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Search results for: ScanningElectron Microscope
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Seagrass vegetation and meiofauna enhance the bacterial abundance in the Baltic Sea sediments (Puck Bay)
PublicationThis study presents the first report on bacterial communities in the sediments of eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the shallow southern Baltic Sea (Puck Bay). Total bacterial cell numbers (TBNs) and bacteria biomass (BBM) assessed with the use of epifluorescence microscope and Norland’s formula were compared between bare and vegetated sediments at two localities and in two sampling summer months. Significantly higher TBNs and...
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Raman investigation of the patina layers on Hungarian copper ingots from a fifteenth century shipwreck
PublicationWe report results of the patina study of underwater archeological finding ofmedieval copper objects performed by means of the Raman and complementary spectroscopic techniques. The objects were found submerged in the sea as cargo part of the ship which sunk in the Gulf of Gdańsk in 1408. The excavated collection consists of 230 oval ingots of the size and mass up to about 60 cm and 18 kg (total of 2 tons), respectively. In the Raman...
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Microstructure and mechanical properties of a dissimilar metal welded joint of Inconel 617 and P92 steel with Inconel 82 buttering layer for AUSC boiler application
PublicationThe application of the novel dissimilar metal welded (DMW) joint, utilizing Inconel 617 and P92 steel, was showcased in the advanced ultra-supercritical (AUSC) boiler. The work has been performed to investigate the effect of Inconel 82 (ERNiCr-3) buttering layer on microstructure and mechanical properties (high-temperature tensile strength, impact strength and microhardness) of gas tungsten arc welded (GTAW) dissimilar joint between...
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Fabrication of La-Doped Bi4Ti3O12 Ceramics
PublicationLa-modified Bi4Ti3O12 is a typical ferroelectric, piezoelectric and electro-optic material, having relatively low coercive field, low dielectric constant, high Curie temperature and high breakdown strength. Goal of the present research was to apply mixed oxide method for fabrication of BiTLax ceramics, study its chemical composition, crystalline structure and microstructure. The compound BiTLax for x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 ceramic...
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Influence of microwave treatment conditions of GTR on physico-mechanical and structural properties of NBR/NR/GTR composites
PublicationThe increasing amount of tires used in the industry induces the researchers to find alternatives to the recycling of the end-of-life tires. Several alternatives in order to application of ground tire rubber GTR include their incorporation as a filler in composites. The main issue in this approach is the lack of compatibility between GTR and polymer matrix. In order to solve this problem the devulcanization by microwaves has been...
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Nanocrystalline diamond sheets as protective coatings for fiber-optic measurement head
PublicationFiber-optic sensors find numerous applications in science and industry, but their full potential is limited because of the risk of damaging the measurement head, in particular, due to the vulnerability of unprotected tips of the fiber to mechanical damage and aggressive chemical agents. In this paper, we report the first use of a new nanocrystalline diamond structure in a fiber-optic measurement head as a protective coating of...
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Thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties of Fe2O3–PbO–SiO2 glass prepared by traditional melt-quenching and twin roller fast-cooling methods
PublicationIn this study, Fe–Pb–Si oxide glasses containing between 12.5 and 17.5 mol% Fe2O3 were prepared using two different methods comprising traditional melt-quenching and twin roller fast-cooling techniques. The topography and structure of the materials obtained were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. All of the materials were found to be amorphous. The topography of most of the glasses comprised...
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In-situ odd random phase electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study on the electropolymerization of pyrrole on iron in the presence of sodium salicylate – The influence of the monomer concentration
PublicationIn this work, the potentiostatic electropolymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) on iron in aqueous solution of sodium salicylate and pyrrole is studied in situ by odd random phase electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ORP-EIS). The influence of the pyrrole concentration on the electrosynthesis process is investigated. The ORP-EIS technique ensures a reliable analysis of the PPy electrosynthesis on iron by means of an advanced data...
