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In this paper we have created some composites reinforced with corn cob powder and the matrix was made by a combination between Resoltech 1050 resin with its Resoltech 1058 hardener. For the composites manufacturing, we have used the manual casting technique. For the new manufactured composites, we have determined the mechanical properties from the tensile test according to ASTM D3039: Young modulus, breaking strength and elongation at break. We have also molded samples for the compression test according to ASTM D695-15 and we have determined the breaking strength. The tensile and compression tests were made on universal testing machines. In the end, we have determined also the dynamic mechanical properties for the studied material by clamping the samples at one edge and leaving the samples unconstrained at the other edge. At the unconstrained edge we have placed a Bruel&Kjaer accelerometer which recorded the samples free vibrations. From the free vibrations recording and Euler-Bernoulli theory, we have determined the next dynamic mechanical properties: damping factor per unit mass and length, eigenfrequency, dynamic modulus of elasticity, loss factor and dynamic rigidity. From the experimental results, we have obtained increased breaking strength values for the proposed material at compression compared to the tensile test. Compared to similar materials studied in the engineering literature, we have obtained increased compression breaking strength.

The extension of 3D printing processes for parts made of polymeric materials highlighted the possibility of manufacturing threaded surfaces through such processes. In principle, the operation of a threaded joint involves tensile forces in the threaded rod. The dimensional characteristics of the threaded surface and some input factors in the 3D printing process can influence the tensile strength of threaded rods made of polymeric materials. An experimental research aimed at the tensile behavior of a threaded joint was designed, using a plastic screw and a special steel nut. A factorial experiment was designed and implemented to identify an empirical mathematical model capable of highlighting the influence of the dimensional characteristics of the threaded surface and some of the input factors in the 3D printing process on tensile strength. The test samples from polymeric materials were manufactured by 3D printing, then subjected to tensile tests. The mathematical processing of the experimental results allowed the determination of a mathematical model that allows the inclusion of the ordering of the factors taken into account in terms of the intensity of the influence that these factors exert on the tensile strength of the threaded rods. It was found that the diameter of the threaded rod exerts the strongest influence on the tensile strength of the threaded rod obtained by 3D printing, increasing the diameter of the threaded rod causing an increase in the maximum deformation of the rod. Increasing the thread pitch leads to a decrease in the maximum deformation of the threaded rod.

The effect of bamboo fiber content on mechanical properties, moisture permeability and light transmittance of composite membrane was studied. The results show that the tensile strength of the composite film is increased by 30%, and the mechanical properties of PVA film are improved obviously with the addition of bamboo cellulose, which can be used as a good reinforcing material of PVA matrix. Bamboo cellulose composite film is a kind of transparent material because of its high light transmittance.

This study aims to reveal the consequence of thickness reinforcement on Fiber Laminates (Polyester Resin, Glass Fiber, Aluminum, and Bentonite) and to see if it can enhance the mechanical properties and resistance of laminates. Glass fiber reinforced polymer composites have recently been used in automotive, aerospace, and structural applications where they will be safe for the application`s unique shape. Hand layup was used to fabricate three different combinations, including Aluminium /Glass fiber reinforced polyester composites (A/GFRP), Bentonite/Glass fiber reinforced polyester composites (B/GFRP), and Aluminium&Bentonie/Glass fiber reinforced polyester composites (AB/GFRP). Results revealed that AB/GFRP had better tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness than GFRP and A/GFRP. Under normal atmospheric conditions and after exposure to boiling water, hybrid Aluminium&Bentonite and glass fiber-reinforced nanocomposites have improved mechanical properties than other hybrid composites. After exposure to temperature, the flexural strength, tensile strength and stiffness of AB/GFRP Composites are 40 % higher than A/GFRP and 17.44% higher than B/GFRP Composites.

The electrical properties of conductive carbon black (CB) nanoparticles (0.1wt percent) doped thin films made of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) filled with varying amounts of the electrolyte potassium alum salt and doped with conductive carbon black (CB) nanoparticles (0.1wt percent) have been investigated. The dependence of the activation energy of the composites on frequency, temperature, and filler content was studied using the AC impedance technique. The current research looked at how activation energy changed with frequency (200-1000 kHz) and temperature (30-55oC) for composites with varied potassium alum salt concentrations: 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 wt. percent. The activation energy (Ea) values measured exhibited frequency, temperature, and filler content relationships. According to polarization processes, the activation energy of the produced sheets decreases with the potassium alum salt content in the composite and decreases with the temperature. With increasing frequency, the activation energy of the produced thin films decreases.

