Treatment of polycarbonate by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure

Generally most plastic materials are intrinsically hydrophobic, low surface energy materials, and thus do not adhere well to other substances. Surface treatment of polymers by discharge plasmas is of great and increasing industrial application because it can uniformly modify the surface of sample without changing the material bulk properties and is environmentally friendly. The plasma processes that can be conducted under ambient pressure and temperature conditions have attracted special attention because of their easy implementation in industrial processing. Present work deals with surface modification of polycarbonate (PC) by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure. The treatment was performed in a parallel plate reactor driven by a 60Hz power supply. The DBD plasmas at atmospheric pressure were generated in air and nitrogen. Material characterization was carried out by contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface energy of the polymer surface was calculated from contact angle data by Owens-Wendt method using distilled water and diiodomethane as test liquids. The plasma-induced chemical modifications are associated with incorporation of polar oxygen and nitrogen containing groups on the polymer surface. Due to these surface modifications the DBD-treated polymers become more hydrophilic. Aging behavior of the treated samples revealed that the polymer surfaces were prone to hydrophobic recovery although they did not completely recover their original wetting properties.

Qualidade da aplicação de inseticida em amendoim (arachis hypogaea l.), com e sem adjuvantes na calda, sob chuva simulada

The present work aimed to evaluate the volumetric distribution profiles, droplet spectra, surface tension, contact angle of droplet and the spraying liquid deposition over the peanut leaves (Arachis hypogaea L.), under artificial rain, in comparison with deposition without rain, using two hydraulic nozzle models of plain fan and insecticide spraying liquids with and without adjuvants addition. It were used a patternator for volumetric distribution analysis, a laser particles analyzer to evaluate droplet spectra produced by SF 110015 and XR 110015 nozzles and tensiometer for droplet tension and contact angle. The spraying liquids evaluated were: water, lambda-cialotrina, lambda-cialotrina + nitrogen fertilizer and lambda-cialotrina + mineral oil. All experiments followed a completely randomized design. Data were submitted to variance analysis by F test and the means comparisons by Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability. According to the results, it must be considered the maximum spacing in spray boom usage of 50 and 90 cm between the nozzles SF110015 and XR110015, respectively. The adjuvants effects on droplet spectra have shown addicted to the nozzle and the product used, and the adjuvants addition to the spraying liquid affected the potential risk of drift; The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD) of produced droplets by nozzles filled into thin class and were not influenced by the adjuvants. The nitrogen fertilizer adjuvant may be indicated to promote improvements on coverage and droplet deposition on target.

Treatment of Reticulated Vitreous Carbon by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma for Electrodes Production

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

Horários de aplicação localizada ou em área total e uso de adjuvantes para o controle de Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) na cultura do milho

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Efeito da partícula e do momento de jateamento na caracterização superficial da zircônia e na resistência de união com cimento resinoso

Pós-graduação em Reabilitação Oral - FOAR

Feasibility of RF Sputtering and PIIID for production of thin films from red mud

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

Qualidade da pulverização em volume reduzido para o controle do bicho-mineiro Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV

Dentina humana e bovina: estudo comparativo das propriedades físicas e características da hibridização de sistemas adesivos convencionais ou grander modificados: análise em mev

A adesão longitudinal continua a representar um dos maiores desafios da Odontologia moderna. Uma nova proposta para o estabelecimento do equilíbrio da adesão aos tecidos dentários surge, baseada na observação dos resultados obtidos com a tecnologia Grander para revitalização da água. Objetiva-se com o estudo verificar a influência dessa tecnologia nas propriedades físicas de dois sistemas adesivos (convencional e autocondicionante) à partir da medição da tensão superficial e do ângulo de contato; e avaliar a formação e a qualidade da camada híbrida em dentina humana e bovina. A tensão superficial de quatro diferentes líquidos (água, Single Bond- 3M, Primer do Clearfil SE Bond -Kuraray, e Bond do Clearfil SE-Kuraray), foi medida antes e após a modificação pelo procedimento Grander em aparelho goniômetro (Ramé-hart). O ângulo de contato com três substratos distintos (placa de titânio, dentina humana e dentina bovina), foi medido para os quatro líquidos também antes e após a modificação pelo procedimento Grander, também em goniômetro. A formação e qualidade da camada híbrida, foi avaliada em MEV, a partir da confecção de corpos de prova dos substratos humano e bovino, devidamente embutidos, preparados em lixas de variada granulação até a exposição de dentina, submetidos ao procedimento adesivo (SB ou CSEB) normal ou grander modificado, recebendo ao final dupla camada de resina composta Z250-3M, fotopolimerizada por 40s. Após armazenamento em estufa bacteriológica por 24h, os procedimentos para análise ao MEV foram realizados (fixação, desidratação, secagem e metalização). A estatística de Análise de Variância ANOVA e Teste de Tukey 5% revelou que: houve redução estatisticamente significante da tensão superficial para todos os líquidos Grander modificados; houve redução estatisticamente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

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.

