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Novel Biomass-Based Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application
PublikacjaA wide range of polymers were prepared from biomass-derivatives, using different polymerization mechanisms. Well-defined, fully hydroxy-functional polyesters based on aliphatic diols were synthesized, using either conventional metal-based catalysts or the organic superbase 1,5,7-triazabicyclododecene (TBD). Unsaturated polyesters were also made, offering additional functionality to these biobased resins. Metal-catalyzed or enzymatic...
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The emissions of monoaromatic hydrocarbons from small polymeric toys placed in chocolate food products
PublikacjaThe article presents findings on the emissions of selected monoaromatic hydrocarbons from children's toys placed in chocolate food products. The emission test system involved the application of a new type of microscale stationary emission chamber, μ-CTE™ 250. In order to determine the type of the applied polymer in the manufacture of the tested toys, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis coupled...
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A new strategy for PET depolymerization: Application of bimetallic MOF-74 as a selective catalyst
PublikacjaLarge-volume production of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), especially in the form of bottles and food packaging containers, causes problems with polymer waste management. Waste PET could be recycled thermally, mechanically or chemically and the last method allows to obtain individual monomers, but most often it is carried out in the presence of homogeneous catalysts, that are difficult to separate and reuse. In view of this,...
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FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and HT-XRD in compatibility study between naproxen and excipients
PublikacjaDetection of incompatibility between an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and excipients, including the selection of the most biopharmaceutical advantageous excipients is extremely important in the pre-formulation process of developing a solid dosage form technology. Therefore, having fast and reliable methods for identifying incompatibility is fundamental in pharmaceutical technology. For this purpose, combined Fourier transform...
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Structure and performance properties of environmentally-friendly biocomposites based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) modified with copper slag and shale drill cuttings wastes
PublikacjaThe potential application of two types of industrial wastes, drill cuttings (DC) and copper slag (CS), as silica-rich modifiers of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) was investigated. Chemical structure and physical properties of DC and CS fillers were characterized using X-ray diffractometer, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, particle size and density measurements. PCL/DC and PCL/CS composites with a variable content of filler (5 to 50...
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Optical Detection of Ketoprofen by Its Electropolymerization on an Indium Tin Oxide-Coated Optical Fiber Probe
PublikacjaIn this work an application of optical fiber sensors for real-time optical monitoring of electrochemical deposition of ketoprofen during its anodic oxidation is discussed. The sensors were fabricated by reactive magnetron sputtering of indium tin oxide (ITO) on a 2.5 cm-long core of polymer-clad silica fibers. ITO tuned in optical properties and thickness allows for achieving a lossy-mode resonance (LMR) phenomenon and it can be...
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Morphology, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Containing Reduced Graphene Oxide and Graphene Nanoplatelets
PublikacjaPolyurethane/graphene nanocomposites were synthesized using commercial thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, Apilon 52DE55), and two types of graphene derivatives: graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy, TEM, and SEM microscopy and XRD techniques were used to chemically and structurally characterize GNP...
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Cellulosic bionanocomposites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and Cuscuta reflexa: adjusting structure-properties balance for higher performance
PublikacjaDesign and manufacture of cellulosic nanocomposites with acceptable performance is in the period of a transition from fantasy to reality. Typically, cellulosic nanofillers reveal poor compatibility with polymer matrices. Thus, adjusting the balance between structure and properties of cellulosic bionanocomposites by careful selection of parent ingredients is the first priority. Herein, we incorporated Cuscuta reflexa derived cellulose...
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Helium-assisted, solvent-free electro-activation of 3D printed conductive carbon-polylactide electrodes
PublikacjaFused filament fabrication is one of the most rapidly developing 3D printing techniques, with numerous applications, including in the field of applied electrochemistry. Here, the utilisation of conductive carbon black polylactic acid (CB-PLA) for 3D printouts is the most promising. To use CB-PLA as an electrode material, an activation process must be performed, removing the polymer matrix and uncovering the electrically conductive...
