The surface energy as an indicator of miscibility of SAN/EDPM polymer blends

Surface properties of blends prepared of styrene-acrylonitrile and ethylene-propylene-diene changing the homopolymer proportions and compatibilized by high impact polystyrene have been studied by contact angle measurement. The surface free energy of interphase of homopolymers pairs, work of adhesion, and wetting coefficient were calculated using Wu’s geometric mean method and the total surface free energy and acid–base components of the blends by using van Oss, Good and Chaudhury method. Blends were also characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis and by scanning electron microscopy. The miscibility of studied blends was estimated through changes of surface free energy, energy of interface and through the shifts of glass transition temperature and changes in morphology. From the results, it can be seen that added compatibilizer reduces the interface energy and provides more homogenous system by interfacial segregation and rearrangements of molecules at the blend surface. The results of morphological observations reveal that the addition of a small percentage of compatibilizer decreases the domain size of the dispersed phase and enhances the compatibility of the blends.     

Viscoelastic and adhesive properties of polystyrene-hydrogenated (3,4-polyisoprene and 1,4-polyisoprene)-polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate-polybutyl acrylate-polymethyl methacrylate-based HMPSA

In the current study, hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives (HMPSA) were prepared by blending polystyrene-hydrogenated (3,4-polyisoprene and 1,4-polyisoprene)-polystyrene (HYBRAR7311), polymethyl methacrylate-polybutyl acrylate-polymethyl methacrylate (LA2250), tackifier, and other additives in an internal mixer. The compatibility of LA2250, HYBRAR7311, and glycerol rosin ester was investigated on the basis of transparency, differential scanning calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that glycerol rosin ester was compatible with HYBRAR7311 and LA2250, while HYBRAR7311 was only partly compatible with LA2250. Besides, styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene block copolymers grafted MALEIC ANLYDRIDE was used as compatibilizer added into HMPSA. Although it increased the compatibility and shear strength yet the tack and peel strength were sharply decreased. Simple variable method was used to study the effect of main components on the tack, peel strength, and shear strength of HMPSA. The relationship between adhesive properties and viscoelastic properties of HMPSA was studied via dynamic mechanical analysis. The investigation showed that the smaller storage modulus at low frequency (0.01–0.1?1/s), the larger the tack. Peel strength was found proportional to G′′(f₁)/G′(f₂)(f₁?=?32.03?1/s, f₂?=?0.07?1/s). Similarly, the effect of this blend on damping performance and substrate on peel strength of HMPSA was investigated which was found excellent in this case. The peel strength of polypropylene was larger when HYBRAR7311 content was more than LA2250. However, the peel strength of polycarbonate and polyethylene glycol terephthalate was larger when LA2250 content was more than HYBRAR7311. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of HYBRAR7311/LA2250 HMPSA were found to be superior to the one-polymer HMPSA.     

Comparison of microleakage of a multi-mode adhesive system with contemporary adhesives in class II resin restorations

Aim: The aim was to compare the microleakage of resin composite bonded with different adhesive systems in class-II cavities at enamel or dentine margins. Material and methods: 60 extracted human molar teeth received slot cavity preparations on mesial and distal surfaces (mesial cervical margin was prepared in enamel and distal in dentine). They were randomly divided into five groups (n?=?12) according to the adhesive system: Group-A: Silorane Bond (S), Group-B: Adper Single Bond 2 (SB), Group-C: Clearfil SE Bond (CSE), Group-D: Single Bond Universal (USel) (selective etch-and-rinse), Group-E: Single Bond Universal (USE) (all-in-one). The preparations were restored using the same resin composite (Filtek Ultimate) except Group A which was restored by Silorane composite. The teeth were thermocycled, immersed in dye, sectioned, and dye penetration was evaluated quantitatively using image analysis. The data were analyzed using the two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni test. Results: In all groups, there was no statistically significant difference between enamel margins at occlusal and gingival sites (p?>?0.05). The statistical difference between Group-A (S) and Group-B (SB) was significant at all margins. Group-B (SB) presented the greatest microleakage amounts at all margins and the highest scores were obtained in the dentine. Likewise, SB demonstrated statistically significant differences between dentine and enamel margins (occlusal and gingival)(p?<?0.05). Conclusion: All adhesive systems showed similar microleakage values between enamel margins in occlusal and gingival regions. However, when the gingival margin is located in the dentine, etch&rinse adhesive systems may not be a choice in terms of microleakage prevention.     