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Effective Drug Concentration and Selectivity Depends on Fraction of Primitive Cells
PublicationPoor efficiency of chemotherapeutics in the eradication of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) has been driving the search for more active and specific compounds. In this work, we show how cell density-dependent stage culture profiles can be used in drug development workflows to achieve more robust drug activity (IC50 and EC50) results. Using flow cytometry and light microscopy, we characterized the cytological stage profiles of the HL-60-,...
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Free-standing TiO2 nanotubes decorated with spherical nickel nanoparticles as a cost-efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction
PublicationHere, we report significant activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of spherical nickel nanoparticles (NPs) electrodeposited onto free-standing TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) via cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that simple manipulation of processing parameters, including scan rate and number of cycles, allows for formation of the NPs in various diameters and amounts. The polarization data with respect to transmission electron...
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The influence of polypropylene-block/graft-polycaprolactone copolymers on melt rheology, morphology, and dielectric properties of polypropylene/polycarbonate blends
PublicationThe paper discusses the relationship between rheology and morphology of immiscible polypropylene (matrix))/polycarbonate (dispersed phase) blends compatibilized with novel polypropylene-polycaprolactone block and graft copolymers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiments revealed uniform droplet morphologies and a reduction of the average size of the dispersed phase upon addition of the compatibilizer. The results suggested...
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Electrochemical performance of thin free-standing boron-doped diamond nanosheet electrodes
PublicationIn the following work we describe preparation and the electrochemical performance of thin and free-standing heavy boron-doped diamond (BDD) nanosheets. The investigated foils were deposited on Ta substrate using microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (MPECVD). Foils of two B-dopant densities were investigated, obtained on the base of 10 k and 20 k ppm [B]/[C] ratio in the gas admixture. The obtained foils...
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Copolymerization of Styrene and Pentadecylphenylmethacrylate (PDPMA): Synthesis, Characterization, Thermomechanical and Adhesion Properties
PublicationThe copolymerization of styrene (St) with a bioderived monomer, pentadecylphenylmethacrylate (PDPMA), via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was studied in this work.The copolymerization reactivity ratio was calculated using the composition data obtained from1HNMR spectroscopy, applying Kelen-Tudos and Finemann-Ross methods. The reactivity ratio of styrene (r1=0.93) and PDPMA (r2=0.05) suggested random copolymerization...
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Theoretical and Experimental Studies on the Visible Light Activity of TiO2 Modified with Halide-Based Ionic Liquids
PublicationFormation of a surface complex between organic molecules and TiO2 is one of the possible strategies for the development of visible light-induced TiO2 photoactivity. Herein, three ionic liquids (ILs) with the same cation and dierent anions (1-butylpirydynium chloride/bromide/iodide) have been applied for the surface modification of TiO2 and to understand the role of anions in visible light-induced activity of ILs-TiO2 systems. Photocatalytic...
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The In-Depth Studies of Pulsed UV Laser-Modified TiO2 Nanotubes: The Influence of Geometry, Crystallinity, and Processing Parameters
PublicationThe laser processing of the titania nanotubes has been investigated in terms of morphology, structure, and optical properties of the obtained material. The length of the nanotubes and crystallinity, as well as the atmosphere of the laser treatment, were taken into account. The degree of changes of the initial geometry of nanotubes were checked by means of scanning electron microscopy, which visualizes both the surface and the cross-section....
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Labellum and gynostemium micromorphology in Polystachya (Orchidaceae)
PublicationPolystachya is a large, pantropical orchid genus of 200 species, most of which occur as epiphytes in sub-saharan Africa. The three-lobed labellum of most Polystachya species possesses a fleshy callus and various types of trichomes and papillae. In this paper, we present the results of micromorphological studies on the labellum of 20 species, representing eight of the 13 sections in the genus, using scanning electron microscopy...