Acetylene plasma polymer treated by atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge

Plasma polymer films are very attractive for industrial applications in several sectors such as in the electronic, mechanic, biomedic, coating and others, due to its good adhesion, being insoluble in mild acids and bases and having a high crosslinking structure. This work reports the physical, structural, and surface properties of the polymer obtained from an acetylene plasma polymerization technique and treated by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The film was deposited in a reactor supplied by a radio-frequency power source at low pressure. After deposition, the nanofilms were treated in a DBD plasma reactor operating in air. The treatment times varied from 1 to 5 min. The analysis of molecular structure of the samples was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, showing absorption bands in 3480, 2930, 1720, 1450 and 1380 cm(-1). The water contact-angle was investigated by goniometric technique and presented values from 5 to 65 degrees. The aging effect of these films was also studied. The alteration in the films surface morphology was assessed by an atomic force microscopy (AFM) which indicated that the roughness increased from 60 nm to 160 nm as a result of the DBD treatment. The refractive index of the samples presented values near 1.7, measured by UV-Visible spectroscopy. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of polymers and ceramics in new and discarded electrical insulators: reuse and recycling possibilities

The expansion and maintenance of electricity distribution networks generates large amounts of waste, much of it in the form of discarded insulators that are not reused or recycled. This paper describes the results of tests on used and new ceramic and polymeric insulators to verify if their exposure to weathering justifies their replacement. In new and used ceramic insulators, properties such as contact angle, relative density, porosimetry, dilatometry and X-ray diffraction patterns showed no differences or the differences that were found could not be related to their use. The discarded ceramic material showed high thermal stability, an interesting characteristic for application as chamotte. It can also be reused to replace gravel used in substations. In polymeric insulators, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and relative density test results suggest degradation of used material compared to new. This would justify their replacement and discard as waste, but they show little recycling potential.

Implantação iônica por imersão em plasma e deposição de filmes finos poliméricos provenientes da mistura hexametildisilazano/argônio

Thin polymeric films deposited by plasma are very atractive for many industrial and scientific applications, in areas such as electronics, mechanics, coatings, biomaterials, among others, due to its favorable properties such as good adhesion to the substrate, high crosslinking, nanomectric thickness, homogeneity, etc. In this work, thin films were deposited by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition technique from a hexamethyldisilazane/argon mixture at different proportions. These films were subjected to several characterizations, such as, contact angle, which presented values near to 100 degrees, surface energy, with values near to 31 mJ/m2, hardness with values between 0.7 and 2.6 GPa, thickness from 100 to 200 nm, refractive index from 1.56 to 1.64, molecular structure presenting the following functional groups in the infrared spectra region: CHx from 2960 to 2900 cm-1; Si-H around 2130 cm-1; CH3 in Si-(CH3)x around 1410 cm-1; CH3 in Si-(CH3)x in 1260 cm-1; N-H around 1180 cm-1; CH2 in Si-CH2-Si bonds around 1025 cm-1; Si-O in Si-O-Si from 1020 to 1100 cm-1; Si-N in Si-H-Si bonds around 940 cm-1; CH3 in Si-(CH3)3 in 850 cm-1; Si-C bonds in Si-(CH3)2 around 800 cm-1; and Si-H in 680 cm-1 . From these characterizations, it was possible to conclude that the concentration of argon or hexamethyldisilazane in the mixture changed the resulting polymer

Aplicação da descarga por barreira dielétrica (DBD) em diferentes frequências no tratamento de polipropileno

In this work, air dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating at two different frequencies (60 Hz and 17 kHz) was used to improve surface properties of polypropylene (PP). The changes in surface hydrophilicity were investigated by contact angle measurements. The modifications in chemical composition of PP surface were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The PP roughness were analyzed before and after the DBD treatment using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In order to compare the results obtained at different frequencies, the analyses are presented as a function of the deposited energy density. The results show that both DBD treatments led to formation of low-molecular weight oxidized material (LMWOM). It tends to agglomerate into small mounts on the surface, as shown by AFM analyses. These structures are weakly bounded to the surface and can be easily removed by rinsing in polar solvents. After washing the DBD-treated samples, the PP partially recovers its original wetting characteristics. This suggests that oxidation also occurred at deeper and more permanent levels on the PP samples. Comparing both DBD treatments, the 17 kHz process was found to be more efficient in introducing oxygen groups to the PP surface

Biotratamento de sacolas plásticas de supermercado

Supermarket plastic bags are produced by high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) resins. In Brazil, are produced annually around 150 plastic bags per capita. Disposed in landfills, the supermarket plastic bags prevent the passage of water by slowing the breakdown of biodegradable materials and hindering compaction of waste, according to their low degradability. This work investigated the biodegradation of PE bags containing additive oxo-biodegradable and bags without additives: buried in soil columns, exposed in a controlled environment and exposed to air. The analysis methods used to assess the changes brought in the bags with respect to microbial action and exposure time were weight loss, thickness measurement, infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle. The results showed that the use of prodegradant agents such as oxobiodegradable additives in polyethylene bags, buried in soil for 270 days, was not efficient to accelerate the biodegradation by microorganisms. It seems that these additives have been more efficient to degrade the colored pigmentation of printed bags, under the influence of light and heat.