taek-Soo

    2017-10-25

    Here, we demonstrate the cooptimization of the interfacial fracture energy and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of poly[N-9'-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT)-based organic solar cells (OSCs) by surface treatments of the buffer layer. The investigated surface treatments of the buffer layer simultaneously changed the crack path and interfacial fracture energy of OSCs under mechanical stress and the work function of the buffer layer. To investigate the effects of surface treatments, the work of adhesion values were calculated and matched with the experimental results based on the Owens-Wendt model. Subsequently, we fabricated OSCs on surface-treated buffer layers. In particular, ZnO layers treated with poly[(9,9-bis(3'-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) simultaneously satisfied the high mechanical reliability and PCE of OSCs by achieving high work of adhesion and optimized work function.

  1. Low-temperature direct heterogeneous bonding of polyether ether ketone and platinum.

    PubMed

    Fu, Weixin; Shigetou, Akitsu; Shoji, Shuichi; Mizuno, Jun

    2017-10-01

    Direct heterogeneous bonding between polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and Pt was realized at the temperatures lower than 150°C. In order to create sufficient bondability to diverse materials, the surface was modified by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation, which formed hydrate bridges. For comparison, direct bonding between surfaces atomically cleaned via Ar fast atom bombardment (FAB) was conducted in a vacuum. The VUV irradiation was found to be effective for creating an ultrathin hydrate bridge layer from the residual water molecules in the chamber. Tight bonds were formed through dehydration of the hydrate bridges by heating at 150°C, which also contributed to enhancing interdiffusion across the interface. The VUV-modified surfaces showed bondability as good as that of the FAB-treated surfaces, and the VUV-modified samples had shear strengths at the same level as those of FAB-treated surfaces. This technology will be of practical use in the packaging of lightweight, flexible biomedical devices. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Modelling of the mechanical behavior of a polyurethane finger interphalangeal joint endoprosthesis after surface modification by ion implantation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beliaev, A.; Svistkov, A.; Iziumov, R.; Osorgina, I.; Kondyurin, A.; Bilek, M.; McKenzie, D.

    2016-04-01

    Production of biocompatible implants made of polyurethane treated with plasma is very perspective. During plasma treatment the surface of polyurethane acquires unique physic-chemical properties. However such treatment may change the mechanical properties of polyurethane which may adversely affect the deformation behaviour of the real implant. Therefore careful study of the mechanical properties of the plasma-modified polyurethane is needed. In this paper, experimental observations of the elastic characteristics of plasma treated polyurethane and modelling of the deformation behaviour of polyurethane bio-implants are reported.

  3. Use of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale for evaluation of facial scars treated with self-drying silicone gel.

    PubMed

    Bianchi, Francesca A; Roccia, Fabio; Fiorini, Paola; Berrone, Sid

    2010-05-01

    In this prospective study, we used the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) to evaluate the outcome of the healing process of posttraumatic and surgical facial scars that were treated with self-drying silicone gel, by both the patient and the observer. In our division, the application of base cream and massage represents the standard management of facial scars after suture removal. In the current study, 15 patients (7 men and 8 women) with facial scars were treated with self-drying silicone gel that was applied without massage, and 15 patients (8 men and 7 women) were treated with base cream and massage. Both groups underwent a clinical evaluation of facial scars by POSAS at the time of suture removal (T0) and after 2 months of treatment (T1). The patient rated scar pain, itch, color, stiffness, thickness, and surface (Patient Scale), and the observer rated scar vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, and surface area (Observer Scale [OS]). The Patient Scale reported the greatest improvement in the items color, stiffness, and thickness. Itch was the only item that worsened in the group self-drying silicone gel. The OS primarily reported an improvement in the items vascularization, pigmentation, and pliability. The only item in the OS that underwent no change from T0 to T1 was surface area. The POSAS revealed satisfactory healing of posttraumatic and surgical facial scars that were treated with self-drying silicone gel.

  4. Surface Passivation of GaN Nanowires for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting.

    PubMed

    Varadhan, Purushothaman; Fu, Hui-Chun; Priante, Davide; Retamal, Jose Ramon Duran; Zhao, Chao; Ebaid, Mohamed; Ng, Tien Khee; Ajia, Idirs; Mitra, Somak; Roqan, Iman S; Ooi, Boon S; He, Jr-Hau

    2017-03-08

    Hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical water-splitting is a key source of clean and sustainable energy. The use of one-dimensional nanostructures as photoelectrodes is desirable for photoelectrochemical water-splitting applications due to the ultralarge surface areas, lateral carrier extraction schemes, and superior light-harvesting capabilities. However, the unavoidable surface states of nanostructured materials create additional charge carrier trapping centers and energy barriers at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface, which severely reduce the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. In this work, we address the issue of surface states in GaN nanowire photoelectrodes by employing a simple and low-cost surface treatment method, which utilizes an organic thiol compound (i.e., 1,2-ethanedithiol). The surface-treated photocathode showed an enhanced photocurrent density of -31 mA/cm 2 at -0.2 V versus RHE with an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of 18.3%, whereas untreated nanowires yielded only 8.1% efficiency. Furthermore, the surface passivation provides enhanced photoelectrochemical stability as surface-treated nanowires retained ∼80% of their initial photocurrent value and produced 8000 μmol of gas molecules over 55 h at acidic conditions (pH ∼ 0), whereas the untreated nanowires demonstrated only <4 h of photoelectrochemical stability. These findings shed new light on the importance of surface passivation of nanostructured photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical applications.

  5. Improving Hydrophobicity of Glass Surface Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Treatment in Atmospheric Air

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fang, Zhi; Qiu, Yuchang; Wang, Hui; E, Kuffel

    2007-10-01

    Non-thermal plasmas under atmospheric pressure are of great interest in industrial applications, especially in material surface treatment. In this paper, the treatment of a glass surface for improving hydrophobicity using the non-thermal plasma generated by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure in ambient air is conducted, and the surface properties of the glass before and after the DBD treatment are studied by using contact angle measurement, surface resistance measurement and wet flashover voltage tests. The effects of the applied voltage and time duration of DBD on the surface modification are studied, and the optimal conditions for the treatment are obtained. It is found that a layer of hydrophobic coating is formed on the glass surface after spraying a thin layer of silicone oil and undergoing the DBD treatment, and the improvement of hydrophobicity depends on DBD voltage and treating time. It seems that there exists an optimum treating time for a certain applied voltage of DBD during the surface treatment. The test results of thermal aging and chemical aging show that the hydrophobic layer has quite stable characteristics. The interaction mechanism between the DBD plasma and the glass surface is discussed. It is concluded that CH3 and large molecule radicals can react with the radicals in the glass surface to replace OH, and the hydrophobicity of the glass surface is improved accordingly.

  6. Treatment of Chlorinated Aliphatic Contamination of Groundwater by Horizontal Recirculation Wells and by Constructed Vertical Flow Wetlands

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2002-03-01

    groundwater laden with contaminants. Once the contaminated water is at the surface, it must be treated for contaminant destruction, generally by...treatment walls only work under very specific hydrogeologic conditions (relatively shallow water table, no seasonal fluctuations in groundwater flow...GCWs Elevation Schematic Water Table Contaminated Groundwater Contaminated Groundwater Treated Groundwater Treated Groundwater Reactive Porous Medium

  7. MANAGING SOURCES TO REDUCE RISK IN AND AROUND THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT: IMPACT OF COATINGS ON DISLODGEABLE ARSENIC ON THE SURFACES OF CCA-TREATED WOOD

    EPA Science Inventory

    Due to the potential for ingestion of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) by the hand-to-mouth activities of young children who contact CCA treated wood, EPA has used wipe samples to study the potential benefits of paint-like coatings on CCA treated wood. Citizens who may be concern...

  8. Hydrocortisone concentration influences time to clinically significant healing of acute inflammation of the ocular surface and adnexa - results from a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Sergiyenko, Nikolay; Sukhina, Ludmila; Bezdetko, Pavel; Kovalenko, Yuriy; Nikitin, Nikolai; Merzbacher, Matthias; Gross, Dorothea; Kohnen, Ralf

    2014-05-10

    The efficacy of topical ophthalmic corticosteroids depends upon small modifications in preparations, such as drug concentration.The aim of this study was to confirm that hydrocortisone acetate (HC-ac) ophthalmic ointments of 2.5% and 1% are more effective than a 0.5% eye ointment. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study, the change of signs and symptoms of acute inflammation of the ocular surface and adnexa was evaluated in 411 subjects. Median time to clinically relevant response as estimated by 50% reduction in clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) total score over the entire trial was similar for subjects treated with HC-ac 2.5% (73.5 h) and for subjects treated with HC-ac 1.0% (67.7 h) and was considerably and significantly longer for subjects treated with HC-ac 0.5% (111.8 h) [p < 0.001 for both dosages]. All trial medications were safe and well tolerated. Hydrocortisone acetate 2.5% and Hydrocortisone acetate 1% eye ointments are efficacious and safe treatments for acute inflammations of the ocular surface or adnexa, and showed significantly better efficacy than a control group treated with Hydrocortisone acetate 0.5% therapy. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15464650.

  9. Investigation on the effect of RF air plasma and neem leaf extract treatment on the surface modification and antimicrobial activity of cotton fabric

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vaideki, K.; Jayakumar, S.; Rajendran, R.; Thilagavathi, G.

    2008-02-01

    A thorough investigation on the antimicrobial activity of RF air plasma and azadirachtin (neem leaf extract) treated cotton fabric has been dealt with in this paper. The cotton fabric was given a RF air plasma treatment to improve its hydrophilicity. The process parameters such as electrode gap, time of exposure and RF power have been varied to study their effect in improving the hydrophilicity of the cotton fabric and they were optimized based on the static immersion test results. The neem leaf extract (azadirachtin) was applied on fabric samples to impart antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial efficacy of the samples have been analysed and compared with the efficacy of the cotton fabric treated with the antimicrobial finish alone. The investigation reveals that the RF air plasma has modified the surface of the fabric, which in turn increased the antimicrobial activity of the fabric when treated with azadirachtin. The surface modification due to RF air plasma treatment has been analysed by comparing the FTIR spectra of the untreated and plasma treated samples. The molecular interaction between the fabric, azadirachtin and citric acid which was used as a cross linking agent to increase the durability of the antimicrobial finish has also been analysed using FTIR spectra.

  10. In vitro bioactivity investigation of alkali treated Ti6Al7Nb alloy foams

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Butev, Ezgi; Esen, Ziya; Bor, Sakir

    2015-02-01

    Biocompatible Ti6Al7Nb alloy foams with 70% porosity manufactured by space holder method were activated via alkali treatment using 5 M NaOH solution at 60 °C. The interconnected pore structures enabled formation of homogenous sodium rich coating on the foam surfaces by allowing penetration of alkali solution throughout the pores which had average size of 200 μm. The resulted coating layer having 500 nm thickness exhibited porous network morphology with 100 nm pore size. On the other hand, heat treatment conducted subsequent to alkali treatment at 600 °C in air transformed sodium rich coating into crystalline bioactive sodium titanate phases. Although the coatings obtained by additional heat treatment were mechanically stable and preserved their morphology, oxidation of the samples deteriorated the compressive strength significantly without affecting the elastic modulus. However, heat treated samples revealed better hydroxyapatite formation when soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) compared to alkali treated foams. On the other hand, untreated surfaces containing bioactive TiO2 layer were observed to comprise of Ca and P rich precipitates only rather than hydroxyapatite within 15 days. The apatite formed on the treated porous surfaces was observed to have flower-like structure with Ca/P ratio around 1.5 close to that of natural bone.

  11. Surface Modification Counteracts Adverse Effects Associated with Immobilization after Flexor Tendon Repair

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Chunfeng; Sun, Yu-Long; Jay, Gregory D.; Moran, Steven L.; An, Kai-Nan; Amadio, Peter C.

    2012-01-01

    SUMMARY Although post-rehabilitation is routinely performed following flexor tendon repair, in some clinical scenarios post-rehabilitation must be delayed. We investigated modification of the tendon surface using carbodiimide derivatized hyaluronic acid and lubricin (cd-HA-Lub) to maintain gliding function following flexor tendon repair with postoperative immobilization in a in vivo canine model. Flexor digitorum profundus tendons from the 2nd and 5th digits of one forepaw of six dogs were transected and repaired. One tendon in each paw was treated with cd-HA-Lub; the other repaired tendon was not treated. Following tendon repair, a forearm cast was applied to fully immobilize the operated forelimb for 10 days, after which the animals were euthanized. Digit normalized work of flexion (nWOF) and tendon gliding resistance were assessed. The nWOF of the FDP tendons treated with cd-HA-Lub was significantly lower than the nWOF of the untreated tendons (p < 0.01). The gliding resistance of cd-HA-Lub treated tendons was also significantly lower than that of the untreated tendons (p < 0.05). Surface treatment with cd-HA-Lub following flexor tendon repair provides an opportunity to improve outcomes for patients in whom the post-operative therapy must be delayed after flexor tendon repair. PMID:22714687

  12. Belinostat in Treating Patients With Advanced Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Primary Peritoneal Cancer, or Fallopian Tube Cancer or Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-10-20

    Fallopian Tube Carcinoma; Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma; Recurrent Borderline Ovarian Surface Epithelial-Stromal Tumor; Recurrent Ovarian Carcinoma; Stage III Borderline Ovarian Surface Epithelial-Stromal Tumor; Stage III Ovarian Cancer; Stage IV Borderline Ovarian Surface Epithelial-Stromal Tumor; Stage IV Ovarian Cancer

  13. Hydroglyphics: Demonstration of Selective Wetting on Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Surfaces

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kim, Philseok; Alvarenga, Jack; Aizenberg, Joanna; Sleeper, Raymond S.

    2013-01-01

    A visual demonstration of the difference between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces has been developed. It involves placing a shadow mask on an optically clear hydrophobic plastic dish, corona treating the surface with a modified Tesla coil, removing the shadow mask, and visualizing the otherwise invisible message or pattern by applying water,…

  14. Description of the surface water filtration and ozone treatment system at the Northeast Fishery Center

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A water filtration and ozone disinfection system was installed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Northeast Fishery Center in Lamar, Pennsylvania to treat a surface water supply that is used to culture sensitive and endangered fish. The treatment system first passes the surface water through dr...

  15. Treated and Untreated foam core particleboards with intumescent veneer

    Treesearch

    Mark A. Dietenberger; Ali Shalbafan; Johannes Welling; Charles Boardman

    2013-01-01

    The effectiveness of treatments for the surface layer of novel foam core particleboards was evaluated by means of Cone calorimeter tests, Foam cote particleboards with variations of surface layer treatment, adhesives, and surface layer thicknesses under similar processing conditions were used to produce the test specimen for the Cone calorimeter tests. Ignitability,...

  16. Treatment of Silk Fibroin with Poly(ethylene glycol) for the Enhancement of Corneal Epithelial Cell Growth

    PubMed Central

    Suzuki, Shuko; Dawson, Rebecca A.; Chirila, Traian V.; Shadforth, Audra M. A.; Hogerheyde, Thomas A.; Edwards, Grant A.; Harkin, Damien G.

    2015-01-01

    A silk protein, fibroin, was isolated from the cocoons of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori) and cast into membranes to serve as freestanding templates for tissue-engineered corneal cell constructs to be used in ocular surface reconstruction. In this study, we sought to enhance the attachment and proliferation of corneal epithelial cells by increasing the permeability of the fibroin membranes and the topographic roughness of their surface. By mixing the fibroin solution with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) of molecular weight 300 Da, membranes were produced with increased permeability and with topographic patterns generated on their surface. In order to enhance their mechanical stability, some PEG-treated membranes were also crosslinked with genipin. The resulting membranes were thoroughly characterized and compared to the non-treated membranes. The PEG-treated membranes were similar in tensile strength to the non-treated ones, but their elastic modulus was higher and elongation lower, indicating enhanced rigidity. The crosslinking with genipin did not induce a significant improvement in mechanical properties. In cultures of a human-derived corneal epithelial cell line (HCE-T), the PEG treatment of the substratum did not improve the attachment of cells and it enhanced only slightly the cell proliferation in the longer term. Likewise, primary cultures of human limbal epithelial cells grew equally well on both non-treated and PEG-treated membranes, and the stratification of cultures was consistently improved in the presence of an underlying culture of irradiated 3T3 feeder cells, irrespectively of PEG-treatment. Nevertheless, the cultures grown on the PEG-treated membranes in the presence of feeder cells did display a higher nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio suggesting a more proliferative phenotype. We concluded that while the treatment with PEG had a significant effect on some structural properties of the B. mori silk fibroin (BMSF) membranes, there were minimal gains in the performance of these materials as a substratum for corneal epithelial cell growth. The reduced mechanical stability of freestanding PEG-treated membranes makes them a less viable choice than the non-treated membranes. PMID:26034883

  17. Evaluation of imidacloprid-treated traps as an attract and kill system for filth flies during contingency operations.