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Marcin Wekwejt dr inż.
OsobyMarcin Wekwejt, absolwent studiów inżynierskich w inż. biomedycznej (2016; Politechnika Bydgoska im. J. i J. Śniadeckich & Collegium Medicum im. L. Rydygiera), studiów magisterskich w inż. mechaniczno-medycznej (2018; Politechnika Gdańska & Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny) oraz studiów doktoranckich w dyscyplinie inż. materiałowej (2021, Politechnika Gdańska). Uzyskał z wyróżnieniem stopień naukowy doktora nauk inżynieryjno-technicznych...
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Influence of LCVD technologicalparameters on propertiesof polyazomethine thin films
PublikacjaPurpose: The aim of this paper is to show influence of technological parameters (temperature and gas streamintensity) of low-temperature chemical vapour deposition (LCVD) on optical properties and morphology ofpolyazomethine thin films.Design/methodology/approach: Thin layers of poly (1,4-phenylene-methylenenitrilo-1,4-phenylenenitrilo-methylene) (PPI) were prepared by low temperature LCVD method with use of argon as a transport...
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Experimental study on the feasibility of alternative materials for tilting pad thrust bearings operating in transition to mixed friction
PublikacjaIn hydrodynamic bearings traditional bearing alloys: Babbitts and bronzes are most frequently utilized. Polymer sliding layers are sometimes applied as a valuable alternative. Hard diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, which are also considered for certain applications may show some advantages, as well. Although material selection is of secondary importance in a full film lubrication regime it becomes important in mixed friction...
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Eco-friendly modification of bitumen: The effects of rubber wastes and castor oil on the microstructure, processability and properties
PublikacjaThe bitumen industry in the European Union is facing several difficulties, including rising demand, unstable oil supply, rising prices for synthetic polymer modifiers, and a focus on lowering carbon footprint. Bitumen modification with crumb rubber (CR) is one of the most promising solution to these challenges. However, CR-modified bitumen have poor processability and low storage stability. To overcome these flaws we are introducing...
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THE ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF STRESS DISTRIBUTION ON WEAR PROFILE IN LUBRICATED SLIDING CONTACT OF UHMW-PE VS TITANIUM Ti-13Nb-13Zr ALLOY
PublikacjaMetal – polymer sliding contacts are a typical combination in industry and medicine. For decades such a set of materials has been the primary choice in human joints endoprosthetic technology. In this paper tribological issues of are presented from a research on the potential for practical use of Ti-13Nb-13Zr/UHMW-PE couple for orthopedic endoprosthesis. In tests on simplified models it is critically important to carefully...
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Tailoring of SiOC composition as a way to better performing anodes for Li-ion batteries
PublikacjaPolymer derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramics are investigated as potential anodes for lithiumion batteries. Different SiOC ceramics are prepared by pyrolysis (1000 °C and 1400 °C under controlled argon atmosphere) of polysiloxanes ceramic precursors. Preceramic polymers are synthesized using the sol–gel method. Phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTES) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) have been used as starting precursors and mixed with...
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Development of an asymmetric cellulose acetate-ionic liquid P6,6,6,14[PHOS] gel membrane for the perstraction of succinic acid from a model fermentation solution of yarrovia lipolytica
PublikacjaThis study introduces a novel approach to separate succinic acid (SA) from fermentation mixtures using an asymmetric membrane based on the gelation of the ionic liquid [P6,6,6,14][PHOS] coated with two layers of cellulose acetate. The membrane was designed to explore the synergistic effect of polymer-ionic liquid interfaces according to the solution-diffusion theory. The gelation of the ionic liquid was achieved using 12-hydroxystearic...
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Enzyme Conjugation - A Promising Tool for Bio-catalytic and Biotransformation Applications – A Review
PublikacjaEnzymes have revolutionized conventional industrial catalysts as more efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable substitutes that can be used in different biotechnological processes, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Yet, the enzymes from nature are engineered to make them adapt and enhance their durability in the industrial environment. One promising approach involves the combined use of multiple enzymes that catalyze highly...