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Impact of spraying commercial Bentonite Nanoclay on fortification of the mortar as Nano Sprying Technique (NST) in heritages and historical buildings
PublicationSpraying Bentonite NanoClay as an innovative idea satisfied an urgent need for conservation of historical brick constructions. This research explores the application of Nanotechnology as a Nano-Geotechnics (NaG) and Nano Ground Improvement (NGI) techniques for fortifying the mortar between bricks in historical buildings against some environmental erosive factors. Bentonite Nanoparticles were selected because of their compatibility...
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Impact of low-temperature sintering on the Fe-based amorphous coatings
PublicationBulk metallic glasses (BMGs) have gained a lot of attention in recent years due to their outstanding properties such as high hardness and excellent wear and corrosion resistance. However, they are restricted in industrial applications due to their extreme brittleness. Iron based amorphous coatings from BMGs are the best solution to use them by overcoming the problem of extreme brittleness. The coatings can be sprayed by various...
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Comparative Assessment of Bacteriophage and Antibiotic Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
PublicationProblems connected with biofilm-related infections and antibiotic resistance necessitate the investigation and development of novel treatment strategies. Given their unique characteristics, one of the most promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics are bacteriophages. In the in vitro and in vivo larva model study, we demonstrate that phages vB_SauM-A, vB_SauM-C, and vB_SauM-D are effective antibiofilm agents. The exposure...
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Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of inorganic-organic hybrid consisting of BiVO4 and PEDOT:PSS
PublicationThe PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)) was electrodeposited on a thin layer of bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) prepared using the pulsed laser deposition technique onto FTO. The inorganic-organic junction was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and sc anning electron microscopy. Chronoamperometry curves, recorded under simulated solar light illumination,...
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Cyclic behavior of FeCoCrNiMn high entropy alloy coatings produced through cold spray
PublicationeCoCrNiMn high entropy alloy powders were employed to produce coatings on carbon steel through high pressure cold spray (at 1100 °C and 7 MPa in temperature and pressure respectively). X-ray diffraction of the sprayed material revealed a dense coating with the retention of the original crystallographic structure. Once splatted, particles revealed high flattening ratio with consequent excellent adhesion of the coating to the substrate....
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Experimental review of the performances of protective coatings for interconnects in solid oxide fuel cells
PublicationFerritic stainless steel interconnects are used in solid oxide fuel cells; however, coatings are required to improve their performance. Although several types of coatings have been proposed, they have been scarcely investigated under similar conditions. This study compares the characteristics of uncoated Crofer 22 APU and eight different coatings on Crofer 22 APU for up to 3000 h at 800 ◦C. The coatings were deposited at various...
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The Effect of Sodium Tetrafluoroborate on the Properties of Conversion Coatings Formed on the AZ91D Magnesium Alloy by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation
PublicationMagnesium and its alloys are widely used in many areas because of their light weight, excellent dimensional stability, and high strength-to-weight ratio. However, the material exhibits poor wear and corrosion resistance, which limits its use. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is an effective surface modification method for producing ceramic oxide layers on Mg and their alloys. The influence of the additions of sodium tetrafluoroborate...
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The Effect of Titanium Oxyfluoride Morphology on Photocatalytic Activity of Fluorine-Doped Titanium(IV) Oxide
PublicationTitanium oxyfluoride (TiOF2) is a metastable product that can be obtained in a fluorine-rich environment. This material can also be a valuable precursor in the synthesis of titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2). However, the effect of TiOF2 morphology on the physicochemical properties of TiO2 has not been studied so far. In this work, single-phase TiOF2 was prepared by a solvothermal method. The as-synthesized samples exhibited a variety of...
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Impact of strontium non-stoichiometry of SrxTi0.3Fe0.7O3-δ on structural, electrical, and electrochemical properties for potential oxygen electrode of intermediate temperature solid oxide cells
PublicationThis work presents the results of a comprehensive study on the impact of the A-site non-stoichiometry of SrxTi0.3Fe0.7O3-δ (x = 0.90, 0.95, 1.00, 1.05) ceramics on their physicochemical properties. The materials were fabricated by the conventional solid-state reaction method and their structure was determined by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Their sintering and thermal expansion...