    PubMed

    Dunford, James C; Hoel, David F; Hertz, Jeffrey C; England, David B; Dunford, Kelly R; Stoops, Craig A; Szumlas, Daniel E; Hogsette, Jerome A

    2013-01-01

    Two field trials were conducted to evaluate if filth fly trap efficacy was increased by augmentation with an insecticide application to the trap's exterior. Four Fly Terminator Pro traps (Farnam Companies, Inc, Phoenix, AZ) baited with Terminator Fly Attractant (in water) were suspended on polyvinyl chloride pipe framing at a municipal waste transfer site in Clay County, Florida. The outer surfaces of 2 traps were treated with Maxforce Fly Spot Bait (Bayer Environmental Science, Research Triangle Park, NC) (10% imidacloprid) to compare kill rates between treated and untreated traps. Kill consisted of total flies collected from inside traps and from mesh nets suspended beneath all traps, both treated and untreated. Each of 2 treated and untreated traps was rotated through 4 trap sites every 24 hrs. In order to evaluate operational utility and conservation of supplies during remote contingency operations, fly attractant remained in traps for the duration of the first trial but was changed daily during the second trial (following manufacturer's recommendations). In addition, ½ strength Terminator Fly Attractant was used during the first trial and traps were set at full strength during the second trial. Flies collected within the traps and in mesh netting were counted and identified. Three species, Musca domestica (L.), Chrysomya megacephala (F.), and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann), comprised the majority of samples in both trials. The net samples recovered more flies when the outer surface was treated with imidacloprid, however, treated traps collected fewer flies inside the trap than did untreated traps for both trials. No significant statistical advantage was found in treating Fly Terminator Pro trap exteriors with Maxforce Fly Spot Bait. However, reducing manufacturer's recommended strength of Terminator Fly Attractant showed similar results to traps set at full strength. Treating the outer surfaces may improve kill of fly species that do not enter the trap. Terminator Fly Attractant was also found to be more effective if traps were not changed daily and left to hold dead flies for longer periods.

  18. Effect of stacking sequence and surface treatment on the thermal conductivity of multilayered hybrid nano-composites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Papanicolaou, G. C.; Pappa, E. J.; Portan, D. V.; Kotrotsos, A.; Kollia, E.

    2018-02-01

    The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of both the stacking sequence and surface treatment on the thermal conductivity of multilayered hybrid nano-composites. Four types of multilayered hybrid nanocomposites were manufactured and tested: Nitinol- CNTs (carbon nanotubes)- Acrylic resin; Nitinol- Acrylic resin- CNTs; Surface treated Nitinol- CNTs- Acrylic resin and Surface treated Nitinol- Acrylic resin- CNTs. Surface treatment of Nitinol plies was realized by means of the electrochemical anodization. Surface topography of the anodized nitinol sheets was investigated through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was found that the overall thermal response of the manufactured multilayered nano-composites was greatly influenced by both the anodization and the stacking sequence. A theoretical model for the prediction of the overall thermal conductivity has been developed considering the nature of the different layers, their stacking sequence as well as the interfacial thermal resistance. Thermal conductivity and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements were conducted, to verify the predicted by the model overall thermal conductivities. In all cases, a good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results was found.

  19. Surface chemical structure of poly(ethylene naphthalate) films during degradation in low-pressure high-frequency plasma treatments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kamata, Noritsugu; Yuji, Toshifumi; Thungsuk, Nuttee; Arunrungrusmi, Somchai; Chansri, Pakpoom; Kinoshita, Hiroyuki; Mungkung, Narong

    2018-06-01

    The surface chemical structure of poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) films treated with a low-pressure, high-frequency plasma was investigated by storing in a box at room temperature to protect the PEN film surface from dust. The functional groups on the PEN film surface changed over time. The functional groups of –C=O, –COH, and –COOH were abundant in the Ar + O2 mixture gas plasma-treated PEN samples as compared with those in untreated PEN samples. The changes occurred rapidly after 2 d following the plasma treatment, reaching steady states 8 d after the treatment. Hydrophobicity had an inverse relationship with the concentration of these functional groups on the surface. Thus, the effect of the low-pressure high-frequency plasma treatment on PEN varies as a function of storage time. This means that radical oxygen and oxygen molecules are clearly generated in the plasma, and this is one index to confirm that radical reaction has definitely occurred between the gas and the PEN film surface with a low-pressure high-frequency plasma.

  20. Enhanced Cyanate Ester Nanocomposites through Improved Nanoparticle Surface Interactions

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-05-01

    and a chemically active 3- aminopropyl surface. The cure behavior and thermal properties of the cyanate ester/modified silica nanocomposites were...area of 150 m 2 /g. Nanoparticles with a chemically active 3- aminopropyl surface were prepared by treating Aerosil 200 particles with 3...however, was visibly observed to severely undercure the nanocomposites with octyl and 3- aminopropyl surface moieties, providing a good initial

  1. Surface characterization of pretreated and microbial-treated populus cross-sections

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tolbert, Allison K.

    The first objective of this thesis is to illustrate the advantages of surface characterization in biomass utilization studies. The second objective is to gain insight into the workings of potential consolidated bioprocessing microorganisms on the surface of poplar samples. The third objective is to determine the impact biomass recalcitrance has on enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation in relation to the surface chemistry.

  2. Construction of Hydrophobic Wood Surface and Mechanical Property of Wood Cell Wall on Nanoscale Modified by Dimethyldichlorosilane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Rui; Wang, Siqun; Zhou, Dingguo; Zhang, Jie; Lan, Ping; Jia, Chong

    2018-01-01

    Dimethyldichlorosilane was used to improve the hydrophobicity of wood surface. The water contact angle of the treated wood surface increased from 85° to 143°, which indicated increased hydrophobicity. The nanomechanical properties of the wood cell wall were evaluated using a nanoindentation test to analyse the hydrophobic mechanism on the nano scale. The elastic modulus of the cell wall was significantly affected by the concentration but the influence of treatment time is insignificant. The hardness of the cell wall for treated samples was significantly affected by both treatment time and concentration. The interaction between treatment time and concentration was extremely significant for the elastic modulus of the wood cell wall.

  3. In vitro assessment of 3 dentifrices containing fluoride in preventing demineralization of overdenture abutments and root surfaces.

    PubMed

    Goettsche, Zachary S; Ettinger, Ronald L; Wefel, James S; Hogan, Mary M; Harless, Jeffery D; Qian, Fang

    2014-11-01

    Caries development under overdentures has been a continuing problem and requires the daily use of fluoride to prevent demineralization. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the effectiveness of dentifrices containing tricalcium phosphate or calcium phosphosilicate in combination with fluoride to prevent the demineralization of overdenture abutments and root surfaces. A total of 56 caries-free extracted teeth were prepared as overdenture abutments. The teeth were painted with acid-resistant varnish, leaving one 1×4-mm window on occlusal and root surfaces. The teeth were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group treated with distilled/deionized water only, a group treated with ClinPro 5000, a group treated with ReNew, and a group treated with Prevident 5000 gel. Each tooth was subjected to a demineralizing/remineralizing cycling protocol for 12 days with the appropriate treatment products. The teeth were sectioned longitudinally through both windows. Photomicrographs were made of 3 representative sections from each tooth. A representative section was defined as one that included both windows and was cut from the part of the tooth that had the flattest surface to reduce the edge effect. The depths of the lesions were measured on representative sections from each group. A 1-way MANOVA and a 1-way ANOVA with the post hoc Tukey-Kramer test were used to evaluate the treatment effects on the criterion variables (α=.05). The total lesion depths of the control teeth on the occlusal surface were not statistically significantly deeper than for the 3 dentifrices (P=.7705). However, all 3 dentifrices had narrower cavitation depths than the control (mean cavitation band depth, 43.59 [ReNew] versus 37.99 [Prevident 5000 gel] versus 36.70 [ClinPro 5000] versus 246.86 [control]) (P<.001). The mean remineralization band depth for ClinPro 5000 was significantly greater than for the other 2 treatment groups (118.03 [ClinPro 5000] versus 107.80 [ReNew] versus 102.28 [Prevident 5000 gel]) (P<.001). On root surfaces, the total lesion depth for the control group was statistically significantly deeper than for the 3 dentifrices (mean total lesion depth, 150.31 [control] versus 82.05 [ReNew] versus 68.10 [ClinPro 5000] versus 56.97 [Prevident 5000 gel]) (P<.001). The data indicated that teeth treated with Prevident 5000 gel had the shallowest total lesion depth and were statistically significantly different from those treated with ReNew and ClinPro 5000. Moreover, teeth treated with ReNew were found to have the largest remineralization band depth, which was statistically significantly different compared with ClinPro 5000 and Prevident 5000 gel (mean remineralization band depth, 49.66 [ReNew] versus 36.14 [ClinPro 5000] versus 23.27 [Prevident 5000 gel]) (P<.001), but no difference was found in cavitation depth of the root lesions between the 3 dentifrices. The addition of tricalcium phosphate or calcium phosphosilicate to fluoride-containing dentifrices (5000 ppm) does not significantly improve their ability to prevent demineralization of the cut dentin surface of overdenture abutments. However, on root surfaces, ReNew, which contains calcium phosphosilicate, was found to improve remineralization of the lesions compared with Prevident 5000 gel or ClinPro 5000. Copyright © 2014 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Enhanced adhesion of osteoblastic cells on polystyrene films by independent control of surface topography and wettability.

    PubMed

    Yang, Seung Yun; Kim, Eung-Sam; Jeon, Gumhye; Choi, Kwan Yong; Kim, Jin Kon

    2013-04-01

    We independently controlled surface topography and wettability of polystyrene (PS) films by CF4 and oxygen plasma treatments, respectively, to evaluate the adhesion and proliferation of human fetal osteoblastic (hFOB) cells on the films. Among the CF4 plasma-treated PS films with the average surface roughness ranging from 0.9 to 70 nm, the highest adhesion of hFOB cells was observed on a PS film with roughness of ~11 nm. When this film was additionally treated by oxygen plasma to provide a hydrophilic surface with a contact angle less than 10°, the proliferation of bone-forming cell was further enhanced. Thus, the plasma-based independent modification of PS film into an optimum nanotexture for human osteoblast cells could be appplied to materials used in bone tissue engineering. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Morphology of Er:YAG-laser-treated root surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Keller, Ulrich; Stock, Karl; Hibst, Raimund

    1997-12-01

    From previous studies it could be demonstrated that an efficient ablation of dental calculus is possible using an Er:YAG laser with a special contact fiber tip. After improving of the design and the efficiency of light transmission of the contact tip laser treated tooth root surfaces were investigated due to morphological changes in comparison to conventional root scaling and planing. Surface modifications were observed histologically under the light microscope and by means of a Scanning Electron Microscope. During laser treatment the intrapulpal temperature increase was measured. The results show that the improved contact tip a microstructured surface can be generated, which shows no signs of thermal effects even when a laser pulse repetition rate of 15 Hz was used. Temperature increase was limited to 4 K at a repetition rate of 10 Hz and to 5.5 K at a repetition rate of 15 Hz.

  6. Comparison of titanium soaked in 5 M NaOH or 5 M KOH solutions

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Christina; Kendall, Matthew R.; Miller, Matthew A.; Long, Courtney L.; Larson, Preston R.; Humphrey, Mary Beth; Madden, Andrew S.; Tas, A. Cuneyt

    2012-01-01

    Commercially pure titanium plates/coupons and pure titanium powders were soaked for 24 h in 5 M NaOH and 5 M KOH solutions, under identical conditions, over the temperature range of 37° to 90°C. Wettability of the surfaces of alkali-treated cpTi coupons were studied by using contact angle goniometry. cpTi coupons soaked in 5 M NaOH or 5 M KOH solutions were found to have hydrophilic surfaces. Hydrous alkali titanate nanofibers and nanotubes were identified with SEM/EDXS and grazing incidence XRD. Surface areas of Ti powders increased >50–220 times, depending on the treatment, when soaked in the above solutions. A solution was developed to coat amorphous calcium phosphate, instead of hydroxyapatite, on Ti coupon surfaces. In vitro cell culture tests were performed with osteoblast-like cells on the alkali-treated samples. PMID:23565038

  7. Improved cell viability and hydroxyapatite growth on nitrogen ion-implanted surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shafique, Muhammad Ahsan; Murtaza, G.; Saadat, Shahzad; Uddin, Muhammad K. H.; Ahmad, Riaz

    2017-08-01

    Stainless steel 306 is implanted with various doses of nitrogen ions using a 2 MV pelletron accelerator for the improvement of its surface biomedical properties. Raman spectroscopy reveals incubation of hydroxyapatite (HA) on all the samples and it is found that the growth of incubated HA is greater in higher ion dose samples. SEM profiles depict uniform growth and greater spread of HA with higher ion implantation. Human oral fibroblast response is also found consistent with Raman spectroscopy and SEM results; the cell viability is found maximum in samples treated with the highest (more than 300%) dose. XRD profiles signified greater peak intensity of HA with ion implantation; a contact angle study revealed hydrophilic behavior of all the samples but the treated samples were found to be lesser hydrophilic compared to the control samples. Nitrogen implantation yields greater bioactivity, improved surface affinity for HA incubation and improved hardness of the surface.

  8. Engineered Multifunctional Surfaces for Fluid Handling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thomas, Chris; Ma, Yonghui; Weislogel, Mark

    2012-01-01

    Designs incorporating variations in capillary geometry and hydrophilic and/or antibacterial surface properties have been developed that are capable of passive gas/liquid separation and passive water flow. These designs can incorporate capillary grooves and/or surfaces arranged to create linear and circumferential capillary geometry at the micro and macro scale, radial fin configurations, micro holes and patterns, and combinations of the above. The antibacterial property of this design inhibits the growth of bacteria or the development of biofilm. The hydrophilic property reduces the water contact angle with a treated substrate such that water spreads into a thin layer atop the treated surface. These antibacterial and hydrophilic properties applied to a thermally conductive surface, combined with capillary geometry, create a novel heat exchanger capable of condensing water from a humid, two-phase water and gas flow onto the treated heat exchanger surfaces, and passively separating the condensed water from the gas flow in a reduced gravity application. The overall process to generate the antibacterial and hydrophilic properties includes multiple steps to generate the two different surface properties, and can be divided into two major steps. Step 1 uses a magnetron-based sputtering technique to implant the silver atoms into the base material. A layer of silver is built up on top of the base material. Completion of this step provides the antibacterial property. Step 2 uses a cold-plasma technique to generate the hydrophilic surface property on top of the silver layer generated in Step 1. Completion of this step provides the hydrophilic property in addition to the antibacterial property. Thermally conductive materials are fabricated and then treated to create the antibacterial and hydrophilic surface properties. The individual parts are assembled to create a condensing heat exchanger with antibacterial and hydrophilic surface properties and capillary geometry, which is capable of passive phase separation in a reduced gravity application. The plasma processes for creating antibacterial and hydrophilic surface properties are suitable for applications where water is present on an exposed surface for an extended time, such that bacteria or biofilms could form, and where there is a need to manage the water on the surface. The processes are also suitable for applications where only the hydrophilic property is needed. In particular, the processes are applicable to condensing heat exchangers (CHXs), which benefit from the antibacterial properties as well as the hydrophilic properties. Water condensing onto the control surfaces of the CHX will provide the moist conditions necessary for the growth of bacteria and the formation of biofilms. The antibacterial properties of the base layer (silver) will mitigate and prevent the growth of bacteria and formation of biofilms that would otherwise reduce the CHX performance. In addition, the hydrophilic properties reduce the water contact angle and prevent water droplets from bridging between control surfaces. Overall, the hydrophilic properties reduce the pressure drop across the CHX.

  9. Repair of osteochondral defects with hyaluronan- and polyester-based scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Solchaga, Luis A; Temenoff, Johnna S; Gao, Jizong; Mikos, Antonios G; Caplan, Arnold I; Goldberg, Victor M

    2005-04-01

    The natural repair of osteochondral defects can be enhanced with biocompatible, biodegradable materials that support the repair process. It is our hypothesis that hyaluronan-based scaffolds are superior to synthetic scaffolds because they provide biological cues. We tested this thesis by comparing two hyaluronan-based scaffolds [auto cross-linked polysaccharide polymer (ACP) and HYAFF-11] to polyester-based scaffolds [poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA)] with similar pore size, porosity and degradation times. Fifty-four rabbits received bilateral osteochondral defects. One defect received a hyaluronan-based scaffold and the contralateral defect received the corresponding polyester-based scaffold. Rabbits were euthanized 4, 12 and 20 weeks after surgery and the condyles dissected and processed for histology. Only ACP-treated defects presented bone at the base of the defect at 4 weeks. At 12 weeks, only defects treated with rapidly dissolving implants (ACP and PLGA) presented bone reconstitution consistently, while bone was present in only one third of those treated with slowly dissolving scaffolds (HYAFF-11 and PLLA). After 20 weeks, the articular surface of PLGA-treated defects presented fibrillation more frequently than in ACP-treated defects. The surface of defects treated with slowly dissolving scaffolds presented more cracks and fissures. The degradation rate of the scaffolds is critical for the repair process. Slowly dissolving scaffolds sustain thicker cartilage at the surface but, it frequently presents cracks and discontinuities. These scaffolds also delay bone formation at the base of the defects. Hyaluronan-based scaffolds appear to allow faster cell infiltration leading to faster tissue formation. The degradation of ACP leads to rapid bone formation while the slow degradation of HYAFF-11 prolongs the presence of cartilage and delays endochondral bone formation.

  10. Comparison of the effects of the CO2 laser and chlorohexidine on the sterilization of infected cutaneous wounds: a histologic study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pinheiro, Antonio L. B.; das Neves, Jerlucia C.; de Castro, Jurema F. L.; Santos, Jose Z. L. V.; Ribeiro de Sena, Kesia X. d. F.; Brugnera, Aldo, Jr.; Zanin, Fatima A. A.