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Enhancing colloidal stability of nanodiamond via surface modification with dendritic molecules for optical sensing in physiological environments
PublikacjaPre-treatment of diamond surface in low-temperature plasma for oxygenation and in acids for carboxylation was hypothesized to promote the branching density of the hyperbranched glycidol polymer. This was expected to increase the homogeneity of the branching level and suppress interactions with proteins. As a result, composite nanodiamonds with reduced hydrodynamic diameters that are maintained in physiological environments were...
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Fabrication of the cross-linked PVA/TiO2/C nanocomposite membrane for alkaline direct methanol fuel cells
PublikacjaA crosslinked Poly(vinyl alcohol) based composite membrane was developed through a phase inversion process for use in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells (ADMFCs). The titanium dioxide (TiO2) and carbon nanoparticles (NPs) have been incorporated into the PVA polymer matrix to improve the mechanical and thermal properties. The membrane samples were further modified with maleic acid, a carboxylic acid acting as the cross-linker,...
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One More Step Towards a Circular Economy for Thermal Insulation Materials—Development of Composites Highly Filled with Waste Polyurethane (PU) Foam for Potential Use in the Building Industry
PublikacjaThe rapid development of the building sector has created increased demand for novel materials and technologies, while on the other hand resulting in the generation of a severe amount of waste materials. Among these are polyurethane (PU) foams, which are commonly applied as thermal insulation materials. Their management is a serious industrial problem, due to, for example, their complex chemical composition. Although some chemical...
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Investigation on polypropylene friction stir joint: effects of tool tilt angle on heat flux, material flow and defect formation
PublikacjaTool tilt angle (TTA) is a critical factor that can control material flow in polymeric materials' friction stir joining (FSJ). This study selected a TTA range between 0° to 4° for FSJ of polypropylene (PP) polymer sheet. A modified computational fluid dynamic (CFD) technique was implemented to gain a deep understanding of the effects of TTA during FSJ of PP. The PP joint's internal flow, defect formation, heat generation, and tensile...
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Transparent nanocomposite coatings based on epoxy and layered double hydroxide: Nonisothermal cure kinetics and viscoelastic behavior assessments
PublikacjaLayered double hydroxide (LDH) has a particular place in clay family because of its flame retardant action. The nanoplatelet-like structure of LDH makes possible development of polymer composites with cationic or anionic nature structures in which macromolecules are positioned in between nanoplatelet galleries. In this work, neat epoxy and its transparent nanocomposite coatings with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS)-modified...
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Preparation and characterization of dummy-template molecularly imprinted polymers as potential sorbents for the recognition of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers
PublikacjaThe main aim of this work was to conduct the preliminary/basic research concerning the preparation process of a new dummy molecularly imprinted polymer (DMIP) materials. Developed DMIPs were proposed as a sorption material in solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique for recognition of selected low mass polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) e PBDE-47 and PBDE-99. Four new DMIPs were synthesized employing bulky polymerization technique...
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The Use of Organic Coagulants in the Primary Precipitation Process at Wastewater Treatment Plants
PublikacjaMeasurements for determining the effect of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) on the efficiency of pollutant removal from wastewater were carried out using conventional inorganic coagulants PIX113 with polymer A110 (Kemipol, Police, Poland) and unconventional cationic organic coagulants Cofloc (Attana, Coalville, UK) C29510 (Kemipol, Police, Poland) and Sedifloc 575 (3F Chimica, Sandrigo, Italy). The average removal efficiency...
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Coffee Silverskin as a Multifunctional Waste Filler for High-Density Polyethylene Green Composites
PublikacjaThis work aims to describe the coffee silverskin effect as a lignocellulosic waste filler for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites development. The main task was to determine various modification effects resulting from the complex chemical composition of coffee silverskin containing compounds with potential antioxidative properties, including caffeine, polyphenols, tannins, or melanoidins. The processing, thermal, physicochemical,...
