Surface Modification of Polycarbonate by Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jets

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

Crystallization kinetics in phosphate sodium-based glass studied by DSC technique

In this work, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the mechanism of crystallization of 5OP(2)O(5-)27.8Na(2)O-16ZnO-6.2Al(2)O(3) glass. DSC measurements were performed on bulk and powdered glasses with different particle size. The curve for bulk glass shows one crystallization peak while powdered glasses presented two distinct crystallization peaks. Based on DSC studies, the activation energies obtained were 336 +/- 6 and 213 +/- 3 U mol(-1), associated with first and second crystallization peaks, respectively. Analyzing the DSC parameters as a function of particle size, the Avrami n parameter suggests that the peak at low temperature may be associated with surface crystallization while the peak at high temperature is associated with bulk crystallization. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Síntese, sinterização e caracterização de ferritas à base de Ni-Zn

Were synthesized different ferrites NixZn1-xFe2O4 (0,4 ≤ x ≤ 0,6) compositions by using citrate precursor method. Initially, the precursors citrates of iron, nickel and zinc were mixed and homogenized. The stoichiometric compositions were calcined at 350°C without atmosphere control and the calcined powders were pressed in pellets and toroids. The pressed material was sintered from 1100º up to 1200ºC in argon atmosphere. The calcined powders were characterized by XRD, TGA/DTG, FTIR, SEM and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). All sintered samples were characterized using XRD, SEM, VSM and measurements of magnetic permeability and loss factor were obtained. It was formed pure ferromagnetic phase at all used temperatures. The Rietveld analyses allowed to calculate the cations level occupation and the crystallite size. The analyses obtained nanometric crystals (12-20 nm) to the calcined powder. By SEM, the sintered samples shows grains sizes from 1 to 10 μm. Sintered densities (ρ) were measured by the Archimedes method and with increasing Zn content, the bulk density decrease. The better magnetization results (105-110 emu/g) were obtained for x=0,6 at all sintering temperatures. The hysteresis shows characteristics of soft magnetic material. Two magnetization processes were considered, superparamagnetism at low temperature and the magnetic domains formation at high temperatures. The sintered toroids presents relative magnetic permeability (μr) from 7 to 32 and loss factor (tanδ) of about 1. The frequency response of toroids range from 0,3 kHz to 0,2 GHz. The composition x=0,5 presents both greater μr and tanδ values and x=0,6 the most broad range of frequency response. Various microstructural factors show influence on the behavior of μr and tanδ, such as: grain size, porosity across grain boundary and inside the grain, grain boundary content and domain walls movement during the process of magnetization at high frequency studies (0,3kKz 0,2 GHz)

Síntese análise das propriedades magnéticas da ferrita de NiMg e características de absorção de radiação

It was synthesized different Ni1-xMgxFe2O4 (0,2 ≤ x ≤ 0,7) compositions by use of citrate precursor method. Initially, the precursory citrates of iron, nickel and magnesium were mixed and homogenized. The stoichiometric compositions were calcined from 350°C to 1200°C at ambient atmosphere or in argon atmosphere. The calcined powders were characterized by XRD, TGA/DTG, FTIR, magnetic measures and reflectivity using the wave guide method. I was observed pure magnetic phase formation between 350°C and 500°C, with formation of ferrite and hematite after 600°C at ambient atmosphere. The calcined powder at argon atmosphere formed pure ferromagnetic phase at 1100°C and 1200°C. The Rietveld analyses calculated the cations level occupation and the crystallite size. The analyses obtained nanometric crystals (11-66 nm), that at 900°C/3h presents micrometric sizes (0,45 - 0,70 Om). The better magnetization results were 54 Am2/Kg for x= 0,2 composition, calcined at 350°C/3h and 30 min, and 55,6 Am2/Kg for x= 0,2 1200°C, calcined in argon. The hysteresis shows characteristics of soft magnetic material. Two magnetization processes were considered, superparamagnetism at low temperature and the magnetic domains formation at high temperatures. The materials presented absorption less or equal the 50 % in ranges specific frequency. As for the 2,0 and 3,0 thickness (in 11,0 - 11,8 GHz), the reflectivity of the x= 0,3, 0,5 and 0,4 compositions, all calcined at 900°C/3h showed agreement with MS and O. Various factors contribute for the final radiation absortion effect, such as, the particle size, the magnetization and the polymer characteristics in the MARE composition. The samples that presented better magnetization does not obtaining high radiation absorption. It is not clear the interrelaction between the magnetization and the radiation absorption in the strip of frequencies studied (8,2 - 12,4 GHz)