    2001-04-01

    Wound infection constitutes a big risk for patients and it is usually associated to increased morbidity, mortality and hospital costs. It is accepted that local treatment of these infections is effective. The aim of this study was to compare histologically the effects of the CO2 laser and Chlorohexidine Gluconate on Staphylococcus aureus infected cutaneous wounds. Standardized wounds were infected with Staphylococcus aureus and treated during six days as follows: Group I: Chlorohexidine Gluconate, 1 min, six days; Group II: CO2 Laser, one day, maintaining surface debris; Group III: CO2 Laser, one day, removing the surface debris. Seven days after wounding the animals were killed and specimens taken for light microscopy. On control wounds, it was observed epithelial ulceration, and neutrophylic and lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate. On group II, there was epithelial hyperplasia, areas of ulceration and intense neutrophylic and lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate. On the other hand, on group III, there was a neutrophylic inflammatory infiltrate underneath the surface debris and below that intense lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate. When the surface debris was removed, there was epithelial ulceration and mild lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate and fibroblasts and collagen fibers. The result of this study shows that infected wounds treated with 4 percent Chlorohexidine shows a more pronounced inflammatory reaction when compared to that observed when the CO2 Laser is used, especially when surface debris are removed; Surface debris removal on Laser treated wounds results ona better and quicker healing; the surface debris may act as a culture medium for bacterial growth, or because of its characteristics, it may act as local irritant and delay healing.

  11. Preparation and surface characterization of plasma-treated and biomolecular-micropatterned polymer substrates

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Langowski, Bryan Alfred

    A micropatterning process creates distinct microscale domains on substrate surfaces that differ from the surfaces' original chemical/physical properties. Numerous micropatterning methods exist, each having relative advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, ease, reproducibility, and versatility. Polymeric surfaces micropatterned with biomolecules have many applications, but are specifically utilized in tissue engineering as cell scaffolds that attempt to controlled tissue generation in vivo and ex vivo. As the physical and chemical cues presented by micropatterned substrates control resulting cellular behavior, characterization of these cues via surface-sensitive analytical techniques is essential in developing cell scaffolds that mimic complex in vivo physicochemical environments. The initial focus of this thesis is the chemical and physical characterization of plasma-treated, microcontact-printed (muCP) polymeric substrates used to direct nerve cell behavior. Unmodified and oxygen plasma-treated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates were analyzed by surface sensitive techniques to monitor plasma-induced chemical and physical modifications. Additionally, protein-micropattern homogeneity and size were microscopically evaluated. Lastly, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamps and contaminated PMMA substrates were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods to identify a contamination source during microcontact printing. The final focus of this thesis is the development of microscale plasma-initiated patterning (muPIP) as a versatile, reproducible micropatterning method. Using muPIP, polymeric substrates were micropatterned with several biologically relevant inks. Polymeric substrates were characterized following muPIP by surface-sensitive techniques to identify the technique's underlying physical and chemical bases. In addition, neural stem cell response to muPIP-generated laminin micropatterns was microscopically and biologically evaluated. Finally, enhanced versatility of muPIP in generating microscale poly-L-lysine gradients was demonstrated.

  12. Shear Bond Strength of Al2O3 Sandblasted Y-TZP Ceramic to the Orthodontic Metal Bracket

    PubMed Central

    Byeon, Seon Mi; Lee, Min Ho; Bae, Tae Sung

    2017-01-01

    As the proportion of adult orthodontic treatment increases, mainly for aesthetic reasons, orthodontic brackets are directly attached to yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) restorations. This, study analyzed the shear bond strength (SBS) between various surface treated Y-TZP and orthodontic metal brackets. The Y-TZP specimens were conditioned by 110 μm Al2O3 sandblasting, or sandblasting followed by coating with one of the primers (silane, MDP, or an MDP-containing silane primer). After surface treatment, the orthodontic metal bracket was bonded to the specimen using a resin cement, and then 24 h storage in water and thermal cycling (5000 cycles, 5–55 °C), SBS was measured. Surface roughness was analyzed for surface morphology, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed for characterization of the chemical bond between the Y-TZP and the MDP-based primers (MDP, MDP containing silane primer). It was found that after surface treatment, the surface roughness of all groups increased. The groups treated with 110 μm Al2O3 sandblasting and MDP, or MDP-containing silane primer showed the highest SBS values, at 11.92 ± 1.51 MPa and 13.36 ± 2.31 MPa, respectively. The SBS values significantly decreased in all the groups after thermal cycling. Results from XPS analysis demonstrated the presence of chemical bonds between Y-TZP and MDP. Thus, the application of MDP-based primers after Al2O3 sandblasting enhances the resin bond strength between Y-TZP and the orthodontic metal bracket. However, bonding durability of all the surface-treated groups decreased after thermal cycling. PMID:28772508

  13. Plasma-Treated Microplates with Enhanced Protein Recoveries and Minimized Extractables

    PubMed Central

    Weikart, Christopher M.; Klibanov, Alexander M.; Breeland, Adam P.; Taha, Ahmad H.; Maurer, Brian R.; Martin, Steven P.

    2016-01-01

    SiO2 Medical Products, Inc. (SiO) has developed a proprietary technology that greatly enhances protein recoveries and reduces extractables from commercial microplates used for bioanalytical assays and storage of biologics. SiO technology is based on plasma treatment that chemically modifies the surface of polypropylene with predominantly hydrogen-bond-acceptor uncharged polar groups. The resultant surface resists nonspecific protein adsorption over a wide range of protein concentrations, thereby eliminating the need to passivate (and hence potentially contaminate) the microplates with blocking proteins. High shelf-life stability and cleanliness of the plasma-treated microplates have been demonstrated using five different proteins for two common microplate formats. The protein recovery performance of plasma-treated microplates is found to be higher compared with commercial low-protein-binding microplates. PMID:27651466

  14. Aquatic Plant/microbial Filters for Treating Septic Tank Effluent

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wolverton, B. C.

    1988-01-01

    The use of natural biological processes for treating many types of wastewater have been developed by NASA at the John C. Stennis Space Center, NSTL, Mississippi, during the past 15 years. The simplest form of this technology involves the use of aquatic plant/marsh filters for treatment of septic tank effluent. Septic tank effluent from single home units can be treated to advanced secondary levels and beyond by using a 37.2 sq m (400 sq ft) surface area washed gravel filter. This filter is generally 0.3 m (1 ft) deep with a surface cover of approximately 0.15 m (6 in.) of gravel. The plants in this filter are usually aesthetic or ornamental such as calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), canna lily (Canna flaccida), elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta), and water iris (Iris pseudacorus).

  15. Molecular Beam-Thermal Desorption Spectrometry (MB-TDS) Monitoring of Hydrogen Desorbed from Storage Fuel Cell Anodes.

    PubMed

    Lobo, Rui F M; Santos, Diogo M F; Sequeira, Cesar A C; Ribeiro, Jorge H F

    2012-02-06

    Different types of experimental studies are performed using the hydrogen storage alloy (HSA) MlNi 3.6 Co 0.85 Al 0.3 Mn 0.3 (Ml: La-rich mischmetal), chemically surface treated, as the anode active material for application in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The recently developed molecular beam-thermal desorption spectrometry (MB-TDS) technique is here reported for detecting the electrochemical hydrogen uptake and release by the treated HSA. The MB-TDS allows an accurate determination of the hydrogen mass absorbed into the hydrogen storage alloy (HSA), and has significant advantages in comparison with the conventional TDS method. Experimental data has revealed that the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using such chemically treated alloy presents an enhanced surface capability for hydrogen adsorption.

  16. Biocompatibility of the micro-patterned NiTi surface produced by femtosecond laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Chunyong; Wang, Hongshui; Yang, Jianjun; Li, Baoe; Yang, Yang; Li, Haipeng

    2012-11-01

    Biocompatibility of the micro-patterned NiTi surface produced by femtosecond laser (FSL) was studied in this work. The surface characteristics of the laser treated NiTi alloys were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atom force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). The biocompatibility was evaluated by in vitro cell culture test. The results showed that, grooves, ripples, which covered by nanoparticles were formed on the sample surfaces, and the Ni/Ti ratio on the alloy surface increased with increasing laser energy. The crystal structure was not changed by laser treatment. However, the cell culture test proved that the micro-patterns induced by FSL were beneficial to improve the biocompatibility of NiTi alloys: the growth of osteoblasts oriented along the grooves, a large amount of synapses and filopodias were formed due to the ripples, holes and nanoparticles on the alloy surface, and the proliferation rate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content of cells were increased after FSL treatment. However, due to the toxicity of Ni ions on cell growth, the NiTi alloy surface should not be treated by laser fluence of more than 3.82 J/cm2 to obtain the ideal biocompatibility.

  17. (Super)hydrophobic coating of orthodontic dental devices and reduction of early oral biofilm retention.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Adauê S; Kaizer, Marina R; Azevedo, Marina S; Ogliari, Fabrício A; Cenci, Maximiliano S; Moraes, Rafael R

    2015-11-03

    This study was designed to apply (super)hydrophobic crosslinked coatings by means of a sol-gel process on the surface of orthodontic devices and investigate the potential effect of these coatings in reducing the early retention of oral biofilm. Two organosilane-based hydrophobic solutions (HSs) were prepared containing hexadecyltrimethoxysilane diluted in ethanol (HS1) or 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (HS2). Stainless steel plates and ceramic discs were coated with HS1 or HS2 and heated at 150 °C for 2 h for condensation of a crosslinked SiO x network. Organosilane coatings were applied after previous, or no, surface sandblasting. Commercial stainless steel and ceramic brackets were used to evaluate oral biofilm retention after 12 h or 24 h of biofilm growth, using a microcosm model with human saliva as the inoculum. Surface roughness analysis (Ra, μm) indicated that sandblasting associated with organosilane coatings increased roughness for stainless steel brackets only. Analysis of the water contact angle showed that the stainless steel surface treated with HS1 was hydrophobic (~123°), while the ceramic surface treated with HS2 was superhydrophobic (~155°). Biofilm retention after 24 h was significantly lower in groups treated with hydrophobic coatings. An exponential reduction in biofilm accumulation was associated with increased water contact angle for both stainless steel and ceramic at 24 h. Application of (super)hydrophobic coatings on the surface of stainless steel and ceramic orthodontic devices might reduce the retention of oral biofilm.

  18. Inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus casei on Candida biofilm of denture surface.

    PubMed

    Song, Young-Gyun; Lee, Sung-Hoon

    2017-04-01

    Candida albicans biofilm is associated with denture-related stomatitis and oral candidiasis of elderly. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and have antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of various probiotics against C. albicans and the inhibitory effects of probiotics on Candida biofilm on the denture surface. The spent culture media of various probiotics were investigated the antifungal efficacy against C. albicans. Candida biofilm was formed on a denture base resin and was then treated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus casei. Also, the biofilms of L. rhamnosus and L. casei were formed and were sequentially treated with C. albicans. Colony-forming units of C. albicans on the denture surface were counted after spreading on agar plate. The denture base resin was treated with the spent culture media for 30days, after which the denture surface roughness was analyzed with an atomic force microscope. L. rhamnosus and L. casei exhibited stronger antifungal activity than other probiotics. The spent culture medium of L. rhamnosus and L. casei exhibited the antifungal activity against blastoconidia and biofilm of C. albicans. L. rhamnosus and L. casei showed the antifungal activity against Candida biofilm, and the biofilm of L. rhamnosus and L. casei inhibited formation of Candida biofilm on denture surface. Neither of the probiotics affected the surface roughness of the denture base resin. L. rhamnosus and L. casei may be the ideal probiotics for the prevention and treatment of denture-related stomatitis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Evaluation of PBS Treatment and PEI Coating Effects on Surface Morphology and Cellular Response of 3D-Printed Alginate Scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Mendoza García, María A; Izadifar, Mohammad; Chen, Xiongbiao

    2017-11-01

    Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging technology for the fabrication of scaffolds to repair/replace damaged tissue/organs in tissue engineering. This paper presents our study on 3D printed alginate scaffolds treated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating and their impacts on the surface morphology and cellular response of the printed scaffolds. In our study, sterile alginate was prepared by means of the freeze-drying method and then, used to prepare the hydrogel for 3D printing into calcium chloride, forming 3D scaffolds. Scaffolds were treated with PBS for a time period of two days and seven days, respectively, and PEI coating; then they were seeded with Schwann cells (RSC96) for the examination of cellular response (proliferation and differentiation). In addition, swelling and stiffness (Young's modulus) of the treated scaffolds was evaluated, while their surface morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images revealed significant changes in scaffold surface morphology due to degradation caused by the PBS treatment over time. Our cell proliferation assessment over seven days showed that a two-day PBS treatment could be more effective than seven-day PBS treatment for improving cell attachment and elongation. While PEI coating of alginate scaffolds seemed to contribute to cell growth, Schwann cells stayed round on the surface of alginate over the period of cell culture. In conclusion, PBS-treatment may offer the potential to induce surface physical cues due to degradation of alginate, which could improve cell attachment post cell-seeding of 3D-printed alginate scaffolds.

  20. A comparison of the surface characteristics and ion release of Ti6Al4V and heat-treated Ti6Al4V.

    PubMed

    Lee, T M; Chang, E; Yang, C Y

    2000-06-15

    This work seeks to investigate the nanosurface characteristics and ion release for a Ti6Al4V alloy prepared by various methods (as received and heat treated at 1300 degrees C for 2 h) with three different passivation treatments (34% nitric acid passivation, 400 degrees C heating in air, and aging in 100 degrees C deionized water). The surface and nanosurface composition are not related to the surface passivation treatments and experimental materials as evaluated by energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. After passivation and autoclaving treatments, the specimens were immersed in 8.0 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in Hank's solution and maintained at 37 degrees C for periods of time up to 16 days. The 400 degrees C treated specimens exhibit a substantial reduction in constituent release, which may be attributed to the thicker thickness and rutile structure of the surface oxides. After soaking in Hank's-EDTA solution, a significant time-related decrease in constituent release rate is observed for all kinds of specimens throughout the 0-16 day experimental period. The thicker oxides may be a factor in the improved dissolution resistance. Upon immersion, nonelemental Ca and P are both detected on the surfaces of all kinds of specimens by XPS analysis, and this could be explained by the existence of two types of hydroxyl groups (acidic and basic OH groups) on the oxide surface of the specimens. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  1. Silver deposition on titanium surface by electrochemical anodizing process reduces bacterial adhesion of Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacillus salivarius.

    PubMed

    Godoy-Gallardo, Maria; Rodríguez-Hernández, Ana G; Delgado, Luis M; Manero, José M; Javier Gil, F; Rodríguez, Daniel

    2015-10-01

    The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial properties of silver-doped titanium surfaces prepared with a novel electrochemical anodizing process. Titanium samples were anodized with a pulsed process in a solution of silver nitrate and sodium thiosulphate at room temperature with stirring. Samples were processed with different electrolyte concentrations and treatment cycles to improve silver deposition. Physicochemical properties were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, white-light interferometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Cellular cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts was studied with lactate dehydrogenase assays. The in vitro effect of treated surfaces on two oral bacteria strains (Streptococcus sanguinis and Lactobacillus salivarius) was studied with viable bacterial adhesion measurements and growth curve assays. Nonparametric statistical Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for multiple and paired comparisons, respectively. Post hoc Spearman's correlation tests were calculated to check the dependence between bacteria adhesion and surface properties. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of silver on treated samples and showed that treatments with higher silver nitrate concentration and more cycles increased the silver deposition on titanium surface. No negative effects in fibroblast cell viability were detected and a significant reduction on bacterial adhesion in vitro was achieved in silver-treated samples compared with control titanium. Silver deposition on titanium with a novel electrochemical anodizing process produced surfaces with significant antibacterial properties in vitro without negative effects on cell viability. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  2. STIR Proposal For Research Area 2.1.2 Surface Energy Balance: Transient Soil Density Impacts Land Surface Characteristics and Characterization

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-22

    not shown). The relatively small differences were likely associated with differences in surface albedo and longwave radiation from soil surface. Ground...SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: Soil density is commonly treated as static in studies on land surface property dynamics. Magnitudes of errors associated...with this assumption are largely unknown. Objectives of this preliminary investigation were to: i) quantify effects of soil density variation on soil

  3. Polyelectrolyte Multilayer-Treated Electrodes for Real-Time Electronic Sensing of Cell Proliferation

    PubMed Central

    Mijares, Geraldine I.; Reyes, Darwin R.; Geist, Jon; Gaitan, Michael; Polk, Brian J.; DeVoe, Don L.

