Controlling stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions with lignins through fractionation,functionalization, and formulation

Lignins, heterogeneous assemblies of polyphenolic oligomers present in lignocellulosic plant biomass, are valorized mainly by combustion because of their low solubility in commonly used solvents. However, in addition to antioxidant, anti-UV and antimicrobial properties, and marked interfacial properties are part of lignins physicochemical properties, thus making them good candidates for sustainable colloids. It is hypothesized that lignins solubility and emulsifying performances could be modulated by fractionation, functionalization, and formulation strategies. The importance of the solvent, and of the pH on lignins solubilization in aqueous phase was investigated. Accordingly, simple O/W emulsions stabilized by different lignins were designed and characterized. The whole results demonstrated that lignins solubility in water can be optimized using appropriate co-solvent and pH readjustment resulting in a homogeneous dispersion with only 7.2 ± 1.8% wt/wt of insoluble lignins. Both fractionation and biocatalytic modification of lignins allowed increasing stabilization of the oil–water interface by limiting coalescence (23%–24% of relative increase of the D90) compared with non-fractionated lignins (32%), thus advocating their potential use as multifunctional emulsion stabilizers. As a result, a direct link between the molar mass profile of lignins and their ability to stabilize the oil–water interface as well as to reduce emulsion's sedimentation could be established.     

Conformational and visometric behavior of quaternized polysulfone in dilute solution

Some properties of polysulfone, chlorometylated polysulfone and quaternized polysulfone were studied by viscometry, interferometry and dialysis equilibrium. Modification of intrinsic viscosity, preferential and total adsorbtion coefficients explained the changes of the hydrodynamic dimensions with solvent quality. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46: 827–836, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of thermo-mechanical processing on the corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V alloys in biofluids

Ti6Al4V-ELI alloy was plastically deformed at elevated temperatures in the range of β and α + β fields and was subsequently heat treated; so that five different alloys were obtained. The corrosion resistance of these alloys was studied in Ringer solutions of different pH values using the techniques of electrochemical cyclic potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. All alloys exhibited high corrosion resistance in Ringer solutions for 2000 exposure hours. SEM observations indicated the formation of calcium phosphate on the alloy surface. Two electric equivalent circuits with two time or three time constants were fitted.     

Corrosion behaviour of a new Ti‐6Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy in various solutions

A new Ti‐6Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy was obtained for to satisfy the mechanical and anticorrosion requirements in neutral corrosive environment. The corrosion behaviour of this new Ti‐6Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄, 3% NaCl solutions and synthetic sea water was studied in this paper, using potentiodynamic and linear polarisation method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and monitoring of the open circuit potentials. The structure of the alloy represents an α + β uniform structure with un‐oriented grains. From the potentiodynamic polarisation curves it resulted that the studied alloy is self‐passivated in all three solutions having a very good and very easy tendency to passivation. The most favourable values of the electrochemical parameters were registered in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ solution due to its reduced corrosivity. EIS measurements proved the improvement of the passive layer resistance with the immersion time. An electric equivalent circuit with two time constants was fitted. The values of the polarisation resistances showed very good protective capacities which improved in time. The open circuit potentials have the general tendency to ennoble in time, suggesting the thickening of the passive films and the increase of their protective capacities.     

Thermal degradation and pyrolysis study of phosphorus‐containing polysulfones

This article deals with the thermal decomposition behavior of a polysulfone containing 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide versus the initial chloromethylated polysulfone under an inert atmosphere and in air. Thermogravimetric characteristics from thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry data revealed important differences related to the employed atmosphere, the types of substituted functional groups, or the degree of substitution. The introduction of the 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide pendent group into polysulfone enhanced the thermal stability of the initial chloromethylated polysulfone in both an inert atmosphere and air. Thermal degradation in nitrogen consisted of one degradation step, whereas thermooxidative degradation in air involved more steps. In air, the degradation mechanism was more complex. The volatile products and solid residues that resulted after pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere and in air were analyzed with Fourier transform infrared and mass spectrometry. Environmental scanning electron microscopy showed that the char residues had different morphologies, which suggested that a more compact structure led to better resistance to heat and oxygen. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 000: 000–000, 2011     