Thermoluminescence of aluminophosphate glasses in the metaphosphate composition

Potassium aluminum phosphate (KAP) glasses in the system xKPO(3)-(100-x)AI(PO3)3 with x = 10, 30 and 50 mol% were prepared in the metaphosphate composition. The glasses were doped with MnO2 and their thermoluminescent (TL) response was investigated. Raman spectra showed that these glasses did not undergo structural changes with the substitution of manganese ions. The glass composition x = 50 mol% doped with 1.0 mol% of MnO2 presented the best TL response. The material displayed good sensitivity for gamma-rays, X-rays and UV light. The emission curves exhibited two TL peaks, one at a low temperature (similar to 150 degrees C) and the other at a high temperature (similar to 365 degrees C), whose positions were dependent on the type of exciting radiation applied. The results of the present study indicated that the high temperature peak is a good candidate for TL dosimetric investigations. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of polyol excess on the electrical property of vegetable-polyurethane film

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

An Oligosilsesquioxane Cage Functionalized with Molybdenum(II) Organometallic Fragments

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

Non-Zeeman splitting for a spin-resolved STM with a Kondo adatom in a spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reforma a vapor catalítica do metano: Otimização da produção e seletividade em hidrogênio por absorção in situ do CO2 produzido

Topics of research related to energy and environment have significantly grown in recent years, with the need of its own energy as hydrogen. More particularly, numerous researches have been focused on hydrogen as energy vector. The main portion of hydrogen is presently obtained by reforming of methane or light hydrocarbons (steam, oxy, dry or auto reforming). During the methane steam reforming process the formation of CO2 undesirable (the main contributor to the greenhouse effect) is observed. Thus, an oxide material (sorbent) can be used to capture the CO2 generated during the process and simultaneously shifting the equilibrium of water gas shift towards thermodynamically more favorable production of pure hydrogen. The aim of this study is to develop a material with dual function (catalyst/sorbent) in the reaction of steam reforming of methane. CaO is well known as CO2 sorbent due to its high efficiency in reactions of carbonation and easy regeneration through calcination. However the kinetic of carbonation decreases quickly with time and carbonation/calcination cycles. A calcium aluminate (Ca12Al14O33) should be used to avoid sintering and increase the stability of CaO sorbents for several cycles. Nickel, the industrial catalyst choice for steam reforming has been added to the support from different manners. These bi-functional materials (sorbent/catalyst) in different molar ratios CaO.Ca12Al14O33 (48:52, 65:35, 75:25, 90:10) were prepared by different synthesis methodologies, among them, especially the method of microwave assisted self-combustion. Synthesis, structure and catalytic performances of Ni- CaO.Ca12Al14O33 synthesized by the novel method (microwave assisted selfcombustion) proposed in this work has not being reported yet in literature. The results indicate that CO2 capture time depends both on the CaO excess and on operating conditions (eg., temperature and H2O/CH4 ratio). To be efficient for CO2 sorption, temperature of steam reforming needs to be lower than 700 °C. An optimized percentage corresponding to 75% of CaO and a ratio H2O/CH4 = 1 provides the most promising results since a smaller amount of water avoids competition between water and CO2 to form carbonate and hydroxide. If this competition is most effective (H2O/CH4 = 3) and would have a smaller amount of CaO available for absorption possibly due to the formation of Ca(OH)2. Therefore, the capture time was higher (16h) for the ratio H2O/CH4 = 1 than H2O/CH4 = 3 (7h) using as catalyst one prepared by impregnating the support obtained by microwave assisted self-combustion. Therefore, it was demonstrated that, with these catalysts, the CO2 sorption on CaO modifies the balance of the water gas-shift reaction. Consequently, steam reforming of CH4 is optimized, producing pure H2, complete conversion of methane and negligible concentration of CO2 and CO during the time of capture even at low temperature (650 °C). This validates the concept of the sorption of CO2 together with methane steam reforming

Atividade biológica de células-tronco da polpa de dentes decíduos humanos submetidas à criopreservação

Dental pulp stem cells have been widely investigated because of their ability to differentiate into both dental and non-dental cells, with potential use in therapies involving tissue engineering. The technique of cell cryopreservation represents a viable alternative for the conservation of these cells, since it stops reversibly, in a controlled manner, all of cell biological functions in an ultra low temperature. The present study aimed to evaluate, using in vitro experiments, the influence of a cryopreservation protocol on the biologic acti vity of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Cells obtained from the pulp of three deciduous teeth on end-stage exfoliation or with indicated extraction were expanded in α-MEM culture medium supplemented with antibiotics and 15% fetal bovine serum. At second subculture (P2), a group of cells were submitted to cryopreservation for 30 days in 10% DMSO diluted in fetal bovine serum, at -80º C, while the remind cells continued under normal conditions of cell culture. Cell proliferation was evaluated in both groups (not cryopreserved or cryopreserved) by Trypan blue stain essay at intervals of 24, 48 and 72h after plating. Cell cycle analysis of SHEDs submitted or not to the cryopreservation protocol was performed in the same intervals. Events related to cell death were studied by Annexyn V and PI expression under flow cytometry at the intervals of 24 and 72h. The presence of nuclear morphological changes was evaluated by DAPI staining at 72h interval. It was observed that both groups exhibited an upward cell proliferation curve, without considerable changes in cell viability throughout the experiment. The distribution of cell in the cell cycle phasis was consistent with cell proliferation in both groups. There were no nuclear morphological damages in the end range of the experiment. therefore, it is concluded that the proposed cryopreservation protocol is efficient for storing the studied cell type, allowing its use in future experimental studies

