Stability of Ag nanoparticles dispersed in amphiphilic organic matrix

Nano- and thin-film technologies based on novel systems associating metals particles to polymer matrix open a broad range of different applications. Such composites were found to be more efficient and safe, for instance, in biomedical needs. The Ag/poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (Ag/PVP) composite investigated in the present work is a new bactericide mean applied in complicated cases of infected burns and purulent wounds. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray energy-dispersive (EDS) microanalysis were used to bring chemical and structural information in a study of the properties and stability of thin-film nanocomposite whih consisted of Ag nanoparticles dispersed in water-soluble organic matrix poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone). The nanostructural investigation of Ag/PVP composite by HRTEM and EDS exposed to SO2 and H2S from the atmosphere and some traces of S-containing substances explains the limited stability of this system by a structural modification associated with a phase change and formation of Ag 2S and Ag2SO3. However, formation of the hardly water-soluble Ag2S and Ag2SO3 salts may play an important role in the suppression of bacterial growth. On the one hand, silver could block S-H groups in vital proteins and conduced to their destruction, in that way revealing the antibacterial power. On the other hand, antiseptic properties of Ag consist in binding the products of the protein deca

Electron microscopy of biomaterials based on hydroxyapatite

Three types of biomaterials based on hydroxyapatite are synthesized and investigated. Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals or microcrystals precipitated from low-temperature aqueous solutions serve as the initial material used for preparing spherical porous granules approximately 300-500 mu m in diameter. Sintering of hydroxyapatite crystals at a temperature of 870 degrees C for 2 h or at 1000 degrees C (for 3 h) + 1200 degrees C (for 2 h) brings about the formation of solid ceramics with different internal structures. According to the electron microscopic data, the ceramic material prepared at 870 degrees C is formed by agglomerated hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, whereas the ceramics sintered at 1200 degrees C (with a bending strength of the order of 100 MPa) are composed of crystal blocks as large as 2 mu m. It is established that all the biomaterials have a single-phase composition and consist of the hydroxyapatite with a structure retained up to a temperature of 1200 degrees C

Structure, Oxidation Resistance, Mechanical, and Tribological Properties of N- and C-Doped Ta-Zr-Si-B Hard Protective Coatings Obtained by Reactive D.C. Magnetron Sputtering of TaZrSiB Ceramic Cathode

Coatings in the Ta-Zr-Si-B-C-N system were produced by magnetron sputtering of a TaSi2-Ta3B4-(Ta,Zr)B2 ceramic target in the Ar medium and Ar-N2 and Ar-C2H4 gas mixtures. The structure and composition of coatings were studied using scanning electron microscopy, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, energy-dispersion spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Mechanical and tribological properties of coatings were determined using nanoindentation and pin-on-disk tests using 100Cr6 and Al2O3 balls. The oxidation resistance of coatings was evaluated by microscopy and X-ray diffraction after annealing in air at temperatures up to 1200 °C. The reactively-deposited coatings containing from 30% to 40% nitrogen or carbon have the highest hardness up to 29 GPa and elastic recovery up to 78%. Additionally, coatings with a high carbon content demonstrated a low coefficient of friction of 0.2 and no visible signs of wear when tested against 100Cr6 ball. All coatings except for the non-reactive ones can resist oxidation up to a temperature of 1200 °C thanks to the formation of a protective film based on Ta2O5 and SiO2 on their surface. Coatings deposited in Ar-N2 and Ar-C2H4 demonstrated superior resistance to thermal cycling in conditions 20-T−20 °C (where T = 200–1000 °C). The present article compares the structure and properties of reactive and “standard-inert atmosphere” deposited coatings to develop recommendations for optimizing the composition

Two-Ply Composite Membranes with Separation Layers from Chitosan and Sulfoethylcellulose on a Microporous Support Based on Poly(diphenylsulfone-N-phenylphthalimide)

Two-ply composite membranes with separation layers from chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose were developed on a microporous support based on poly(diphenylsulfone-N-phenylphthalimide) and investigated by use of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods. The pervaporation properties of the membranes were studied for the separation of aqueous alcohol (ethanol, propan-2-ol) mixtures of different compositions. When the mixtures to be separated consist of less than 15 wt % water in propan-2-ol, the membranes composed of polyelectrolytes with the same molar fraction of ionogenic groups (-NH3+ for chitosan and -SO3− for sulfoethylcellulose) show high permselectivity (the water content in the permeate was 100%). Factors affecting the structure of a non-porous layer of the polyelectrolyte complex formed on the substrate surface and the contribution of that complex to changes in the transport properties of membranes are discussed. The results indicate significant prospects for the use of chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose for the formation of highly selective pervaporation membranes