Fully Bio-Based Nanocomposite: Formulations For Packaging Application

The effect of a small amount of organoclay (OMMT) on mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, barrier and thermal properties of blown films based on blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polyamide 11 (PA11) was investigated. The addition of PA11 results in a decrease of elastic modulus (E) and tensile strength (σR) compared to neat PLA, which suggests poor interfacial adhesion between the polymer phases. Besides an enhancement of E and σR, the addition of 1 wt% of OMMT brings about a significant increase of the elongation at break. Neither blending with PA11 nor adding OMMT cause appreciable alterations of the barrier properties of the films, which remain essentially the same as those of pure PLA. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the onset of thermal degradation of the OMMT-filed blend is 15°C higher than of neat PLA. This improvement is probably due to the labyrinth effect of the PA11 phase. Finally, the OMMT brings about a slight enhancement of the glassy modulus compared to the unfilled blend, which suggests that the clay may exert some compatibilizing action. Such a beneficial effect of the OMMT endures up to the glass transition of PLA. he testing methods such as CCT, RCT, FCT, COBB, bursting etc. are supported by statistical technique and do not provide accurate results. The reason is the deviation of testing results. The same problem can be defined at the classification of different paper materials and qualities. This paper describes a new possible testing method to analyze the chemical and thermo-analytical nature of papers. This method can be used to specify effectively the limits of a given paper quality using in packaging industry and can help to ensure the exact traceability of paper identification. The results show that the this method on the one hand can be helpful to testing the paper during packaging producing process on the other hand after using as a packaging. To the testing a DSC measurement device was used as a thermo-analytical method to observe new specifics of paper based packaging

Applicazione della Termografia IR a pelli per abbigliamento e calzature con microcapsule a cambiamento di fase per valutazione delle proprietà termoregolanti.

Nel lavoro di tesi che ha per titolo “Applicazione della Termografia IR a pelli per abbigliamento e calzature con microcapsule a cambiamento di fase per valutazione delle proprietà termoregolanti” si è studiata la possibilità di additivare microcapsule contenenti materiali a cambiamento di fase a pelli per l’abbigliamento; in particolare ci si è concentrati sulla messa a punto di due metodologie di additivazione, una per impregnazione delle pelli nel bagno di concia e una per spalmatura (coating) delle microcapsule sul lato carne delle pelli. Il metodo di additivazione delle pelli per impregnazione non ha dato risultati soddisfacenti, in quanto le lavorazioni che la pelle subisce dopo la fase di concia causano la perdita di gran parte delle microcapsule. La metodologia di additivazione mediante coating delle pelli invece oltre a consentire di scegliere il lato della pelle su cui effettuare l’additivazione, garantisce la completa applicazione della soluzione di coating caricata con le microcapsule. La caratterizzazione morfologica delle pelli additivate con le due metodologie ha dimostrato come tra le due tecniche quella di coating garantisce una migliore additivazione sia in termini di concentrazione di MCPCM applicate si a in termini di adesione sul substrato. La caratterizzazione meccanica delle pelli additivate mediante processo di coating ha dimostrato che la concentrazione di MCPCM ottimale è del 4% in peso rispetto alla massa di pelle. Infatti una concentrazione superiore provoca inevitabilmente le proprietà di elasticità e flessibilità che sono richieste alle pelli destinate al settore dell’abbigliamento. Inoltre le pelli caricate con il 4% in peso di MCPCM presentano le medesime proprietà di resistenza all’abbarasione delle pelli tal quale con un minimo abbassamento della permeabilità al vapore acqueo. Per verificare e caratterizzare le proprietà termiche delle pelli additivate con MCPCM su scala macroscopica si è realizzato uno strumento sperimentale capace di stimolare il campione di pelle additivato con una onda termicamente e acquisire la risposta termica con immagini termografiche della radiazione infrarossa emessa dal campione. Lo strumento è costituito da una cella di perltier che genera una onda termica a partire da una onda elettrica, un inverte che converte un segnale in corrente continua in un segnale elettrico di natura sinusoidale, da un controller tipo PID che consente di condizionare l’inverter in base all’intervallo ti temperatura impostato e da una camera in plexiglass che isola il campione di pelle additivata dall’ambiente esterno. La strumentazione è dotata in oltre di una termo camera IR che permette di acquisire la risposta del campione alla sollecitazione termica generata dalla peltier. I risultati ottenuti dalla caratterizzazione termica macroscopica dei campioni ha dimostrato che nonostante la concentrazione del 4% in peso delle MCPCM possa sembrare modesta è comunque sufficiente a generare un effetto di smorzamento termico pari a 0,5°C. Una volta verificato l’efficacia delle pelli additivate con le MCPCM si è passati alla realizzazione di un prototipo di giacca per gli ambienti freddi. Il prototipo è stato sottoposto ad analisi termografica e le sue proprietà di smorzamento sono state confrontate con un prototipo di giacca identico al precedente ma realizzato con pelli tal quale. Il confronto tra i due prototipi è stato effettuato indossando alternativamente le due giacche in un ambiente a temperatura controllata posto a 15°C e registrando con la termocamera. L’analisi termografica dei due prototipi ha dimostrato che la giacca con le microcapsule disperde più lentamente il calore corporeo dei chi la indossa e che l’ effetto di smorzamento perdura per un tempo di 3 min

Infrared Thermography: Some Applications of Microencapsulated PCMs as Investigative Tool for Heat Transport Evaluation

Microcapsulated Phase Change Materials (PCMs) were additivated onto the surface of natural leathers and mixed in the formulation of composites tailored for secondary indoor applications. The thermal response to external temperature dumping has been evaluated using an experimental equipment composed of a Peltier-effect device linked to an electrical wave generator and an infrared thermocamera to record images

Thermoregulated natural leather using phase change materials: An example of bioinspiration.