Desenvolvimento de uma rota química alternativa de síntese de SrCo0,8Fe0,2O3- e LaNi0,3Co0,7O3- para aplicação na reação de oxidação do CO

This thesis focuses on the coprecipitation synthesis method for preparation of ceramic materials with perovskite structure, their characterization and application as catalytic material in the reaction of converting CO to CO2 developing a methodological alternative route of synthesis from the middle via oxalate coprecipitation material SrCo0,8Fe0,2O3-d. In order to check the influence of this method, it was also synthesized using a combined citrate - EDTA complexing method. The material was characterized by: X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement method, thermogravimetry and differential thermo analysis (TG / DTA), scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, particle size distribution and surface analysis method BET. Both methods led to post-phase synthesis, with pH as a relevant parameter. The synthesis based on the method via oxalate coprecipitation among particles led to the crystalline phase as those obtained using a combined citrate - EDTA complexing method under the same conditions of heat treatment. The nature of the reagent used via oxalate coprecipitation method produced a material with approximately 80 % lower than the average size of crystallites. Moreover, the via oxalate coprecipitation method precursors obtained in the solid state at low temperature (~ 26 oC), shorter synthesis, greater thermal stability and a higher yield of around 90-95 %, maintaining the same order of magnitude the crystallite size that the combined citrate - EDTA complexing method. For purposes of comparing the catalytic properties of the material was also synthesized by the using a combined citrate - EDTA complexing method. The evaluation of catalytic materials SrCo0,8Fe0,2O3-d LaNi0,3Co0,7O3-d was accompanied on the oxidation of CO to CO2 using a stainless steel tubular reactor in the temperature range of 75-300 oC. The conversion CO gas was evaluated in both materials on the results shaved that the firm conversion was loves for the material LaNi0,3Co0,7O3-d

Produção de biscoitos extrusados de polvilho azedo com fibras: efeito de parâmetros operacionais sobre as propriedades físicas

Neste trabalho buscou-se avaliar o efeito de parâmetros operacionais do processo de extrusão no desenvolvimento de biscoitos de polvilho com fibras, utilizando como matérias-primas o polvilho azedo e o farelo de mandioca. O processamento foi realizado em um extrusor mono-rosca, sendo considerados parâmetros variáveis: temperatura na 3ª zona de extrusão, umidade e porcentagem de fibras na mistura. Para analisar o efeito combinado das variáveis independentes nas características tecnológicas dos extrusados, utilizou-se o delineamento 'central composto rotacional' para três fatores. Os resultados obtidos mostraram efeitos significativos da umidade e porcentagem de fibras sobre o volume específico, sendo que a temperatura afetou os índices de solubilidade e absorção de água dos produtos extrusados. Condições de baixa temperatura (65 °C), baixa umidade (12%) e baixo teor de fibras (<4%), nas condições de processo utilizadas, produzem biscoitos com boas características tecnológicas.

Haematological response and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed diets containing folic acid

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

Avaliações sensoriais, bioquímicas e microbiológicas do guacamole, um produto à base de abacate, sob armazenamento a frio e com adição de ácido ascórbico

The elaboration of avocado products for commercialization keeping their characteristics of fresh product has been limited. The cut avocado darkens quickly and their sensorial characteristics are modified with the storage. In the present research, the sensorial parameters, microbiological stability, and peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activity were evaluated in guacamole added with ascorbic acid and conserved under low temperature, by using avocado variety Hass. Products were conditioned in polyethylene+nylon packages with and without vacuum application; then, they were subjected to the slow and fast freezing (-18 degrees C) and stored in freezer (-18 degrees C). Evaluations were performed at the moment of elaboration of the product (t0) and at 3, 7 and 30 days post-storage. At t30, samples were kept under refrigeration (4 +/- 1 degrees C) and evaluated at 3, 5 and 7 days. After the 30 days of storage, -18 degrees C under freezing, followed by thawing and keeping at 4 +/- 1 degrees C for 7 days, the notes for the sensorial parameters decreased. The peroxidase activity was totally inhibited in the elaborated product and the polifenol oxidase activity considerably decreased in the guacamole (20.07 mM catechol/g fresh matter) relative to those in the fruit (58.31 mM catechol/g fresh matter), however with no significant variation during storage (at -18 degrees C). The samples were microbiologically stable under the conditions of the present study. The addition of ascorbic acid contributed to the conservation of the frozen avocado product by decreasing the enzymatic activity. However, the sensorial parameters are prejudiced under thawing and storage at 4 +/- 1 degrees C.

Growth and reproductive dynamics of the South American red shrimp, Pleoticus muelleri (Crustacea: Solenoceridae), from the southeastern coast of Brazil

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