Search

The Ti–29Nb–13Ta–4.6Zr alloy (TNTZ) is a β-Ti alloy that has a potential for use in biomedical applications as an alternative to the less-compatible Ti64 alloys. Enhancing the strength and the surface finish of TNTZ is essential for biomedical applications. In this research, a combination of high-pressure torsion (HPT) and laser treatment was used to improve the TNTZ properties. The HPT-treated samples showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties when compared with the traditional solution-treated TNTZ. A laser surface treatment immediately forms a hydrophilic surface that transforms into a steady hydrophobic state after 14 days in air and the surface roughness increases with an increase in laser power and a slower scanning rate. The corrosion resistance of TNTZ improves significantly after laser treatment, with the corrosion current dropping from 1 × 10−8 to 1.2 × 10−9 A and the corrosion potential peak shifting to a more positive value from − 0.349 to − 0.158 V. The friction coefficient after laser treatment decreased from 0.134 to 0.093 and then further reduced to 0.082 after 14 days in air thereby suggesting an enhancement in the tribological properties. Overall, the results show that HPT processing combined with a post-HPT laser treatment is beneficial for enhancing the mechanical properties and the corrosion and wear performance of the TNTZ alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, ammonium perchlorate (AP) as a strong oxidant has been added into Al/polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) nanothermites. Based on homogeneous structure of PVDF, shorter reaction contact between components can be obtained for more outstanding ignition and combustion performance. Water contact angle experiments were conducted to evaluate the hydrophobicity of the composite films, indicating that the suitability of composite material has enhanced under wet environment. According to TG-DSC results, the thermal decomposition of AP can improve the whole heat release process, which theoretically has excellent combustion performance advantages. Constant volume pressure tests were conducted to assess the energy release properties of the films compared with Al@PVDF films. Combustion performance in air was evaluated by employing optical sensors and a high-speed camera to measure factors such as the ignition delay time, light intensity and combustion flame propagation. After adding 15 % AP, the maximum pressure of Al/AP@PVDF film is 0.0960 Mpa, and that of Al@PVDF film is 0.0805 Mpa. The maximum pressure of the film is increased by nearly 19.25 %. Compared with Al@PVDF film, the ignition delay time of Al/AP@PVDF film is shortened by 45 ms, and the light intensity is increased by nearly 93.39 %. However, excessive AP content adversely impacted film formation efficiency, leading to the deterioration of various properties. Therefore, an optimal AP content of approximately 15 % in Al/AP@PVDF system was finally identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a bioinspired approach to tune surface nanostructures by soft‐template electropolymerization in micellar conditions. Monomers highly favoring π‐stacking interactions are particularly interesting for favoring the polymer deposition in one direction. Here, original triphenylamine‐based monomers di‐substituted by thiophene and carbazole are investigated. Conjugated building blocks monomers are tested to favor deposition vs polymerization, even if the monomers are not perfectly planar. The carbazole derivatives have a much higher electrodeposition capacity than the thiophene derivatives, which is unexpected if thiophene and carbazole are taken alone. Moreover, in all electrodeposited films, monomer seems to be present as shown by cyclic voltammetry experiments, confirming previous works. The amount of monomer vs oligomers is highly dependent on the investigated monomer. For the resulting surface structures, hollow spheres and nanoribbons are particularly formed with some investigated monomers by cyclic voltammetry while nanotubes are observed at constant potential. The formation of nanotubes indicates a polymer growth more favored in one direction. These surfaces are less hydrophobic (water contact angle up to 111.5°) compared to films with spherical nanoparticles but these results can be explained only by the presence of air inside the surface roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast advancements in technology have generated significant interest in optoelectronic materials. Nevertheless, the difficulty of creating affordable materials with exceptional optical characteristics is an ongoing challenge. Therefore, the objective of this work was to tune the optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by embedding silver vanadate (SV) in the polymer matrix. Moreover, the wettability test of the fabricated composite membranes showed a hydrophobic behavior, with the PMMA film containing 0.6 wt.% SV showed a contact angle of 86.75 ± 0.7°. Furthermore, SV showed high thermal stability with a maximum weight loss of 0.74% at 830°C, which is very high thermal stability at high temperatures. In addition, the 0.6 wt.% SV@PMMA film exhibited a maximum weight loss of 96.7% at 785°C. Moreover, the 0.6 wt.% SV@PMMA film showed the lowest indirect band gap energy (2.02 eV) compared to the other films and pure SV NPs. The findings demonstrate the potential of the synthesized films for optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last century, human activities were the primary cause of air, water, and soil contamination. However, in the twenty-first century, while pollutants like sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) remain significant, microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a new global environmental concern. Microplastics are plastic fragments that are less than 5 mm in diameter. Their widespread distribution in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has adverse impacts on various ecological systems. The presence of MPs has been well documented in diverse matrices, such as table salt, drinking water, indoor and outdoor air, beer, cold drinks, aquatic organisms, plants, and earthworms. The potential adverse effects of MPs consumption have been reported in various organisms, including earthworms and aquatic fishes; however, their potential effects on human health through respiratory, dietary, and other exposures are still being elucidated. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on potential sources, quantities present in water, table salt, air, and possible routes in the human body through different trophic levels. Furthermore, this paper reviews insights into the movement and accumulation of MPs at different trophic levels (i.e., aquatic, and terrestrial organisms) and their impacts on the cycling of soil carbon and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). Additionally, this review paper addresses the current trends in MPs research and proposes strategic management techniques to mitigate MPs pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobized soils have functional hydrophobic coatings to delay or restrict water infiltration and thus prevent infrastructure failure and long-term degradation. Over time, hydrophobized soils will be subjected to degradation under the action of external stresses, leading to the loss of its functional properties. Microencapsulation approaches, initially developed for self-healing applications emerge as a potential solution to enhance, switch (from hydrophilic) or prolong the longevity of hydrophobized soils. The aim of this study is to produce and investigate the effectiveness of microencapsulation to impart hydrophobicity in granular materials in response to external stimuli. In this research, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with hydrophobic properties, is encapsulated in calcium alginate microcapsules with the ionic gelation method. The effectiveness of the microcapsules to induce hydrophobicity is investigated by mixing sand with microcapsules and quantifying the change of the contact angle and water drop penetration time (measures of hydrophobicity) under an external trigger, i.e., under drying and consecutive wetting–drying cycles. The results show that microcapsules release the hydrophobic cargo (PDMS) during shrinkage. After drying, the PDMS content in sand increased to 0.1–0.8% by mass of sand. The released hydrophobic cargo (PDMS) induced hydrophobicity in sands, reflected by a contact angle increase from 29.7° to at least 87.7°. The amount of polydimethylsiloxane encapsulated is a key parameter controlling the release of hydrophobic cargo. In addition, 4% capsule content in sands is identified as an effective microcapsule content in inducing hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the development of multifunctional protective clothing for disabled individuals using PBAT/PLA biopolymeric-based electrospun nanofibrous membranes. The fabric consists of a superhydrophobic electrospun nanofibrous cloth reinforced with silica nanoparticles. The resulting nanofiber membranes were characterized using FE-SEM, a CA goniometer, breathability and hydrostatic pressure resistance tests, UV–vis spectroscopy, thermal infrared photography, tensile tests, and nanoindentation. The results demonstrated the integration of superhydrophobicity, breathability, and mechanical improvements in the protective clothing. The nanofibrous porous structure of the fabric allowed breathability, while the silica nanoparticles acted as an effective infrared reflector to keep the wearer cool on hot days. The fabric's multifunctional properties make it suitable for various products, such as outdoor clothing and accessories for individuals with disabilities. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate textiles for protective clothing and the challenges faced by disabled individuals in terms of mobility, eating, and dressing. The innovative and purposeful design of this multifunctional protective clothing aimed to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics in the aquatic environment are susceptible to colonization by surrounding microorganisms, which form biofilms over the microplastic's surface. These biofilm‐laden microplastics can then interact with a diverse array of contaminants. In the present study, biofilms were grown on microplastics in a laboratory setting using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model biofilm‐forming bacterium for periods of 5 to 15 days. The sorption of three organic compounds representing different levels of hydrophobicity, namely methylene blue (MB), phenanthrol, and phenanthrene, was used to evaluate the effect of biofilm biomass on the adsorption of organic contaminants to microplastics. The sorption of MB and phenanthrol was found to increase with biofouling time, indicating affinity between these contaminants and the biofilm biomass on the particle. However, the presence of a biofilm did not influence the sorption of phenanthrene on the microplastics. These results suggest that the hydrophobicity of organic contaminants plays a major role in how biofouling of microplastics will influence contaminant sorption by microplastics. For some contaminants, biofilm can enhance the role of microplastics as contaminant vectors. These findings emphasize the need to understand the biomass load on environmental microplastics and the contaminants that associate with it for an accurate representation of the risk associated with microplastics in the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1973–1981. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large loss of fine-grained bastnaesite has become an increasingly important issue restricting the development of rare earth ore flotation industry. To solve this issue, a new collector mixture that combines octyl hydroxamic acid (OHA) and octyl phenol ethoxylation (OP10, the number of ethylene oxide groups is 10) is proposed to be used to improve the flotation of bastnaesite. The flotation adsorption mechanism of OHA/OP10 on bastnaesite was investigated by a series of experimental and analytical tests. The results showed that when the molar ratio of OHA/OP10 was 3:1, the OHA/OP10 combination significantly improved the recovery of −74 + 38 μm and −15 μm bastnaesite compared with only OHA. Optical microscopy revealed that mixed OHA/OP10 had a beneficial effect on fine-grained bastnaesite aggregation. In addition, the results of the zeta potential test, fluorescence spectrum analysis, and XPS analysis showed that OHA and OP10 were co-adsorbed on the surface of bastnaesite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented work explores detail information about surface modification of BNNTs with ZrO 2 through isothermal hydrolysis process for reducing its hydrophobic property and enhancing the wettability as BNNTs possess hydrophobicity & poor wettability in its raw form as it agglomerates during fabrication of composites, ultimately prohibits usage of BNNTs as a prime reinforced material and for other utilization. HRTEM, EDX, E.M confirmed thin coating layer of ZrO 2 whereas X-ray diffraction and FE-SEM determined the morphological structure of BNNTs in its raw form comparing with properties of BNNTs@ZrO 2. Contact angle test displays increased wettability of synthesised BNNTs where Zeta Potential provides upgraded stability and dispersibility of coated BNNTs in aqueous medium. Confirmation of coating, improved surface architecture and chemical properties of coated BNNTs than non-treated BNNTs is observed via FTIR. BNNTs@ ZrO 2 showing thermally stable and constant throughout temperature beyond 800 °C through TGA. Present study describes the features of BNNTs and BNNTs@ZrO 2 enriching morphological and thermal characteristics followed by confirmation of coating layer through isothermal hydrolysis process, improvement in wettability and hydrophobicity for further future approach towards reinforcement in MMCs, in a nut shell very effectively applicable in aerospace and automobile industrial utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic surface modification is an emerging concept for electrochemical gas-phase reactions like nitrogen reduction reaction to ammonia as the restricted surface wettability helps to surpass the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. However, the