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Structural and electronic properties of diamond-composed heterostructures
PublicationDiamond is a promising material for 21st century electronics due to its high thermal and electronic conductivity, biocompatibility, chemical stability, high wear resistance, and possibility of doping. However, the semiconductor properties of diamond, especially free-standing films, have not been fully explored. Nor have their integration with polymers and fragile materials and their applications as electronic components. In this...
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Cyclic deformation and fracture behaviour of additive manufactured maraging steel under variable-amplitude loading
PublicationThe cyclic deformation and fracture behaviour of 18Ni300 maraging steel produced by laser beam powder bed fusion is studied under variable-amplitude loading. The tests were conducted under fully-reversed strain-controlled conditions with a loading sequence comprising three ascending cycles and three descending cycles repeated sequentially until failure. After the tests, fracture surfaces were examined using height and volume surface...
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Variations in host surfaces morphology and biology of ciliate epibionts explaining distribution pattern of epibionts in the invasive signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852)
Publicationciliates on the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus in relation to specialized structures of the host’s exoskeleton for the first time. This species is known to maintain a relatively clean carapace, but it is sometimes overgrown by other organisms. Epibionts cover different parts of the signal crayfish body, mainly antennae, antennules, maxillipedes III and pereiopods with inner edges of chelae; however, some parts of the...
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Influence of Urea and Dimethyl Sulfoxide on K-Peptide Fibrillation
PublicationProtein fibrillation leads to formation of amyloids—linear aggregates that are hallmarks of many serious diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In this work, we investigate the fibrillation of a short peptide (K-peptide) from the amyloidogenic core of hen egg white lysozyme in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide or urea. During the studies, a variety of spectroscopic methods were used: fluorescence spectroscopy...
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Effect of sisal fiber filler on thermal properties of bio-based polyurethane composites
PublicationThis work is mainly focused on study of thermal and thermomechanical properties of obtained bio-based polyurethane (coded as bio-PU) composites via using different types of bio-components (bio-glycol, modified soybean oil and sisal fiber) in the procedure. The chemical structure, morphology and mechanical properties were also investigated and described in this manuscript in order to know more perfect characterization of produced...
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Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Pt/I-TiO2 in a slurry system and supported on glass packing
PublicationHighly photoactive I/TiO2, Pt/I-TiO2 nanocomposites were obtained using a hydrothermal and wet impregnation method. The incorporation of iodine and modification with 0.05 mol% of platinum leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared to singly doped TiO2 due to the presence of impurity energy level in the structure of TiO2. X-ray diffraction, TEM microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and BET...
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Synthesis of Phosphonated Carbon Nanotubes: New Insight into Carbon Nanotubes Functionalization
PublicationCarbon nanotubes were successfully functionalized for the first time in a free radical phosphonylation reaction. Three synthetic protocols were proposed. Carbon nanotubes and diethylphosphite reacted in the presence of known radical initiator, such as azobisisobutyronitrile, single electron oxidant—Mn(OAc)3, or under UV radiation. The functionalized material was fully characterized by means of spectroscopic methods, together with...
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On thermal stability of piezo-flexomagnetic microbeams considering different temperature distributions
PublicationBy relying on the Euler–Bernoulli beam model and energy variational formula, we indicate critical temperature causes in the buckling of piezo-flexomagnetic microscale beams. The corresponding size-dependent approach is underlying as a second strain gradient theory. Small deformations of elastic solids are assessed, and the mathematical discussion is linear. Regardless of the pyromagnetic effects, the thermal loading of the thermal...
