Modifications in the correlation function in poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica hybrid wet gels

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Small-angle X-ray scattering from wet gels prepared from co-hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane and vinyltriethoxysilane

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da concentração das fibras do tecido conjuntivo quando da associação de poliglactina 910 e silicone: estudo experimental em ratos

Neste estudo observamos a reação tecidual após implantação de próteses de silicone associadas à poliglactina 910. Telas de borracha de silicone com 1,5 x 1,5cm de diâmetro e 0,7mm de espessura, polifenestradas, foram implantadas no subcutâneo do dorso de ratos.Dois grupos foram observados, no primeiro apenas telas fenestradas eram implantadas, no segundo as fenestrações das telas eram preenchidas com fios de poliglactina 910. Os animais foram observados por 30, 60 e 90 dias quando eram sacrificados e as telas mais o tecido adjacente ressecados. Não se observou diferenças na quantidade de fibras colágenas entre os subgrupos de um mesmo grupo e ou quando comparados com os subgrupos do grupo em estudo. No grupo controle, onde se usou apenas as telas fenestradas de silicone houve uma diferença significante entre as fibras reticulares, em maior número nos grupos de 30 e 60 dias de observação, quando comparadas ao grupo de 90 dias. A poliglactina 910 associada ao silicone não alterou o número de fibras do tecido conjuntivo, contadas nas fenestrações das telas.

Análise histológica e morfométrica da área cruenta tratada com membrana de silicone: estudo em ratos

Background. Thin study evaluated the effects of a silicone membrane on the treatment of the raw flesh area in wounds.METHODS. The experimental study was carried out with 30 male Wistar rats divided into three groups: in the G(G) group, the raw area was treated with gauze, in the G(H) group with homograft, and in the G(S) group with a silicone membrane. Animals were sacrificed at fourteen days of postoperative. The studied attributes were body mass variation, histological study quantifed by morphometric analysis evaluating the number of neovessels, fibroblasts, collagen fibers, leucocytes, monocytes; and using a micrometric ruler measurement of the raw area thickness. Data were then submitted to statistical analysis.RESULTS. There was no significant difference between the animals' mass (p=0.0685). Predominance of neovessels (p<0.01), fibroblasts (p<0.001) and thickness of the raw flesh were observed in G(S) animals. There was predominance of leucocytes (p<0.021) and monocytes (p<0.0001) in G(H) animals. Also, no significant difference between the groups as for collagen fibers (p=0.0536) was observed.CONCLUSION. The silicone membrane promoted granulation tissue with a large number of neovessels, fibroblasts and greater thickness.

Investigations on the stability of plasma modified silicone surfaces

In this work it was investigated the effect of the exposure to different plasmas on the wettability of silicone samples. We have observed that oxygen. argon, and hydrogen glow discharges are quite effective in reducing the water contact angle of such polymer. However, indifferently to efficiency of the treatment, practically all the modified surfaces recovered great part of their original hydrophobicity. We have investigated this hydrophobic recovery using surface energy measurements and theoretical simulations based on the exponential decay of the population of polar groups on the surface. According to our results such recovery can be attributed to the decrease of polar species at the interface water-polymer surface.

Structural characteristics of gels prepared from sonohydrolysis and conventional hydrolysis of TEOS: an emphasis on the mass fractal as determined from the pore size distribution

Silica gels were preparated from fixed proportion mixtures of tetraethoxysilane, water and hydrocloric acid, using either ultrasound stimulation (US) or conventional method (CO) in the hydrolysis step of the process. Wet gets were obtained with the same silica volume concentration and density. According to small-angle X-ray scattering, the structure of the wet gels can be described as mass fractal structures with mass fractal dimension D = 2.20 in a length scale xi = 7.9 nm, in the case of wet gels US, and D = 2.26 in a length scale 6.9 nm, in the case of wet gels CO. The mass fractal characteristics of the wet gels US and CO account for the different structures evolved in the drying of the gels US and CO in the obtaining of xerogels and aerogels. The pore structure of the dried gels was studied by nitrogen adsorption as a function of the temperature. Aerogels (US and CO) present high porosity with pore size distribution (PSD) curves in the mesopore region while xerogels (US and CO) present minor porosity with PSD curves mainly in the micropore region. The dried gels US (aerogels and xerogels) generally present pore volume and specific surface area greater than the dried gels CO. The mass fractal structure of the aerogels has been studied from an approach based on the PSD curves exclusively. (c) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthesis and some properties of hybrid gels of titanium oxide containing europium (III)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural properties of silica gels prepared from oxalic-acid-catalyzed tetraethoxysilane sonohydrolysis

About similar to 2.1 x 10(-3) Mol SiO2 cm(-3) and similar to 88%-volume liquid-phase silica wet gels were prepared from oxalic-acid-catalyzed tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) sonohydrolysis. Aerogels were obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction. The samples were analyzed by thermogravimetry, small-angle X-ray scattering and nitrogen adsorption. Wet gels can be described as mass fractal structures with fractal dimension D similar to 1.94 and structural characteristic length zeta changing between similar to 3.3 to similar to 3.0 nm in the studied range of the catalyst concentration. A fraction of the porosity is apparently eliminated in the supercritical process. The values of the BET specific surface S-BET, the total pore volume V-p and the mean pore size l(p) of the aerogels were found to change almost randomly around the mean values S-BET = 874 m(2) g(-1), V-p = 0.961 cm(3) g(-1) and l(p) = 4.4 nm with catalyst concentration variation. These values were not substantially different from those from an equivalent HCl-catalyzed aerogel. (c) 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Rheological Characterization of Hydrophylic Gels

Rheological characteristics of gels were studied, with the focus on their use as a cosmetic base. Some ideal characteristics can be predicted by the rheological characterization, such as the performance, with easy application and without dripping or forming lumps and bubbles. Moreover, it is possible to detect signs of physical instability. The gels were prepared with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 3% and 5%, with Carbopol 940 (INCI: Carbomer) and with Carbopol Ultrez (INCI: Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer). The tests performed were yield stress, stress sweep and creep and recovery. The gel with 3% of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose presented the most appropriated behavior and can be indicated as the most suitable cosmetic base.

Influence of Hydrogen Peroxide Bleaching Gels on Color, Opacity, and Fluorescence of Composite Resins

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 20% and 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gels on the color, opacity, and fluorescence of composite resins. Seven composite resin brands were tested and 30 specimens, 3-mm in diameter and 2-mm thick, of each material were fabricated, for a total of 210 specimens. The specimens of each tested material were divided into three subgroups (n=10) according to the bleaching therapy tested: 20% hydrogen peroxide gel, 35% hydroxide peroxide gel, and the control group. The baseline color, opacity, and fluorescence were assessed by spectrophotometry. Four 30-minute bleaching gel applications, two hours in total, were performed. The control group did not receive bleaching treatment and was stored in deionized water. Final assessments were performed, and data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests (p<0.05). Color changes were significant for different tested bleaching therapies (p<0.0001), with the greatest color change observed for 35% hydrogen peroxide gel. No difference in opacity was detected for all analyzed parameters. Fluorescence changes were influenced by composite resin brand (p<0.0001) and bleaching therapy (p=0.0016) used. No significant differences in fluorescence between different bleaching gel concentrations were detected by Tukey test. The greatest fluorescence alteration was detected on the brand Z350. It was concluded that 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel generated the greatest color change among all evaluated materials. No statistical opacity changes were detected for all tested variables, and significant fluorescence changes were dependent on the material and bleaching therapy, regardless of the gel concentration.