Search

This study aimed to characterize the physical-chemical and biological properties of pectin (PC)/chia seed mucilage (CM) membranes. PC/CM [100/0 (control), 80/20%, 60/40%, and 40/60% w/w] membranes were prepared using the casting method. The membranes (PC/CM) were thin, yellow, lightly opaque (≈10%) and capable of blocking light UVB (between 66 at 52%). SEM analysis showed the presence of aggregates in the shape of a sphere (≈13 µm) and ovoid (≈25 µm). The proportion of 80/20 showed an increase in tensile strength (29%) and elastic modulus (19%) when compared to the control. FTIR analysis exhibited intermolecular interactions between PCPC, PC-CM, and CM-CM in the membranes. The thermal analysis (600°C) showed a slight improvement in the percentage of residual mass-loss of 3.31% (80/20) that control. The 40/60 membrane showed the lowest percentage of hemolysis (2.94%) but limited human albumin adsorption capacity. These results suggested that the blend PC/CM may be considered as a biomaterial for medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali halides crystals have been the subject of intense research for an understanding of their radiation-induced defects and luminescence properties. They exhibit noteworthy thermoluminescence (TL) properties when exposed to ionising radiation. Currently, these materials are grown employing expensive and rather complicated techniques. In this work, the results on the TL properties of new alkali halides phosphors fabricated by a simple and inexpensive procedure are presented. The samples were made by mixing KCI, KBr and EuCl3 salts, and compressing them at a pressure of 3.2 × 107 Pa during 3 min, followed by sintering at 700°C during 24 h under air atmosphere. The dosimetric response of the samples showed an increase with radiation dose in the 1.5-20.0 Gy dose range for beta and gamma radiation. The TL glow curves in sintered samples presented significant differences in their peak structures compared with monocrystalline samples, indicating that the nature of the trapping states and the recombination mechanisms may be different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali halides crystals have been the subject of intense research for an understanding of their radiation-induced defects and luminescence properties. They exhibit noteworthy thermoluminescence (TL) properties when exposed to ionising radiation. Currently, these materials are grown employing expensive and rather complicated techniques. In this work, the results on the TL properties of new alkali halides phosphors fabricated by a simple and inexpensive procedure are presented. The samples were made by mixing KCl, KBr and EuCl3 salts, and compressing them at a pressure of 3.2 x 10(7) Pa during 3 min, followed by sintering at 700 degrees C during 24 h under air atmosphere. The dosimetric response of the samples showed an increase with radiation dose in the 1.5-20.0 Gy dose range for beta and gamma radiation. The TL glow curves in sintered samples presented significant differences in their peak structures compared with monocrystalline samples, indicating that the nature of the trapping states and the recombination mechanisms may be different.