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The Quaternization Reaction of 5-O-Sulfonates of Methyl 2,3-o-Isopropylidene-β-D-Ribofuranoside with Selected Heterocyclic and Aliphatic Amines
PublicationThe synthesis of N-((methyl 5-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-D-ribofuranoside)-5-yl) ammonium salts are presented. To determine the effect of the nucleophile type and outgoing group on the quaternization reaction, selected aliphatic and heterocyclic aromatic amines reacted with: methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-tosyl-β-D-ribofuranoside or methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-mesyl-β-D -ribofuranoside or methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-triflyl-β-D-ribofuranoside...
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The Influence of Stretch Rod Speed on the Relationship between Preblown Bottle Aesthetic Quality and Final Blown Bottle Thickness Profile in Stretch Blow Molding from Preform Process
PublicationFrom a mechanical point of view, the aesthetic quality of preblown PET bottles and thickness profile of final blown PET bottles manufactured in ISBM process are determined by mechanical and thermal response of blown preforms. From the microscopic point of view the biggest influence on the mechanical and thermal properties of PET bottles have orientation and crystallization processes. From a technological point of view, the aesthetic...
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Instantaneous impedance monitoring of synergistic effect between cavitation erosion and corrosion processes
PublicationThe most common method of determination of cavitation erosion resistance as well as the magnitude of erosion-corrosion synergistic interaction is based on the weight loss measurements. Nondestructive characterization of installations elements is in most cases impossible to perform. Also, such a measurement does not include local types of failure or alteration of operating conditions. There is an urge to elaborate a method for monitoring...
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Dynamics of Chains as a Tool to Study Thermomechanical Properties of Proteins.
PublicationPolymer dynamics can be formulated on different levels of detail. One approach eliminates microscopic degrees of freedom and a polymer molecule is represented by a simplified structure—a chain. In the simplest case monomers of ideal chain have fixed length, and their orientation is independent of the orientations and positions of neighbouring monomers. This is reason that two monomers can co-exist at the same place. Ideal chain...
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Measurements of fundamental properties of homogeneous tissue phantoms
PublicationWe present the optical measurement techniques used in human skin phantom studies. Their accuracy and the sources of errors in microscopic parameters’ estimation of the produced phantoms are described. We have produced optical phantoms for the purpose of simulating human skin tissue at the wavelength of 930 nm. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the thickness and surface roughness and to detect the internal inhomogeneities....
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Up-conversion white emission and other luminescence properties of a YAG:Yb2O3·Tm2O3·Ho2O3@SiO2 glass-nanocomposite
PublicationWe report on a glass-nanocomposite material consisting of yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12, YAG) nanocrystals co-doped with Yb3+, Tm3+ and Ho3+ ions as well as entrapped into a SiO2 xerogel. This 94YAG·5Yb2O3·0.8Tm2O3·0.2Ho2O3@SiO2 (abbr. YAG:YbTmHo@SiO2) nanocomposite material has been prepared by sol–gel procedure. Its structure and morphology has been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope...
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Biological and mechanical properties of bone cement with nanoarticles - in vitro and in vivo research
PublicationDespite antibiotic preventive treatment both before and after implant implementation, the risks of infection are real. These infections develop at the implant surface a few months after inserting them into the body. To prevent the development of bacteria and reduce the risk of infection, implants coated with nanoparticles are used. The Mechanical Department of the Technical University of Gdansk carries out research into using bone...
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Classification of submandibular salivary stones based on ultrastructural studies
PublicationIntroduction: Sialolithiasis remains a clinical problem with unclear etiopathogenesis, lack of prevention methods, and only surgical treatment. Materials and methods: An ultrastructure examination of submandibular sialoliths obtained from patients with chronic sialolithiasis was conducted using a scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron...
