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| 2. |
- Atari Jabarzadeh, Sevil, et al.
(författare)
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Image Analysis Determination of the Influence of Surface Structure of Silicone Rubbers on Biofouling
- 2015
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Ingår i: International Journal of Polymer Science. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1687-9422 .- 1687-9430.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study focuses on how the texture of the silicone rubber material affects the distribution of microbial growth on the surface of materials used for high voltage insulation. The analysis of surface wetting properties showed that the textured surfaces provide higher receding contact angles and therefore lower contact angle hysteresis. The textured surfaces decrease the risk for dry band formation and thus preserve the electrical properties of the material due to a more homogeneous distribution of water on the surface, which, however, promotes the formation of more extensive biofilms. The samples were inoculated with fungal suspension and incubated in a microenvironment chamber simulating authentic conditions in the field. The extent and distribution of microbial growth on the textured and plane surface samples representing the different parts of the insulator housing that is shank and shed were determined by visual inspection and image analysis methods. The results showed that the microbial growth was evenly distributed on the surface of the textured samples but restricted to limited areas on the plane samples. More intensive microbial growth was determined on the textured samples representing sheds. It would therefore be preferable to use the textured surface silicone rubber for the shank of the insulator.
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| 3. |
- Atari Jabarzadeh, Sevil, 1981-
(författare)
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Prevention of Biofilm Formation on Silicone Rubber Materials for Outdoor High Voltage Insulators
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Microbial colonization on the surface of silicone rubber high voltage outdoor insulators often results in the formation of highly hydrated biofilm that influence the surface properties, such as surface hydrophobicity. The loss of hydrophobicity might lead to dry band formation, and, in the worst cases, flashover and failure of the insulator.In this work, the biocidal effects of various antimicrobial compounds in silicone rubber materials were determined. These materials were evaluated according to an ISO standard for the antimicrobial activity against the growth of aggressive fungal strains, and microorganisms that have been found colonizing the surfaces of outdoor insulators in several areas in the world. Several compounds suppressed microbial growth on the surfaces of the materials without compromising the material properties of the silicone rubber. A commercial biocide and thymol were very effective against fungal growth, and sodium benzoate could suppress the fungal growth to some extent. Thymol could also inhibit algal growth. However, methods for preservation of the antimicrobial agents in the bulk of the material need to be further developed to prevent the loss of the compounds during manufacturing. Biofilm formation affected the surface hydrophobicity and complete removal of the biofilm was not achieved through cleaning. Surface analysis confirmed that traces of microorganisms were still present after cleaning.Further, surface modification of the silicone rubber was carried out to study how the texture and roughness of the surface affect biofilm formation. Silicone rubber surfaces with regular geometrical patterns were evaluated to determine the influence of the surface texture on the extent of microbial growth in comparison with plane silicone rubber surfaces. Silicone rubber nanocomposite surfaces, prepared using a spray-deposition method that applied hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoparticles to obtain hierarchical structures, were studied to determine the effects of the surface roughness and improved hydrophobicity on the microbial attachment. Microenvironment chambers were used for the determination of microbial growth on different modified surfaces under conditions that mimic those of the insulators in their outdoor environments. Different parts of the insulators were represented by placing the samples vertically and inclined. The microbial growth on the surfaces of the textured samples was evenly distributed throughout the surfaces because of the uniform distribution of the water between the gaps of the regular structures on the surfaces. Microbial growth was not observed on the inclined and vertical nanocomposite surfaces due to the higher surface roughness and improved surface hydrophobicity, whereas non-coated samples were colonized by microorganisms.
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| 4. |
- Atari Jabarzadeh, Sevil, et al.
(författare)
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Use of essential oils for the prevention of biofilm formation on silicone rubber high voltage insulators
- 2015
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Ingår i: Polymers from Renewable Resources. - : Rapra Technology Ltd.. - 2041-2479 .- 2045-1377. ; 6:4, s. 119-136
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The prevention of biofilm formation on high voltage insulators is important to avoid changes in the surface properties of the material and the subsequent failure of the application. Antimicrobial silicone rubber samples were prepared by the addition of thymol and eugenol to Sylgard 184 to determine the possibility of using natural antimicrobial agents present in essential oils in materials used for high voltage insulators. The antimicrobial effects of thymol and eugenol were studied for different fungal strains and for green algae identified in the biofilms formed on insulators in Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Sweden. It was successfully demonstrated that samples containing high amount of eugenol and different concentrations of thymol could inhibit the fungal growth of strains from Sri Lanka and Tanzania and the growth of green algae. The growth of strains from Sweden was also suppressed. The addition of eugenol to the material resulted in a noncrosslinked system and therefore, the antimicrobial effect of the additive in the material could not be assessed. The addition of thymol did not significantly influence the thermal and mechanical properties of Sylgard184. Although thermal analysis revealed that a large amount of the antimicrobial agent was lost during sample preparation, the materials were effective against microbial growth, even at low thymol concentrations.