Results obtained from the characterization of three water samples (one representing the effluent of a municipal treatment plant and the two others representing surface water from the Jiu River/Romania, upstream and downstream of the effluent discharge point) are presented in this study in terms of microplastic content. The water samples were processed by successively passing them through a series of filters with the following dimensions: 5 mm, 0.5 mm (500 im), 0.1 mm (100 im) and then through some microfiltration membranes (MF) type EZ-Pak Membrane Filters (Merk-Millipore) made of a mixture of cellulose esters, with an average pore diameter of 0.45µm. In order to highlight the microplastics in the water samples, their analysis was performed as well as the solid material retained on the microfiltration membranes, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using a SEM Quanta FEG 250/Thermo Fischer Scientific. The results obtained highlighted the existence of microplastics in all the analyzed samples, in the known forms presented in the specialized literature: irregular planes, fibers and spheres. Their dimensions are variable, ranging between 3.2 µm and 119.5 µm for irregular plane microplastics and between 3 µm and 15 µm for spherical microplastics. The dimensions of microplastics in the form of fibers are also in the range of tens of µm and cannot be established exactly because in most cases they appear in the form of conglomerates. The treatment plant’s microplastic effluents content led to the modification of the physical-chemical indicators of the water in their natural receptor. Thus, the content of organic matter and total suspended matter in the downstream water compared to the effluent discharge point is higher than in the upstream water. The analysis of microplastics by SEM allows only their highlighting and their geometry, being a first step in the study of the pollution induced by such materials.

Ophthalmic treatments using contact lenses are now used by more and more specialists around the world. Improving contact lens (CL) materials is a condition that is constantly evolving. Contact lens materials are usually composed of polymer hydrogel or silicone hydrogel. The materials used for night contact lenses are gas permeable and they gradual flatten the center of the cornea which decreases the progression of myopia or myopic astigmatism. The aim of this study is to identify, in correlation with the chemical interactions between structural components of contact lenses and their biocompatibility with the surface layer and microtopography of the cornea or sclera, different incidents that occur in patients who have used rigid gas permeable contact lenses. The study was performed on a group of 10 patients who had a follow-up period between 4 and 6 years, who presented regularly for eye examinations. The following clinical parameters were analyzed: ocular refraction before and after wearing night contact lenses, types of contact lens materials, appearance of corneal topography, biomicroscopic examination of the anterior segment of the eye, keratometry, ocular comfort, as well as other incidents regarding this type of lenses. Difficulties caused by wearing contact lenses at night arose due to poor hygiene and maintenance in two cases or due to interruption of lens wear in one case.

Ureteral catheters, commonly known as double j stents according to their specific shape, are largely used worldwide with good results to assure proper renal drainage and to overpass ureteral obstacles successfully. This study deals with the aging behavior of polyurethane-based urinary catheters, explanted at different time intervals: 22 days, 29 days, three months, and eight months respectively. TGA (Thermogravimetric analyses) tests showed significant differences in the thermal behavior of polyurethane-based material, especially at eight months, where a higher thermostability was noticed. Also, the DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) curves presented different shapes for the samples of polyurethane-based urinary catheters after three months and eight months. FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometry) spectra gave a detailed picture of the chemical trans-formation which has occurred within the material at eight months. All the analyses gave an overview of the aging process of polyurethane-based urinary catheters and showed insights into the chemical/ physical transformations that the polymeric material suffers from prolonged usage.

In this study, a new organic nucleating agent N, N`-bis(stearic acid)-1,4-dicarboxybenzene dihydrazide (PASH) to improve crystallization behavior of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) along with the effect of PASH on melting behavior, thermal stability of PASH-nucleated PLLA was holistically reported. The melt-crystallization process illustrated that PASH as an effective heterogeneous nucleating agent could boost PLLA’s crystallization rate, but increasing PASH concentration and cooling rate conversely inhibited melt-crystallization process of PLLA in this study. With respect to melt-crystallization process, a larger amount of PASH leaded to a shift of cold-crystallization peak to lower temperature level. Isothermal crystallization revealed, in comparison to pure PLLA, that the half time of overall crystallization of PLLA/PASH was significantly decreased with PLLA containing 3 wt% PASH having the minimum t1/2= 67.3 s at 105ºC. The different melting behaviors of PLLA/PASH under different conditions were attributed to the nucleating effect of PASH within PLLA. In particular, the melting behavior at a heating rate of 10°C/min after isothermal crystallization depended primarily on the crystallization temperature. Whereas, the impact of crystallization time on melting behavior was negligible. Nonetheless, the melting behavior was influenced by the heating rate after non-isothermal crystallization. The thermal stability of PLLA was detrimental with the addition of PASH owing to a typical drop in onset thermal decomposition temperature.

Sustainable materials made from recycled materials are an alternative to traditional materials (synthetic ones) and present a lower environmental impact. Due to the fact that natural fibers were successfully used to produce environmentally friendly sound adsorbing materials, biocomposites made from recycled polypropylene (PPR), feathers flour (FF) with / without compatibilizers (C) were obtained and characterized from the point of view of their acoustical behavior. Obtained materials were characterized also from the morphological and compositional point of view by scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. All tested samples presented sound adsorption properties but the best results were obtained for the biocomposites with FF content of 10%-20%.