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 effects of reinforcing polymers with glass and graphite particles on enhancing their flexural properties are investigated. Five composites were fabricated using the same polymer matrix material with different volume fractions of reinforcement particles. They comprise glass particles and graphite particles each having volume fractions of 20% and 30% as well as a hybrid composite having 10% glass and 10% graphite. Three-point bending tests using a Universal Testing Machine were carried out on specimens of the above mentioned composites, as well as specimens of the polymer matrix material to determine their flexural properties. The experimental test results indicate that the flexural stiffness of all the composites wer
... Show MoreThe research aims to find out the effect of Cognitive Acceleration strategy and random excitement strategy in achievement of geography material and developing the reflective thinking for students of literary fifth class .
the researcher depended a partial control experimental design with the three groups(the competence groups of the pre & post tests), The sample is deliberately selected from first AL-Rusafah Directorate General of Education in Baghdad. AL.fardoos Interme
... Show MoreUtilizing first principles calculations within PW91 exchange-correlation method, we investigated a boron sheet that exhibits related electronic properties. The 2-dimensional boron sheet is flattened and has an atomic structure where the pair cores of every three ordered hexagons within the hexagonal network are loaded up by extra atoms, which saves the triangular lattice symmetry. The boron sheet takes possession of intrinsic metal properties and the electronic bands are comparable to the bands of the graphene that are close to the Fermi level. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function show a metallic or semiconductor behaviour, depending on the electric field direction.
In this paper, a polymer-based composite material was prepared by hand Lay-up method consisting of epoxy resin as a base material reinforced by magnesium oxide powder once and silicon dioxide powder again and with different weight ratios (3, 6, 9 and 12) wt %. The three-point bending test was performed in normal conditions and after immersion in sulfuric acid. The results showed that the bending value decreased with the increase of the weighted ratio of the reinforcement material (MgO, SiO2). The Bending of samples reinforced by SiO2 was found to be less than the bending of samples reinforced by particles (MgO). For example, the bending of the SiO2 sample (0.32 mm) at the weighted ratio (3%) and for the MgO (0.18mm) sample at the weight
... Show MoreBackground: As photochemical reaction that can stiffen the cornea, CXL is the only promising method of preventing progression of keratectasia such as KC and secondary ectasia following refractive surgery. The aim of CXL is to stabilize the underlying condition with a small chance of visual improvement. Objective: To show the sequences of changes in visual acuity and topographic outcomes during 1 year post CXL for patients with progressive Keratoconus.Type of the study: Cross sectional studyMethods: CXL procedure was done for 45 eyes with progressive KC. The following parameters had been monitored pre operatively, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively: K apex, K2, corneal thickness at thinnest location, anterior and posterior elevation po
... Show MoreThis study has been carried out to evaluate the expression level of beta 2 microglobulin gene on patients infected by hepatitis C virus before and after treatment with interferon. The study included 117 hepatitis C patients comprising as 63 pre-treated patients, the range of age was between 20-65 year with a mean age of 48.12 ± 16.1 and 54 post-treated patients with age range was between 23-63 year with the mean of 46.1 ± 18.1. Also it was found that more than half of patients were located within third and fourth decade i.e. 30-49 year, with a percentage of 52.4% and 55.6 % for pre-treatment and post-treatment patients respectively. Moreover , regarding both groups, males are more than females with the ratio of ( 3.2:1) among p
... Show MoreObjective(s): To assess women’s knowledge about health promotion after a cesarean delivery and to determine the association between women’s knowledge and their demographic data of age, level of education, and monthly income.
Methodology: A descriptive design is carried out to assess women’s knowledge about health promotion after cesarean delivery at Maternity and Pediatric Hospital in Al-Samawa City. This study starts from 26th of September 2020 up to 16th March 2021. Sample of (100) woman who are at reproductive age, pregnant (prime or multipara) who have planned to have birth by elective cesarean section or had previous elective caesarian section without medical indication or women who had cesarean section with medical indicat
Objective(s): To assess women’s knowledge about health promotion after a cesarean delivery and to determine the association between women’s knowledge and their demographic data of age, level of education, and monthly income. Methodology: A descriptive design is carried out to assess women’s knowledge about health promotion after cesarean delivery at Maternity and Pediatric Hospital in Al-Samawa City. This study starts from 26th of September 2020 up to 16th March 2021. Sample of (100) woman who are at reproductive age, pregnant (prime or multipara) who have planned to have birth by elective cesarean section or had previous elective caesarian section without medical indication or women who had cesarean section with medical indication or
... Show MoreIn this investigation insulator ceramic body was prepared by using iraqi local materials, these are kaolin, silica sand glass, feldspar with weight percentage (45%,25%, 30%)respectively. After the end of treating drying and milling of raw material mixing with different concentrations of sodium silicate(1%,0.7%,0.5%,0.2%,0.1%) while zinc oxide was added at fixed weight percentage. A disc samples was prepared after compaction and then fired by sintering temperatures (1250, 1350)oC respectively.A surface morphology was studied by using optical microscope and measurements of apparent density and porosity was under taken to the sintered samples by using Archimedes method.The study showed that the microscopic images for samples sur
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