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Hybrid metal and non-metal activation of Oxone by magnetite nanostructures co-immobilized with nano-carbon black to degrade tetracycline: Fenton and electrochemical enhancement with bio-assay
PublikacjaElectrochemically synthesized magnetite nanostructures (ESMNPs) as a metal activator and nano-carbon black (NCB) as a non-metal activator were co-immobilized by alginate natural polymer to activate Oxone for the degradation of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic. The formation of sulfate radical was indirectly confirmed during the Oxone/ESMNPs/NCB/alginate process via the addition of scavenging compounds. This study revealed the high...
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A Proposed Soft Computing Model for Ultimate Strength Estimation of FRP-Confined Concrete Cylinders
PublikacjaIn this paper, the feed-forward backpropagation neural network (FFBPNN) is used to propose a new formulation for predicting the compressive strength of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-confined concrete cylinders. A set of experimental data has been considered in the analysis. The data include information about the dimensions of the concrete cylinders (diameter, length) and the total thickness of FRP layers, unconfined ultimate concrete...
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Sustainable upcycling of brewers’ spent grain by thermo-mechanical treatment in twin-screw extruder
PublikacjaThermo-mechanical treatment of brewers’ spent grain (a by-product of beer manufacturing) was successfully performed via the extrusion process. The impact of temperature (from 30 to 180 °C), throughput (from 1 to 5 kg/h) and screw speed (from 75 to 375 rpm) on particle size, color, chemical structure, antioxidant activity and thermal stability of resulting material, as well as correlations between particular properties, were investigated....
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Deep eutectic solvents – A new platform in membrane fabrication and membrane-assisted technologies
PublikacjaDeep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a new class of solvents that can offset some of the primary drawbacks of typical solvents and ionic liquids (ILs). Since DESs fall into the guidelines of “Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry”, their implementation in several types of applications has exponentially increased over the last years. The usage of DESs has been directed to the designing, manufacture and purification of new materials...
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Investigation into the Effect of Spinel Pigments on the Photostability and Combustion Properties of Ethylene-Norbornene Copolymer
PublikacjaMulticolor ethylene-norbornene (EN) composites filled with three different spinel pigments (Cobalt Green-PG50, Zinc Iron Yellow-PY 119, Praseodym Yellow-PY159) were prepared by melt mixing and characterized in terms of their stability under destructive environmental conditions. The EN films were subjected to accelerated aging by ultraviolet (UV) photooxidation for 300 h, 600 h, or 900 h. The mechanical performance of the EN composites...
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Mechanical Properties, Microstructure and Surface Quality of Polypropylene Green Composites as a Function of Sunflower Husk Waste Filler Particle Size and Content
PublikacjaAgricultural waste is a still untapped source of materials that can, in case of proper utilization, significantly improve the sustainability of polymers and their composites. In this work, polymer composites based on isotactic polypropylene were produced incorporating ground sunflower husk in the amount of 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The work’s main objective is to evaluate how preliminary fractioning of this agricultural waste filler affects...
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Synthesis and characterization of biopolyols through biomass liquefaction of wood shavings and their application in the preparation of polyurethane wood composites
PublikacjaThe sustainability of production systems in wood processing, wood industry, and wooden waste disposal is an important issue for European industry and society. Proper development of products based on renewable wood resources gives an opportunity to provide materials with long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This study aims to establish a new way of forestry and agricultural waste materials utilization by...
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Thermoplastic starch nanocomposites using cellulose-rich Chrysopogon zizanioides nanofibers
PublikacjaGreen thermoplastic starch (TPS) nanocomposite films aided by cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from Chrysopogon zizanioides roots were developed and characterized. When compared to other lignocellulosic fibers, Chrysopogon zizanioides roots revealed exceptionally high cellulose content (~48%). CNFs were separated using an environmentally friendly acid isolation technique that included three stages: (i) alkali treatment; (ii) bleaching;...
