A Review on Recycling of Carbon Fibres: Methods to Reinforce and Expected Fibre Composite Degradations.

Carbon fibres are widely used in modern industrial applications as they are high-strength, light in weight and more reliable than other materials. The increase in the usage of carbon fibres has led to the production of a significant amount of waste. This has become a global issue because valuable carbon fibre waste ends up in landfill. A few initiatives have been undertaken by several researchers to recycle carbon fibre waste; however, the properties of this recycled material are expected to be worse than those of virgin carbon fibre. The incorporation of polymers, nanoparticles and other hybrid materials could enhance the overall properties of recycled carbon fibre waste. However, the degradation of fibre composites is expected to occur when the material is exposed to certain conditions and environments. The study of fibre composite degradation is crucial to enhance their properties, strength, safety and durability for future applications.

Controlled release studies through chitosan-based hydrogel synthesized at different polymerization stages.

An earlier study showed that the behaviour of chitosan-poly(methacrylic acid­co­N­isopropylacrylamide) [chitosan­p(MAA­co­NIPAM)] hydrogels synthesized at different reaction times are affected with regard to their pH and temperature sensitivities. The study was continued in this paper to identify the effects of different reaction times on the degradation, efficiency of rifampicin (Rif) loading and the Rif release profile under two different pH conditions (acidic and basic). The results that were obtained showed that the hydrogel had a faster degradation rate in the acidic condition than in the basic condition, where there was a loss of approximately 50% and 20%, respectively in its original weight within two weeks. The Rif loading efficiency was within 50% and the drug release was controlled by characteristics that were developed beyond the polymerization stages of the synthesis. Therefore, the reaction time for the synthesis of the hydrogel can be considered as a way to control the behaviour of the hydrogel as well as to modify the drug release profile in the chitosan­p(MAA­co­NIPAM) hydrogel.

Bacteriostatic Activity of LLDPE Nanocomposite Embedded with Sol⁻Gel Synthesized TiO2/ZnO Coupled Oxides at Various Ratios.

Metal oxide-polymer nanocomposite has been proven to have selective bactericidal effects against the main and common pathogens (Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli)) that can cause harmful infectious diseases. As such, this study looked into the prospect of using TiO2/ZnO with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to inactivate S. aureus and E. coli. The physical, structural, chemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of the nanocomposite were investigated in detail in this paper. The production of reactive species, such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), holes (h⁺), superoxide anion radicals (O2•¯), and zinc ion (Zn2+), released from the nanocomposite were quantified to elucidate the underlying antibacterial mechanisms. LLDPE/25T75Z with TiO2/ZnO (1:3) nanocomposite displayed the best performance that inactivated S. aureus and E. coli by 95% and 100%, respectively. The dominant reactive active species and the zinc ion release toward the superior antibacterial effect of nanocomposite are discussed. This work does not only offer depiction of the effective element required for antimicrobial biomedical appliances, but also the essential structural characteristics to enhance water uptake to expedite photocatalytic activity of LLDPE/metal oxide nanocomposite for long term application.

Synthesis and functionalization of chitosan built hydrogel with induced hydrophilicity for extended release of sparingly soluble drugs.

Addressing the functional biomaterials as next-generation therapeutics, chitosan and alginic acid were copolymerized in the form of chemically crosslinked interpenetrating networks (IPNs). The native hydrogel was functionalized via carbodiimide (EDC), catalyzed coupling of soft ligand (1,2-Ethylenediamine) and hard ligand (4-aminophenol) to replace -OH groups in alginic acid units for extended hydrogel- interfaces with the aqueous and sparingly soluble drug solutions. The chemical structure, Lower solution critical temperature (LCST ≈ 37.88 °C), particle size (Zh,app ≈ 150-200 nm), grain size (160-360 nm), surface roughness (85-250 nm), conductivity (37-74 mv) and zeta potential (16-32 mv) of native and functionalized hydrogel were investigated by using FT-IR, solid state-13C-NMR, TGA, DSC, FESEM, AFM and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The effective swelling, drug loading (47-78%) and drug release (53-86%) profiles were adjusted based on selective functionalization of hydrophobic IPNs due to electrostatic complexation and extended interactions of hydrophilic ligands with the aqueous and drug solutions. Drug release from the hydrogel matrices with diffusion coefficient n ≈ 0.7 was established by Non- Fickian diffusion mechanism. In vitro degradation trials of the hydrogel with a 20% loss of wet mass in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 38% loss of wet mass in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), were investigated for 400 h through bulk erosion. Consequently, a slower rate of drug loading and release was observed for native hydrogel, due to stronger H-bonding, interlocking and entanglement within the IPNs, which was finely tuned and extended by the induced hydrophilic and functional ligands. In the light of induced hydrophilicity, such functional hydrogel could be highly attractive for extended release of sparingly soluble drugs.

