Biodegradable polymers have garnered increasing attention as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived plastics, which pose a global environmental challenge due to their difficult recycling and slow degradation. This study focuses on the preliminary evaluation of surface functional properties of chitosan films reinforced with TiO₂ or ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). These films were prepared at different loading ratios using the solution-casting method. Structural and morphological properties were characterized using FTIR and FESEM, while functional properties were evaluated by surface wettability, UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and antibacterial activity testing. FTIR results showed significant changes in absorption peaks associated with amine and hydroxyl groups, indicating the formation of hydrogen bonds and strong surface interactions between chitosan and NPs. Morphological imaging also revealed a nanoscale surface structure that could influence wettability and surface interactions. The results of functional tests, compared to pure chitosan, showed improvements in some functional properties, like UV protection and thermal stability, while maintaining other properties, like surface wettability, within accepted functional limits. Moreover, chitosan films reinforced with TiO₂ or ZnO NPs showed statistically significant antibacterial activity, particularly against S. aureus. These results represent a preliminary evaluation of potential candidate materials for packaging applications. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the studied samples and their suitability for practical applications requires further future studies that include tests of mechanical properties, gas permeability, biodegradability, migration and biosafety studies and performance under real-world application conditions.
Zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films were deposited on glass substrates using pulsed laser deposition technique. The laser used is the Q-switched Nd: YAG laser with 1064nm wavelength and 1Hz pulse repetition rate and varying laser energy 700mJ-1000mJ with 25 pulse. The substrate temperature was kept constant at 100°C. The structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnS thin films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and UV-VIS spectrophotometer.
A nanocrystalline thin films of PbS with different thickness (400, 600)nm have been prepared successfully by chemical bath deposition technique on glass and Si substrates. The structure and morphology of these films were studied by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscope. It shows that the structure is polycrystalline and the average crystallite size has been measured. The electrical properties of these films have been studied, it was observed that D.C conductivity at room temperature increases with the increase of thickness, From Hall measurements the conductivity for all samples of PbS films is p-type. Carrier's concentration, mobility and drift velocity increases with increasing of thickness. Also p-PbS/n-Si heterojunction has been
... Show MoreIndium Antimonide (InSb) thin films were grown onto well cleaned glass substrates at substrate temperatures (473 K) by flash evaporation. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the polycrystalline of the films and the films show preferential orientation along the (111) plane .The particle size increases with the increase of annealing time .The transmission spectra of prepared samples were found to be in the range (400-5000 cm-1 ) from FTIR study . This indicates that the crystallinity is improved in the films deposited at higher annealing time.
The thin films of SnO2,SnO2:TiO2 , SnO2:MoO3 , SnO2:WO3 , SnO2:Cr2O3 , and SnO2: Fe2O3 were prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique using (Nd:YAG) laser of λ=1064 nm average frequency (6) Hz and pulse duration (10 ns) under vacuum of 10 -2 mbar)deposited on glass, n-Si single crystals substrate room temperature with thickness of (100±10) nm. The structures of pure SnO2 and ,SnO2:TiO2 , SnO2:MoO3 , SnO2:WO3 , SnO2:Cr2O3 , SnO2:Co3O4 compounds were studied by X–ray diffraction .the results showed that there was red shift accompanied addition of MoO3 and TiO2 while a blue shift accompanied the addition of WoO3 , Cr2O3 , Fe2O3 to tin oxide . The gas sensing measurements of NO2 gas showed that S
... Show MoreAg2O (Silver Oxide) is an important p-type (in chasm to most oxides which were n-type), with a high conductivity semiconductor. From the optical absorbance data, the energy gap value of the Ag2O thin films was 1.93 eV, where this value substantially depends on the production method, vacuum evaporation of silver, and optical properties of Ag2O thin films are also affected by the precipitation conditions. The n-type and p-type silicon substrates were used with porous silicon wafers to precipitate ±125 nm, as thick Ag2O thin film by thermal evaporation techniques in vacuum and via rapid thermal oxidation of 400oC and oxidation time 95 s, then characterized by measurement of
... Show MorePure cadmium oxide films (CdO) and doped with zinc were prepared at different atomic ratios using a pulsed laser deposition technique using an ND-YAG laser from the targets of the pressed powder capsules. X-ray diffraction measurements showed a cubic-shaped of CdO structure. Another phase appeared, especially in high percentages of zinc, corresponding to the hexagonal structure of zinc. The degree of crystallinity, as well as the crystal size, increased with the increase of the zinc ratio for the used targets. The atomic force microscopy measurements showed that increasing the dopant percentage leads to an increase in the size of the nanoparticles, the particle size distribution was irregular and wide, in addition, to increase the surfac
... Show MoreOilwell cementing operations are crucial for drilling and completion, preserving the well's productive life. However, weak and permeable formations pose a high risk of cement slurry loss, leading to failure. Lightweight cement, like foamed cement, is used to avoid these difficulties. This study is focused on creating a range of foamed slurry densities and examining the effect of gas concentration on their rheological properties. The foaming agent and foam stabilizer are tested, and the optimal concentration is determined to be 2% and 0.12%, respectively, by the weight of the cement.
Furthermore, the construction of samples of foam cement with different densities (0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6) g/cc is performed to f
... Show MoreThe study was carried out in plant tissue culture laboratory, University of Baghdad during the period 2017-2019, as factorial experiment in complete randomized design, to study the effect of PEG at (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8%) on physiological and chemical changes in callus of three sunflower (Ishaqi 1, Aqmar and Al-haga) induced by the cultivation of the young stem in vitro under water stress. The content of callus cells of SOD, POD, CAT and APX enzymes as well as total dissolved carbohydrate were determined as indicators to determine the effect of PEG in callus tissue cells cultivated on medium equipped with the PEG concentrations. The results showed that cultivars were differs significantly, and A-haja variety was superior in increasing SOD to 12
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