extensive studies on this strategy lack a discussion on the influence of substrates on the stability of the hydrophobic coating. The present work summarizes a case study on the substrate-dependent electrochemical behaviour of the alkanethiol-coated flattened Cu foil and porous dendritic Cu foam surfaces. NRR studies reveal that the porous dendritic architecture with electrified tips and the hydrophobic coating-induced gas diffusion layer proved to be beneficial for NRR activity in Cu foam-SH. However, for a prolonged experimental hour, the flattened surface of the Cu foil could better hold the hydrophobic coating. The results corresponded with water contact angle as well as double layer capacitance measurements and a detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study. It is supposed that the prolonged exposure to applied potential alters the polarization of the Cu dendritic tips and weakens the Cu–S bond, loosening the alkanethiol layer over Cu foam. Hydrophobic Cu substrates facilitate electrochemical nitrogen reduction reactions owing to the better N2 diffusion and trapping underneath the hydrophobic coating. While the NRR activity gets accelerated at the electrified dendritic tips of Cu foam, the steady hydrophobic layer over the flattened Cu foil surface ascertains long-term use of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance water resistance of starch‐based foam, based on the porous and irregular surface feature of foam, fumigating hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and spraying nano‐SiO2/ethanol solution were utilized to enhance hydrophobic properties of the starch‐based foam. Homemade starch‐molded foams were used for hydrophobic modification studies, the results showed that fumigating HMDS can lead to the formation of "Si‐O‐C" bonds between HMDS and starch. Additionally, it can form more stable "Si‐O‐Si" bonds with nano‐SiO2 in the original composites, which can better adhere to the surface of the starch foam to effectively create a waterproof barrier layer. On the basis of HMDS fumigation modification, hydrophobicity was significantly enhanced by further spraying of nano‐SiO2/ethanol solution. When the mass ratio of nano‐SiO2 to ethanol was 6:100, the combination of HMDS and nano‐SiO2 was optimal, while making the roughness of the foam surface suitable, at which time, the contact angle reached 155°, the maximum value under this system, indicating that the hydrophobicity was optimal. The fumigation and spraying method can evenly and comprehensively act on the surface of the porous and irregular starch‐based foam, which facilitates the waterproof post‐treatment process of the industrial application process and has strong practical significance. Highlights: Fumigated with HMDS, the starch foam's exhibit some hydrophobic effect.Fumigation followed by spraying is effective in enhancing the hydrophobicity of starch foams.Both the fumigation method and the spray method are suitable for the post‐treatment of hydrophobic of starch foams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA) are among the polymers used in the food industry. In this study, crude extracts of Dunaliella salina were used to treat the surface of 3D printed materials studied, aiming to provide them with an anti-adhesive property against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The hydrophobicity of treated and untreated surfaces was characterized using the contact angle method. Furthermore, the adhesive behavior of P. aeruginosa toward the substrata surfaces was also studied theoretically and experimentally. The results showed that the untreated PLA was hydrophobic, while the untreated PET was hydrophilic. It was also found that the treated materials became hydrophilic and electron-donating. The total energy of adhesion revealed that P. aeruginosa adhesion was theoretically favorable on untreated materials, while it was unfavorable on treated ones. Moreover, the experimental data proved that the adhesion to untreated substrata was obtained, while there was complete inhibition of adhesion to treated surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, hole transport layer‐free all‐inorganic CsPbI2Br carbon‐electroded perovskite solar cells (C‐PSCs) have garnered significant attention due to a trade‐off between stability and photovoltaic performance. However, there are inevitably many defects generated at the surfaces or grain boundaries of CsPbI2Br perovskite films, which will serve as carrier non‐radiative recombination centers, and CsPbI2Br perovskite films are sensitive to water molecules to degrade, together with energy level mismatch between CsPbI2Br perovskite and carbon electrodes. Herein, 1‐benzyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (1‐B‐3‐MIMPF6), an imidazolium‐based ionic liquid simultaneously containing benzene ring and fluorine atoms, was introduced for the modification of the perovskite/carbon interface. The results showed that it could effectively reduce defects, enhance carrier transfer, mitigate carrier non‐radiative recombination, facilitate energy alignment, and block moisture intrusion. Therefore, the photovoltaic performance of the modified PSCs with ITO/SnO2/CsPbI2Br/1‐B‐3‐MIMPF6/carbon architecture has been boosted with a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.47 %, open circuit voltage of 1.20 V, short circuit current density of 14.69 mA/cm2, and fill factor of 76 %. Moreover, the unencapsulated modified devices exhibited an improved stability and the PCE maintained 78 % of their initial PCE after 24 h storage at room temperature in a 30 %–35 % humidity environment, whereas that of the pristine devices dropped to almost zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, graphene nanoplatelets were applied to polyester fabrics using the knife‐coating method at different concentrations (50, 100, and 150 g/kg). SEM, DSC, and TGA/DTG analyses were performed. The influence of graphene coating on hydrophobicity and surface roughness was examined by water contact angle (WCA) measurement and root mean square roughness, respectively. Abrasion resistance and tear strength tests were also performed. The effect of graphene used as a filler on the flammability of polyester fabric was evaluated for the first time according to the BS 5852 standard. No significant weight loss (only in the range of 0.4%–1.5%) was observed in the graphene‐coated samples even after 100,000 cycles. While the WCA value was 0 for the uncoated fabric, the blind coating and maximum graphene‐coated sample measured 86° and 95°, respectively. The coating process reduced the roughness of the base fabric, and the decrease continued with the increasing graphene ratio. The tear strength values that were 45.5 N in the warp and 53.6 N in the weft direction in the blind coating, increased to 52.2 and 59.1 N, respectively, at the maximum graphene concentration. Graphene coating enhanced thermal stability, increased hydrophobicity, and improved flame retardancy in the test using a smoldering cigarette. