Resilient polymeric materials such as silicone elastomers are currently used for maxillofacial prostheses construction but the strength of these materials and their clinical performance need to be optimized with the addition of reinforcing fillers. This study investigates the effect of zirconia nanopowder addition on tear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, Shore A hardness, surface roughness and cytotoxicity of VST-50 maxillofacial silicone. Silicone base was mixed with different amounts (1%, 2% and 3%) of zirconia nanopowder using a vacuum mixer. Silicone without filler was used as control for comparison. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy were utilized to assess the efficiency of high-shear vacuum mixing as filler dispersion method and the surface topography, respectively. Both SEM and AFM images showed that the zirconia nanopowder were distributed fairly well within the polymer. Statistically, highly significant increase in tear strength, tensile strength and hardness with non-significant decrease in elongation at break and non-significant increase in surface roughness were seen with 1% and 2% groups. Whereas with 3% group, there was significant improvement in tear strength, tensile strength and hardness but there was significant undesirable decrease in elongation and increase in roughness. Cytotoxicity test revealed that the addition of zirconia nanopowder was nontoxic to Rat Embryonic Fibroblast (REF) cells and there was non-significant change in the cell viability of all study groups after 24- and 72-hours incubation periods. In conclusion, the addition of 2% by weight nano zirconia to VST-50 maxillofacial silicone could be beneficial in enhancing its performance.
This study aimed to evaluate the reservoir petrophysical properties (porosity, water saturation, and permeability) for optimal flow unit assessment within the Sadi Formation. Utilizing open hole logging data from five wells, the Sadi formation was divided into two rock units. The upper unit (A) is 45-50 meters thick, mainly consisting of limestone, mainly consisting of shaly limestone at the lower part. The lower unit (B) has a thickness of approximately 75-80 meters and is primarily composed of limestone, further subdivided into three subunits (B1, B2, B3). The average water resistivity is 0.04 ohm-m, and the average mud filtrate resistivity is 0.06 ohm-m. The Pickett plot was utilized to determine Archie parameters (tortuosit
... Show MoreIn this paper, a construction microwave induced plasma jet(MIPJ) system was used to produce a non-thermal plasma jet at atmospheric pressure, at standard frequency of 2.45 GHz and microwave power of 800 W. The working gas Argon (Ar) was supplied to flow through the torch with adjustable flow rate using flow meter regulator. The influence of the MIPJ parameters such as applied voltage and argon gas flow rate on macroscopic microwave plasma parameters were studied. The macroscopic parameters results show increasing of microwave plasma jet length with increasing of applied voltage, argon gas flow rate where the plasma jet length exceed 12 cm as maximum value. While the increasing of argon gas flow rate will cause increasing into the ar
... Show MoreTo enlighten the extent of crude oil pollution effects on some anatomical characteristics of olive plant (Olea europaea ). Two years - old seedlings were chosen to grow under 5 levels of pollution (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0, liter/ plant). The experiment has been conducted in the experimental field of Natural History Research Center and Museum, University of Baghdad. It was designed as CRD experiment. Testing wood specimens were prepared after 2.5 years of growth. Fiber length, width, wall thickness, and wood specific gravity were measured. Results showed that olive plants could not resist the highest level ( 3 liters / plant ) of pollution .Fiber length was the most affected property by treatment. All fiber dimensions wer
... Show MoreAbstract: Iatrogenic furcal root perforations are serious complications during dental treatment. This study was aimed to compare the sealing ability of new bioceramic root repair material TotalFill® with the other perforation repair materials (GIC, MTA and Biodentine) using a dye- extraction method.Materials and Methods: Forty extracted, human mandibular molars with non-fused well developed root were collected. Artificial perforations were made from the external surface of the teeth. Then the teeth were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups (n= 10) according to the type of repair material used in this study; Medifil glass ionomercement, TotalFill® bioceramic root repair material, BiodentineTM and MTA Plus. The specimens were then im
... Show MoreMaterial Requirements Planning System (MRP) is considered as one of the planning and controlling of production and inventory systems which is used to prepare plan of the final production requirements and its parts of subcomponents raw materials and the time at which it was needed for the purpose of preparing orders of production and purchase.
The problem of the present work is represented in the general company of electrical industrialization adoption of traditional methods and personal experience of the process of the products and\or purchase quantity and inventory quantities and limiting the required time for acquiring the required quantities of the materials and parts used in the finish product of the
... Show MoreThis review article summarizes our research focused on Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) nanocrystals, including their synthesis and implementation as the active light absorbing material in photovoltaic devices (PVs). CIGS thin films were prepared by arrested precipitation from molecular precursors consisting of CuCl, InCl3, GaCl3 and Se metal onto Mo/soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates. We have sought to use CIGS nanocrystals synthesized with the desired stoichiometry to deposit PV device layers without high temperature processing. This approach, using spray deposition of the CIGS light absorber layers, without high temperature selenization, has enabled up to 1.5 % power conversion efficiency under AM 1.5 solar illumination. The composition and morphology
... Show MoreThe D.C. electrical properties of poly (ethylene oxide)/MgCl2 composites were investigated as a function of different MgCl2 filler concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%) and different temperatures in the range (276–333)o K at three different polarizing fields. Resistivity:ï² and dc Conductivity: σ dc were measured, and the activation energy: Ea of the thermal rate-process of the electrical conduction was investigated. It was found that the current-voltage measurement results exhibited Ohmic resistance behavior, the composites exhibit negative temperature reliance of resistivity and enhancement in the D.C. electrical conductivity with both temperature and MgCl2 concentration. The determined activation energy was found to
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