    2010-01-01

    We report on the use of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings as a non-biological surface preparation to facilitate uniform cell attachment and growth on patterned thin-film gold (Au) electrodes on glass for impedance-based measurements. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are commonly utilized as cell adhesion promoters for electrodes; however, they exhibit degradation over time, thereby imposing limitations on the duration of conductance-based biosensor experiments. The motivation for the use of PEM coatings arises from their long-term surface stability as promoters for cell attachment, patterning, and culture. In this work, a cell proliferation monitoring device was fabricated. It consisted of thin-film Au electrodes deposited with a titanium-tungsten (TiW) adhesion layer that were patterned on a glass substrate and passivated to create active electrode areas. The electrode surfaces were then treated with a poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) anchoring layer and subsequent bilayers of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). NIH-3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells were cultured on the device, observed by optical microscopy, and showed uniform growth characteristics similar to those observed on a traditional polystyrene cell culture dish. The optical observations were correlated to electrical measurements on the PEM-treated electrodes, which exhibited a rise in impedance with cell proliferation and stabilized to an approximate 15 % increase as the culture approached confluency. In conclusion, cells proliferate uniformly over gold and glass PEM-treated surfaces, making them useful for continuous impedance-based, real-time monitoring of cell proliferation and for the determination of cell growth rate in cellular assays. PMID:27134780

  4. Bioactive Titanate Layers Formed on Titanium and Its Alloys by Simple Chemical and Heat Treatments

    PubMed Central

    Kokubo, Tadashi; Yamaguchi, Seiji

    2015-01-01

    To reveal general principles for obtaining bone-bonding bioactive metallic titanium, Ti metal was heat-treated after exposure to a solution with different pH. The material formed an apatite layer at its surface in simulated body fluid when heat-treated after exposure to a strong acid or alkali solution, because it formed a positively charged titanium oxide and negatively charged sodium titanate film on its surface, respectively. Such treated these Ti metals tightly bonded to living bone. Porous Ti metal heat-treated after exposure to an acidic solution exhibited not only osteoconductive, but also osteoinductive behavior. Porous Ti metal exposed to an alkaline solution also exhibits osteoconductivity as well as osteoinductivity, if it was subsequently subjected to acid and heat treatments. These acid and heat treatments were not effective for most Ti-based alloys. However, even those alloys exhibited apatite formation when they were subjected to acid and heat treatment after a NaOH treatment, since the alloying elements were removed from the surface by the latter. The NaOH and heat treatments were also not effective for Ti-Zr-Nb-Ta alloys. These alloys displayed apatite formation when subjected to CaCl2 treatment after NaOH treatment, forming Ca-deficient calcium titanate at their surfaces after subsequent heat and hot water treatments. The bioactive Ti metal subjected to NaOH and heat treatments has been clinically used as an artificial hip joint material in Japan since 2007. A porous Ti metal subjected to NaOH, HCl and heat treatments has successfully undergone clinical trials as a spinal fusion device. PMID:25893014

  5. Osteoclasts but not osteoblasts are affected by a calcified surface treated with zoledronic acid in vitro

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Schindeler, Aaron; Little, David G.; Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney

    2005-12-16

    Bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Recent interest has centered on the effects of bisphosphonates on osteoblasts. Chronic dosing of osteoblasts with solubilized bisphosphonates has been reported to enhance osteogenesis and mineralization in vitro. However, this methodology poorly reflects the in vivo situation, where free bisphosphonate becomes rapidly bound to mineralized bone surfaces. To establish a more clinically relevant cell culture model, we cultured bone cells on calcium phosphate coated quartz discs pre-treated with the potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid (ZA). Binding studies utilizing [{sup 14}C]-labeled ZA confirmed that the bisphosphonate bound in a concentration-dependent manner over themore » 1-50 {mu}M dose range. When grown on ZA-treated discs, the viability of bone-marrow derived osteoclasts was greatly reduced, while the viability and mineralization of the osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line were largely unaffected. This suggests that only bone resorbing cells are affected by bound bisphosphonate. However, this system does not account for transient exposure to unbound bisphosphonate in the hours following a clinical dosing. To model this event, we transiently treated osteoblasts with ZA in the absence of a calcified surface. Osteoblasts proved highly resistant to all transitory treatment regimes, even when utilizing ZA concentrations that prevented mineralization and/or induced cell death when dosed chronically. This study represents a pharmacologically more relevant approach to modeling bisphosphonate treatment on cultured bone cells and implies that bisphosphonate therapies may not directly affect osteoblasts at bone surfaces.« less

  6. Analytical Debye-Huckel model for electrostatic potentials around dissolved DNA.

    PubMed Central

    Wagner, K; Keyes, E; Kephart, T W; Edwards, G

    1997-01-01

    We present an analytical, Green-function-based model for the electric potential of DNA in solution, treating the surrounding solvent with the Debye-Huckel approximation. The partial charge of each atom is accounted for by modeling DNA as linear distributions of atoms on concentric cylindrical surfaces. The condensed ions of the solvent are treated with the Debye-Huckel approximation. The resultant leading term of the potential is that of a continuous shielded line charge, and the higher order terms account for the helical structure. Within several angstroms of the surface there is sufficient information in the electric potential to distinguish features and symmetries of DNA. Plots of the potential and equipotential surfaces, dominated by the phosphate charges, reflect the structural differences between the A, B, and Z conformations and, to a smaller extent, the difference between base sequences. As the distances from the helices increase, the magnitudes of the potentials decrease. However, the bases and sugars account for a larger fraction of the double helix potential with increasing distance. We have found that when the solvent is treated with the Debye-Huckel approximation, the potential decays more rapidly in every direction from the surface than it did in the concentric dielectric cylinder approximation. Images FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 PMID:9199767

  7. KOH-activated multi-walled carbon nanotubes as platinum supports for oxygen reduction reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Chaoxiong; Song, Shuqin; Liu, Jinchao; Maragou, Vasiliki; Tsiakaras, Panagiotis

    In the present investigation, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) thermally treated by KOH were adopted as the platinum supporting material for the oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts. FTIR and Raman spectra were used to investigate the surface state of MWCNTs treated by KOH at different temperatures (700, 800, and 900 °C) and showed MWCNTs can be successfully functionalized. The structural properties of KOH-activated MWCNTs supported Pt were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their electrochemical performance was evaluated by the aid of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry. According to the experimental findings of the present work, the surrface of MWCNTs can be successfully functionalized with oxygen-containing groups after activation by KOH, favoring the good dispersion of Pt nanoparticles with narrow size distribution. The as-prepared Pt catalysts supported on KOH treated MWCNTs at higher temperature, possess higher electrochemical surface area and exhibit desirable activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). More precisely, it has been found that the electrochemical active area of Pt/MWCNTs-900 is approximately two times higher than that of Pt/MWCNTs. It can be concluded that KOH activation is an effective way to decorate MWCNTs' surface with oxygen-containing groups and bigger surface area, which makes them more suitable as electrocatalyst support materials.

  8. Comparison of culture and qPCR methods in detection of mycobacteria from drinking waters.

    PubMed

    Räsänen, Noora H J; Rintala, Helena; Miettinen, Ilkka T; Torvinen, Eila

    2013-04-01

    Environmental mycobacteria are common bacteria in man-made water systems and may cause infections and hypersensitivity pneumonitis via exposure to water. We compared a generally used cultivation method and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method to detect mycobacteria in 3 types of drinking waters: surface water, ozone-treated surface water, and groundwater. There was a correlation between the numbers of mycobacteria obtained by cultivation and qPCR methods, but the ratio of the counts obtained by the 2 methods varied among the types of water. The qPCR counts in the drinking waters produced from surface or groundwater were 5 to 34 times higher than culturable counts. In ozone-treated surface waters, both methods gave similar counts. The ozone-treated drinking waters had the highest concentration of assimilable organic carbon, which may explain the good culturability. In warm tap waters, qPCR gave 43 times higher counts than cultivation, but both qPCR counts and culturable counts were lower than those in the drinking waters collected from the same sites. The TaqMan qPCR method is a rapid and sensitive tool for total quantitation of mycobacteria in different types of clean waters. The raw water source and treatments affect both culturability and total numbers of mycobacteria in drinking waters.

  9. Factors affecting the microbiological condition of the deep tissues of mechanically tenderized beef.

    PubMed

    Gill, C O; McGinnis, J C

    2005-04-01

    Whole or halved top butt prime beef cuts were treated in two types of mechanical tenderizing machines that both pierced the meat with thin blades but that used blades of different forms. Aerobes on meat surfaces and in the deep tissues of cuts after treatments were counted. When cuts were treated at a laboratory using a Lumar machine, the contamination of deep tissues increased significantly (P < 0.01) with increasing numbers of aerobic bacteria on meat surfaces and decreased significantly (P < 0.001) with increasing distance from the incised surface. However, contamination did not increase significantly (P > 0.1) with repeated incising of the meat. When halved cuts were incised one or eight times using a commercially cleaned Ross machine at a retail store, the numbers of aerobes recovered from deep tissues were similar with both treatments. When halved cuts were treated in one or other machine, deep tissue contamination was greater with the Lumar machine than with the Ross machine. Contamination of deep tissues as a result of tenderizing by piercing with thin blades can be minimized if the blades are designed to limit the number of bacteria carried into the meat and the microbiological condition of incised surface is well controlled.

  10. Analysis of endocrine activity in drinking water, surface water and treated wastewater from six countries.

    PubMed

    Leusch, Frederic D L; Neale, Peta A; Arnal, Charlotte; Aneck-Hahn, Natalie H; Balaguer, Patrick; Bruchet, Auguste; Escher, Beate I; Esperanza, Mar; Grimaldi, Marina; Leroy, Gaela; Scheurer, Marco; Schlichting, Rita; Schriks, Merijn; Hebert, Armelle

    2018-08-01

    The aquatic environment can contain numerous micropollutants and there are concerns about endocrine activity in environmental waters and the potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. In this study a complementary chemical analysis and in vitro bioassay approach was applied to evaluate endocrine activity in treated wastewater, surface water and drinking water samples from six countries (Germany, Australia, France, South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain). The bioassay test battery included assays indicative of seven endocrine pathways, while 58 different chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial compounds, were analysed by targeted chemical analysis. Endocrine activity was below the limit of quantification for most water samples, with only two of six treated wastewater samples and two of six surface water samples exhibiting estrogenic, glucocorticoid, progestagenic and/or anti-mineralocorticoid activity above the limit of quantification. Based on available effect-based trigger values (EBT) for estrogenic and glucocorticoid activity, some of the wastewater and surface water samples were found to exceed the EBT, suggesting these environmental waters may pose a potential risk to ecosystem health. In contrast, the lack of bioassay activity and low detected chemical concentrations in the drinking water samples do not suggest a risk to human endocrine health, with all samples below the relevant EBTs. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Tissue response to peritoneal implants

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Picha, G. J.

    1980-01-01

    Peritoneal implants were fabricated from poly 2-OH, ethyl methacrylate (HEMA), polyetherurethane (polytetramethylene glycol 1000 MW, 1,4 methylene disocynate, and ethyl diamine), and untreated and sputter treated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The sputter treated PTFE implants were produced by an 8 cm diameter argon ion source. The treated samples consisted of ion beam sputter polished samples, sputter etched samples (to produce a microscopic surface cone texture) and surface pitted samples (produced by ion beam sputtering to result in 50 microns wide by 100 microns deep square pits). These materials were implanted in rats for periods ranging from 30 minutes to 14 days. The results were evaluated with regard to cell type and attachment kinetics onto the different materials. Scanning electron microscopy and histological sections were also evaluated. In general the smooth hydrophobic surfaces attracted less cells than the ion etched PTFE or the HEMA samples. The ion etching was observed to enhance cell attachment, multinucleated giant cell (MNGC) formation, cell to cell contact, and fibrous capsule formation. The cell responsed in the case of ion etched PTFE to an altered surface morphology. However, equally interesting was the similar attachment kinetics of HEMA verses the ion etched PTFE. However, HEMA resulted in a markedly different response with no MNGC's formation, minimal to no capsule formation, and sample coverage by a uniform cell layer.

  12. Gradient Nanostructured Tantalum by Thermal-Mechanical Ultrasonic Impact Energy.

    PubMed

    Chae, Jong-Min; Lee, Keun-Oh; Amanov, Auezhan

    2018-03-20

    Microstructural evolution and wear performance of Tantalum (Ta) treated by ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) at 25 and 1000 °C were reported. The UNSM treatment modified a surface along with subsurface layer with a thickness in the range of 20 to 150 µm, which depends on the UNSM treatment temperature, via the surface severe plastic deformation (S²PD) method. The cross-sectional microstructure of the specimens was observed by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in order to confirm the microstructural alteration in terms of effective depth and refined grain size. The surface hardness measurement results, including depth profile, revealed that the hardness of the UNSM-treated specimens at both temperatures was increased in comparison with those of the untreated ones. The increase in UNSM treatment temperature led to a further increase in hardness. Moreover, both the UNSM-treated specimens with an increased hardness resulted in a higher resistance to wear in comparison with those of the untreated ones under dry conditions. The increase in hardness and induced compressive residual stress that depend on the formation of severe plastically deformed layer with the refined nano-grains are responsible for the enhancement in wear resistance. The findings of this study may be implemented in response to various industries that are related to strength improvement and wear enhancement issues of Ta.

  13. Gradient Nanostructured Tantalum by Thermal-Mechanical Ultrasonic Impact Energy

    PubMed Central

    Chae, Jong-Min; Lee, Keun-Oh; Amanov, Auezhan

    2018-01-01

    Microstructural evolution and wear performance of Tantalum (Ta) treated by ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) at 25 and 1000 °C were reported. The UNSM treatment modified a surface along with subsurface layer with a thickness in the range of 20 to 150 µm, which depends on the UNSM treatment temperature, via the surface severe plastic deformation (S2PD) method. The cross-sectional microstructure of the specimens was observed by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in order to confirm the microstructural alteration in terms of effective depth and refined grain size. The surface hardness measurement results, including depth profile, revealed that the hardness of the UNSM-treated specimens at both temperatures was increased in comparison with those of the untreated ones. The increase in UNSM treatment temperature led to a further increase in hardness. Moreover, both the UNSM-treated specimens with an increased hardness resulted in a higher resistance to wear in comparison with those of the untreated ones under dry conditions. The increase in hardness and induced compressive residual stress that depend on the formation of severe plastically deformed layer with the refined nano-grains are responsible for the enhancement in wear resistance. The findings of this study may be implemented in response to various industries that are related to strength improvement and wear enhancement issues of Ta. PMID:29558402

  14. Effect of surface modifications on the bond strength of zirconia ceramic with resin cement resin.

    PubMed

    Hallmann, Lubica; Ulmer, Peter; Lehmann, Frank; Wille, Sebastian; Polonskyi, Oleksander; Johannes, Martina; Köbel, Stefan; Trottenberg, Thomas; Bornholdt, Sven; Haase, Fabian; Kersten, Holger; Kern, Matthias

    2016-05-01

    Purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of surface modifications on the tensile bond strength between zirconia ceramic and resin. Zirconia ceramic surfaces were treated with 150-μm abrasive alumina particles, 150-μm abrasive zirconia particles, argon-ion bombardment, gas plasma, and piranha solution (H2SO4:H2O2=3:1). In addition, slip casting surfaces were examined. Untreated surfaces were used as the control group. Tensile bond strengths (TBS) were measured after water storage for 3 days or 150 days with additional 37,500 thermal cycling for artificial aging. Statistical analyses were performed with 1-way and 3-way ANOVA, followed by comparison of means with the Tukey HSD test. After storage in distilled water for three days at 37 °C, the highest mean tensile bond strengths (TBS) were observed for zirconia ceramic surfaces abraded with 150-μm abrasive alumina particles (TBS(AAP)=37.3 MPa, TBS(CAAP)=40.4 MPa), and 150-μm abrasive zirconia particles (TBS(AZP)=34.8 MPa, TBS(CAZP)=35.8 MPa). Also a high TBS was observed for specimens treated with argon-ion bombardment (TBS(BAI)=37.8 MPa). After 150 days of storage, specimens abraded with 150-μm abrasive alumina particles and 150-μm abrasive zirconia particles revealed high TBS (TBS(AAP)=37.6 MPa, TBS(CAAP)=33.0 MPa, TBS(AZP)=22.1 MPa and TBS(CAZP)=22.8 MPa). A high TBS was observed also for specimens prepared with slip casting (TBS(SC)=30.0 MPa). A decrease of TBS was observed for control specimens (TBS(UNT)=12.5 MPa, TBS(CUNT)=9.0 MPa), specimens treated with argon-ion bombardment (TBS(BAI)=10.3 MPa) and gas plasma (TBS(GP)=11.0 MPa). A decrease of TBS was observed also for specimens treated with piranha solution (TBS(PS)=3.9 MPa, TBS(CPS)=4.1 MPa). A significant difference in TBS after three days storage was observed for specimens treated with different methods (p<0.001). Thermal cycling significantly reduced TBS for all groups (p<0.001) excluding groups: AAP(p>0.05), CAAP(p>0.05) and SC(p>0.05). However, the failure patterns of debonded specimens prepared with 150-μm abrasive zirconia particles were 96.7% cohesive. Treatment of zirconia ceramic surfaces with abrasive zirconia particles is a promising method to increase the tensile bond strength without significant damage of the ceramic surface itself. An alternative promising method is slip casting. Copyright © 2016 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Durability assessment of limestone subjected to surface treatments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Theodoridou, Magdalini; Charalambous, Cleopatra; Ioannou, Ioannis

    2017-04-01

    Weathering is inevitable in existing limestone structures due to their exposure to fluctuating and aggressive environmental conditions, such as wetting/drying, and the presence of salts. Therefore, conservation treatments are often deemed necessary in order to prevent or at least delay the progress of deterioration and to strengthen weathered stones. This paper focuses on the effect of an ethanol-based laboratory produced water repellent and three water-based commercial products (water repellent, pure acrylic emulsion mixed with a water repellent with thermal insulation properties and consolidant) on the durability and other properties of three different types of limestone (massive chalk, calcarenite and bioclastic limestone). All test specimens were subjected to micro-destructive cutting tests before/after the application of the aforementioned surface treatments to investigate changes in resistance to cutting on the area close to the treated surface. They were also subjected to two cycles of salt contamination with 20% w/w Na2SO4•10H2O solution by capillary absorption through their bottom face, until 2 mm of pore space was theoretically filled with salt crystals. Drying after salt contamination took place at 70 °C. The results of the micro-destructive cutting tests showed increases in cutting resistance at the topmost area (1-2 mm below the treated surface) of the massive chalk and the calcarenite, but no significant changes in the case of the rather non-homogeneous bioclastic limestone. At the same time, the performance of each surface treatment varied from lithotype to lithotype. The laboratory produced water repellent showed a generally better performance; no signs of damage were detected due to the formation of salt crystals within the pores of the materials, i.e. subflorescence, when applied on the calcarenite and the bioclastic limestone. Very poor performance was observed for all treatments when applied on the massive chalk. This accounted for (i) intense salt efflorescence, (ii) blistering, (iii) cracking and detachment of stone surface material due to subflorescence and (iv) cracking of the vertical sides. The calcarenite proved to be more durable than the other two lithotypes under investigation, with the treated samples showing no sign of damage whatsoever. Nevertheless, the two commercial water repellents proved to be inappropriate for the bioclastic limestone, since more severe damage in the form of multiple cracking was observed to the treated sample, compared with the untreated one. In all the cases, the damage observed is attributed to the suppression of stage I drying by the surface treatments applied; this leads to evaporation of the salt solution mainly by vapour phase diffusion through the treated surfaces, which is a very slow process promoting damaging subflorescence.

