Effectiveness Of Cleaning Methods Research Articles

Effect of Cleaning Methods on Trash Contents and Fibre Quality for Seed Cotton

The present study was carried out at Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India during May to December, 2017 to evaluate the effect of mechanical cleaning methods on mechanically harvested cotton. The treatments consisted of three cotton cleaning methods viz. Boll Crusher cum Seed-Cotton Extractor, Pre-cleaner and On-board cleaner (field cleaner). The comparative performance of these methods was evaluated in terms of cotton fibre quality parameters viz. span length, uniformity ratio, elongation (%), micronaire (%), fibre strength (g tex-1) and reflectance of cotton lint etc. The minimum trash content (seed cotton basis) was observed for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (5.17%) and maximum for on-board cleaner (21.4 %). The 2.5% span length for the manual was observed maximum (26.04 mm) and the minimum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (23.83 mm). The uniformity ratio observed was minimum for manual (45.99) and maximum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (47.29). The micronaire for the manual was observed as a minimum (3.97%) and maximum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (3.57%). The fibre strength for manual (20.50 g tex-1) was maximum whereas it was minimum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (19.36 g tex-1). The reflectance for manual (0.87) was observed as minimum and maximum for boll crusher+pre-cleaner (0.81). Based upon the fiber quality parameters of harvested cotton cleaned by boll crusher machine was of superior quality but it was inferior in quality for the boll crusher+pre-cleaner machine.

Effect of different cleaning methods on resin bond strength of contaminated monolithic zirconia

The present study evaluated the effects of cleaning methods on resin bond strength to contaminated monolithic zirconia. A total of 180 bar-shaped monolithic zirconia specimens (12 mm × 4 mm × 1.2 mm) were abraded with aluminum oxide and divided into nine groups (n = 10). The control group (Cnt) comprised non-contaminated or cleaned monolithic zirconia specimens. Half of the remaining samples were contaminated with saliva (S) and the other half with a silicone disclosing agent (F; Fit checker). The bonding surfaces of the specimens were cleaned with water (Sw and Fw), 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution (Sh and Fh), 37% phosphoric acid gel (Sa and Fa), or plasma treatment (Sp and Fp). The bars were luted end-to-end on the bonding surfaces using a self-adhesive resin cement with a custom-made stainless-steel mold. After 72 h of water storage, the bond strength was measured using a four-point bending test. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The Cnt group showed the highest four-point bending strength (p < .05). There were no significant differences among the groups subjected to the cleaning methods, except the NaOCl groups (p > .05). These findings indicate that the cleaning protocol for saliva- or fit checker-contaminated monolithic zirconia ceramics must be taken into account to ensure zirconia–resin cement bond strength resistance. The plasma treatment that an alternative cleaning method for decontamination did not affect the bond strength between monolithic zirconia and resin cement.