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A concept to prepare a highly hydrophobic composite with self-healing properties has been designed and verified. The new material is based on a composite of a crystalline hydrophobic fluoro wax, synthesized from montan waxes and perfluoroethylene alcohols, combined with spherical silica nanoparticles equipped with a hydrophobic shell. Highly repellent layers were prepared using this combination of a hydrophobic crystalline wax and silica nanoparticles. The novel aspect of our concept was to prepare a ladder-like structure of the hydrophobic shell allowing the inclusion of a certain share of wax molecules. Wax molecules trapped in the hydrophobic structure during mixing are hindered from crystallizing; therefore, these molecules maintain a higher mobility compared to crystallized molecules. When a thin layer of the composite material is mechanically damaged, the mobile wax molecules can migrate and heal the defects to a certain extent. The general preparation of the composite is described and XRD analysis demonstrated that a certain share of wax molecules in the composite are hindered to crystallize. Furthermore, we show that the resulting material can recovery its repellent properties after surface damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct acrylation of soybean oil was investigated by the activation of soybean oil's (SO's) internal fatty unsaturation with acidic catalysts. The effect of the catalyst and the reactant ratio with respect to the unsaturation and reaction time on the direct acrylation process were explored. ASO (acrylated soybean oil) with acrylation degrees (the number of acrylate molecules introduced in a triglyceride molecule) between 1.6 and 2.55 were obtained. The effect of the ASO acrylation degree on copolymerization processes was investigated. The resulting monomers were successfully copolymerized with meth(acrylate) monomers by the miniemulsion polymerization process, favoring the droplet nucleation mechanism and showing conversions higher than 97%. The acrylic–ASO copolymers presented lower Tg and higher hydrophobicity and oleophobicity than the acrylic copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparing well-ordered nanotubes on material surface is fundamental for a huge number of applications. Natural surfaces and theoretical approaches show that porous structures such as nanotubes are key parameters for both surface hydrophobicity and water adhesion. Here, a very easy soft-template electropolymerization approach is used to form nanotubes. A solvent of low water-solubility (dichloromethane) is mixed to water in the presence of a surfactant electrolyte for stabilizing the micelles formed in solution. The monomers investigated are thiophene and carbazole derivatives, and are all fully conjugated for favoring the deposition versus polymerization. Indeed, in all the electrodeposited films, the monomer is mostly present as confirmed by cyclic voltammetry. The key parameters in the resulting nanotubes is the monomer structure because a preferential growth is necessary and this one is induced here especially by π-stacking interactions in the direction perpendicular to monomer. The surfaces composed of nanoparticles or nanotubes are the most hydrophobic with an apparent contact angle up to 130.9° accompanied with strong water adhesion, as reported on gecko foot or rose petal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ringy nanostructures are amazing materials, displaying unique optical, magnetic, and electronic properties highly related to their dimensions. A strategy capable of continuously tailoring the diameter of nanorings is the key to elucidating their structure‐function relationship. Herein, a method of bi‐component micellar‐configuration‐transformation induced by hydrophobicity for the synthesis of nanorings with diameters ranging from submicron (≈143 nm) to micron (≈4.8 µm) and their carbonaceous analogs is established. Remarkably, the nanorings fabricated with this liquid phase strategy achieve the record for the largest diameter span. Through varying the molecular lengths of fatty alcohols and copolymers, shortening the molecular length of fatty alcohol can swell the primary micelles, improve the exposure of hydrophobic component and boost the assembly kinetics for ultra‐large nanorings is shown here. On the other hand, shortening the molecular length of the copolymer will give rise to ultra‐small nanorings by reducing the size of primary micelles and shortening the assembly time. When assembling the nanorings into monolayer arrays and then depositing Au, such substrate displays enhanced surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) performance. This research develops a facile method for the controllable synthesis of ringy materials with multiscale tunable diameters and may inspire more interesting applications in physics, optical, and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wetting ability of the material of interfacial formations based on metal stearates, oleates, myristates, and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphates was studied. It is shown that the nature of the metal and solvent on various substrates affects the wetting angle of the material. The material of interfacial formations has controlled wettability. By varying the synthesis conditions, it is possible to obtain homogeneous coatings, with the wetting angle of the product surface modified by the material of interphase formations reaching 145°. Experiments aimed at preserving the hydrophobic properties of the coating were performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the mechanical, thermal conductivity, and water absorption characteristics of epoxy-based composite rebar material reinforced with biosilica derived from proso millet husks and palm kernel fiber. The main objective of this research study is to investigate the effect of biosilica addition into the natural fiber reinforced epoxy resin rebar and its load bearing characteristics. The biosilica is synthesized from waste proso millet husks via thermo-chemical method and the composites were made using mold in the name of PP, PP1, PP2, PP3, and PP4. Series of tests including tensile, flexural, compression, hardness, water absorption, and thermal conductivity were performed on the composite rebar and analyzed rigorously. Results indicate that PP3 exhibits superior tensile strength (114 MPa), flexural strength (156 MPa), and compression strength (132 MPa) compared to other samples. This improvement is attributed to the optimized dispersion of biosilica filler within the resin matrix, leading to enhanced interfacial bonding and stress transfer mechanisms. Conversely, PP4 displays enhanced hardness of Shore-D 82, increased water absorption of 0.044%, and reduced thermal conductivity of 0.196 W/mK. Microstructural analysis using SEM reveals enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion and reinforcement in PP3 and PP4. According to ANOVA, the results are significant with P value of 3.386e−14. Overall, these findings suggest that incorporating biosilica filler enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites, with PP3 and PP4 demonstrating promising attributes for a variety of engineering applications such as structural, pre-casted walls, hand rails, and readymade wall portions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This present study investigates the novel synthesis of crystalline nanocellulose from cassava tuber peel waste and its relative effects on the mechanical, wear, hydrophobic, and thermal stability of bamboo fiber–reinforced polyester composite. The nanocellulose from cassava tuber peel was synthesized via thermo-chemical process and silane surface–treated using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The composites were prepared by hand layup technique, which were then evaluated in accordance to American Society for testing and materials (ASTM) standards. The results revealed that adding satin weaved bamboo fiber and nanocellulose of 45 and 2.0 vol.