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Simple synthesis route for fabrication of protective photo‐crosslinked poly(zwitterionic) membranes for application in non‐enzymatic glucose sensing
PublikacjaThis work focuses on the fabrication of non-enzymatic glucose sensing materials based on laser-formed Au nanoparticles embedded in Ti-textured substrates. Those materials possess good catalytic activity toward glucose oxidation in 0.1 × phosphate buffered saline as well as resistance to some interferants, such as ascorbic acid, urea, and glycine. The electrodes are further coated with three different polymers, that is, Nafion,...
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Advancing sustainable hybrid bitumen systems: A compatibilization solution by functionalized polyolefins for enhanced crumb rubber content in bitumen
PublikacjaPolymer waste pollution has a profound effect on the environment and, consequently, on the lifestyle of hu- mankind. The massive production and disposal of cross-linked polymers clearly exemplify the challenges of recycling. Increasing efforts are being undertaken to introduce recycled polymers, especially crumb rubber (CR), into asphalt formulations. Due to the rather poor processability and phase separation associated with CR- modified...
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Application of foam made of post-consumer pet materials for the construction of footbridges
PublikacjaThe article presents the possibility of application in civil engineering of highly ecological PET foam, manufactured from 100% recycled plastic packaging. It may find uses in construction of numerous engineering structures, such as pedestrian and cycle footbridges. Properly processed waste from post-consumer PET packaging may constitute a quality structural core for use in multilayered composite materials, commonly referred to...
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Processing, mechanical and thermal behavior assessments of polycaprolactone/agricultural wastes biocomposites
PublikacjaIn this paper, brewer’s spent grain (BSG) was applied as potential lignocellulose biofiller in biocompos-ites based on polycaprolactone (PCL). The PCL/BSG biocomposites filled with varying content of biofillerswere prepared via low-temperature melt-compounding. These conditions allow limiting thermal degra-dation of used biofillers during processing. The influence of biofiller content (ranging from 25 to 200parts by weight on 100...
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Microwave-Induced Processing of Free-Standing 3D Printouts: An Effortless Route to High-Redox Kinetics in Electroanalysis
Publikacja3D-printable composites have become an attractive option used for the design and manufacture of electrochemical sensors. However, to ensure proper charge-transfer kinetics at the electrode/electrolyte interface, activation is often required, with this step consisting of polymer removal to reveal the conductive nanofiller. In this work, we present a novel effective method for the activation of composites consisting of poly(lactic...
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Engineering boron and nitrogen codoped carbon nanoarchitectures to tailor molecularly imprinted polymers for PFOS determination
PublikacjaPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained significant attention as emerging contaminants due to their persistence, abundance, and adverse health effects. Consequently, the urgent need for ubiquitous and effective sensors capable of detecting and quantifying PFAS in complex environmental samples has become a priority. In this study, we present the development of an ultrasensitive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)...
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Chitosan-Based Membranes as Gentamicin Carriers for Biomedical Applications — Influence of Chitosan Molecular Weight
PublikacjaOver the past decade, much attention has been paid to chitosan as a potential drug carrier because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and antibacterial properties. The effect of various chitosan characteristics on its ability to carry different antibiotics is discussed in the literature. In this work, we evaluated the influence of the different molecular weights of this polymer on its potential as an antibacterial...
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Microcrack monitoring and fracture evolution of polyolefin and steel fibre concrete beams using integrated acoustic emission and digital image correlation techniques
PublikacjaThe use of polymer and steel fibres in plain concrete appears to be an excellent solution for limiting crack propagation and improving the post-ductility performance of concrete structures. Based on this premise, this study investigated the fracture evolution of polyolefin fibre-reinforced concrete (PFRC) and steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) specimens through the integrated application of two diagnostic techniques, acoustic...
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Molecular Design Using Selected Concentration Effects in Optically Activated Fluorescent Matrices
PublikacjaMolecular physics plays a pivotal role in various fields, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, and broader industrial applications. This study aims to enhance the methods for producing specific optically active materials with distinct spectroscopic properties at the molecular level, which are crucial for these sectors, while prioritizing human safety in both production and application. Forensic science, a significant socio-economic...
