Protective Properties of a Microstructure Composed of Barrier Nanostructured Organics and SiOx Layers Deposited on a Polymer Matrix.

The SiOx barrier nanocoatings have been prepared on selected polymer matrices to increase their resistance against permeation of toxic substances. The aim has been to find out whether the method of vacuum plasma deposition of SiOx barrier nanocoatings on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil used by Aluminium Company of Canada (ALCAN) company (ALCAN Packaging Kreuzlingen AG (SA/Ltd., Kreuzlingen, Switzerland) within the production of CERAMIS® packaging materials with barrier properties can also be used to increase the resistance of foils from other polymers against the permeation of organic solvents and other toxic liquids. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microstructure of SiOx nanocoatings prepared by thermal deposition from SiO in vacuum by the Plasma Assisted Physical Vapour Deposition (PA-PVD) method or vacuum deposition of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) by the Plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) method have been studied. The microstructure and behavior of samples when exposed to a liquid test substance in relation to the barrier properties is described.

Preparation of Filtration Sorptive Materials from Nanofibers, Bicofibers, and Textile Adsorbents without Binders Employment.

The article deals with the preparation and possibilities of using combined filtration sorption systems usable for the construction of folded filters or respirators. The studied materials are made of several structural layers-a filter membrane made of polymeric nanofibers, an adsorbent containing active carbon or porous silicon dioxide nanofibers, and a supporting or cover nonwoven bicomponent fabric. The layers are connected only by pressure at an elevated temperature without the use of binders, according to utility model PUV 31 375. The result is a compact fabric material of textile character with a high permeability, good mechanical resistance, which effectively catches the submicron particles and the gases of the organic substances. The prepared samples of the filter sorptive material have been evaluated not only from the point of view of morphology and microstructure, but also from the point of view of the capture of pollutants.

Phosphopeptide enrichment with inorganic nanofibers prepared by forcespinning technology.

Efficient selective sample enrichment is often a key procedure in protocols for analyses of complex samples. This applies not only to trace sample components but also to species with weak detection response. For example enrichment of phosphopeptides using selective affinity techniques prior to mass spectrometry analysis is necessary to increase detection sensitivity of phosphopeptides from highly complex peptide mixtures. In this work we have developed inorganic nanofibrous materials based on titanium or zirconium dioxides for selective and efficient enrichment of phosphopeptides for MALDI/MS detection. In comparison to the common bead based materials the presented nanofibrous materials exhibit much higher permeability allowing their use not only for batch mode or packed in the column operation, but also in the pipette tip format without the need for high pressure. Both the methods of preparation and characterization of the resulting materials are presented.