  16. Development of barrier coatings for cellulosic-based materials by cold plasma methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Denes, Agnes Reka

    Cellulose-based materials are ideal candidates for future industries that need to be based on environmentally safe technologies and renewable resources. Wood represents an important raw material and its application as construction material is well established. Cellophane is one of the most important cellulosic material and it is widely used as packaging material in the food industry. Outdoor exposure of wood causes a combination of physical and chemical degradation processes due to the combined effects of sunlight, moisture, fungi, and bacteria. Cold-plasma-induced surface modifications are an attractive way for tailoring the characteristics of lignocellulosic substrates to prevent weathering degradation. Plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (PPHMDSO) was deposited onto wood surfaces to create water repellent characteristics. The presence of a crosslinked macromolecular structure was detected. The plasma coated samples exhibited very high water contact angle values indicating the existence of hydrophobic surfaces. Reflective and electromagnetic radiation-absorbent substances were incorporated with a high-molecular-weight polydimethylsiloxane polymer in liquid phase and deposited as thin layers on wood surfaces. The macromolecular films, containing the dispersed materials, were then converted into a three dimensional solid state network by exposure to a oxygen-plasma. It was demonstrated that both UV-absorbent and reflectant components incorporated into the plasma-generated PDMSO matrix protected the wood from weathering degradation. Reduced oxidation and less degradation was observed after simulated weathering. High water contact angle values indicated a strong hydrophobic character of the oxygen plasma-treated PDMSO-coated samples. Plasma-enhanced surface modifications and coatings were employed to create water-vapor barrier layers on cellophane substrate surfaces. HMDSO was selected as a plasma gas and oxygen was used to ablate amorphous regions. Oxygen plasma treated cellophane and oxygen plasma treated and PPHMDSO coated cellophane surfaces were comparatively analyzed and the corresponding surface wettability characteristics were evaluated. The plasma generated surface topographies controlled the morphology of the PPHMDSO layers. Higher temperature HMDSO plasma-state environments lead to insoluble, crosslinked layers. Continuous and pulsed Csb2Fsb6 plasmas were also used for surface modification and excellent surface fluorination was achieved under the pulsed plasma conditions.

  17. Characterizing AISI 1045 steel surface duplex-treated by alternating current field enhanced pack aluminizing and nitriding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Fei; Zhang, Ge; Pan, Jianwei

    2018-02-01

    Thin cases and long treating time are shortcomings of conventional duplex treatment of aluminizing followed by nitriding (DTAN). Alternating current field (ACF) enhanced DTAN was carried out on AISI 1045 steel by applying an ACF to treated samples and treating agents with a pair of electrodes for overcoming those shortcomings. By investigating cases' structures, phases, composition and hardness distributions of differently treated samples, preliminary studies were made on characterizations of the ACF enhanced duplex treatment to AISI 1045 steel. The results show that, with the help of the ACF, the surface Al-rich phase Al5Fe2 formed in conventional pack aluminizing can be easily avoided and the aluminizing process is dramatically promoted. The aluminizing case can be nitrided either with conventional pack nitriding or ACF enhanced pack nitriding. By applying ACF to pack nitriding, the diffusion of nitrogen into the aluminizing case is promoted. AlN, Fe2∼3N and solid solution of N in iron are efficiently formed as a result of reactions of N with the aluminizing case. A duplex treated case with an effective thickness of more than 170 μm can be obtained by the alternating current field enhanced 4 h pack aluminizing plus 4 h pack nitriding.

  18. Graphite fiber surface treatment to improve impact strength and fracture resistance in subsequent composites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Paul, J. T., Jr.; Buntin, G. A.

    1982-01-01

    Graphite (or carbon) fiber composite impact strength improvement was attempted by modifying the fiber surface. Elastomeric particles were made into lattices and deposited ionically on surface treated graphite fiber in an attempt to prepare a surface containing discrete rubber particles. With hard, nonelastomeric polystyrene discrete particle coverage was achieved. All the elastomeric containing lattices resulted in elastomer flow and filament agglomeration during drying.

  19. Polyethylene imine/graphene oxide layer-by-layer surface functionalization for significantly improved limit of detection and binding kinetics of immunoassays on acrylate surfaces.

    PubMed

    Miyazaki, Celina M; Mishra, Rohit; Kinahan, David J; Ferreira, Marystela; Ducrée, Jens

    2017-10-01

    Antibody immobilization on polymeric substrates is a key manufacturing step for microfluidic devices that implement sample-to-answer automation of immunoassays. In this work, a simple and versatile method to bio-functionalize poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), a common material of such "Lab-on-a-Chip" systems, is proposed; using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique, we assemble nanostructured thin films of poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and graphene oxide (GO). The wettability of PMMA surfaces was significantly augmented by the surface treatment with (PEI/GO) 5 film, with an 81% reduction of the contact angle, while the surface roughness increased by 600%, thus clearly enhancing wettability and antibody binding capacity. When applied to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), the limit of detection of PMMA surface was notably improved from 340pgmL -1 on commercial grade polystyrene (PS) and 230pgmL -1 on plain PMMA surfaces to 130pgmL -1 on (PEI/GO) 5 treated PMMA. Furthermore, the accelerated antibody adsorption kinetics on the LbL films of GO allowed to substantially shorten incubation times, e.g. for anti-rat IgG adsorption from 2h down to 15min on conventional and treated surfaces, respectively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Surface modification and characterization of indium-tin oxide for organic light-emitting devices.

    PubMed

    Zhong, Z Y; Jiang, Y D

    2006-10-15

    In this work, we used different treatment methods (ultrasonic degreasing, hydrochloric acid treatment, and oxygen plasma) to modify the surfaces of indium-tin oxide (ITO) substrates for organic light-emitting devices. The surface properties of treated ITO substrates were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), sheet resistance, contact angle, and surface energy measurements. Experimental results show that the ITO surface properties are closely related to the treatment methods, and the oxygen plasma is more efficient than the other treatments since it brings about smoother surfaces, lower sheet resistance, higher work function, and higher surface energy and polarity of the ITO substrate. Moreover, polymer light-emitting electrochemical cells (PLECs) with differently treated ITO substrates as device electrodes were fabricated and characterized. It is found that surface treatments of ITO substrates have a certain degree of influence upon the injection current, brightness, and efficiency, but hardly upon the turn-on voltages of current injection and light emission, which are in agreement with the measured optical energy gap of the electroluminescent polymer. The oxygen plasma treatment on the ITO substrate yields the best performance of PLECs, due to the improvement of interface formation and electrical contact of the ITO substrate with the polymer blend in the PLECs.

  1. Enhanced human osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation on 316 LS stainless steel by means of CO2 laser surface treatment.

    PubMed

    Hao, L; Lawrence, J; Phua, Y F; Chian, K S; Lim, G C; Zheng, H Y

    2005-04-01

    An effective and novel technique for improving the biocompatibility of a biograde 316 LS stainless steel through the application of CO(2) laser treatment to modify the surface properties of the material is described herein. Different surface properties, such as surface roughness, surface oxygen content, and surface energy for CO(2) laser-treated 316 LS stainless steel, untreated, and mechanically roughened samples were analyzed, and their effects on the wettability characteristics of the material were studied. It was found that modification of the wettability characteristics of the 316 LS stainless steel following CO(2) laser treatment was achieved. This improvement was identified as being mainly due to the change in the polar component of the surface energy. One-day cell adhesion tests showed that cells not only adhered and spread better, but also grew faster on the CO(2) laser-treated sample than on either the untreated or mechanically roughened sample. Further, compared with the untreated sample, MTT cell proliferation analysis revealed that the mechanically roughed surface resulted in a slight enhancement, and CO(2) laser treatment brought about a significant increase in cell proliferation. An increase in the wettability of the 316 LS stainless steel was observed to positively correlate with the cell proliferation. (c) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Influence of Ultrasonic Surface Rolling on Microstructure and Wear Behavior of Selective Laser Melted Ti-6Al-4V Alloy

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Zhen; Xiao, Zhiyu; Huang, Chuanshou; Wen, Liping; Zhang, Weiwen

    2017-01-01

    The present article studied the effect of ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP) on the microstructure and wear behavior of a selective laser melted Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Surface characteristics were investigated using optical microscope, nano-indentation, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope. Results indicated that the thickness of pore-free surfaces increased to 100~200 μm with the increasing ultrasonic surface rolling numbers. Severe work hardening occurred in the densified layer, resulting in the formation of refined grains, dislocation walls and deformation twins. After 1000 N 6 passes, about 15.5% and 14.1% increment in surficial Nano-hardness and Vickers-hardness was obtained, respectively. The hardness decreased gradually from the top surface to the substrate. Wear tests revealed that the friction coefficient declined from 0.74 (polished surface) to 0.64 (USRP treated surface) and the wear volume reduced from 0.205 mm−3 to 0.195 mm−3. The difference in wear volume between USRP treated and polished samples increased with sliding time. The enhanced wear resistance was concluded to be associated with the improvement of hardness and shear resistance and also the inhibition of delamination initiation. PMID:29048344

  3. Migration of lymphocytes on fibronectin-coated surfaces: temporal evolution of migratory parameters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bergman, A. J.; Zygourakis, K.; McIntire, L. V. (Principal Investigator)

    1999-01-01

    Lymphocytes typically interact with implanted biomaterials through adsorbed exogenous proteins. To provide a more complete characterization of these interactions, analysis of lymphocyte migration on adsorbed extracellular matrix proteins must accompany the commonly performed adhesion studies. We report here a comparison of the migratory and adhesion behavior of Jurkat cells (a T lymphoblastoid cell line) on tissue culture treated and untreated polystyrene surfaces coated with various concentrations of fibronectin. The average speed of cell locomotion showed a biphasic response to substrate adhesiveness for cells migrating on untreated polystyrene and a monotonic decrease for cells migrating on tissue culture-treated polystyrene. A modified approach to the persistent random walk model was implemented to determine the time dependence of cell migration parameters. The random motility coefficient showed significant increases with time when cells migrated on tissue culture-treated polystyrene surfaces, while it remained relatively constant for experiments with untreated polystyrene plates. Finally, a cell migration computer model was developed to verify our modified persistent random walk analysis. Simulation results suggest that our experimental data were consistent with temporally increasing random motility coefficients.

  4. A study on alkaline heat treated Mg-Ca alloy for the control of the biocorrosion rate.

    PubMed

    Gu, X N; Zheng, W; Cheng, Y; Zheng, Y F

    2009-09-01

    To reduce the biocorrosion rate by surface modification, Mg-Ca alloy (1.4wt.% Ca content) was soaked in three alkaline solutions (Na(2)HPO(4), Na(2)CO(3) and NaHCO(3)) for 24h, respectively, and subsequently heat treated at 773K for 12h. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy results revealed that magnesium oxide layers with the thickness of about 13, 9 and 26microm were formed on the surfaces of Mg-Ca alloy after the above different alkaline heat treatments. Atomic force microscopy showed that the surfaces of Mg-Ca alloy samples became rough after three alkaline heat treatments. The in vitro corrosion tests in simulated body fluid indicated that the corrosion rates of Mg-Ca alloy were effectively decreased after alkaline heat treatments, with the following sequence: NaHCO(3) heated

  5. Investigation of the pellets produced from sugarcane bagasse during liquid hot water pretreatment and their impact on the enzymatic hydrolysis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Wen; Zhuang, Xinshu; Yuan, Zhenhong; Yu, Qiang; Qi, Wei

    2015-08-01

    In the process of liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment, there are numbers of pellets formed on the lignocellulosic surface. The characteristics and effect of pellets on the enzymatic hydrolysis of LHW-treated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were investigated. After SCB was treated with LHW at 180°C, the pellets deposited on the surface of solid residues were extracted gently with 1% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. They were composed of 81.0% lignin, 7.0% glucan, and 3.2% xylan. The LHW pretreatment solution (PS) was sprayed to the filter paper, and the pellets were observed on its surface. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data showed that lignin was also the main component of the PS pellets. The effect of the pellets on enzymatic hydrolysis was chiefly attributed to the steric hindrance, not the cellulase adsorption. The structural characteristics of LHW-treated SCB might play a more important role in influencing the enzymatic hydrolysis than the pellets. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Surface treatment effect on Si (111) substrate for carbon deposition using DC unbalanced magnetron sputtering

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Aji, A. S., E-mail: aji.ravazes70@gmail.com; Sahdan, M. F.; Hendra, I. B.

    In this work, we studied the effect of HF treatment in silicon (111) substrate surface for depositing thin layer carbon. We performed the deposition of carbon by using DC Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering with carbon pallet (5% Fe) as target. From SEM characterization results it can be concluded that the carbon layer on HF treated substrate is more uniform than on substrate without treated. Carbon deposition rate is higher as confirmed by AFM results if the silicon substrate is treated by HF solution. EDAX characterization results tell that silicon (111) substrate with HF treatment have more carbon fraction than substrate withoutmore » treatment. These results confirmed that HF treatment on silicon Si (111) substrates could enhance the carbon deposition by using DC sputtering. Afterward, the carbon atomic arrangement on silicon (111) surface is studied by performing thermal annealing process to 900 °C. From Raman spectroscopy results, thin film carbon is not changing until 600 °C thermal budged. But, when temperature increase to 900 °C, thin film carbon is starting to diffuse to silicon (111) substrates.« less

  7. Topical corticosteroids do not revert the activated phenotype of eosinophils in eosinophilic esophagitis but decrease surface levels of CD18 resulting in diminished adherence to ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and endothelial cells.

    PubMed

    Lingblom, Christine; Bergquist, Henrik; Johnsson, Marianne; Sundström, Patrik; Quiding-Järbrink, Marianne; Bove, Mogens; Wennerås, Christine

    2014-12-01

    Swallowed topical corticosteroids are the standard therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in adults. Eosinophils in the blood of untreated EoE patients have an activated phenotype. Our aim was to determine if corticosteroids restore the phenotype of eosinophils to a healthy phenotype and if certain cell-surface molecules on blood eosinophils correlate with eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus. Levels of eight surface markers on eosinophils from treated and untreated EoE patients were determined by flow cytometry and analyzed using multivariate methods of pattern recognition. Corticosteroid-treated EoE patients' eosinophils had decreased levels of CD18 compared to both untreated patients and healthy controls, but maintained their activated phenotype. CD18 expression correlated positively with eosinophil numbers in the esophagus and promoted the adherence of eosinophils to ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and to endothelial cells. The diminished expression of CD18 may be one mechanism behind the reduced entry of eosinophils into the esophagus in corticosteroid-treated EoE patients.

  8. Precipitation phenomena in and electrical resistivity of high-temperature treated langatate (La3Ta0.5Ga5.5O14).

    PubMed

    Yaokawa, Ritsuko; Kimura, Hiromitsu; Aota, Katsumi; Uda, Satoshi

    2011-06-01

    La(3)Ta(0.5)Ga(5.5)O(14) (LTG) single crystals, which have no phase transition up to the melting point, were heat-treated in air at temperatures from 1000°C to 1450°C for 10 h. LaTaO(4) (LT) and LaGaO(3) (LG), which coexist with LTG in the three-phase region on the Ga-poor side, precipitated on the surface of the crystal for heat treatments above 1300°C because of Ga evaporation during the heat treatment. The Ga-poor state near the surface of the 1450°C heat-treated specimen was confirmed by electron probe micro-analysis measurements. The electrical resistivity of LTG single crystals decreased by heat treatment in the range of 1000°C to 1200°C for 10 h in air, where no precipitation was observed, whereas the resistivity increased with heat treatment over 1400°C for 10 h in air. The electrical resistivity of the Ga-poor surface region was higher than that of the interior.

  9. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rao, S.M.; Brinkar, C.J.; Rao, S.M.

    We are testing an anti-weathering preservation strategy that is specific to limestone surfaces. The strategy involves the application of a mineral-specific, bifunctional, passivating/coupling agent that binds to both the limestone surface and to the consolidating inorganic polymer matrix. The sol-gel based reactions form composite materials with desirable conservation and anti-weathering properties. We present the results of our efforts, the highlights of which are: (1) scanning probe microscopy of moisture-free calcite crystals treated with the trisilanol form of silylalkylaminocarboxylate (SAAC), reveals porous agglomerates that offer no significant resistance to the mild leaching action of deionized water. When the crystals are furthermore » consolidated with a silica-based consolidant (A2**), no dissolution is seen although the positive role of the passivant molecule is not yet delineated. (2) Modulus of rupture tests on limestone cores treated with an aminoalkylsilane (AEAPS) and A2** showed a 25-35% increase in strength compared to the untreated samples. (3) Environmental scanning electron microscopy of treated limestone subjected to a concentrated acid attack showed degradation of the surface except in areas where thick layers of the consolidant were deposited.« less

  10. Blocking contacts for N-type cadmium zinc telluride

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stahle, Carl M. (Inventor); Parker, Bradford H. (Inventor); Babu, Sachidananda R. (Inventor)

    2012-01-01

    A process for applying blocking contacts on an n-type CdZnTe specimen includes cleaning the CdZnTe specimen; etching the CdZnTe specimen; chemically surface treating the CdZnTe specimen; and depositing blocking metal on at least one of a cathode surface and an anode surface of the CdZnTe specimen.

