Effect of Silver Nanoparticles in a Hydroxyapatite Coating applied by Atmospheric Plasma Spray

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

Surface modification of polymeric materials by cold atmospheric plasma jet

In this work we report the surface modification of different engineering polymers, such as, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). It was operated with Ar gas using 10 kV, 37 kHz, sine wave as an excitation source. The aim of this study is to determine the optimal treatment conditions and also to compare the polymer surface modification induced by plasma jet with the one obtained by another atmospheric pressure plasma source the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The samples were exposed to the plasma jet effluent using a scanning procedure, which allowed achieving a uniform surface modification. The wettability assessments of all polymers reveal that the treatment leads to reduction of more than 40 degrees in the water contact angle (WCA). Changes in surface composition and chemical bonding were analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that both detected incorporation of oxygen-related functional groups. Surface morphology of polymer samples was investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and an increase of polymer roughness after the APPJ treatment was found. The plasma-treated polymers exhibited hydrophobic recovery expressed in reduction of the O-content of the surface upon rinsing with water. This process was caused by the dissolution of low molecular weight oxidized materials (LMWOMs) formed on the surface as a result of the plasma exposure. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Amorphous silicon carbonitride films modified by plasma immersion ion implantation

Amorphous silicon carbonitride (a-SiCN:H) films were deposited from hexamethyldisilazane (HMDSN) organic compounds via radio-frequency (RF) glow discharges. Afterwards the films were bombarded, from 15 to 60 min, with nitrogen ions using Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation (PIII) technique. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that O-containing groups increased, while C-C and/or C-H groups decreased with treatment time. This result indicates chemical alterations of the polymeric films with the introduction of polar groups on the surface, which changes the surface wettability. In fact, the hydrophobic nature of a-SiCN:H films (contact angle of 100 degrees) was changed by nitrogen ion implantation and, and after aging in atmosphere air, all samples preserved the hydrophilic character (contact angle <80 degrees) independently of treatment time. The exposure of the films to oxygen plasma was performed to evaluate the etching rate, which dropped from 24% to 6% while the implantation time increased from 15 to 60 min. This data suggests that Pill increased the film structure strength, probably due to crosslinking enhancement of polymeric chains. Therefore, the treatment with nitrogen ions via Pill process was effective to modify the wettability and oxidation resistance of a-SiCN:H films. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estudo de temperatura de plasma de álcool através de espectroscopia de emissão natural radical C2*

Non-intrusive methods of diagnosis, such as spectral analysis of the radiation emitted by the system, have been used as a viable alternative for determining the temperature of combustion systems. Among them, the determination of temperature by natural emission spectroscopy has the advantage of requiring relatively simple experimental devices. Once Chemiluminescent species are formed directly in the excited state, the collection and recording of radiation emission spectrum is enough to determine the temperature (CARINHANA, 2008). In this study we used the process of making direct comparisons between the experimental spectra obtained in the laboratory from the plasma of alcohol, and the theoretical spectra plotted from a computer program developed at the IEAv. The objective was to establish a fast and reliable method to measure the rotational temperature of the radical C2*. The results showed that the temperature of the plasma, which in turn can be taken as the rotational temperature of the system, is proportional to the pressure. The temperature values ranged from ca. 2300 ~ 2500 K at a pressure of 19 mmHg to 3100 ~ 3500 K for the pressure of 46 mmHg. The temperature values are somewhat smaller when we consider the theoretical spectrum as a Lorentzian curve. The overlap of the spectra was better when using the profile curve, but still were not exactly superimposed. The solution to improve the overlap of the theoretical with the experimental spectra is the use of a curve that has the convolution of two profiles analyzed: Lorentzian and Gaussian. This curve is called the Voigt profile, which will also be implemented by programmers and studied in a next work

Tratamento da superfície do alumínio via eletrólise a plasma

This paper presents the study on the application of the electrolytic plasma for surface treatment of aluminum. A bibliographical study on the material of interest was preliminarily performed and later designed and built an electrolytic cell, including the excitation source. Unlike conventional electrolysis process, the plasma assisted carry on in the non-linear region of characteristic current/voltage curve. Therefore it requires for the on set of the process that the power supply operates on harder conditions than those on high current process. The plasma produced during the present investigation has temperatures in the range o 6,0.10 3 -7,0 .10 3 K, well above those found in conventional chemical process. It also shows a particular dynamic to promote changes on surface and to produce new materials. The plasma is generated by microdischarge in vapor or gas bubbles involved in physic-chemical processes in electrode regions of the electrolytic cell. The electrode material was the aluminum (7075). The Process Electrolytic Plasma Processing (EPP) is sensitive to various parameters such as operating voltage, current density, electrolyte, concentration of electrolyte, geometry of reactor, temperature of electrolytic solution and dynamic of the fluid in the cell. The experiments were carried on in order to find parameters for a stable abd steady operation. The choice for the electrolytic was silicate/alkali solution in various concentrations to operate in various voltage as well. Plasma was produced on negative (cathode) and positive (anode) electrode, in specific conditions. A stable operation on the cathode process was obtained with low concentration of the electrolytic in aqueous solution, current density around 250V effective voltage. For the evolution of plasma in anodic process it was required higher concentrations and higher... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Estudo da superfície de fibras de carbono após tratamento de implantação iônica por imersão em plasma (3IP)