% shows improved mechanical properties. Similarly, the addition of 1 vol.% of nanocellulose resulted in lowest sp. wear rate of 0.011 mm3/Nm. It is further noted that the contact angles of composites are greater than 70°, which explicates a stronger hydrophobicity. Moreover, the 4.0 vol.% of nanocellulose in bamboo fiber–polyester composites improved the mass loss stability. The SEM fractography revealed improved bonding and toughness improvement in composites with nanocellulose addition. The composites with improved mechanical, wear, hydrophobicity, and thermal properties could be used as functional material in the automotive industries, construction, and building material sector where high stiffness and low weight conditions are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the inter-ply alternatively stacked kevlar/sisal fiber's mechanical, wear, fracture toughness, drop load impact, and hydrophobicity behavior along with cellulose addition. This study also gives an insight to how effectively a biomass-derived fiber is used as potential replacement for synthetic man-made hazardous fibers. The composite laminates were made by room temperature hand layup process and hot cured at 120 °C for 2 h. The laminated composites are then subjected to testing in accordance to respective ASTM standards. The result finding reveals that the composite designation "C3" possessed highest improvement in mechanical properties. Similarly, in wear, the composite designation "C4" records a lowest sp. wear rate and COF of 0.011 mm3/Nm and 0.34. Moreover, in fracture toughness, the composite designation "C3" scored a maximum fracture toughness of 24.74 (K1c) MPa. m and energy release rate of 0.55 (G1c) MJ/m2. This is about 339.43% and 223.52% of improvement compared to the plain resin. Similarly, in drop load impact toughness, the addition of cellulose and fiber stacking order influenced higher penetration resistance. Moreover, there is a strong matrix-fiber adhesion which causes finely fragmented fibers, which are visible through SEM fractography. Finally, the water-absorption behavior proves that composite materials' hydrophobicity has been maintained not less than 70° despite the addition of cellulose and fiber. These composites, with improved load bearing effect with novel stacking order, could be benefited in manufacturing of building materials, automotive parts, aircraft bodies, and defense gadgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neat high-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTV SR) showed bad hydrophobicity due to the existence of a large number of inorganic reinforcing fillers on its surface, which affected its security application in outdoor insulation systems. In this work, hydrophobic silane chains were grafted onto the surface of inorganic particles on the skin layer of HTV SR by a one-step coupling modification to improve its hydrophobicity. The effects of coupling agent types and coupling reaction conditions on the hydrophobicity of HTV SR were investigated. It was determined that the perfluorooctane trichlorosilicon with a large number of low surface energy fluorine atoms was the preferred coupling agent. The contact angle of HTV SR was increased by 15.70% when the optimal coupling reaction conditions were determined to be a reaction temperature of 60°C, a reaction time of 4 h, and an amount of coupling agent of 0.5%. The study found that both etching reaction and grafting reaction occurred during the whole coupling modification process, which led to the disappearance or decrease of a lot of holes on the HTV SR surface. After the fluorination coupling reaction, the surface of HTV SR became smooth and dense that led to the decrease of water absorption. The result of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed the formation of C-F bond in HTV SR after fluorination modification, and the energetic dispersive spectroscopy analysis showed that the fluorine content on the surface of the fluorinated HTV SR increased significantly. Moreover, the stability analysis showed that the fluorinated HTV SR still had a good thermal stability and mechanical property stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustained water repellency of interconnected micropatterned surfaces is explored over an extended duration, with a focus on their resilience during a 90‐day water‐immersion test. Initially, the microstructure surfaces exhibit high water repellency, a characteristic of the Cassie–Baxter state. However, subsequent detailed temporal analyses reveal varying responses depending on the structural topology. The interconnected micropatterned surfaces exhibit remarkable long‐term resistance to water; this is attributed to the formation of large and stable air pockets enabled by their unique microcavity structures. In comparison, hierarchical microcavity surfaces with micropillars exhibit a notable decrease in water repellency, as evidenced by reduced contact angles, suggesting a transition to a wetting state owing to the emergence of surface hydrophilicity during long‐term water exposure. This study demonstrates the importance of stable air‐pocket effects, particularly in applications where the long‐term stability of liquid repellency is critical, and suggests the role of interconnected structures in maintaining water repellency over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water adsorption capacities of various adsorbents reported in the literature were investigated to define a hydrophobicity index that was plotted vs. water capacity. In this plot, logarithmic curves were proposed to be used as indicators of performance limits of adsorbents, especially for adsorption heat pumps. In spite of their useful adsorption properties, zeolites generally exhibited quite low hydrophobicity, remaining well below the logarithmic curve. In this study, the use of composites of zeolite NaY was examined both theoretically and experimentally for improvements in the water capacity and hydrophobicity. Salt impregnation and hydrothermal synthesis experiments were performed to prepare composites of zeolite NaY with LiCl/MgCl2 salts and activated carbon, respectively. Water capacity and hydrophobicity of zeolite NaY composites were generally superior to those of pure zeolite. Zeolite composites may be advantageous for enhancing adsorption capacity and hydrophobicity of zeolites while eliminating low stability and slow adsorption kinetics of other