  11. Inactivation of natural microflora and Escherichia coli K-12 on cantaloupe rind surfaces using wet steam treatments

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The presence of human bacterial pathogens on cantaloupe rind surfaces and transfer to fresh-cut pieces during preparation continue to be a microbial safety hazard for the produce industry and consumers alike. A prototype flash steam lab unit was used to treat cantaloupe rind surfaces inoculated with...

  12. Root surface removal and resultant surface texture with diamond-coated ultrasonic inserts: an in vitro and SEM study.

    PubMed

    Vastardis, Sotirios; Yukna, Raymond A; Rice, David A; Mercante, Don

    2005-05-01

    A new diamond-coated ultrasonic insert has been developed for scaling and root planing, and it was evaluated in vitro for the amount of root surface removed and the roughness of the residual root surface as a result of instrumentation. 48 extracted single-rooted human teeth were ground flat on one root surface and mounted (flat side up) in PVC rings of standard height and diameter with improved dental stone. Each tooth surface was treated with either a plain ultrasonic insert (PI), an ultrasonic insert with a fine grit diamond coating (DI) or sharp Gracey curettes (HI). The mounted teeth were attached to a stepper motor which drove the teeth in a horizontal, reciprocal motion at a constant rate. The thickness from the flattened bottom of the ring to the flattened tooth surface was measured before and after 10, 20, and 30 instrumentation strokes for each root surface with each of the experimental instruments. A number of treated teeth were randomly selected for examination with SEM and a profilometer. Statistical analysis (analysis of co-variance) was performed to compare the amounts of tooth structure removed among the 3 instruments and t-test was used to compare the roughness of the treated root surfaces. The mean depth of root structure removed was PI 10.7 microm, HI 15.0 microm, and DI 46.2 microm after 10 strokes; and PI 21.6 microm, HI 33.2 and DI 142.0 microm after 30 strokes, respectively. On average, 0.9 microm, 1.3 microm, and 4.7 microm of root surface was removed with each stroke of PI, HI and DI, respectively. PI and HI were not different from each other for all the stroke cycles, while DI was significantly different from PI and HI for all the stroke cycles (p<0.0001). Analysis with the profilometer showed that the smoothest surface was produced by the PI followed by the HI. The DI produced a surface that was significantly rougher than the surface produced by the PI or HI. These results suggest that diamond-coated ultrasonic instruments will effectively plane roots, and that caution should be used during periodontal root planing procedures. Additionally, the diamond-coated instruments will produce a rougher surface than the plain inserts or the hand curettes.

  13. GROUND WATER ISSUE - PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF PUMP-AND-TREAT REMEDIATIONS

    EPA Science Inventory

    One of the most commonly used ground-water remediation technologies is to pump contaminated water to the surface for treatment. Evaluating the effectiveness of pump-and-treat remediations at Superfund sites is an issue identified by the Regional Superfund Ground Water Forum as a ...

  14. S180 cell growth on low ion energy plasma treated TiO 2 thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dhayal, Marshal; Cho, Su-In; Moon, Jun Young; Cho, Su-Jin; Zykova, Anna

    2008-03-01

    X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterise the effects of low energy (<2 eV) argon ion plasma surface modification of TiO 2 thin films deposited by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputter system. The low energy argon ion plasma surface modification of TiO 2 in a two-stage hybrid system had increased the proportion of surface states of TiO 2 as Ti 3+. The proportion of carbon atoms as alcohol/ether (C sbnd OX) was decreased with increase the RF power and carbon atoms as carbonyl (C dbnd O) functionality had increased for low RF power treatment. The proportion of C( dbnd O)OX functionality at the surface was decreased at low power and further increase in power has showed an increase in its relive proportion at the surface. The growth of S180 cells was observed and it seems that cells are uniformly spreads on tissue culture polystyrene surface and untreated TiO 2 surfaces whereas small-localised cell free area can be seen on plasma treated TiO 2 surfaces which may be due to decrease in C( dbnd O)OX, increase in C dbnd O and active sites at the surface. A relatively large variation in the surface functionalities with no change in the surface roughness was achieved by different RF plasma treatments of TiO 2 surface whereas no significant change in S180 cell growth with different plasma treatments. This may be because cell growth on TiO 2 was mainly influenced by nano-surface characteristics of oxide films rather than surface chemistry.

  15. [Biophysical models in investigations of exogenous surfactant activities on the surface tension and their theurapeutic effectiveness].

    PubMed

    Todorov, R; Iordanova, A; Georgiev, G A; Petkova, Kh; Stoimenova, E; Georgieva, R; Khristova, E; Vasiliev, Kh; Lalchev, Z

    2007-01-01

    Surfactant therapy leads to significant clinical improvement in infants at risk for, or having, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The development of exogenous surfactant (ES) as a therapy for neonatal respiratory disorders was a significant advance in neonatal intensive care that has led to a decrease in neonatal mortality. Two broad categories of surfactants are available for exogenous therapy: surfactants derived from animal sources or 'natural' surfactants; and synthetic surfactants. The physical properties of natural and synthetic surfactants have been studied using techniques such as the Wilhelmy surface balance and the bilayer black film (BBF) method. Here we report some data from a comparative study of ES (Exosurf, Survanta, Curosurf and Alveofact) and clinical samples of tracheal aspirate (TA) of newborns with RDS treated with Curosurf. Measured interfacial physico-chemical parameters prove "better" properties in vitro of the surfactant proteins (SP-B and SP-C) containing preparations Curosurf and Alveofact. Their properties are similar, Alveofact showing a higher surface tension lowering capacity under dynamic conditions. A compendious comparison of results for dynamic surface properties of monolayers of TA from newborns treated with Curosurf with data for newborns treated with Exosurf is presented. Both ES yield the desired lowering of the surface tension during cyclic film compression, being larger after treatment with Curosurf. Observations concerning the properties of BFF of ES (dependence on surfactant concentration, adsorption time, film drainage time and BFF formation time) are also reported and discussed.

  16. Testing the Effect of Aggressive Beverage on the Damage of Enamel Structure

    PubMed Central

    Lutovac, Mitar; Popova, Olga V.; Macanovic, Gordana; Kristina, Radoman; Lutovac, Bojana; Ketin, Sonja; Biocanin, Rade

    2017-01-01

    BACKGROUND: Dental erosion is a common problem in modern societies, owing to the increased consumption of acid drinks such as soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit juice. Examining the enamel surface with the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) enables more precise registering and defining the changes of enamel surface structure and microhardness. This method can be used to compare the efficiency of application of different preventive and therapy materials and medicaments in dentistry. The chronic regular consumption of low pH cola drinks encouraged the erosion of the teeth. The loss of anatomy and sensitivity are direct results of acid cola dissolving coronal tooth material. Under the influence of coca cola, a change of crystal structure and nanomorphology on enamel surface occurs. AIM: This paper reflects dental damage from abusive cola drinking, and the clinical presentation can be explained from data presented in this thesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial was conducted on a total of 40 extracted teeth which were divided into two groups treated with the solution of coca cola during 5 minutes, and then prepared and tested with a standard AFM procedure, type SPM-5200. Quantitative analysis was performed by comparing the roughness parameters (Ra) of the treated and non-treated sample. RESULTS: Based on the test of a hypothesis of the existence of differences between the treated and untreated sample, with an application of a t-test, it is shown that there are statistically highly significant differences between Ra of the treated sample with a 5-minute treatment of coca cola and Ra of the same sample without the treatment. CONCLUSION: Use of AFM enables successful monitoring of changes on enamel surface as well as the interpretation of the ultrastructural configuration of the crystal stage and the damage created under the influence of different external factors. PMID:29362633

  17. 40 CFR 264.220 - Applicability.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) SOLID WASTES (CONTINUED) STANDARDS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT, STORAGE, AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES Surface Impoundments... that use surface impoundments to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste except as § 264.1 provides...

  18. Influence of surface pre-treatment on the electronic levels in silicon MaWCE nanowires.

    PubMed

    Venturi, Giulia; Castaldini, Antonio; Schleusener, Alexander; Sivakov, Vladimir; Cavallini, Anna

    2015-05-15

    Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) was performed on n-doped silicon nanowires grown by metal-assisted wet chemical etching (MaWCE) with gold as the catalyst in order to investigate the energetic scheme inside the bandgap. To observe the possible dependence of the level scheme on the processing temperature, DLTS measurements were performed on the nanowires grown on a non-treated Au/Si surface and on a thermally pre-treated Au/Si surface. A noticeable modification of the configuration of the energy levels was observed, induced by the annealing process. Based on our results on these MaWCE nanowires and on literature data about deep levels in bulk silicon, some hypotheses were advanced regarding the identification of the defects responsible of the energy levels revealed.

  19. Application of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for wastewater of hospital by using electrocoagulation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murdani; Jakfar; Ekawati, D.; Nadira, R.; Darmadi

    2018-04-01

    Hospital wastewater is a source of potential environmental contamination. Therefore, the waste water needs to be treated before it is discharged into the landfill. Various research methods have been used to treat hospital wastewater. However, some methods that have been implemented have not achieved the effluent standards for hospitals that have been set by the government. The experiment was conducted by an electrochemical method is electrolysis using aluminum electrodes with independent variable is the voltage, contact time and concentration of electrolytes. The response optimization using response surface with optimum conditions obtained by the contact time of 34.26 min, voltage 12 V, concentration electrolyte 0.38 M can decrease of COD 65.039%. The model recommended by the response surface for the three variables, namely quadratic response.

  20. Effects of Laser Re-melting on the Corrosion Properties of HVOF Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilbas, B. S.; Toor, I. H.; Patel, F.; Baig, M. A.

    2013-05-01

    HVOF coating of Inconel 625 powder on carbon steel is carried out. Laser melting of the resulting coating is realized to improve coating structural integrity. Morphological and microstructural changes are examined in the coating prior and after laser treatment process using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The residual stress developed is measured on the surface vicinity of the laser-treated coating using the XRD technique. The corrosion resistance of the laser-treated and untreated coating surfaces is measured, incorporating the potentiodynamic tests in 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution. It is found that laser treatment reduces the pores and produces cellular structures with different sizes and orientations in the coating. Laser-controlled melting improves the corrosion resistance of the coating surface.

  1. Correlations between the interfacial chemistry and current-voltage behavior of n-GaAs/liquid junctions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tufts, Bruce J.; Casagrande, Louis G.; Lewis, Nathan S.; Grunthaner, Frank J.

    1990-01-01

    Correlations between the surface chemistry of etched, (100) oriented n-GaAs electrodes and their subsequent photoelectrochemical behavior have been probed by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. GaAs photoanodes were chemically treated to prepare either an oxide-free near stoichiometric surface, a surface enriched in zero-valent arsenic or a substrate-oxide terminated surface. The current-voltage (I-V) behavior of each surface type was subsequently monitored in contact with several electrolytes.

  2. Layered devices having surface curvature and method of constructing same

    DOEpatents

    Woodbury, Richard C.; Perkins, Raymond T.; Thorne, James M.

    1989-01-01

    A method of treating a substrate having first and second sides with corresponding oppositely facing first and second surfaces, to produce curvature in the first surface. The method includes the steps of removing material, according to a predetermined pattern, from the second side of the substrate, and applying a stress-producing film of material to at least one surface of the substrate to thereby cause the substrate to bend to produce the desired curvature in the first surface.

  3. Aqueous processing of composite lithium ion electrode material

    DOEpatents

    Li, Jianlin; Armstrong, Beth L.; Daniel, Claus; Wood, III, David L.

    2017-06-20

    A method of making a battery electrode includes the steps of dispersing an active electrode material and a conductive additive in water with at least one dispersant to create a mixed dispersion; treating a surface of a current collector to raise the surface energy of the surface to at least the surface tension of the mixed dispersion; depositing the dispersed active electrode material and conductive additive on a current collector; and heating the coated surface to remove water from the coating.

  4. Aqueous processing of composite lithium ion electrode material

    DOEpatents

    Li, Jianlin; Armstrong, Beth L; Daniel, Claus; Wood, III, David L

    2015-02-17

    A method of making a battery electrode includes the steps of dispersing an active electrode material and a conductive additive in water with at least one dispersant to create a mixed dispersion; treating a surface of a current collector to raise the surface energy of the surface to at least the surface tension of the mixed dispersion; depositing the dispersed active electrode material and conductive additive on a current collector; and heating the coated surface to remove water from the coating.

  5. Processing for Highly Efficient AlGaN/GaN Emitters

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-09-09

    effects of SiCl4 plasma treatment and subsequent cleaning in BOE, HCl, and NH4OH solutions on n-GaN and n- AlGaN surfaces using XPS and AES. The...was the as-grown GaN layer without any surface treatment while sample 2 was treated with SiCl4 plasma in a reactive ion etching (RIE) system with a...plasma self-bias voltage of −300 V for 60 s. Samples 3, 4, and 5 were treated with SiCl4 plasma and followed by a 2-min dip in NH4OH, HCl, and BOE

  6. Oxygen Plasma Treatment on 3D-Printed Chitosan/Gelatin/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

    PubMed

    Lee, Chang-Min; Yang, Seong-Won; Jung, Sang-Chul; Kim, Byung-Hoon

    2017-04-01

    The 3D hydroxyapatite/gelatin/chitosan composite scaffolds were fabricated by 3D printing technique. The scaffolds were treated by oxygen plasma to improve the bioactivity and its surface characterization and in vitro cell culture were investigated. The scaffolds exhibited the good porosity and interconnectivity of pores. After oxygen plasma etching, roughness and wettability on the scaffolds surface are increased. Plasma treated scaffolds showed higher proliferation than that of untreated scaffolds. Oxygen plasma treatment could be used as potential tool to enhance the biocompatibility on the 3D composite scaffolds.

  7. Modification of the Steel Surface Treated by a Volume Discharge Plasma in Nitrogen at Atmospheric Pressure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Erofeev, M. V.; Shulepov, M. A.; Ivanov, Yu. F.; Oskomov, K. V.; Tarasenko, V. F.

    2016-03-01

    Effect of volume discharge plasma initiated by an avalanche electron beam on the composition, structure, and properties of the surface steel layer is investigated. Voltage pulses with incident wave amplitude up to 30 kV, full width at half maximum of about 4 ns, and wave front of about 2.5 ns were applied to the gap with an inhomogeneous electric field. Changes indicating the hardening effect of the volume discharge initiated by an avalanche electron beam are revealed in St3-grade steel specimens treated by the discharge of this type.

  8. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of the healing of radial fractures treated with or without Huo-Xue-Hua-Yu decoction therapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Weiwei; Huang, Hao; Chen, Rong; Feng, Shangyuan; Yu, Yun; Lin, Duo; Lin, Jia

    2014-11-01

    This study aimed to assess, through surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, the incorporation of calcium hydroxyapatite (CHA ~960 cm-1) and other biochemical substances in the repair of complete radial fractures in rabbits treated with or without Huo-Xue-Hua-Yu decoction (HXHYD) therapy. A total of 18 rabbits with complete radial fractures were randomly divided into two groups; one group was treated with HXHYD therapy and the other without therapy acted as a control. The animals were sacrificed at 15, 30 and 45 d after surgery. Specimens were routinely prepared for SERS measurement and high quality SERS spectra from a mixture of bone tissues and silver nanoparticles were obtained. The mineral-to-matrix ratios from the control and treated groups were calculated. Results showed that both deposition content of CHA measured by SERS spectroscopy and the mineral-to-matrix ratio in the treated group were always greater than those of the control group during the experiment, demonstrating that HXHYD therapy is effective in improving fracture healing and that SERS spectroscopy might be a novel tool to assess fracture healing.

  9. Novel antioxidant capability of titanium induced by UV light treatment.

    PubMed

    Ueno, Takeshi; Ikeda, Takayuki; Tsukimura, Naoki; Ishijima, Manabu; Minamikawa, Hajime; Sugita, Yoshihiko; Yamada, Masahiro; Wakabayashi, Noriyuki; Ogawa, Takahiro

    2016-11-01

    The intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a representative form of cellular oxidative stress and plays an important role in triggering adverse cellular events, such as the inflammatory reaction and delayed or compromised differentiation. Osteoblastic reaction to titanium with particular focus on ROS production remains unknown. Ultraviolet (UV) light treatment improves the physicochemical properties of titanium, specifically the induction of super hydrophilicity and removal of hydrocarbon, and eventually enhances its osteoconductivity. We hypothesized that there is a favorable regulatory change of ROS production within osteoblasts in contact with UV-treated titanium. Osteoblasts were cultured on titanium disks with or without UV-pretreatment. The intracellular production of ROS was higher on acid-etch-created rough titanium surfaces than on machine-prepared smooth ones. The ROS production was reduced by 40-50% by UV pretreatment of titanium regardless of the surface roughness. Oxidative DNA damage, as detected by 8-OHdG expression, was alleviated by 50% on UV-treated titanium surfaces. The expression of inflammatory cytokines was consistently lower in osteoblasts cultured on UV-treated titanium. ROS scavenger, glutathione, remained more without being depleted in osteoblasts on UV-treated titanium. Bio-burden test further showed that culturing osteoblasts on UV-treated titanium can significantly reduce the ROS production even with the presence of hydrogen peroxide, an oxidative stress inducer. These data suggest that the intracellular production of ROS and relevant inflammatory reaction, which unavoidably occurs in osteoblasts in contact with titanium, can be significantly reduced by UV pretreatment of titanium, implying a novel antioxidant capability of the particular titanium. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Vancomycin-modified implant surface inhibits biofilm formation and supports bone-healing in an infected osteotomy model in sheep: a proof-of-concept study.