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| 5. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(författare)
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Effect of sisal and hydrothermal ageing on the dielectric behaviour of polylactide/sisal biocomposites
- 2017
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Ingår i: Composites Science And Technology. - : Elsevier. - 0266-3538 .- 1879-1050. ; 149, s. 1-10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dielectric properties of virgin polylactide (PLA) and its reinforced composites with different weight amounts of sisal fibres were assessed at broad temperature (from −130 °C to 130 °C) and frequency ranges (from 10−2–107 Hz), before and after being subjected to accelerated hydrothermal ageing. The synergetic effects of both the loading of sisal and hydrothermal ageing were analysed by means of dielectric relaxation spectra. The relaxation time functions were evaluated by the Havriliak-Negami model, substracting the ohmic contribution of conductivity. The intramolecular and intermolecular relaxations were respectively analysed by means of Arrhenius and Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann-Hesse thermal activation models. The addition of fibre increased the number of hydrogen bonds, which incremented the dielectric permittivity and mainly hindered the non-cooperative relaxations of the biocomposites by increasing the activation energy. Hydrothermal ageing enhanced the formation of the crystalline phase at the so-called transcrystalline region along sisal. This fact hindered the movement of the amorphous PLA fraction, and consequently decreased the dielectric permittivity and increased the dynamic fragility.
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| 6. |
- Badia, J. D., et al.
(författare)
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Relevant factors for the eco-design of polylactide/sisal biocomposites to control biodegradation in soil in an end-of-life scenario
- 2017
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Ingår i: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321. ; 143, s. 9-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The eco-design considers the factors to prepare biocomposites under an end-of-life scenario. PLA/sisal biocomposites were obtained from amorphous polylactide and sisal loadings of 10, 20 and 30 wt% with and without coupling agent, and subjected to biodegradation in soil according to standard ISO846. Mass-loss, differential scanning calorimetry and size-exclusion chromatography were used for monitoring biodegradation. A statistical factorial analysis based on the molar mass Mn and crystallinity degree XC pointed out the relevance and interaction of amount of fibre and use of coupling agent with the time of burial in soil. During the preparation of biocomposites, chain scission provoked a similar reduction of Mn for coupled and non-coupled biocomposites. The amount of fibre was relevant for the increase of XC due to the increase of nucleation sites. The coupling agent accelerated the evolution of both factors: reduction of Mn and the consequent increase of XC, mainly during biodegradation in soil. Both factors should be balanced to facilitate microbial assimilation of polymer segments, since bacterial digestion is enhanced by chain scission but blocked by the promotion of crystalline fractions.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Frostell, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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Tracheal implants revisited
- 2017
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 389:10075, s. 1191-1191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 9. |
- Gil-Castell, O., et al.
(författare)
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Effect of the dissolution time into an acid hydrolytic solvent to taylor electrospun nanofibrous polycaprolactone scaffolds
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Polymer Journal. - : Elsevier. - 0014-3057 .- 1873-1945. ; 87, s. 174-187
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The hydrolysis of the polycaprolactone (PCL) as a function of the dissolution time in a formic/acetic acid mixture was considered as a method for tailoring the morphology of nanofibrous PCL scaffolds. Hence, the aim of this research was to establish a correlation between the dissolution time of the polymer in the acid solvent with the physico-chemical properties of the electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds and their further service life behaviour. The physico-chemical properties of the scaffolds were assessed in terms of fibre morphology, molar mass and thermal behaviour. A reduction of the molar mass and the lamellar thickness as well as an increase of the crystallinity degree were observed as a function of dissolution time. Bead-free fibres were found after 24 and 48 h of dissolution time, with similar diameter distributions. The decrease of the fibre diameter distributions along with the apparition of beads was especially significant for scaffolds prepared after 72 h and 120 h of dissolution time in the acid mixture. The service life of the obtained devices was evaluated by means of in vitro validation under abiotic physiological conditions. All the scaffolds maintained the nanofibrous structure after 100 days of immersion in water and PBS. The molar mass was barely affected and the crystallinity degree and the lamellar thickness increased along immersion, preventing scaffolds from degradation. Scaffolds prepared after 24 h and 48 h kept their fibre diameters, whereas those prepared after 72 h and 120 h showed a significant reduction. This PCL tailoring procedure to obtain scaffolds that maintain the nanoscaled structure after such long in vitro evaluation will bring new opportunities in the design of long-term biomedical patches.
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| 10. |
- Gil-Castell, O., et al.
(författare)
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Impact of hydrothermal ageing on the thermal stability, morphology and viscoelastic performance of PLA/sisal biocomposites
- 2016
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Ingår i: Polymer degradation and stability. - : Elsevier. - 0141-3910 .- 1873-2321.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The influence of the combined exposure to water and temperature on the behaviour of polylactide/sisal biocomposites coupled with maleic acid anhydride was assessed through accelerated hydrothermal ageing. The biocomposites were immersed in water at temperatures from 65 to 85 °C, between the glass transition and cold crystallisation of the PLA matrix. The results showed that the most influent factor for water absorption was the percentage of fibres, followed by the presence of coupling agent, whereas the effect of the temperature was not significant. Deep assessment was devoted to biocomposites subjected to hydrothermal ageing at 85 °C, since it represents the extreme degrading condition. The morphology and crystallinity of the biocomposites were evaluated by means of X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The viscoelastic and thermal performance were assessed by means of dynamic mechanic thermal analysis (DMTA) and thermogravimetry (TGA). The presence of sisal generally diminished the thermal stability of the biocomposites, which was mitigated by the addition of the coupling agent. After composite preparation, the effectiveness of the sisal fibre was improved by the crystallisation of PLA around sisal, which increased the storage modulus and reduced the dampening factor. The presence of the coupling agent strengthened this effect. After hydrothermal ageing, crystallisation was promoted in all biocomposites therefore showing more fragile behaviour evidencing pores and cracks. However, the addition of coupling agent in the formulation of biocomposites contributed in all cases to minimise the effects of hydrothermal ageing.
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