adsorbents. Interface between two different phases might indicate another opportunity to provide improved adsorption properties for zeolite composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the coating integrity performance and corrosion protection property of trimethylsilane (TMS) plasma nanocoatings that were directly deposited onto cobalt chromium (CoCr) L605 cardiovascular stents. Hydrophilic surfaces were achieved for the TMS plasma nanocoatings that were deposited onto the coronary stents through NH3/O2 (2:1 molar ratio) plasma post-treatment. With a coating thickness of approximately 20–25 nm, the TMS plasma nanocoatings were highly durable and able to resist delamination and cracking from crimping and expansion by a Model CX with a J-Crimp Station. The stent surface that was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) showed no indications of pitting, corrosion, or adsorption products on either the luminal or abluminal surfaces of the stents, in contrast to the uncoated stent surface. The TMS plasma nanocoatings significantly enhanced the stent's corrosion resistance in immersion experiments that followed the ASTM F2129-15 corrosion protocol, evident in the increase of the open circuit potential (OCP) from 0.01 V for the uncoated L605 stent to 0.18 V for the plasma-nanocoated L605 stent, reducing potential cytotoxic metal ion release. Cyclic polarization (CP) curves show that the corrosion rate (density level) observed in plasma-nanocoated L605 stents was approximately half an order of magnitude lower than that of the uncoated stents, indicating improved corrosion protection of the stents. CP curves of the TMS plasma-nanocoated stents with different coating thicknesses show that, in the range of 20–65 nm, the coating thickness does not result in any difference in the corrosion resistance of the stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses an approach that gives the Natural Rubber (NR) vulcanizates an elevated hydrophobic character. The method used a chemically treated filler called diatomaceous earth (DE) to deliver the hydrophobic characteristics to NR. DE has a nanoscale roughness. It was chemically treated with hexadecyltrimethoxy silane to obtain low surface energy. The combination of nanoscale roughness and low surface energy gave superhydrophobic properties to DE. A series of treated-DE was made with varying silane percentages to find an optimum silane to DE ratio to get the maximum possible hydrophobicity. The optimum ratio was recorded as 38% w/w, and the treated DE displayed a superhydrophobic water contact angle (WCA) of 152°. The treated-DE was added to the rubber as a filler during the compounding process. The filler was added in varying amounts of 5 phr, 10 phr, 15 phr, and 20 phr to observe the changes in the hydrophobic property. The wettability and morphology of developed vulcanizates were measured using WCA measurements and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, respectively. NR compounded with 20 phr filler exhibited an enhanced WCA of 136°, compared to the WCA of 92° of the NR vulcanizate with no treated-DE, and displayed improved tensile, and tear properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐organized ripple and pillar structures are fabricated on steel surface using femtosecond laser. Their wettability is investigated in terms of static contact angle, roughness, and chemical bonds. The pillar structure is treated in low surface energy solution to further improve its hydrophobicity. The corrosion and biofouling behaviors of the structures in sea water are investigated by electrochemical and chlorella immersion experiments, respectively. The results show that the ripple structure is hydrophilic with a static contact angle similar to the original surface, while the pillar structure is highly hydrophobic since it has higher roughness and amount of non polar chemical bonds. The pillar structure is further transferred to superhydrophobic through the low surface energy treatment. The improved hydrophobicity facilitates a better anti‐corrosion and anti‐biofouling behavior, and the superhydrophobic pillar structure exhibits the best performance due to its strongest ability to repel water and chlorella adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bis(2,2′-bipyridine)bis(isothiocyanato)ruthenium complexes are organo-metallic dyes having broad absorption properties in the visible region that are widely used in dye-sensitized opto-electronic devices. Here, we report the photocurrent measurement and stability studies of three Ru-complexes, cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II) (N3), its hydrophobic analogues cis-bis(isothiocyanato)(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylato)(4,4'-di-nonyl-2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Z-907) and hydrophilic analogues (di-tetrabutylammonium cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)ruthenium(II), (N719). Z907 shows higher stability and photoelectric conversion efficiency after 2 h analysis than its hydrophilic counter-molecules, N3 and N719. The Z907-TiO2 system exhibited a 1.09 mA/cm2 photocurrent density after 2 h of analysis, with 78% of its performance retained even after an extended 48 h of analysis. The activity of N719-TiO2 and N3-TiO2 sharply decreased after 2 h of analysis, and significant desorption of the dye present on titanium oxide was also observed. This study suggests that hydrophobicity at the electrode-dye interface is a major factor supporting the stability of the dye-sensitized photoanode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions pose a significant threat to the delicate balance between human society and the natural environment. Carbon capture and sequestration is a technology designed to selectively capture CO2 emissions generated from power plants and industrial facilities, preventing them from entering the atmosphere. Diamine‐modified metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show promising capabilities in achieving remarkable CO2 capacities, highlighting their potential for effective CO2 capture applications. Herein, using MOF‐74 type frameworks, we discussed our various methodologies designed to enhance the CO2 adsorption capacity, while also tackling the issue of maintaining structural integrity over prolonged periods, especially in humid environments. The challenges and prospects for CO2 capture by diamine‐functionalized hydrophobic MOFs are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional cellulosic packaging materials lack the ability to resist the penetration of water, mineral oil, and harmful chemicals. These poor barrier properties of the conventional cardboard packaging materials make them ineffectual in various industrial applications. Hence, the present work focuses on the development of hydrophobic polybenzoxazine coated cellulose paper with improved tensile strength for the replacement of existing cardboard packaging materials. The trifunctional polybenzoxazines have been synthesized and coated on cellulose paper for the hydrophobic packaging material application. A new type of series of tri-functional polybenzoxazines were synthesized using