Background: The daily cleaning routine of the silicone maxillofacial prostheses by the patient may cause some alteration in the materials properties. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of different disinfection procedures on some properties of silicon dioxide reinforced Cosmesil M511 HTV maxillofacial silicone. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty (160) specimens were prepared by mixing 5% SiO2 nano particles and 0.5% intrinsic cream color into the silicone polymer according to manufacturer's instructions. Specimens were divided into 4 groups according to the performed test (tear strength, surface hardness, surface roughness and color) with 40 specimens each. Each group was further subdivided according to the disinfection procedure conducted (control, microwave exposure, neutral soap and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate). Measurements for tear strength were done using universal testing machine. Surface hardness test was carried out with a Shore A Durometer. Surface roughness was analyzed with a portable digital Profilometer. Color change was established with a Spectrophotometer. After the initial testing, all specimens were submitted to disinfection procedure 3 times a week for 60 days. Measurements were repeated and data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's LSD or Games-Howell test. Results: Spectrophotometer results showed non-significant decrease in the light absorbance of all experimental groups after disinfection, indicating a strong integration between the nano filler and the polymeric chains, which was not broken during the disinfection procedure. Highly-significant increase in Shore A hardness was recorded, while the decrease in surface roughness was highly significant in all experimental groups. Tear strength reduced significantly after disinfection in all experimental groups. Conclusion: Disinfection seemed to cause different amount of alteration in all of the tested properties of silicone. High color stability is expected in this type of maxillofacial silicone after disinfection.Although microwave exposure had increased the hardness of the material, it is considered a satisfactory disinfection procedure since it caused the least effect on the tear strength and surface roughness of the material. Therefore, microwave exposure is recommended for the disinfection of maxillofacial silicone prostheses.
The effect of the aqueous extract of fig (Ficus carica) fruit was studied by using different concentrations of this fruit (15, 20 and 25 mg/kg of body weight) on some hematological parameters (hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, white blood cell count and platelets count) in female rabbits. Twenty female rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (five animals in each group). Three groups were dosed with the concentrations mentioned above, while the last was administered with distilled water and considered as control group. These animals were orally dosed by aqueous extract using a micropipette. The results showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume means for all
... Show MoreThe thermal properties of four nematogenic Schiff’s bases, n-butyl-to-n-heptyl of bis (4-n-alkyloxybenzylidine)-2,3,5.6- tetramethyl-1, 4-phenylenediamine, have been studied. The transition temperatures and enthalpies of transition were examined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Several correlations were carried out; those included the relations between transition temperatures, enthalpies and entropies of transition with increasing the
number of carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl chains. In addition, new regular relations were found between the ratio of the enthalpies and of the entropies, for noematic-isotropic transition and crystal-isotropic transition ( ΔΗÎ-i/AHC-I, ΔS
This research aims to investigate and evaluate a reactive powder concrete (RPC) cast using economical materials. Its mechanical properties were investigated and evaluated by studying the effects of using different cement and silica fume contents and locally steel fibers aspect ratios as reinforcement for this concrete. A compressive strength of about 155.2MPa, indirect tensile strength of 16.0MPa, modulus of elasticity of 48.7GPa, flexural strength of 43.5MPa, impact energy of 3294.4kN.m and abrasion loss 0.59% have been achieved for reinforced RPC contains 910 kg/m3 cement content, silica fume content 185 kg/m3 of cement weight and fiber volume fraction 2%. The water absorption values w
... Show MoreThis research discloses the synthesis of various polyester resins, the polyesters containing homoring aromatic and others heterocyclic were synthesized by the condensation polymerization of suitable monomers (which are containing variety function groups in different structures) with phthalic anhydride. The main objective is synthesis of new polyester with keeping a reasonable electrical insulating behavior. The structural of polymer was characterized by Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy FTIR and HNMR. The dielectric constant (real ε' and imaginary parts ε") and AC conductivity (σAC) for all the polyester samples are studied by varying the frequency (30, 50, 70, 90, 120, 300, 500Hz and 1KHZ) at 25⁰ C. Indeed, study of the electri
... Show MoreThe study was conducted to estimate the economic losses caused by insect mole cricket Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa on some agricultural crops and Potato tubers in collage of Agriculture- Abu Ghraib season 2012-2013. Study showed Mole cricket caused percentage of infestation in spring potato tubers variety Luciana reached to 11.61% and the percentage of loss in weight of tubers reached 18.88%. The study showed that addition of animal manure (organic fertilizer) to the soil when planting potatoes in the autumn increased the incidence of infestation and the number of tunnels caused by mole cricket which led to from increased economic losses. When matured potato tubers were left for a longer period in the soil percentage of infestation by mole cr
... Show MoreThe electrical properties of Poly (ethylene oxide)-MnCl2 Composites were studied by using the impedance technique. The study was carried out as a function of frequency in the range from 10 Hz to 13 MHz and MnCl2 salt concentration ranged from 0% to 20% by weight. It was found that the dielectric constants and the dielectric loss of the prepared films increase with the increase of the MnCl2 concentration; The A.C. conductivity increases with the increase of the applied frequency, and the MnCl2 content in the composite membrane. Relaxation processes were observed to take place for composites which have a high salt concentration. The observed relaxation and polarization effects of the composite are mainly attributed to the dielectric
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