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Evaluation of the photoprotective effect of β-cyclodextrin on the emission of volatile degradation products of ranitidine
PublicationThe process of the photo-excitation of ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN) in a solid state makes visible changes to its colour and generates an unpleasant odour. The purpose of the present study was to observe the protective effects of ˇ-cyclodextrin (CD) complexation as well as the effect of the mixture of two stoichiometries 1:1 and 1:2 (RAN:CD, IC) on the photostability of samples in a solid state. Samples of inclusion complexes...
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Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials—PLA and PETG—For Biomechanical Applications
PublicationThe study presented herein concerns the mechanical properties of two common polymers for potential biomedical applications, PLA and PETG, processed through fused filament fabrication (FFF)—Material Extrusion (ME). For the uniaxial tension tests carried out, two printing orientations—XY (Horizontal, H) and YZ (Vertical, V)—were considered according to the general principles for part positioning, coordinates, and orientation typically...
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A facile approach to fabricate load-bearing porous polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering
PublicationBiodegradable porous scaffolds with oriented interconnected pores and high mechanical are load-bearing biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Herein, we report a simple, non-toxic, and cost-effective method to fabricate high-strength porous biodegradable scaffolds, composed of a polymer matrix of polycaprolactone (PCL) and water-soluble poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) as a sacrificial material by integrating annealing treatment,...
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Evaluation of the photoprotective effect of ˇ-cyclodextrin on the emission of volatile degradation products of ranitidine
PublicationThe process of the photo-excitation of ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN) in a solid state makes visible changes to its colour and generates an unpleasant odour. The purpose of the present study was to observe the protective effects of ˇ-cyclodextrin (CD) complexation as well as the effect of the mixture of two stoichiometries 1:1 and 1:2 (RAN:CD, IC) on the photostability of samples in a solid state. Sam- ples of inclusion complexes...
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Effect of kenaf fibre modification on morphology and mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane materials
PublicationThe presented study examined the morphology and mechanical properties of biocomposites obtained from kenaf natural fibre and thermoplastic polyurethane. Kenaf was modified using various methods, namely: acetylation, blocked isocyanate, maleic anhydride and permanganate treatment. Those methods and ways of carrying out of surface modifications were not studied before on kenaf/thermoplastic polyurethane composites. Different fibre...
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Cure Index demonstrates curing of epoxy composites containing silica nanoparticles of variable morphology and porosity
PublicationAn image was taken by Cure Index on curability of epoxy with silica nanoparticles having variable morphology and porosity. Three kinds of silica nanoparticles with non-porous curved-rod, non-porous spherical, and mesoporous spherical microstructures were synthesized and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses. Epoxy nanocomposites containing...
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Evolution of magnetic and transport properties in (Cr1−xMnx)2AlC MAX-phase synthesized by arc melting technique
PublicationHerein we initiate a comeback to the arc melting technique to produce MAX-phase solid solutions. Bulk samples of (Cr1−xMnx)2AlC MAX-phase with X = 0, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 were synthesized and studied by means of X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Samples were established to be homogeneous with an incorporation of Cr7C3, AlCr2 and Al2O3 secondary phases which...
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Preparation and Characterization of Microsphere ZnO ALD Coating Dedicated for the Fiber-Optic Refractive Index Sensor
PublicationWe report the fabrication of a novel fiber-optic sensor device, based on the use of a microsphere conformally coated with a thin layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) by atomic layer deposition (ALD), and its use as a refractive index sensor. The microsphere was prepared on the tip of a single-mode optical fiber, on which a conformal ZnO thin film of 200 nm was deposited using an ALD process based on diethyl zinc (DEZ) and water at 100 °C....
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Effect of Semiconductor Element Substitution on the Electric Properties of Barium Titanate Ceramics
PublicationThe investigated ceramics were prepared by a solid-state reaction from simple oxides and carbonates with the use of a mixed oxide method (MOM). The morphology of BaTi0.96Si0.04O3 (BTSi04) ceramics was characterised by means of a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that Si+4 ion substitution supported the grain growth process in BT-based ceramics. The EDS results confirmed the high purity and expected quantitative composition...