Natural leather is a very attractive material for applications involving industries ranging from that of technical clothes to fashion. Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can be coated onto natural leathers using a polymer binder to add the thermoregulating properties demanded by modern consumers. The use of microcapsules enhances the thermal response of the leather during heating or cooling and the degree of thermal sensitivity depends on the percentage of microcapsules added onto the leather. The thermoregulating properties of leathers have been evaluated by both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared thermocamera (IRT); water vapour transmission and mechanical properties were analyzed and compared to those of uncoated leather. The results of mechanical characterization indicate that tensile strength and elongation at break are not significantly affected by this coating treatment

STABILIZED COMPOSITION COMPRISING HOMOPOLYMERS OR COPOLYMERS OF ETHYLENE AND NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS

A stabilized composition comprising: at least one homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene; at least one tocopherol or its analogous; at least one compound containing sulfur selected from glutathione, a-lipoic acid, acetyl-cysteine

Clinical Study Maintenance Therapy with Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum in the Conservative Treatment of Chronic Anal Fissure: Results of a Prospective, Randomized Study

properly cited. Purpose. This study was designed to evaluate the role of maintenance therapy with partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) after topical application of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in the conservative treatment of chronic anal fissure (CAF). Methods. From all the patients with CAF observed during the study period, 165 subjects with healed CAF after standard therapy with topical GTN 0.4% ointment were randomized to receive (group II) or not (group I) maintenance therapy with PHGG for 10 months. Clinical and manometric followup was carried out 6 and 12 months after treatment. Results. At six-month followup, median visual analogue scale score was significantly higher in group I if compared with group II. The success and recurrence rate at 12-month followup were, respectively, 38.3% (28/73) in group I versus 58.5% (41/70) in group II ( = 0.019; Fisher's exact test) and 30.2% (13/43) in group I versus 14.5% (7/48) in group II ( = 0.0047; Fisher's exact test). Conclusion. The maintenance therapy with PHGG in patients with healed CAF after chemical sphincterotomy by topical application of GTN 0.4% ointment seems associated with a significant reduction of recurrence rate and with a significant increase of success rate at 12-month followup

The Italian Unitary Society of Colon-proctology (SIUCP: Società Italiana Unitaria di Colonproctologia) guidelines for the management of anal fissure

Abstract Introduction The aim of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (SIUCP: Società Italiana Unitaria di Colon-Proctologia) on the diagnosis and management of anal fissure, with the purpose to guide every physician in the choice of the best treatment option, according with the available literature. Methods A panel of experts was designed and charged by the Board of the SIUCP to develop key-questions on the main topics covering the management of anal fissure and to performe an accurate search on each topic in different databanks, in order to provide evidence-based answers to the questions and to summarize them in statements. All the clinical questions were discussed by the expert panel in different rounds through the Delphi approach and, for each statement, a consensus among the experts was reached. The questions were created according to the PICO criteria, and the statements developed adopting the GRADE methodology. Conclusions In patients with acute anal fissure the medical therapy with dietary and behavioral norms is indicated. In the chronic phase of disease, the conservative treatment with topical 0.3% nifedipine plus 1.5% lidocaine or nitrates may represent the first-line therapy, eventually associated with ointments with film-forming, anti-inflammatory and healing properties such as Propionibacterium extract gel. In case of first-line treatment failure, the surgical strategy (internal sphincterotomy or fissurectomy with flap), may be guided by the clinical findings, eventually supported by endoanal ultrasound and anal manometry

Effects of pre‐operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study

We aimed to determine the impact of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery during the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We performed an international prospective cohort study including patients undergoing elective surgery in October 2020. Isolation was defined as the period before surgery during which patients did not leave their house or receive visitors from outside their household. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications, adjusted in multivariable models for measured confounders. Pre-defined sub-group analyses were performed for the primary outcome. A total of 96,454 patients from 114 countries were included and overall, 26,948 (27.9%) patients isolated before surgery. Postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded in 1947 (2.0%) patients of which 227 (11.7%) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients who isolated pre-operatively were older, had more respiratory comorbidities and were more commonly from areas of high SARS-CoV-2 incidence and high-income countries. Although the overall rates of postoperative pulmonary complications were similar in those that isolated and those that did not (2.1% vs 2.0%, respectively), isolation was associated with higher rates of postoperative pulmonary complications after adjustment (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05-1.36, p = 0.005). Sensitivity analyses revealed no further differences when patients were categorised by: pre-operative testing; use of COVID-19-free pathways; or community SARS-CoV-2 prevalence. The rate of postoperative pulmonary complications increased with periods of isolation longer than 3 days, with an OR (95%CI) at 4-7 days or >= 8 days of 1.25 (1.04-1.48), p = 0.015 and 1.31 (1.11-1.55), p = 0.001, respectively. Isolation before elective surgery might be associated with a small but clinically important increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Longer periods of isolation showed no reduction in the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. These findings have significant implications for global provision of elective surgical care