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.
The deposition process and investigation of the physical properties of tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin films before and after gamma irradiation are presented in this paper. The WO3 thin films were deposited, using the pulse laser deposition technique, on glass substrates at laser energies of 600mJ and 800mJ. After deposition, the samples were gamma irradiated with Co60. The structural and optical properties of polycrystalline WO3 thin films are presented and discussed before and after 5kGy gamma irradiation at the two laser energies. X-ray diffraction spectra revealed that all the films consisted of WO3 crystallized in the triclinic form; the dislocation density and lattice strain increased with the absorbed dosage of gamma
... Show MoreCadastral maps are the main documents of ownership and plots of land, as it contribute to preserving the property rights of individuals and institutions. It indicates the size and shape of each parcel and reveals geographic relationships that affect property value. The Iraqi cadastral maps are in old coordinate system AL-nahrwan 1934 and lambert conformal conic projection. Therefore these maps are old and unfit for use. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of cartographic properties on updating cadastral maps. This depends on studying the effect of conversion the projection and the datum of the cadastral maps of the study area from (datum: nahrwan34, projection: lambert confo
Different additives are used in drilling fluids when the demanded properties cannot be gotten with clays. Drilling muds needs several additives and materials to give good characteristics. There are local alternatives more suitable for enhancing the rheology and filtration of drilling fluids. An experimental work had been conducted to assess the suitability of using potato starch to enhance rheological properties and filtration in drilling mud. This study investigated the potato starch as a viscosifier and fluid losses agent in drilling fluid. Results from this study proved that rheological properties of potato starch mud increased when pH of drilling fluid is increased. Potato starch could be used to enhance gel strength at low pH
... Show MoreDifferent additives are used in drilling fluids when the demanded properties cannot be gotten with clays. Drilling muds needs several additives and materials to give good characteristics. There are local alternatives more suitable for enhancing the rheology and filtration of drilling fluids. An experimental work had been conducted to assess the suitability of using potato starch to enhance rheological properties and filtration in drilling mud. This study investigated the potato starch as a viscosifier and fluid losses agent in drilling fluid. Results from this study proved that rheological properties of potato starch mud increased when pH of drilling fluid is increased. Potato starch could be used to enhance gel strength at low pH
... Show MoreThin films whose compositions can be expressed by (GeS2)100-xGax (x=0, 6,12,18) formula were obtained by thermal evaporation technique of bulk material at a base pressure of ~10-5 torr. Optical transmission spectra of the films were taken in the range of 300-1100 nm then the optical band gap, tail width of localized states, refractive index, extinction coefficient were calculated. The optical constants were found to increase at low concentration of Ga (0 to12%) while they decreases with further addition of Ga. The optical band gap was found to change in opposite manner to that of optical constants. The variation in the optical parameters are explained in terms of average bond energy
... Show MoreThe effect of Al dust particles on glow discharge regions, discharge
voltage, discharge current, plasma potential, floating potential,
electron density and electron temperature in planar magnetron
sputtering device has been studied experimentally. Four cylindrical
Langmuir probes were employed to measure plasma parameters at
different point on the radial axis of plasma column. The results
shows the present of Al dust causes to increase the discharge voltage
and reduce the discharge current. There are two electron groups in
the present and absent of Al dust particles. The radial profiles of
plasma parameters in the present of dust are non- uniform. The
floating potential of probe becomes more negatively while
Polymer blended electrolytes of various concentrations of undoped PAN/PMMA (80/20, 75/25, 70/30, 65/35 and 60/40 wt%) and doped with lithium salts (LiCl, Li2SO4H2O, LiNO3, Li2CO3) at 20% wt have been prepared by the solution casting method using dimethylformamide as a solvent. The electrical conductivity has been carried out using an LCR meter. The results showed that the highest ionic conductivity was 2.80x10-7 (Ω.cm)-1 and 1.05x10-1 (Ω.cm)-1 at 100 kHz frequency at room temperature for undoped (60% PAN + 40% PMMA) and (80% PAN + 20% PMMA) doped with 20%wt Li2CO3 composite blends, respect
... Show MoreCopper selenide (Cu2Se) thin films were prepared by thermal evaporation at RT with thickness 500 nm. The heat-treating for (400 &500) K for the absorber layer has been investigated. This research includes, studying the structural properties of X-ray diffraction (XRD) that show the Cu2Se thin film (Cubic) and has a polycrystalline orientation prevalent (220). Moreover, studying the effect of annealing on their surface morphology properties by using Atomic Force Microscopy AFM. Optical properties were considered using the transmittance and absorbance spectra had been recorded when wavelength range (400 - 1000) nm in order to study the absorption coefficient and energy gap. It was found that these films had allowed direct transitio
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