Substructure Layer Research Articles

Effects of THF as cosolvent in the preparation of polydimethylsiloxane/polyethersulfone membrane for gas separation

Polydimethylsiloxane/polyethersulfone (PDMS/PES) asymmetric membranes are widely applied in gas separation. However, the effects of common cosolvent on these membranes remain unknown. In order to study the changes in membrane morphology and gas separation properties, asymmetric PDMS/PES membranes were prepared. The studied parameters were types of cosolvents, tetrahydrofuran (THF) concentration, evaporation time, and PDMS concentration. Membrane morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy and gas separation was conducted using pure CO2, N2, CH4, and Hat 25°C. The addition of cosolvent into the polymer solution decreased the dope viscosity and delayed liquid–liquid demixing during phase inversion. Macrovoids formation was observed in substructure layer after adding THF and these macrovoids elongated with the reduction in THF content. There were microvoids formed on top of macrovoids and microvoids layer became thicker due to the increasing evaporation time of solvents before coagulation in nonsolvent. The PDMS coating on the PES membrane formed a dense skin layer and exhibited higher selectivity compared to the uncoated membrane. Membrane contained THF cosolvent with 60 s evaporation time and 3 wt% coated PDMS is the optimum membrane among other membranes in this work. The CO2/N2 selectivity was enhanced by 73.3% with CO2 permeance of 44.86 GPU. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2177–2186, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Preliminary Clinical Evaluation of Short Fiber-Reinforced Composite Resin in Posterior Teeth: 12-Months Report

This preliminary clinical trial evaluated 12 month clinical performance of novel filling composite resin system which combines short fiber-reinforced composite resin and conventional particulate filler composite resin in high stress bearing applications. A total of 37 class I and II restorations (compound and complex type) were placed in 6 premolars and 31 molars. The restorations were reviewed clinically at 6 months (baseline) and 12 months using modified USPHS codes change criteria for marginal adaptation, post-operative sensitivity, pulpal pain and secondary caries criteria. Photographs and x-rays were obtained for restorative analysis. Results of 12 months evaluation showed 5 restorations having little marginal leakage (B score) and 1 patient had minor pulpal symptom and post-operative sensitivity (B score). No secondary caries or bulk fracture was detected. The majority of restorations exhibited A scores of the evaluated criteria. After 12 months, restorations combining base of short fiber reinforced composite resin as substructure and surface layer of hybrid composite resin displayed promising performance in high load bearing areas.

A layered liquid crystalline droplet

A liquid crystalline compound, which contains cholesterol, tetrathiafulvalene, and 1,5-dioxynaphthalene moieties, was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy. Investigations by atomic force microscopy show that the liquid crystal can self-organize to form layered droplet superstructures on mica substrates which exhibit dynamic spreading behavior on the substrate surfaces, i.e., (i) after dropping the liquid crystalline material onto the substrate, a substructure layer extends out from the central reservoir, (ii) as the droplet spreads out and flattens, the multilayered droplet appears, (iii) the droplet continues to spread out and some of the layers disappear and flatten down to the substructure layer.