• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2019

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels modified with various co-monomers, such as N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), and glycerol monomethacrylate (GMMA), were prepared to investigate the effect of adding a co-monomer on the water contents, surface wettability, and tensile modulus. These polymers were synthesized by thermal- and photo-polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphineoxide (TPO) as the initiators. The characteristics of the hydrogels were analyzed via FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopies, contact angle measurements, and tensile modulus measurements with UTM. Regarding the properties of water in the hydrogels, the ratio between free to bound water was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of adding the co-monomers on the water content, surface wettability, and tensile modulus for soft contact lenses were also investigated. In the case of p(HEMA-co-NVP) hydrogels, the increase in the equilibrium water content (EWC) was primarily due to the increase in the bound water content. For p(HEMA-co-GMMA) hydrogels, an increase in free water content was the main reason for the increased EWC. In contrast, in the case of p(HEMA-co-GMA) hydrogels, a decrease in bound water content was observed to be the main factor that reduced the EWC. Photo-polymerized PHEMA hydrogels showed enhanced surface wettability and tensile modulus as compared to those produced via thermal polymerization.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2014

Objective: The use of chemicals for building prosthetic sockets present the possibility of being hazardous and unsafe due to off-gassing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if freshly made materials used in prosthetic sockets causes off-gassing that would penetrate the skin and cause damage to the kidneys or blood. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In this research, the off-gassing effects during the initial curing process of styrene monomer, vinyl ester resin, epoxy methacrylate resin, benzene-1, 3-dimethaneamine, trimethylhexanedlamine, and paratertiarybutylphenol were analyzed. Acid detection strips were placed inside newly fabricated mock-prosthetic sockets and left overnight in a closed environment to find out if acid was present in the invisible fumes. The plastic was worn by 9 subjects and urinalysis was made after 48 hours to test for any kidney or blood toxicity of the resins. Results: After wearing the plastic cuff for 48 hours, the ratio of protein to creatinine in the urine was raised to an abnormal level in five out of nine subjects. Four out of the nine subjects showed normal protein to creatinine ratios after wearing the device. The results showed that damage to the kidney occurred from wearing the resins after curing in half of the subjects. Conclusions: It is very important to conduct patient intakes which includes the assessment of renal function. Off-gassing in vented chambers may be needed to protect both prosthetists and patients.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2000

Surface modification of hydrophobic polymeric materials to be hydrophilic or to have specific functional groups is of great importance for a diversity of applications of the materials. In this study, polyethylene (PE) film surfaces were modified by vapor phase photografting of hydrophilic vinyl monomers with different functional groups. The functional monomers were introduced on PE films by introducing the monomers in vapor phase using a vapor phase photografting apparatus designed by our laboratory. Functional monomers used were acrylic acid (negatively chargeable), acrylamide and allylalcohol (neutral), and allylamine and N,N-dimethyl aminopropyl acryamide (positively charged). The functional monomer-grafted PE film surfaces were characterized by the measurement of water contact angles and the attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The vapor phase photografting seems to be effective means for introduction of various functional groups onto polymeric substrates.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2010

A series of anion exchange composite membranes were prepared and characterized for electrodialysis processes used in the removal of nitrate nitrogen and ions in groundwater. The membranes were prepared as follows; first, fabric substrates were fully impregnated with monomer mixtures of vinylbenzylchloride (VBC), divinylbenzene (DVB), Styrene (ST) and $\alpha,\alpha$-Azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN). Second, they were thermally polymerized to yield crosslinked poly (VBCST- DVB)/fabric composite membranes. Finally, the membranes were treated with trimethylamine (TMA) / acetone to give $-N^+(CH_3)_3^-$-containing poly(VBC-ST-DVB)/fabric membranes. The basic membrane properties such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), electric resistance and water content of the resulting membranes were measured as a function of VBC/DVB and TMA/Acetone content. As a result, the composite membranes showed lower electric resistance and higher IEC than commercial anion exchange membranes (AMX, Astom). Electrodialysis tests using the prepared membranes were carried out for the removal of various ions such as $NaNO_3$, $MgSO_4$ and NaF for 60 minutes. The results showed that the ions were removed below 1 mg/L within about 15 minutes which indicates that the anion exchange membranes prepared here could be applied to the electrodialysis process. as can be seen in the following that the ion conductivity values were almost no change after 15 minutes electrodialysis.