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Sustainable polymers targeted at the surgical and otolaryngological applications: Circularity and future
PublikacjaThe ongoing climate changes, high air and noise pollution have significant impact on humans’ health. This influence is especially visible in otolaryngology, which focuses on respiratory and hearing systems disfunctions. However, even though surgeries are done in response to diseases related to climate changes, they also have a negative impact on the environment, mostly connected with the inherence of single-use fossil fuel derived...
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Ni-WC/Al2O3 and Ni-WC/MgWO4/MgAl2O4 catalysts for resource recovery via pyrolysis combined with the dry reforming of plastics (PCDR)
PublikacjaPlastic waste (PW) is currently one of an environmental threat. Despite the increasing share of recycled plastics, their disposal remains high. Therefore, there is a high demand for new PW management systems. Among them, pyrolysis combined with dry reforming (PCDR) is an advantageous solution because it allows for resource recovery in the form of gas and liquid fuels, with simultaneous utilization of CO2. To date, catalysts based...
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Ground tire rubber thermo-mechanically devulcanized in the presence of waste engine oil as asphalt modifier
PublikacjaCross-linked elastomers network is main limitation for industrial usage of ground tire rubber (GTR) as asphalts’ and road pavements modifier. GTR was thermo-mechanically devulcanized via extrusion in the presence of waste engine oil (WEO) at temperature ranges from 150 to 280 °C. Combined impact of WEO content and extruder barrel temperature on the change of cross-linked structure of degraded GTR (DTGR) was investigated through...
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Mathematical approach to design 3D scaffolds for the 3D printable bone implant
PublikacjaThis work demonstrates that an artificial scaffold structure can be designed to exhibit mechanical properties close to the ones of real bone tissue, thus highly reducing the stress-shielding phenomenon. In this study the scan of lumbar vertebra fragment was reproduced to create a numerical 3D model (this model was called the reference bone sample). New nine 3D scaffold samples were designed and their numerical models were created....
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PLA–Potato Thermoplastic Starch Filament as a Sustainable Alternative to the Conventional PLA Filament: Processing, Characterization, and FFF 3D Printing
PublikacjaThe growing popularity of the fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing technology in science, industry, and in-home use is associated with an increased demand for high-quality polymer filaments. This study presents an in-depth characterization and analysis of a self-made bio-based polylactide (PLA)/thermoplastic potato starch (TPS) filament dedicated for the FFF 3D printing technology. The obtained results were compared with...
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Thermal-Resistant Polyurethane/Nanoclay Powder Coatings: Degradation Kinetics Study
PublikacjaIn the present study, thermal degradation kinetics of polyurethane (PU) powder coatings reinforced with organo-modified montmorillonite (OMMT) was investigated. PU nanocomposites were prepared in different concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt.% of OMMT via the extrusion method. The microstructure of the nanocomposites was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) illustrating uniform dispersion of OMMT nano-clay platelets in the...
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Dynamic analysis of temporary steel grandstand subjected to human-induced excitations due to jumping
PublikacjaSteel grandstands are structures that are frequently used during sport games and many other non-sporting events, such as festivals, music concerts, or even politicians rallies, with participation of a large number of attendees. Unfortunately, the presence of unexpected excessive dynamic loads due to unpredictable behaviour of spectators (e.g. synchronized harmonic jumping or swaying) may lead to...
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Hybrid TiO2–Polyaniline Photocatalysts and their Application in Building Gypsum Plasters
PublikacjaHybrid materials of conjugated polymer and titanium(IV) oxide have attracted considerable attention concerning their potential benefits, including (i) ecient exploitation of visible light, (ii) a high adsorption capacity for organic contaminants, (iii) and eective charge carriers separation. The new class of the photocatalysts is promising for the removal of environmental pollutants in both aqueous and gaseous phases. For the first...