leucoaurin with paraformaldehyde and separately with five different aliphatic amines of varying chain length (i.e.) butylamine (ba), hexylamine (ha), ethylhexylamine (eha), dodecylamine (dda) and octadecylamine (oda) through Mannich condensation. In the present work, the influencing effect of aliphatic chain length present in the skeleton of polybenzoxazines has been studied and the hydrophobic behavior was exploited for water-proof packaging application by coating polybenzoxazines on normal cellulosic printable paper-75 GSM (CP) and Wattman paper (WP) through spray coatings. The hydrophobic behavior of leucoaurin based benzoxazines coated cellulose paper was tested using goniometer and the coated cellulosic paper possesses good hydrophobic behavior with value of water contact angle above 125º. Among the polybenzoxazines synthesized, the leucoaurin with octadecylamine benzoxazine coated on cellulosic WP paper shows better water repellent property (water contact angle 136 ± 2º) than that of others. In addition to that, the value of tensile strength of leucoaurin based polybenzoxazines coated papers was tested using UTM and the results obtained were compared with that of non-coated papers. The tensile strength of the coated papers was found to be 2 to 3 times higher than that of non-coated paper with the value of 21 MPa and 18 MPa for LA-PBZ coated copier paper and Wattman paper respectively. The obtained results suggest that the leucoaurin based polybenzoxazines coated papers can be considered for effective utilization for water-proof packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic oil spills exert enduring adverse effects on marine ecosystems and human health. In contrast to conventional cleaning methods, advanced oil sorbents present a promising technology characterized by low cost, reduced environmental impact, and exceptional hydrophobicity and oleophilic properties for efficient oil removal from seawater. Despite these advantages, the efficacy of sorbents is hindered by highly viscous oil, impeding the oil/water separation process. To overcome this limitation, solar‐driven sorbents incorporating semiconductor materials are innovatively developed, leveraging increased temperatures to enhance crude oil absorption by reducing viscosity. Herein, a comprehensive review specifically focuses on various semiconductor‐functionalized sorbents for oil spill remediation, elucidating oil weathering and traditional cleaning methods to underscore the complexities and challenges in oil cleaning processes. An in‐depth discussion about the cleaning mechanisms of sorbents and the photothermal conversion processes facilitated by semiconductors is also provided. Additionally, it explores three coupling strategies—Joule heating and solar heating, photothermal effect, and magnetic effect, as well as photothermal and photocatalysis—that offer significant advancements in oil cleanup efficiency. Concluding with forward‐looking insights, the challenges and perspectives for the next generation of ocean oil spill removal technologies are proposed at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The rise in electronic cigarette (E-cigarette) popularity, especially among adolescents, has prompted research to investigate potential effects on health. Although much research has been carried out on the effect on lung health, the first site exposed to vaping—the oral cavity—has received relatively little attention. The aims of this study were twofold: to examine the effects of E-liquids on the viability and hydrophobicity of oral commensal streptococci, and the effects of E-cigarette-generated aerosols on the biomass and viability of oral commensal streptococci. (2) Methods: Quantitative and confocal biofilm analysis, live–dead staining, and hydrophobicity assays were used to determine the effect on oral commensal streptococci after exposure to E-liquids and/or E-cigarette-generated aerosols. (3) Results: E-liquids and flavors have a bactericidal effect on multispecies oral commensal biofilms and increase the hydrophobicity of oral commensal streptococci. Flavorless and some flavored E-liquid aerosols have a bactericidal effect on oral commensal biofilms while having no effect on overall biomass. (4) Conclusions: These results indicate that E-liquids/E-cigarette-generated aerosols alter the chemical interactions and viability of oral commensal streptococci. Consequently, the use of E-cigarettes has the potential to alter the status of disease and health in the oral cavity and, by extension, affect systemic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this thesis, wood loaded with a silica–titanium (Si-Ti) composite film was prepared using the sol–gel method in order to achieve improved wood with high hydrophobicity and photocatalytic activity under visible light. The factors affecting the structure and properties of the composite film, as well as the optimization process, were discussed. Infrared analysis revealed that the vibrational intensity of Si-O-Si, Ti-O-Ti, and Ti-O-Si telescopic vibration peaks increased with an increase in vinyltriethoxysilane (VETS). Additionally, the number of Ti-O-Ti telescopic vibration peaks also increased with an increase in VETS. Furthermore, the intensity of -NO3, Si-O-Si, and Ti-O-Ti telescopic vibrational peaks was enhanced with a higher dosage of nitric acid. Conversely, the intensity of -OH telescopic vibrational peaks decreased with an increase in drying temperature. XRD analysis showed that nitric acid could promote the transformation of TiO2 from amorphous to anatase, while SiO2 would reduce the grain size of anatase TiO2 and promote the growth of rutile TiO2. Additionally, wood surfaces loaded with Si-Ti composite film changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, with significant differences observed between different levels of each factor. The photocatalytic activity of surface-loaded Si-Ti composite films on wood was most affected by the amount of nitric acid, which influenced crystallinity of TiO2 and thus impacted the photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, changes in VTES dosage not only affected the crystalline phase of TiO2 and the grain size of Si-Ti composite film but also influenced the crystallinity of TiO2 through generating SiO2. Finally, based on optimal preparation process (titanium–alcohol ratio of 1:5, titanium–silicon ratio of 1:0.2, titanium–acid ratio of 1:0.5, and drying temperature of 100 °C), wood surfaces loaded with Si-Ti composite film achieved a contact angle up to 125.9° and exhibited a decolorization rate for rhodamine B under UV light reaching 94% within 180 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Anning Phosphate Mine in Yunnan Province as the research object, this study focuses on the low P2O5 grade (20.00%), high MgO content, complex ore composition, useful minerals such as apatite, and main gangue minerals such as dolomite, quartz, and other silicate minerals. Taking advantage of the characteristic that different numbers of unsaturated bonds contained in mixed unsaturated fatty acids, which have higher solubility than single unsaturated fatty acids, can improve the hydrophobicity of dolomite, a compound mixed fatty acid reagent (ZP) was prepared by compounding oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid at a ratio of 50% + 30% + 20%, and this reagent was used as collectors for reverse flotation of the phosphate ore. The influence of collectors on the wettability of dolomite and the effect of compound agent ZP on the particle size of collector micelles were studied. Based on single-factor experimental research, both open-circuit and closed-circuit tests were conducted. The results show that: the composite agent ZP had a better hydrophobicity effect on dolomite than that of single oleic acid reagent. When the dosage of ZP was 200 mg/L, the contact angle of dolomite could reach 74.62°. ZP collector has a higher solubility than oleic acid, which can improve flotation efficiency; By using a process of one coarse selection, three fine selections, and three sweep selections for reverse flotation, a closed-circuit test can ultimately obtain concentrate indicators with a P2O5 yield of 59. 