    PubMed

    Stewart, Suzanne; Barr, Stephanie; Engiles, Julie; Hickok, Noreen J; Shapiro, Irving M; Richardson, Dean W; Parvizi, Javad; Schaer, Thomas P

    2012-08-01

    Implant-associated infections contribute to patient morbidity and health care costs. We hypothesized that surface modification of titanium fracture hardware with vancomycin would support bone-healing and prevent bacterial colonization of the implant in a large-animal model. A unilateral transverse mid-diaphyseal tibial osteotomy was performed and repaired with a titanium locking compression plate in nine sheep. Four control animals were treated with an unmodified plate and five experimental animals were treated with a vancomycin-modified plate. The osteotomy was inoculated with 2.5 × 106 colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus. The animals were killed at three months postoperatively, and implants were retrieved aseptically. Microbiologic and histologic analyses, scanning electron and confocal microscopy, and microcomputed tomography were performed. All animals completed the study. Compared with the treatment cohort, control animals exhibited protracted lameness in the operatively treated leg. Gross findings during necropsy were consistent with an infected osteotomy accompanied by a florid and lytic callus. Microcomputed tomography and histologic analysis of the tibiae further supported the presence of septic osteomyelitis in the control cohort. Thick biofilms were also evident, and bacterial cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus in three of four control animals. In contrast, animals treated with vancomycin-treated plates exhibited a healed osteotomy site with homogenous remodeling, there was no evidence of biofilm formation on the retrieved plate, and bacterial cultures from only one of five animals were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Vancomycin-derivatized plate surfaces inhibited implant colonization with Staphylococcus aureus and supported bone-healing in an infected large-animal model.

  11. Molecular Beam-Thermal Desorption Spectrometry (MB-TDS) Monitoring of Hydrogen Desorbed from Storage Fuel Cell Anodes

    PubMed Central

    Lobo, Rui F. M.; Santos, Diogo M. F.; Sequeira, Cesar A. C.; Ribeiro, Jorge H. F.

    2012-01-01

    Different types of experimental studies are performed using the hydrogen storage alloy (HSA) MlNi3.6Co0.85Al0.3Mn0.3 (Ml: La-rich mischmetal), chemically surface treated, as the anode active material for application in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The recently developed molecular beam—thermal desorption spectrometry (MB-TDS) technique is here reported for detecting the electrochemical hydrogen uptake and release by the treated HSA. The MB-TDS allows an accurate determination of the hydrogen mass absorbed into the hydrogen storage alloy (HSA), and has significant advantages in comparison with the conventional TDS method. Experimental data has revealed that the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using such chemically treated alloy presents an enhanced surface capability for hydrogen adsorption. PMID:28817043

  12. Effects of materials containing antimicrobial compounds on food hygiene.

    PubMed

    Møretrø, Trond; Langsrud, Solveig

    2011-07-01

    Surfaces with microorganisms may transfer unwanted microorganisms to food through cross-contamination during processing and preparation. A high hygienic status of surfaces that come in contact with food is important in order to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. During the last decade, products containing antimicrobial compounds, such as cutting boards, knives, countertops, kitchen utensils, refrigerators, and conveyor belts, have been introduced to the market, claiming hygienic effects. Such products are often referred to as "treated articles." Here we review various aspects related to treated articles intended for use during preparation and processing of food. Regulatory issues and methods to assess antibacterial effects are covered. Different concepts for treated articles as well as their antibacterial activity are reviewed. The effects of products with antimicrobials on food hygiene and safety are discussed. Copyright ©, International Association for Food Protection

  13. Comparison of the effects of the CO2 laser and chlorohexidine on the decontamination of infected cutaneous wounds: a histologic study in rats.

    PubMed

    Pinheiro, Antonio Luiz B; Cavalcanti Das Neves, Jérläcia; Lisboa De Castro, Jurema Freire; Lima Verde Santos, José Zilton; Da Fonseca Ribeiro De Sena, Kêsia Xisto; Brugnera, Aldo; Zanin, Fátima A; Matos De Oliveira, Marcos André

    2002-06-01

    The aim of this study was to compare histologically the effects of CO2 laser and chlorohexidine gluconate (4%) on Staphylococcus aureus-infected cutaneous wounds. Wound infection constitutes a big risk for patients, and it is usually associated with increased morbidity, mortality and hospital costs. It is accepted that local treatment of these infections is effective. Standardized wounds created on the dorsum of 36 rats were infected with Staphylococcus aureus and treated during 6 days as follows: group I, chlorohexidine gluconate (4%) applied to the wound surface during 1 min during 6 days; group II, single CO2 laser irradiation (8 W, CW, unfocused, 8-cm focal distance, 81,530 W/cm(2)), maintaining surface debris; group III, single CO2 laser irradiation (8 W, CW, unfocused, 8-cm focal distance, 81,530 W/cm(2)), removing the surface debris. Seven days after wounding, the animals were killed and specimens taken for light microscopy. On control wounds, epithelial ulceration and neutrophylic and lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate was observed. On group II, there was epithelial hyperplasia, areas of ulceration and intense neutrophylic and lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate. In group III, there was a neutrophylic inflammatory infiltrate underneath the surface debris and below that intense lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate. When the surface debris was removed (group IV), there was epithelial ulceration and mild lymphoplasmocitary inflammatory infiltrate and fibroblasts and collagen fibers. The results of this study show that infected wounds treated with 4% chlorohexidine show a more pronounced inflammatory reaction when compared to that observed when the CO2 laser is used, especially when surface debris are removed; surface debris removal on laser-treated wounds results in better and more rapid healing; the surface debris may act as a culture medium for bacterial growth or, because of its characteristics, it may act as a local irritant and delay healing.

  14. SU-E-T-09: A Clinical Implementation and Optimized Dosimetry Study of Freiberg Flap Skin Surface Treatment in High Dose Rate Brachytherapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Syh, J; Syh, J; Patel, B

    Purpose: This case study was designated to confirm the optimized plan was used to treat skin surface of left leg in three stages. 1. To evaluate dose distribution and plan quality by alternating of the source loading catheters pattern in flexible Freiberg Flap skin surface (FFSS) applicator. 2. To investigate any impact on Dose Volume Histogram (DVH) of large superficial surface target volume coverage. 3. To compare the dose distribution if it was treated with electron beam. Methods: The Freiburg Flap is a flexible mesh style surface mold for skin radiation or intraoperative surface treatments. The Freiburg Flap consists ofmore » multiple spheres that are attached to each other, holding and guiding up to 18 treatment catheters. The Freiburg Flap also ensures a constant distance of 5mm from the treatment catheter to the surface. Three treatment trials with individual planning optimization were employed: 18 channels, 9 channels of FF and 6 MeV electron beam. The comparisons were highlighted in target coverage, dose conformity and dose sparing of surrounding tissues. Results: The first 18 channels brachytherapy plan was generated with 18 catheters inside the skin-wrapped up flap (Figure 1A). A second 9 catheters plan was generated associated with the same calculation points which were assigned to match prescription for target coverage as 18 catheters plan (Figure 1B). The optimized inverse plan was employed to reduce the dose to adjacent structures such as tibia or fibula. The comparison of DVH’s was depicted on Figure 2. External beam of electron RT plan was depicted in Figure 3. Overcall comparisons among these three were illustrated in Conclusion: The 9-channel Freiburg flap flexible skin applicator offers a reasonably acceptable plan without compromising the coverage. Electron beam was discouraged to use to treat curved skin surface because of low target coverage and high dose in adjacent tissues.« less

  15. The effect of polar end of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers in promoting the superamphiphobic property over multi-scale rough Al alloy surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saifaldeen, Zubayda S.; Khedir, Khedir R.; Camci, Merve T.; Ucar, Ahmet; Suzer, Sefik; Karabacak, Tansel

    2016-08-01

    Rough structures with re-entrant property and their subsequent surface energy reduction with long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers are both critical in developing superamphiphobic (SAP, i.e. both super hydrophobic and superoleophobic) surfaces. However, morphology of the low-surface energy layer on a rough re-entrant substrate can strongly depend on the fluorocarbon oligomers used. In this study, the effect of polar end of different kinds of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers in promoting a self-assembled monolayer with close packed molecules and robust adhesion on multi-scale rough Al alloy surfaces was investigated. Hierarchical Al alloy surfaces with microgrooves and nanograss structures were developed by a simple combination of one-directional mechanical sanding and post treatment in boiling de-ionized water (DIW). Three types of long-chain fluorocarbon oligomers of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTS), 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFDCS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were chemically vaporized onto these rough Al alloy surfaces. The PFDCS exhibited the lowest surface free energy of less than 10 mN/m. The contact angle and sliding angle measurements for water, ethylene glycol, and peanut oil verified the SAP property of hierarchical rough Al alloy surfaces treated with alkylsilane oligomers (PFDTS, PFDCS). However, the hierarchical surfaces treated with fluorocarbon oligomer with polar acidic tail (PFOA) showed highly amphiphobic properties but could not reach the threshold for SAP. Chemical stability of the hierarchical Al alloy surfaces treated with the fluorocarbon oligomers was tested under the harsh conditions of ultra-sonication in acetone and annealing at high temperature after different treatment times. Contact angle measurements revealed the robustness of the alkylsilane oligomers and deterioration of the PFOA coating particularly for low surface tension liquids. The robust adhesion and close-packing of the alkylsilane molecules as well as their vertical orientation with exposure of more CF3 groups instead of CF2 groups due to the polar silane-based tail are believed to be the main reasons behind their improved chemical stability. The selection of fluorocarbon oligomer with proper polar tail which can promote a self-assembled monolayer with close-packed molecules could make it possible for utilizing shorter fluorocarbon oligomers, which is environmentally favorable, to develop high surface energy materials with SAP properties.

  16. 40 CFR 170.150 - Decontamination.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... and temperature that will not cause illness or injury when it contacts the skin or eyes or if it is... worker contacts anything that has been treated with the pesticide, including, but not limited to soil... permitted by § 170.112 and involving contact with treated surfaces and the decontamination supplies would...

  17. PCE/TCE DEGRADATION USING MULCH BIOWALLS

    EPA Science Inventory

    A passive reactive barrier (Biowall) was installed at the OU-1 site at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma to treat TCE contamination in ground water from a landfill. Depth to ground water varies from 1.8 to 2.4 meters below land surface. To intercept and treat the plume of contamin...

  18. Surface modification to waveguides

    DOEpatents

    Timberlake, John R.; Ruzic, David N.; Moore, Richard L.; Cohen, Samuel A.; Manos, Dennis M.

    1983-01-01

    A method of treating the interior surfaces of a waveguide to improve power transmission comprising the steps of mechanically polishing to remove surface protrusions; electropolishing to remove embedded particles; ultrasonically cleaning to remove any residue; coating the interior waveguide surfaces with an alkyd resin solution or electrophoretically depositing carbon lamp black suspended in an alkyd resin solution to form a 1.mu. to 5.mu. thick film; vacuum pyrolyzing the film to form a uniform adherent carbon coating.

  19. Three-species biofilm model onto plasma-treated titanium implant surface.

    PubMed

    Matos, Adaias O; Ricomini-Filho, Antônio P; Beline, Thamara; Ogawa, Erika S; Costa-Oliveira, Bárbara E; de Almeida, Amanda B; Nociti Junior, Francisco H; Rangel, Elidiane C; da Cruz, Nilson C; Sukotjo, Cortino; Mathew, Mathew T; Barão, Valentim A R

    2017-04-01

    In this study, titanium (Ti) was modified with biofunctional and novel surface by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and glow discharge plasma (GDP) and we tested the development of a three-species periodontopatogenic biofilm onto the treated commercially-pure titanium (cpTi) surfaces. Machined and sandblasted surfaces were used as control group. Several techniques for surface characterizations and monoculture on bone tissue cells were performed. A multispecies biofilm composed of Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces naeslundii and Fusobacterium nucleatum was developed onto cpTi discs for 16.5h (early biofilm) and 64.5h (mature biofilm). The number of viable microorganisms and the composition of the extracellular matrix (proteins and carbohydrates) were determined. The biofilm organization was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In addition, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on the Ti surfaces and cell proliferation (MTT) and morphology (SEM) were assessed. MAO treatment produced oxide films rich in calcium and phosphorus with a volcano appearance while GDP treatment produced silicon-based smooth thin-film. Plasma treatments were able to increase the wettability of cpTi (p<0.05). An increase of surface roughness (p<0.05) and formation of anatase and rutile structures was noted after MAO treatment. GDP had the greatest surface free energy (p<0.05) while maintaining the surface roughness compared to the machined control (p>0.05). Plasma treatment did not affect the viable microorganisms counts, but the counts of F. nucleatum was lower for MAO treatment at early biofilm phase. Biofilm extracellular matrix was similar among the groups, excepted for GDP that presented the lowest protein content. Moreover, cell proliferation was not significantly affected by the experimental, except for MAO at 6days that resulted in an increased cell proliferative. Together, these findings indicate that plasma treatments are a viable and promising technology to treat bone-integrated dental implants as the new surfaces displayed improved mechanical and biological properties with no increase in biofilm proliferation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Characterization of physical and biochemical changes in plasma treated spinach seed during germination

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hye Ji, Sang; Ki, Se Hoon; Kang, Min Ho; Choi, Jin Sung; Park, Yeunsoo; Oh, Jaesung; Kim, Seong Bong; Yoo, Suk Jae; Choi, Eun Ha; Park, Gyungsoon

    2018-04-01

    Despite the accumulating data on the effect of plasma on seed germination, mechanisms of plasma action need more extensive research. In a previous study, we observed that high voltage nanosecond pulsed plasma enhanced the germination of spinach seeds and subsequent seedling growth. As a follow-up study, we investigated the physico-chemical, biochemical, and molecular changes in seed after plasma treatment, focusing on the early germination stage, to elucidate mechanism(s) for the stimulating effects of plasma on seed germination. The primary radicle protruded from seeds exposed to high voltage nanosecond pulsed plasma (one shot) slightly faster than the control seeds. The hydrophilicity of the seed surface significantly increased after treatment with high voltage nanosecond pulsed plasma (one shot). However, a very subtle increase in water uptake by plasma treated seeds was observed. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy analyses on chloroform extract of seed coats demonstrated no significant chemical etching on the surface of plasma treated seeds. This may be related to no dramatic increase in water absorption by seeds. The level of GA hormone and starch hydrolysis inside the plasma treated seeds was significantly elevated within 24 h. Taken together, our results suggest that high voltage nanosecond pulsed plasma may not only enhance hydrophilicity of the seed surface but also stimulate biochemical and molecular processes inside seed, leading to enhanced embryonic development.

  1. Validation of TxDOT flexible pavement skid prediction model : project summary.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2017-01-01

    This study had two main objectives: : Investigate and examine surface and friction characteristics of 35 test sections of asphalt mixtures and 35 test sections of surface-treated roads in Texas. The test sections covered a wide range of mixtures ...

  2. Effects of anodizing parameters and heat treatment on nanotopographical features, bioactivity, and cell culture response of additively manufactured porous titanium.

    PubMed

    Amin Yavari, S; Chai, Y C; Böttger, A J; Wauthle, R; Schrooten, J; Weinans, H; Zadpoor, A A

    2015-06-01

    Anodizing could be used for bio-functionalization of the surfaces of titanium alloys. In this study, we use anodizing for creating nanotubes on the surface of porous titanium alloy bone substitutes manufactured using selective laser melting. Different sets of anodizing parameters (voltage: 10 or 20V anodizing time: 30min to 3h) are used for anodizing porous titanium structures that were later heat treated at 500°C. The nanotopographical features are examined using electron microscopy while the bioactivity of anodized surfaces is measured using immersion tests in the simulated body fluid (SBF). Moreover, the effects of anodizing and heat treatment on the performance of one representative anodized porous titanium structures are evaluated using in vitro cell culture assays using human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs). It has been shown that while anodizing with different anodizing parameters results in very different nanotopographical features, i.e. nanotubes in the range of 20 to 55nm, anodized surfaces have limited apatite-forming ability regardless of the applied anodizing parameters. The results of in vitro cell culture show that both anodizing, and thus generation of regular nanotopographical feature, and heat treatment improve the cell culture response of porous titanium. In particular, cell proliferation measured using metabolic activity and DNA content was improved for anodized and heat treated as well as for anodized but not heat-treated specimens. Heat treatment additionally improved the cell attachment of porous titanium surfaces and upregulated expression of osteogenic markers. Anodized but not heat-treated specimens showed some limited signs of upregulated expression of osteogenic markers. In conclusion, while varying the anodizing parameters creates different nanotube structure, it does not improve apatite-forming ability of porous titanium. However, both anodizing and heat treatment at 500°C improve the cell culture response of porous titanium. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. A comparative scanning electron microscopy study between hand instrument, ultrasonic scaling and erbium doped:Yttirum aluminum garnet laser on root surface: A morphological and thermal analysis

    PubMed Central

    Mishra, Mitul Kumar; Prakash, Shobha

    2013-01-01

    Background and Objectives: Scaling and root planing is one of the most commonly used procedures for the treatment of periodontal diseases. Removal of calculus using conventional hand instruments is incomplete and rather time consuming. In search of more efficient and less difficult instrumentation, investigators have proposed lasers as an alternative or as adjuncts to scaling and root planing. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of erbium doped: Yttirum aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser scaling and root planing alone or as an adjunct to hand and ultrasonic instrumentation. Subjects and Methods: A total of 75 freshly extracted periodontally involved single rooted teeth were collected. Teeth were randomly divided into five treatment groups having 15 teeth each: Hand scaling only, ultrasonic scaling only, Er:YAG laser scaling only, hand scaling + Er:YAG laser scaling and ultrasonic scaling + Er:YAG laser scaling. Specimens were subjected to scanning electron microscopy and photographs were evaluated by three examiners who were blinded to the study. Parameters included were remaining calculus index, loss of tooth substance index, roughness loss of tooth substance index, presence or absence of smear layer, thermal damage and any other morphological damage. Results: Er:YAG laser treated specimens showed similar effectiveness in calculus removal to the other test groups whereas tooth substance loss and tooth surface roughness was more on comparison with other groups. Ultrasonic treated specimens showed better results as compared to other groups with different parameters. However, smear layer presence was seen more with hand and ultrasonic groups. Very few laser treated specimens showed thermal damage and morphological change. Interpretation and Conclusion: In our study, ultrasonic scaling specimen have shown root surface clean and practically unaltered. On the other hand, hand instrument have produced a plane surface, but removed more tooth structure. The laser treated specimens showed rough surfaces without much residual deposit or any other sign of morphological change. PMID:24015009

  4. ELECTRODEPOSITION OF NICKEL ON URANIUM

    DOEpatents

    Gray, A.G.

