The characterisation and performance of Ce(dbp)3-inhibited epoxy coatings

Cerium dibutyl phosphate (Ce(dbp)₃) was tested as a replacement for chromate corrosion inhibitors in a two-component epoxy applied to AA2024-T3 aluminium alloy. The interaction of the Ce(dbp)₃ with the epoxy-amine functionalities were investigated using FTIR. Water uptake and Ce release were studied using weight gain and ICP-AES analyses, respectively. Corrosion resistance was assessed using filiform testing. It was found that the filiform corrosion resistance increased with increasing Ce(dbp)₃ loading, and the best performance was obtained for the highest loading. The primer also showed improved wet adhesion. It was found using SEM and TEM that the corrosion protection offered by the Ce(dbp)₃-inhibited epoxy and the improved wet adhesion were due to the development of an interfacial oxide at the metal/primer interface.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Curcumin in Nanoformulations: A Comprehensive Review

Curcumin (CUR) is a natural substance extracted from turmeric that has antimicrobial properties. Due to its ability to absorb light in the blue spectrum, CUR is also used as a photosensitizer (PS) in antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT). However, CUR is hydrophobic, unstable in solutions, and has low bioavailability, which hinders its clinical use. To circumvent these drawbacks, drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been used. In this review, we summarize the DDSs used to carry CUR and their antimicrobial effect against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, including drug-resistant strains and emergent pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. The reviewed DDSs include colloidal (micelles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, cyclodextrins, chitosan, and other polymeric nanoparticles), metallic, and mesoporous particles, as well as graphene, quantum dots, and hybrid nanosystems such as films and hydrogels. Free (non-encapsulated) CUR and CUR loaded in DDSs have a broad-spectrum antimicrobial action when used alone or as a PS in aPDT. They also show low cytotoxicity, in vivo biocompatibility, and improved wound healing. Although there are several in vitro and some in vivo investigations describing the nanotechnological aspects and the potential antimicrobial application of CUR-loaded DDSs, clinical trials are not reported and further studies should translate this evidence to the clinical scenarios of infections.     

Acidic Characterization of Copper Oxide and Niobium Pentoxide Supported on Silica–Alumina

Copper oxide and niobium pentoxide were supported on silica–alumina with 2, 5, 10, 15 and 25 mass% loadings and 1:1 mass ratio of CuO:Nb₂O₅. XRD and BET measurements confirmed that monolayer coverage is reached with loadings between 5–10 mass% (～308 m² g^?1). The DRIFTS spectra of pyridine adsorbed catalysts showed bands associated with Brönsted, Lewis and a combination of both acidic sites. Thermal analysis and liquid phase microcalorimetry provided the parameters for the best catalyst (10 mass%), which has the highest number of acidic sites (0.38 mmol g^?1) and enthalpies of interaction with pyridine for Brönsted and Lewis sites (ΔH₁ = ?107.5 and ΔH₂ = ?64.4 kJ mol^?1, respectively).     

Mechanical and crystallographic properties of injection‐molded polyamide 66/sepiolite nanocomposites with different clay loading

Polyamide66 (PA66) and polyamide66/sepiolite (PA66/sepiolite) nanocomposites at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 wt% clay loading were prepared and injected to simulate industrial processing. Tensile tests were performed in the samples, and scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the fracture surface. The samples were also examined by X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and vibrational spectroscopy analysis (FT‐IR and FT‐Raman). Higher tensile strength and stiffness and reduction of the strain to failure are observed in the nanocomposites with higher sepiolite content. Two‐dimensional XRD analyses show that the sepiolite also enhances the orientation of PA66 crystals. XRD and spectroscopic analyses corroborate that the nanoclay fibers are placed between the lamellar superstructure of the PA66 without affecting the polymer chains. DSC confirms that the presence of sepiolite does not influence the crystallinity nor the nucleation of PA66 as the arrangement of the fibers between the PA66 lamellae hinders the nucleation of new crystals. We propose a model for the crystallographic organization of the organic and inorganic phases in the PA66/sepiolite nanocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:2326–2333, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A New Alternative for Obtaining Nanocrystalline Bioactive Coatings: Study of Hydroxyapatite Deposition Mechanisms by Cold Gas Spraying

The present article is intended to study the deposition mechanisms of bioactive hydroxyapatite (HA) particles by means of Cold Gas Spraying (CGS). A comparison of the deposition on two different substrates (Ti6Al4V and Al7075T6) and different particle sizes is presented. Although this is a more specific deposition technique for ductile materials, it is here shown that, in certain conditions, ceramic deposition is possible despite the inherent low ductility. The resulting internal structure and the features at the particle–substrate interface are discussed in view of Transmission Electron Microscopy examinations of a Focused Ion Beam lift‐out prepared sample. Mainly, under shock compressive loading, the porous sintered powder proceeds through pore collapse, fragmentation and densification as well as grain refinement. The process is described through different plastic mechanisms in ceramics. This opens a new alternative route to produce nanocrystalline HA coatings through a cost‐effective process.     