Improvement of Fracture Toughness in Epoxy Nanocomposites through Chemical Hybridization of Carbon Nanotubes and Alumina.

The current study investigated the effect of adding a carbon nanotube-alumina (CNT-Al2O3) hybrid on the fracture toughness of epoxy nanocomposites. The CNT-Al2O3 hybrid was synthesised by growing CNTs on Al2O3 particles via the chemical vapour deposition method. The CNTs were strongly attached onto the Al2O3 particles, which served to transport and disperse the CNTs homogenously, and to prevent agglomeration in the CNTs. The experimental results demonstrated that the CNT-Al2O3 hybrid-filled epoxy nanocomposites showed improvement in terms of the fracture toughness, as indicated by an increase of up to 26% in the critical stress intensity factor, K1C, compared to neat epoxy.

Classification, processing and application of hydrogels: A review.

This article aims to review the literature concerning the choice of selectivity for hydrogels based on classification, application and processing. Super porous hydrogels (SPHs) and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) represent an innovative category of recent generation highlighted as an ideal mould system for the study of solution-dependent phenomena. Hydrogels, also termed as smart and/or hungry networks, are currently subject of considerable scientific research due to their potential in hi-tech applications in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, bioseparation, biosensor, agriculture, oil recovery and cosmetics fields. Smart hydrogels display a significant physiochemical change in response to small changes in the surroundings. However, such changes are reversible; therefore, the hydrogels are capable of returning to its initial state after a reaction as soon as the trigger is removed.

Water sorption characteristics of restorative dental composites immersed in acidic drinks.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diffusion coefficient, water sorption and solubility of various types of restorative dental composites and to evaluate the effect of acidic media (orange juice and coke) on their characteristics. METHODS: Resin composite specimens (Filtek™ Z350, Spectrum(®) TPH(®)3 and Durafill(®) VS) were prepared in a stainless steel mold of 1mm thickness and 10mm diameter (n=5) and light-cured. All samples were dried at 37°C, immersed in media (distilled water, orange and coke) at 37°C and weighed at suitable time intervals (15, 35, 155, 320, 785, etc.min) until 40 days of immersion and then were dried again for 40 days. Diffusion coefficient (m(2)s(-1)) was determined according to Fick's second law while water sorption and solubility (µg/mm(3)) were calculated based on BS EN ISO 4049:2000. Data of water sorption and solubility were analyzed with One-Way ANOVA and post hoc Scheffe test at p=0.05. RESULTS: The experimental data obtained were obeyed and nearly fitted to the diffusion theoretical data plot. The highest values of diffusion coefficients were presented by Durafill(®) VS (32.23-45.25×10(-13)m(2)s(-1)). Diffusion coefficients of Filtek™ Z350 and Spectrum(®) TPH(®)3 were the highest when immersed in coke media followed by distilled water and orange juice. The water sorption of most composites was significantly increased after immersion in coke and orange (p<0.05). Meanwhile only Spectrum(®) TPH(®)3 showed an increase in solubility when immersed in coke media. Z350 presented the highest water sorption after immersion in distilled water and coke (16.13 and 18.22µg/mm(3)) while Durafill(®) VS presented the highest solubility (7.20-9.27µg/mm(3)). SIGNIFICANCE: The exposure of restorative dental composites to acidic drinks can cause an increase in diffusion coefficient, water sorption and solubility parameters which may accelerate the degradation process and thus reduce the life span of composite restoration.