    1958-08-26

    A method is described for preparing uranium objects prior to nickel electroplating. The process consiats in treating the surface of the uranium with molten ferric chloride hexahydrate, at a slightiy elevated temperature. This treatment etches the metal surface providing a structure suitable for the application of adherent electrodeposits and at the same time plates the surface with a thin protective film of iron.

  5. Method for producing hydrophobic aerogels

    DOEpatents

    Hrubesh, Lawrence W.; Poco, John F.; Coronado, Paul R.

    1999-01-01

    A method for treating a dried monolithic aerogel containing non-dispersed particles, with an organometallic surface modifying agent to produce hydrophobic aerogels. The dried, porous hydrophobic aerogels contain a protective layer of alkyl groups, such as methyl groups, on the modified surfaces of the pores of the aerogel. The alkyl groups at the aerogel surface typically contain at least one carbon-metal bond per group.

  6. Cone calorimeter testing of foam core sandwich panels treated with intumescent paper underneath the veneer (FRV)

    Treesearch

    Mark A. Dietenberger; Ali Shalbafan; Johannes Welling

    2017-01-01

    Surfaces of novel foam core sandwich panels were adhered with intumescent fire‐retardant paper underneath the veneers (FRV) to improve their flammability properties. The panels were evaluated by means of cone calorimeter test (ASTM E 1354). Variables tested were different surface layer treatments, adhesives used for veneering, surface layer thicknesses, and processing...

  7. Dilution of Fluon Before Trap Surface Treatment Has No Effect on Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Captures

    Treesearch

    Jeremy D. Allison; Elizabeth E. Graham; Therese M. Poland; Brian L. Strom

    2016-01-01

    Several studies have observed that trap captures of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) can be increased by treating the surface of intercept traps with a lubricant. In addition to being expensive, these treatments can alter the spectral properties of intercept traps when applied neat. These surface treatments, particularly Fluon, are commonly used diluted as...

  8. Distribution of borates around point source injections in wood members exposed outside

    Treesearch

    Rodney C. De Groot; Colin C. Felton; Douglas M. Crawford

    2000-01-01

    In bridge timbers, wood decay is usually found where water has accessed the end-grain surfaces. In preservative-treated members, end-grain surfaces are most likely to be those resulting from on-site framing cuts or borings. Because these at-risk surfaces are easy to see, it seems feasible to establish a program where diffusible preservatives are repetitively inserted...

  9. The Effect of CFRP Surface Treatment on the Splat Morphology and Coating Adhesion Strength

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ganesan, Amirthan; Yamada, Motohiro; Fukumoto, Masahiro

    2014-01-01

    Metallization of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composites aggrandized their application to aircraft, automobile, and wind power industries. Recently, the metallization of CFRP surface using thermal spray technique, especially the cold spray, a solid state deposition technique, is a topic of research. However, a direct cold spray deposition on the CFRP substrate often imposes severe erosion on the surface owing to the high-impact energy of the sprayed particles. This urges the requirement of an interlayer on the CFRP surface. In the present study, the effect of surface treatment on the interlayer adhesion strength is evaluated. The CFRP samples were initially treated mechanically, chemically, and thermally and then an interlayer was developed by atmospheric plasma spray system. The quality of the coating is highly dependent on the splat taxonomy; therefore the present work also devoted to study the splat formation behavior using the splat-collection experiments, where the molten Cu particles impinged on the treated CFRP substrates. These results were correlated with the coating adhesion strength. The coating adhesion strength was measured by pull-out test. The results showed that the surface treatment, particularly the chemical treatment, was fairly successful in improving the adhesion strength.

  10. Effect of surface treatment of fiberglass posts on bond strength to root dentin.

    PubMed

    Valdivia, Andréa Dolores Correia Miranda; Novais, Veridiana Resende; Menezes, Murilo de Sousa; Roscoe, Marina Guimarães; Estrela, Carlos; Soares, Carlos José

    2014-01-01

    This study evaluated the influence of the surface treatments of fiberglass posts on bond strength to root dentin using push-out test. Forty bovine incisor roots were endodontically treated. The surface of the fiberglass posts (Exacto #2, Angelus) were treated using 4 different protocols (n=10): Control - 70% ethanol for 1 min; 37% phosphoric acid for 1 min; 10% hydrofluoric acid for 1 min; and 24% hydrogen peroxide for 1 min. After a silane coupling agent was applied for 1 min and all posts were cemented using self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX Unicem, 3M-ESPE). The roots were sectioned and two 1-mm-thick slices were obtained from each third: cervical, middle and apical. The specimens were subjected to the push-out test with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD tests (=0.05). The surface treatment (p<0.001) and root third region (p=0.007) factors were significant. The retention to root canal was affected by surface treatment type. The post surface treatment with 24% hydrogen peroxide for 1 min yielded significantly higher bond strength when the fiberglass posts were cemented with RelyX Unicem.

  11. Feasibility study of surface-modified carbon cloth electrodes using atmospheric pressure plasma jets for microbial fuel cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Shih-Hang; Liou, Jyun-Sian; Liu, Jung-Liang; Chiu, Yi-Fan; Xu, Chang-Han; Chen, Bor-Yann; Chen, Jian-Zhang

    2016-12-01

    This study investigated the surface and electrochemical properties of carbon cloth electrodes surface-modified by using atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) for applications involving microbial fuel cells (MFCs). APPJ treatment made the carbon cloth highly hydrophilic and did not introduce any observable cracks or flaws. MFCs configured with APPJ-treated carbon cloth electrodes exhibited electrochemical performance (maximum power density of 7.56 mW m-2) superior to that of MFCs configured with untreated carbon cloth electrodes (maximum power density of 2.38 mW m-2). This boost in performance can be attributed to the formation of abundant carboxyl and ammonium functional groups on the surface of APPJ-treated carbon cloth, which promoted the formation of anodic biofilms and the adhesion of bacteria, while facilitating the transfer of electrons from the bacteria to the electrodes. APPJ surface modification is non-toxic and environmentally friendly (no exogenous chemicals are required), which is particularly beneficial as the introduction of toxins might otherwise inhibit bacterial growth and metabolism. The APPJ surface modification process is rapid, cost-effective, and applicable to substrates covering a large area, making it ideal for the fabrication of large-scale MFCs and bioelectrochemical bioenergy devices.

  12. Surface treatment to form a dispersed Y2O3 layer on Zircaloy-4 tubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Yang-Il; Kim, Hyun-Gil; Guim, Hwan-Uk; Lim, Yoon-Soo; Park, Jung-Hwan; Park, Dong-Jun; Yang, Jae-Ho

    2018-01-01

    Zircaloy-4 is a traditional zirconium-based alloy developed for application in nuclear fuel cladding tubes. The surfaces of Zircaloy-4 tubes were treated using a laser beam to increase their mechanical strength. Laser beam scanning of a tube coated with yttrium oxide (Y2O3) resulted in the formation of a dispersed oxide layer in the tube's surface region. Y2O3 particles penetrated the Zircaloy-4 during the laser treatment and were distributed uniformly in the surface region. The thickness of the dispersed oxide layer varied from 50 to 140 μm depending on the laser beam trajectory. The laser treatment also modified the texture of the tube. The preferred basal orientation along the normal to the tube surface disappeared, and a random structure appeared after laser processing. The most obvious result was an increase in the mechanical strength. The tensile strength of Zircaloy-4 increased by 10-20% with the formation of the dispersed oxide layer. The compressive yield stress also increased, by more than 15%. Brittle fracture was observed in the surface-treated samples during tensile and compressive deformation at room temperature; however, the fracture behavior was changed in ductile at elevated temperatures.

  13. [Surface modification of dental alumina ceramic with silica coating].

    PubMed

    Xie, Hai-Feng; Zhang, Fei-Min; Wang, Xiao-Zu; Xia, Yang

    2006-12-01

    To make silica coating through sol-gel process, and to evaluate the wettability of dental alumina ceramic with or without coating. Silica coating was prepared with colloidal silica sol on In-Ceram alumina ceramic surface which had been treated with air particle abrasion. Coating gel after heat treatment was observed with atomic force microscope (AFM), and was analyzed by infrared spectrum (IR) with gel without sintered as control. Contact angles of oleic acid to be finished, sandblasted and coated ceramic surface of were measured. AFM pictures showed that some parts of nano-particles in coating gel conglomerated after heat treatment. It can be seen from the IR picture that bending vibration absorption kurtosis of Si-OH also vanished after heat treatment. Among contact angles of three treated surface, the ones on polished surface were the biggest (P = 0.000, P = 0.000), and sandblasting+silica coating surface the smallest (P = 0.000, P = 0.003). Silica coating can be made with sol-gel process successfully. Heat treatment may reinforce Si-O-Si net structure of coating gel. Wettability of dental alumina ceramic with silica coating is higher than with sandblasting and polishing.

  14. Biodegradation improvement of poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate) films by entomopathogenic fungi and UV-assisted surface functionalization.

    PubMed

    Kessler, Felipe; Marconatto, Leticia; Rodrigues, Roberta da Silva Bussamara; Lando, Gabriela Albara; Schrank, Augusto; Vainstein, Marilene Henning; Weibel, Daniel Eduardo

    2014-01-05

    Ultraviolet (UV)-assisted surface modification in the presence of oxygen was used as initial step to achieve controlled degradation of poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate), PHB, films by entomopathogenic fungi. Treated surfaces were investigated by surface analysis techniques (water contact angle, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflectance mode, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Near-edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure, Gel Permeation Chromatography, Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and weight loss). After the UV-assisted treatments, new carbonyl groups in new chemical environments were detected by XPS and NEXAFS spectroscopy. The oxidizing atmosphere did not allow the formation of CC bonds, indicating that Norrish Type II mechanism is suppressed during or by the treatments. The higher hydrophilicity and concentration of oxygenated functional groups at the surface of the treated films possibly improved the biodegradation of the films. It was observed a clear increase in the growth of this fungus when oxygenated groups were grafted on the polymers surfaces. This simple methodology can be used to improve and control the degradation rate of PHB films in applications that require a controllable degradation rate. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. High temperature gas nitriding and tempering in 17Cr-1Ni-0.5C-0.4V steel

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kong, J. H.; Lee, D. J.; On, H. Y.; Park, S. J.; Kim, S. K.; Kang, C. Y.; Sung, J. H.; Lee, H. W.

    2010-12-01

    High temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) at 1050 °C and tempering of a 17Cr-1Ni-0.5C-0.4V (CNV) steel were experimentally investigated. The phases appearing in the surface layer of the HTGN-treated steel were martensite and austenite with mostly Cr2N precipitates that were formed by permeated nitrogen, and a small amount of Cr23C6 and VN precipitates. The reverse migration of carbon hindered the diffusion of nitrogen when nitrogen permeated from the surface to the interior, which resulted in the accumulation of nitrogen on the outermost surface. The strong affinity between nitrogen and chromium atoms induced the diffusion of chromium from the interior to the surface, leading to the substitution of Cr23C6 for Cr2N. After tempering the HTGN-treated steel at 500 °C, the dense precipitates of Cr2N and the increased martensite phase in the surface layer led to secondary hardening, which increased the hardness value up to 901 Hv.

  16. The effect of packing hydrophilization on bacterial attachment and the relationship with the performance of biotrickling filters.

    PubMed

    Prado, Oscar J; Popat, Sudeep C; Chen, Gexin; Walker, Sharon L; Lafuente, Javier; Gabriel, David; Deshusses, Marc A

    2009-08-15

    Many bioprocesses depend on the effective formation of a biofilm on a solid support. In the present study, three different surface treatments (sandblasting, pure-O(2) plasma, and He-O(2) plasma treatments) were conducted on polypropylene (PP) Pall rings used as a support in biotrickling filters for air pollution control. The intent was to modify the ring surface and/or electrochemical properties in order to possibly improve cell adhesion, wetting properties, and possibly reduce the start-up time and increase the performance of the biotrickling filters. The surface treatments were found to generally increase the hydrophilicity and the zeta potential of the surfaces. However, the startup and performance of lab-scale biotrickling filters packed with treated Pall rings were not significantly different than the control with untreated rings. Cell and colloid deposition experiments conducted in flow cells showed that the treated surfaces and the hydrodynamic conditions were not favorable for cell deposition indicating that there could be significant opportunities for improving packings used in environmental bioprocess applications. Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Use of statistical design of experiments for surface modification of Kapton films by CF4sbnd O2 microwave plasma treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grandoni, Andrea; Mannini, Giacomo; Glisenti, Antonella; Manariti, Antonella; Galli, Giancarlo

    2017-10-01

    A statistical design of experiments (DoE) was used to evaluate the effects of CF4sbnd O2 plasma on Kapton films in which the duration of treatment, volume ratio of plasma gases, and microwave power were selected as effective experimental factors for systematic investigation of surface modification. Static water contact angle (θW), polar component of surface free energy (γSp) and surface O/C atomic ratio were analyzed as response variables. A significant enhancement in wettability and polarity of the treated films compared to untreated Kapton films was observed; depending on the experimental conditions, θW very significantly decreased, showing full wettability, and γSp rose dramatically, up to ten times. Within the DoE the conditions of plasma treatment were identified that resulted in selected optimal values of θW, γSp and O/C responses. Surface chemical changes were detected by XPS and ATR-IR investigations that evidenced both the introduction of fluorinated groups and the opening of the imide ring in the plasma-treated films.

  18. A sampling method to determine insecticide residues on surfaces and its application to food-handling establishments.

    PubMed

    Leidy, R B; Wright, C G; Dupree, H E

    1987-07-01

    Known amounts of acephate, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon were applied to Formica, unfinished plywood, stainless steel, and vinyl tile. Cotton-ball and dental wick materials were dipped in 2-propanol and "swiped" over the treated surface area two time. More acephate was found on the second swipe compared to the first from vinyl tile, similar amounts on both swipes from plywood, and less on the second swipe from formica and stainless steel. The ratio of chlorpyrifos on Swipe 1 compared to Swipe 2 found with cotton-ball on both formica and stainless steel surfaces was equivalent (6:1), but a considerable difference was seen when two dental wick swipes were used. Residues of diazinon removed from formica and stainless steel were equivalent, regardless of the swiping material used. Residues of chlorpyrifos were detected by taking swipes of surfaces in two restaurants and a supermarket up to 6 mo after a prescribed application by a commercial pest control firm. The data show that measurable amounts of chloropyrifos can be detected on surfaces not treated with the insecticide for at least 6 mo.

  19. Surface treatment of alumina-based ceramics using combined laser sources

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Triantafyllidis, D.; Li, L.; Stott, F. H.

    2002-01-01

    Alumina-based refractory materials are extensively used as linings in incinerators and furnaces. These materials are subject to molten salt corrosion and chemical degradation because of the existence of porosity and material inhomogeneity. Efforts to improve the performance of these materials have so far concentrated mainly on the optimisation of the manufacturing processes (e.g. producing denser refractory bricks) and in-service monitoring. Laser surface treatment has also been used to improve performance. The main problem identified with laser surface treatment is solidification cracking due to the generation of very large temperature gradients. The aim of this paper is to investigate the surface modification of alumina-based ceramics by using two combined laser sources in order to control the thermal gradients and cooling rates during processing so that crack formation can be eliminated. The material under investigation is 85% alumina refractory ceramic, used as lining material in incineration plants. The surface morphology and cross-section of the treated samples are analysed using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with single laser beam treated samples.

  20. Shape-Controllable Gold Nanoparticle-MoS2 Hybrids Prepared by Tuning Edge-Active Sites and Surface Structures of MoS2 via Temporally Shaped Femtosecond Pulses.

    PubMed

    Zuo, Pei; Jiang, Lan; Li, Xin; Li, Bo; Xu, Yongda; Shi, Xuesong; Ran, Peng; Ma, Tianbao; Li, Dawei; Qu, Liangti; Lu, Yongfeng; Grigoropoulos, Costas P

    2017-03-01

    Edge-active site control of MoS 2 is crucial for applications such as chemical catalysis, synthesis of functional composites, and biochemical sensing. This work presents a novel nonthermal method to simultaneously tune surface chemical (edge-active sites) and physical (surface periodic micro/nano structures) properties of MoS 2 using temporally shaped femtosecond pulses, through which shape-controlled gold nanoparticles are in situ and self-assembly grown on MoS 2 surfaces to form Au-MoS 2 hybrids. The edge-active sites with unbound sulfurs of laser-treated MoS 2 drive the reduction of gold nanoparticles, while the surface periodic structures of laser-treated MoS 2 assist the shape-controllable growth of gold nanoparticles. The proposed novel method highlights the broad application potential of MoS 2 ; for example, these Au-MoS 2 hybrids exhibit tunable and highly sensitive SERS activity with an enhancement factor up to 1.2 × 10 7 , indicating the marked potential of MoS 2 in future chemical and biological sensing applications.

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