Crosslinked polysulfone obtained by Wittig‐Horner reaction in biphase system

Phase transfer catalyzed reactions are often more easily and cheaply performed than conventional method and they are therefore of particular interest. A polysulfone functionalized with phosphonate (2‐PSF) was prepared under phase transfer catalysis (PTC) conditions, and it was evaluated by spectrometric method (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, using potassium bromide (KBr) pellet). The phosphorus content of the modified polysulfone was determined, and it was used for the determination the fraction of repeating units functionalized with phosphonate groups. The modified polysulfone contains 1.40 mmol phosphonate/g polysulfone. Polysulfone functionalized with phosphonate groups and polysulfone functionalized with aldehyde groups (3‐PSF) were used in Wittig‐Horner reaction, to introduce double bonds on polymer and to obtain crosslinked polysulfone (4‐PSF). The reactions were performed using PTC method, solid‐liquid (potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetraethylammonium iodide (TEAI)) system. The structure of polysulfone functionalized with phosphonate groups and polysulfone functionalized with aldehyde group were confirmed by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ³¹P‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The peak for phosphorus in PSF‐phosphonate appears in ³¹P NMR spectrum as a singlet at 25.712 ppm. The thermal properties of aldehyde, phosphonate, and crosslinked polysulfone were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG). Scanning electron microscopy images for polysulfone functionalized with phosphonate and crosslinked polysulfone are in concordance with nitrogen (N₂) adsorption‐desorption isotherms.POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Magnetite nanoparticles for functionalized textile dressing to prevent fungal biofilms development

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential of functionalized magnetite nanoparticles to improve the antibiofilm properties of textile dressing, tested in vitro against monospecific Candida albicans biofilms. Functionalized magnetite (Fe3O4/C18), with an average size not exceeding 20 nm, has been synthesized by precipitation of ferric and ferrous salts in aqueous solution of oleic acid (C18) and NaOH. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and differential thermal analysis coupled with thermo gravimetric analysis were used as characterization methods for the synthesized Fe3O4/C18. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the architecture of the fungal biofilm developed on the functionalized textile dressing samples and culture-based methods for the quantitative assay of the biofilm-embedded yeast cells. The optimized textile dressing samples proved to be more resistant to C. albicans colonization, as compared to the uncoated ones; these functionalized surfaces-based approaches are very useful in the prevention of wound microbial contamination and subsequent biofilm development on viable tissues or implanted devices.     

Characterisation of anodic oxide films formed on titanium and two ternary titanium alloys in hydrochloric acid solutions

The purpose of this paper is to characterise the anodic oxide films formed on titanium and two ternary titanium alloys, Ti‐15Mo‐5Al and Ti‐10Mo‐10Al in 1%, 10% and 20% hydrochloric acid solutions at 25, 50, and 75°C. The anodic film on titanium in hydrochloric acid is stable between + 0.6 V (SCE) and + 2.0 V (SCE). For our new ternary titanium alloys, the passive film is formed at about + 0.6 V (SCE) and is stable to + 2.0 V (SCE). The anodic polarization curves for alloys differ from the base metal curve, presenting two peaks for the critical passivation current density in the active‐passive potential range. At the first current peak (the first critical passivation potential E_cr1) a porous titanium pentaoxide (Ti₃O₅) is formed. When the potential reaches the second current peak (the second critical passivation potential E_cr2) the compact and protective titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is formed. The impedance spectra exhibit the typical behaviour for a passive film i.e. a near capacitive response illustrated by a phase angle close to − 90 ° over a wide frequency range. The oxide film on titanium and its alloys in hydrochloric acid solutions exhibits a high resistance and a low capacitance (with the increase of the potential) attributed to the surface roughness decrease as the oxide layer thickens.     

Electrochemical characterisation of electrodeposited organic coatings

The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the potentiostatic polarization techniques have been used to characterize the organic coatings electrodeposited on carbon steel. The coatings were formed during the cathodic and anodic electrodeposition of the modified epoxy resins on carbon steel samples previously polished and degreased (no primer was used). The experiments were conducted in stagnant, natural aerated 3% NaCl solution under ambient conditions. Analysis of the impedance spectra has established that an electrical equivalent circuit with two time constants fits to describe the electrodeposited epoxy coating/carbon steel system in the electrolyte solution. For the characterisation of the electrodeposited epoxy coatings the physical properties obtained from the principal elements of the equivalent electrical circuit and the electrochemical parameters obtained from the anodic polarization curves were used. It was established that these coatings present good performances characterized by low porosity, low water uptake and few conductive pathways and therefore a high efficiency. The coatings present a good adhesion to the carbon steels substrate; during the exposure period (60 days), no degradation or delamination process could be observed.