• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2015

In order to study the semi-conductive characteristics of carbon black-filled ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) composite film, which is used for measuring occlusal force, composite samples with volume ratios of carbon black to EPDM ranging from 30% to 70% were prepared. The process of making a composite film consists of two steps, which involve the preparation of a slurry composition and the fabrication of a thin film using solution casting and a lamination process. To prepare the slurry composition, we dispersed carbon black nanoparticles into an organic solvent before mixing with an EPDM solution in toluene. The mechanical and electrical properties of the resulting carbon black-filled EPDM film were then investigated, and the results showed that the electrical resistance of a film decreases with the increase in the carbon black content. Furthermore, improved elastic recovery was observed after cross-linking the EPDM.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.7 no.2_3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2013

The simple and facile radiation technique of the preparation of antibacterial biodegradable polymer films containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was described. The biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films containing silver trifluoroacetate (Ag TFA) were prepared by a solvent casting method, and then the films were irradiated by electron beams at the various doses ranging from 20 to 200 kGy to form Ag NPs in the biodegradable polymers. The results of UV-vis and FE-SEM/EDX analyses revealed that the Ag NPs were successfully formed in the PBAT matrix during the electron beam irradiation, and their amounts were dependant on the absorbed dose and Ag TFA concentrations. Furthermore, on the basis of the results of the antibacterial test through disk diffusion and colony counting test, the irradiated PBAT/Ag TFA films exhibited the antibacterial property due to the formation of Ag NPs.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2016

Thin film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes were prepared on polysulfone (PSF) supports for forward osmosis (FO) applications. To understand the influence of polarity and porosity of support layer on the formation of polyamide structure and the final FO performance, clathochelate metal complex (MC) contained PSF supports were prepared via the phase inversion process from various PSF casting solutions containing 0.1-0.5 wt% of MC in dimethyl formamide (DMF) solvent (18 wt%). A crosslinked aromatic polyamide layer was then fabricated on top of each support to form a TFC membrane. For the porous PSF supports prepared with relatively low concentration casting solutions (12 wt%), the PET film was removed after phase inversion and crosslinked aromatic polyamide layer was then fabricated. The tested sample from PSF (18 wt%)/MC (0.5 wt%) casting solution presented outstanding FO performance, almost similar water flux (9.99 LMH) with lower reverse salt flux (RSF, 0.77 GMH) compared to commercial HTI FO membrane(10.97 LMH of flux and 2.2 GMH of RSF). By addition of MC in casting solution, the thickness of the active layer in FO membranes was reduced, however, the increased RSF value was obtained.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.158-167
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• 2002

In order to endow with new bioactive functionality from small intestine submucosa (SIS) powder as natural source to poly (L-lactide) (PLA) and poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) synthetic biodegradable polymer, porous SIS/PLA and SIS/PLGA as natural/synthetic composite scaffolds were prepared by means of the solvent casting/salt leaching methods for the possibility of the application of tissue engineered bone and cartilage. A uniform distribution of good interconnected pores from the surface to core region was observed the pore size of 40~500 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ independent with SIS amount using the solvent casting/salt leaching method. Porosities, specific pore areas as well as pore size distribution also were almost same. After the fabrication of SIS/PLA hybrid scaffolds, the wetting properties was greatly enhanced resulting in more uniform cell seeding and distribution. Five groups as PGA non-woven mesh without glutaraldehyde (GA) treatment, PLA scaffold without or with GA treatment, and SIS/PLA (Code No.3 ; 1 : 12 of salt content, (0.4 : 1 of SIS content, and 144 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ of median pore size) without or with GA treatment were implanted into the back of nude mouse to observe the effect of SIS on the induction of cells proliferation by hematoxylin and eosin, and von Kossa staining for 8 weeks. It was observed that the effect of SIS/PLA scaffolds with GA treatment on bone induction are stronger than PLA scaffolds, that is to say, in the order of PLA/SIS scaffolds with GA treatment > PLA/SIS scaffolds without GA treatment > PGA nonwoven > PLA scaffolds only with GA treatment = PLA scaffolds only without GA treatment for the osteoinduction activity. The possible explanations are (1) many kinds of secreted, circulating, and extracellular matrix-bound growth factors from SIS to significantly affect critical processes of tissue development and differentiation, (2) the exposure of SIS to GA resulted in significantly calcification, and (3) peri-implant fibrosis due to covalent bonding between collagen molecule by crosslinking reaction. In conclusion, it seems that SIS plays an important role for bone induction in SIS/PLA scaffolds for the application of tissue engineering area.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.130-138
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• 2000

Polyethersulfone (PES) asymmetric membranes for gas separation were prepared by dry/wet phase inversion method and their separation properties for CO$_2$ and N$_2$ gases were investigated. The effects of important variables such as composition of casting solution and evaporation time in preparation of asymmetric gas membrane on membrane morphology and the separation properties were analyzed and the optimum condition of membrane preparation was established. To compensate the defects like pinholes existed on skin layer of the membrane prepared, the membranes were coated with silicone resin. By comparing separation properties after coating with those before coating, we found that the coating of silicone resin was effective to enhance the separation properties. The casting solution mainly used in this study consisted of PES, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, acetone, ethanol and distilled water was used as coagulation agent. It was shown that the selectivity for CO$_2$/N$_2$ was getting higher but the permeability decreases, as the contents of PES and volatile organic solvent and evaporation time increased. The selectivity for CO$_2$/N$_2$ and permeability of CO$_2$ of the membrane prepared under the optimum condition were found to be 61 and 21 GPU, respectively.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2017