In this work, plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) treatments of carbon fibers (CFs) were performed in order to induce modifications of chemical and physical properties of the CF surface aimed to improve the performance of thermoplastic composite. The samples to be treated were immersed in nitrogen or air glow discharge plasma and pulsed at −3.0 kV for 2.0, 5.0, 10.0, and 15.0 min. After PIII processing, the specimens were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). After CFs treatments, the CF/Polypropylene (PP) composites were produced by hot pressing method. Surface morphology of as-received CFs exhibited some scratches aligned along the fibers due to the fiber manufacturing process. After both treatments, these features became deeper, and also, a number of small particles nonuniformly distributed on the fiber surface can be observed. These particles are product of CF surface sputtering during the PIII treatment, which removes the epoxy layer that covers as-received samples. AFM analyses of CF samples treated with nitrogen depicted a large increase of the surface roughness (Rrms value approximately six times higher than that of the untreated sample). The increase of the roughness was also observed for samples treated by air PIII. Raman spectra of all samples presented the characteristic D- and G-bands at approximately 1355 and 1582 cm−1, respectively. Analysis of the surface chemical composition provided by the XPS showed that nitrogen and oxygen were incorporated onto the surface. The polar radicals formed on the surface lead to increasing of the CF surface energy. Both the modification of surface roughness and the surface oxidation contributed for the enhancement of CF adhesion to the polymeric matrix. These features were confirmed ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Efeito do recobrimento de filmes de carbono tipo diamante depositados a plasma na manutenção do torque de parafusos protéticos

Pós-graduação em Odontologia Restauradora - ICT

Expressão de matriz metaloproteinases e PCNA me úlceras corneais profundas, induzidas em coelhos, tratadas com plasma rico em plaquetas

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

Analysis of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in human plasma by HPLC-UV using a high purity C18 silica-based SPE sorbent

This paper reports on the development and validation of a simple and sensitive method that uses solid phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection to analyze fluoxetine (FLX) and norfluoxetine (NFLX) in human plasma samples. A lab-made C18 SPE phase was synthesized by using a sol–gel process employing a low-cost silica precursor. This sorbent was fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to check the particles' shape, size and C18 functionalization. The lab-made C18 silica was used in the sample preparation step of human plasma by the SPE-HPLC-UV method. The method was validated in the 15 to 500 ng mL 1 range for both FLX and NFLX using a matrix matched curve. Detection limits of 4.3 and 4.2 ng mL 1 were obtained for FLX and NFLX, respectively. The repeatability and intermediary precision achieved varied from 7.6 to 15.0% and the accuracy ranged from 14.9 to 9.1%. The synthesized C18 sorbent was compared to commercial C18 sorbents. The average recoveries were similar (85–105%), however the lab-made C18 silica showed fewer interfering peaks in the chromatogram. After development and validation, the method using the lab-made C18 SPE was applied to plasma samples of patients under FLX treatment (n ¼ 6). The concentrations of FLX and NFLX found in the samples varied from 46.8–215.5 and 48.0–189.9 ng mL 1 , respectively.

Efeito da aplicação de filmes de carbono tipo diamante por plasma no destorque de pilares de implantes com conexões cônicas internas

Pós-graduação em Odontologia Restauradora - ICT

Estudo da superfície do carbono vítreo reticulado após tratamento de implantação iônica por imersão em plasma (3IP) para a obtenção de eletrodos

In this work, RVC samples were treated by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) for electrodes production. High-voltage pulses with amplitudes of -3.0 kV or -10.0 kV were applied to the RVC samples while the treatment time was 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Nitrogen, atmospheric air and H2:N2 mixture were employed as plasma sources. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical measurements. The SEM images present an apparent enhancement of the surface roughness after the treatment probably due to the surface sputtering during the PIII process. This observation is in agreement with the specific electrochemical surface area (SESA) of RVC electrodes. An increase was observed of the SESA values for the PIII treated samples compared to the untreated specimen. Some oxygen and nitrogen containing groups were introduced on the RVC surface after the PIII treatment. Both plasma-induced process: the surface roughening and the introduction of the polar species on the RVC surface are beneficial for the RVC electrodes application

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): methodological aspects and clinical applications

The clinical use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is based on the increase in the concentration of growth factors and in the secretion of proteins which are able to maximize the healing process at the cellular level. Since PRP is an autologous biologic material, it involves a minimum risk of immune reactions and transmission of infectious and contagious diseases, and it has been widely used for the recovery of musculoskeletal lesions. Despite the great potential for applicability, the implementation of the therapeutic employment of PRP as a clinical alternative has become difficult, due to the lack of studies related to the standardization of the techniques and/or insufficient description of the adopted procedures. Therefore, it is required establish standard criteria to be followed for obtaining a PRP of high quality, as well as a larger number of studies which should establish the proper concentration of platelets for the different clinical conditions. In this context, the purpose of this review is to discuss some methodological aspects used for achieving the PRP, as well as to discuss the bioactive properties of PRP, and to point out its therapeutic use in different fields of regenerative medicine.

Efeito de nanofilmes depositados a plasma na resistência de união de um cimento resinoso a uma cerâmica à base de zircônia

Pós-graduação em Odontologia Restauradora - ICT

Re-used progesterone devices efficiently synchronise oestrus and ovulation after autoclaving process in Toggenburg goats during the breeding season

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Incorporation of Ca, P, and Si on bioactive coatings produced by plasma electrolytic oxidation: The role of electrolyte concentration and treatment duration

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