Al2O3质原料种类和粒度对镁铝碳材料性能的影响

改变镁铝碳材料中Al2O3质原料的种类(分别为特级高铝矾土熟料和电熔刚玉)和粒度(特级高铝矾土熟料的粒度分别为5~3和3~1 mm,电熔刚玉的粒度分别为3~1和≤1 mm),经混练、成型、干燥、固化(180℃保温48 h)、热处理(1 600℃保温3 h)后,检测试样的显气孔率、体积密度、耐压强度、加热永久线变化和抗渣侵蚀性。结果表明:1)当Al2O3质原料种类相同时,Al2O3质原料的粒度越小,镁铝碳试样的加热永久线变化越大,抗渣侵蚀性越差;2)当Al2O3质原料粒度相同时,采用特级高铝矾土熟料的试样的加热永久线变化大于采用电熔刚玉的,抗高碱度渣侵蚀性也差于采用电熔刚玉的。     

Stability of a chitosan layer deposited onto a polyethylene surface

A two‐step procedure was applied to obtain antimicrobial films; this procedure involved a corona treatment of the polyethylene (PE) surface and its chemical activation with 1‐ethyl‐3‐[3‐dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride and N‐hydroxysuccinimide, and this led to the covalent bonding of chitosan on the PE surface. Electrochemical methods were used to investigate the stability of the deposited chitosan layer. The potentiometric and polyelectrolyte titrations showed that some amount of chitosan desorbed faster from the surface until equilibrium was reached and also that the grafted chitosan layer was more stable than the physically adsorbed one. The chitosan immobilized on the PE surface exhibited the expected antibacterial activity when tested against three bacteria, which included two Gram‐negative bacteria, Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli, and one Gram‐positive bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2444–2457, 2013     

Preparation of oil-modified polycaprolactone and its further modification with benzoxazine for coating purposes

Sunflower oil-modified polyester (SOMPE) was prepared via the ring opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone (CL) using partial glycerides (PGs) and stannous octoate (SO) as the initiator and catalyst, respectively. In addition to being the initiator, PGs participate in the drying process of the film sample for coating purposes. The structure of the sample was characterized by FT-IR and ¹H NMR. The film of SOMPE cannot reach a fully dried state as a result of its less oil moiety content. By increasing the oil fraction, the chain length of polycaprolactone (PCL) decreased by changing the [monomer]/[initiator] mol ratio and shortening the reaction time. Even with these precautions, the molecular weight of SOMPE could not be reduced below 5000 g/mol, and this caused the film to become soft. Therefore, hydroxy-functional benzoxazine monomer (HFB-a) was prepared and used in a further modification of SOMPE. HFB-a was chemically combined with SOMPE via the urethane linkage formed from the reaction of 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, yielding SOMPE-HFB-a. Because the SOMPE-HFB-a sample also had a soft film, additional HFB-a was used to prepare the SOMPE-HFB-a/HFB-a blend. The cured blend prepared with SOMPE-HFB-a and HFB-a in a weight ratio of 1/8, [SOMPE-HFB-a/HFB-a:1/8], had good film properties. The cured film was examined by FT-IR and DSC following the curing process. After our modifications were applied, PCL and polybenzoxazine lost their softness and brittleness, respectively, and a binder with good film properties was formed.     

Ameliorating Effects of Exogenously Applied Proline on Seed Composition,Seed Oil Quality and Oil Antioxidant Activity of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Drought Stress

This study was carried out to appraise whether or not the exogenous application of a potential osmoprotectant, proline, could ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on maize seed and seed oil composition, as well as oil antioxidant activity. Water stress reduced the kernel sugar, oil, protein and moisture contents and most of the seed macro- and micro-elements analyzed in both maize cultivars but it increased the contents of seed fiber and ash. Water stress increased the oil oleic acid content with a subsequent decrease in the amount of linoleic acid, resulting in an increased oil oleic/linoleic ratio for both maize cultivars. However, no variation was observed in oil stearic and palmitic acids content due to water stress. A considerable drought induced an increase in seed oil α-, γ-, δ- and total tocopherols and flavonoids were observed in both maize cultivars. However, oil phenolic and carotenoid content as well as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity decreased. Foliar-applied proline significantly increased the content of seed sugar, oil, protein, moisture, fiber and ash in both maize cultivars under well irrigated and water deficit conditions. Furthermore, exogenous application of proline increased the oil oleic and linoleic acid contents. The concentrations of antioxidant compounds namely phenolics, carotenoids, flavonoids and tocopherols estimated in the seed oil increased due to foliar-applied proline under water deficit conditions that was positively correlated with the enhanced oil DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the increase in the contents of these antioxidant compounds and oil antioxidant activity due to the foliar application of proline was noted to be more pronounced under water deficit conditions.