Dispersion of graphite flakes into boehmite sols for the preparation of bi-layer-graphene / alumina coatings on stainless steel for tribological applications

Carbon-alumina coatings on stainless steel were prepared by a sol-gel route. The dispersion of the commercial graphite flakes by an ultrasonic bath, an ultrasonic probe and a high-shear mixer, produce thinner flakes, few-layered-graphene and bi-layer-graphene (BLG), respectively. The coatings were examined by optical and electron microscopy, interferential rugosimetry, optical profilometry and Raman spectroscopy. The friction coefficient against a steel ball is decreased by a factor of 5–7 and the wear volume is reduced by a factor of 6–38 compared to a pure alumina coating. The best results correspond to the sample prepared using the high-shear mixer. Delamination of the graphite flakes into BLG during the friction test provides the system with debris suitable for tribofilm building up and lubrication but it is better to already have carbon dispersed as BLG in the coating before the test, notably because the carbon surface area available is much higher.     

Electrochemical recycling of cobalt from spent cathodes of lithium-ion batteries: its application as supercapacitor

The supercapacitive behavior of the metallic cobalt recycled from Li-ion batteries has been studied in this work. The reversibility of both redox process (Co^II/Co^III) and (Co^III/Co^IV) in KOH 6 mol L⁻¹ is very high and promising for capacitive applications in electrochemical devices. The specific capacitances calculated from cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy show a good agreement, giving the value of 625 Fg⁻¹. The electrode morphology presents a high porosity, thus an electrical equivalent circuit composed of two parallel resistance and capacitance elements in series was proposed. The specific capacitance values calculated from charge/discharge curves at 0.23 and 2.3 mA/cm² are 601 and 384 Fg⁻¹, respectively. Thereby, it was observed that metallic cobalt recycled from ion-Li batteries is compatible with other supercapacitive materials. This shows that cobalt recycling from Li-ion batteries is economically and environmentally viable for application in supercapacitor devices.     

Processability of PVC plastisols containing a polyhydroxybutyrate‐polyhydroxyvalerate copolymer

Plastisols based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be processed by different techniques; their processability markedly depends on their flow properties and gelation/fusion processes. Classically, PVC has been the only polymer present in plastisol formulations. The present work explored the possibility of adding polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a type of biopolymer that, according to previous work, exhibits a good miscibility with PVC processed by other techniques (internal mixer and compression molding). The influence of PHA particles on flow properties, gelation‐fusion processes, tensile strength, hardness, and processability by rotomolding was evaluated. Although the biopolymer markedly increased the viscosity of PVC plastisols and caused a decrease in tensile strength in processed specimens, formulations including 20% by weight of biopolymer presented a good thickness distribution in rotomolded items, an elongation at break of around 300%, and an ultimate tensile strength of around 6–7 MPa. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL.,, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Amine‐functionalized mesoporous silica: A material capable of CO2 adsorption and fast regeneration by microwave heating

The surface of ordered mesoporous (MCM‐48) silica has been subjected to covalent grafting with silane molecules containing one to three amino groups. The dielectric properties of the materials were studied in detail, and the functionalized materials were used for CO₂ adsorption at room temperature, followed by regeneration under either conventional heating or microwave irradiation. It has been found that, as the intensity of functionalization with amino groups increases (from mono‐ to tri‐amino silanes) both the CO₂ load and the dielectric response at microwave frequencies increase. In particular, functionalization with a tri‐amino silane derivative gave the highest CO₂ adsorption and the fastest microwave heating, resulting in a fourfold acceleration of adsorbent regeneration. The grafted material was fully stable for at least 20 adsorption‐regeneration cycles, making it an ideal candidate for microwave‐swing adsorption (MWSA) processes. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 547–555, 2016