Electrochemical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) have received a tremendous interest due to their suitability for diverse applications. They have been fabricated using different carbon based electrodes including activated carbons, single walled/multi walled carbon nano tubes. But, graphite which is one of the natural resources in Sri Lanka has not been given a considerable attention towards using for EDLCs though it is a famous carbon material. On the other hand, EDLCs are well reported with various liquid electrolytes which are associated with numerous drawbacks. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) are well known alternative for liquid electrolytes. In this paper, it is reported about an EDLC fabricated with a nano composite polyethylene oxide based GPE and two Sri Lankan graphite based electrodes. The composition of the GPE was [{(10PEO: $NaClO_4$) molar ratio}: 75wt.% PC] : 5 wt.% $TiO_2$. GPE was prepared using the solvent casting method. Two graphite electrodes were prepared by mixing 85% graphite and 15% polyvinylidenefluoride (PVdF) in acetone and casting n fluorine doped tin oxide glass plates. GPE film was sandwiched in between the two graphite electrodes. A non faradaic charge discharge mechanism was observed from the Cyclic Voltammetry study. GPE was stable in the potential windows from (-0.8 V-0.8 V) to (-1.5 V-1.5 V). By increasing the width of the potential window, single electrode specific capacity increased. Impedance plots confirmed the capacitive behavior at low frequency region. Galvanostatic charge discharge test yielded an average discharge capacity of $0.60Fg^{-1}$.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.389-393
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• 2006

The detector consisted of ZnS(Ag) scintillator and photomultiplier tube (PMT) is widely used as contamination monitor in the nuclear facilities. Such detectors are mainly manufactured by adhering the ZnS(Ag) powder onto the transparent plastic. In this study the preparation condition for ZnS(Ag) scintillator sheet using a simple method was established. The scintillator sheet was composed with a support polymer sheet and ZnS(Ag) scintillator layer. The base sheet was prepared by casting the polymer solution after solving the polymer with solvent and the scintillator layer was manufactured by printing the mixture solution with ZnS(Ag) and paste. It was found that the polysulfone(PSf) as a polymer for the base sheet and a cyano resin as a paste for adhering the ZnS(Ag) scintillator was suitable. Also, the prepared thin scintillator sheet had a sufficient mechanical strength, a optical transparency and an alpha-ray detection performance.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.423-437
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• 2015

Polyvinylidene fluoride/fullerene nanoparticle (PVDF/$C_{60}$) composite microfiltration (MF) membranes were fabricated by a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) using N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as solvent and deionized water (DI) as coagulation solution. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added to the casting solution to form membrane pores. $C_{60}$ was added in increments of 0.2% from 0.0% to 1.0% to produce six different membrane types: one pristine PVDF membrane type with no $C_{60}$ added as control, and five composite membrane types with varying $C_{60}$ concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0%, respectively. The mechanical strength, morphology, pore size and distribution, hydrophilicity, surface property, permeation performance, and fouling resistance of the six membranes types were characterized using respective analytical methods. The results indicate that membranes containing $C_{60}$ have higher surface porosity and pore density than the pristine membrane. The presence of numerous pores on the membrane caused weaker mechanical strength, but the water flux of the composite membranes increased in spite of their smaller size. Initial flux and surface roughness reached the maximum point among the composite membranes when the $C_{60}$ concentration was 0.6 wt.%.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2000

Polyaniline (PANi)/Poly(ethylene of oxide) (PEO) in-situ blends were prepared by inducing phase separation through solvent evaporation after casting from solutions containing aniline monomer, oxidant (initiator), dopant and PEO in methanol/water mixed solvent. It was observed that the electrical conductivity first increases rapidly as PANi amount in the PANi/PEO blend increases and then slowly increases as the weight percentages of polyaniline become above 11 wt% in the blend. We also noted that the morphology of PANi/PEO blends changes when the holding time in a stirrer at constant temperature is varied and eventually affects the electrical conductivity. As the length of alkyl group in dopants increases, the electrical conductivity of doped blends increases. The PANi/PEO blend prepared with a high molecular weight of PEO yields higher electrical conductivity.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.478-482
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• 2008

The effect of 1,3-dioxolane on the structural development in the optical polycarbonate film was studied. The 1,3-dioxolane was used as an environmental friendly solvent for manufacturing solution-cast polycarbonate film instead of methylene chloride. The evaporation rate in film drying process decreased due to the high boiling temperature of 1,3-dioxolane. This caused the crystallization in the polycarbonate film. As a result, The increase of crystallinity and roughness led to the decrease of light transmissivity. It was also found that the lowering of mechanical properties in polycarbonate film was attributed to the morphological change due to the solvent evaporation rate in film drying process.