23%, P2O5 grade of 28.36%, MgO grade of 0.63%, and P2O5 recovery rate of 80.16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development of a nanocomposite membrane using polyvinyl chloride and nanocellulose@titanium aluminate to effectively filter and adsorb dye from wastewater. Various analytical techniques were used such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA to characterize the synthesized adsorptive nanocomposite membrane. The thermal and electrical properties of the membrane were measured using a static system. The study investigated the effect of different adsorbent dosages, pH levels, and dye concentrations on the membrane's adsorption ability. The PVC-NC@TALCM nanocomposite membrane was found to remove 98.6% of MB dye when loaded with 5% titanium aluminate at pH 10. Kinetic and isotherm studies revealed that the adsorption of MB onto the membrane followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherms, respectively. The researchers also highlighted the economic and eco-friendly nature of the PVC-NC@TALCM nanocomposite membrane as a viable option for the removal of MB from industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transparent poly(methyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) stone relics protective material was synthesized using one-pot method. The synthesized polymer was coated on the surface of the stone samples or glass plates. SEM was used to observe the micromorphology of pristine stone and stone covered polymer coating samples. Physical properties of polymer coatings were characterized by FTIR, XRD and TGA-DSC. The conservation properties of polymer coatings were investigated by testing adhesion, transparency, hydrophobicity, mass loss rate and appearance of the simulated stone relics after freeze–thaw, UV irradiation and acid aging processes. Results show that poly (MMA-BA-20.04 %HFMA) outperformed the others with water contact angle remained 108.23°, 109.34° and 106.96° as well as the change of chromaticity difference values of 0.79, 0.02 and 0.08, after freeze-thaw, UV-aging and acid-aging processes, respectively. All these data indicate that the as-synthesized polymer could potentially use in conservating the stone relics due to its superior hydrophobicity, transparency, anti-acid and anti-UV aging properties as well as durability for freeze–thaw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental restorations must replicate the natural appearance of teeth while ensuring biocompatibility and durability. This study evaluated the surface characteristics and color stability of three dental composites—Herculite Ultra XRV, G-ænial A'CHORD, and Omnichroma—exposed to acidic beverages (red wine, black coffee, and Coca-Cola). Sixty disk-shaped specimens were prepared, polished, and immersed in these beverages. Surface roughness was assessed using profilometry and SEM analysis, hydrophobicity via contact angle analysis, and surface charge through streaming potential measurements. Color stability was evaluated using a spectrophotometer, and the pH levels of the solutions were recorded. Results showed that Herculite Ultra XRV had the highest mean contact angle (79.46° ± 6.52), indicating superior hydrophobicity, while Omnichroma had the lowest (64.94° ± 3.08), indicating more hydrophilicity. Significant color changes were observed, especially in black coffee, with ∆E values indicating notable discoloration. The acidic pH of the solutions increased surface roughness and color changes. Statistical analyses confirmed significant increases in surface roughness and color change for all composites, with the nanohybrid resin composite showing the greatest variability. These findings highlight the need for dental restorative materials with enhanced resistance to acidic environments to improve the longevity and esthetics of dental treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface coatings such as hydrophobic and transparent coatings were applied to cement concrete surfaces using Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings, which have nanometer-sized particles. The degree of contact between the liquid and the coated surface reveals the surface’s ability to repel water, commonly referred to as hydrophobicity. By depositing silicon coating on the surface, we successfully achieved superhydrophobicity on cement concrete, providing excellent resistance against water damage. We are striving to replicate the natural superhydrophobic properties found in nature to create artificial surfaces with similar characteristics. In this study, we experimented to develop and evaluate superhydrophobic coatings on cement concrete. The application of PDMS on the cement concrete yielded fascinating results, with the typical contact angle of the coated layer measuring 178 degrees. We utilized ImageJ software to analyze the results. This innovative approach holds great promise for enhancing water repellency in the field of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax L. (Arundinoideae subfamily, Poaceae family) is a sub-tropical and temperate climate reed that grows in arid and semi-arid environmental conditions, from eastern China to the Mediterranean basin, suggesting potential adaptations at the epicuticular level. A thorough physical-chemical examination of the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of A. donax leaf was performed herein in an attempt to track such chemophenetic adaptations. This sort of approach is of the utmost importance for the current debate about the hypothetical invasiveness of this species in the Mediterranean basin versus its natural colonization along the Plio-Pleistocene period. We concluded that the leaf surfaces contain, apart from stomata, prickles, and long, thin trichomes, and silicon-rich tetralobate phytolits. Chemically, the dominating elements in the leaf ashes are oxygen and potassium; minor amounts of calcium, silicon, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur, and chlorine were also detected. In both surfaces the epicuticular waxes (whose density is higher in the adaxial surface than in the abaxial surface) form randomly orientated platelets, with irregular shape and variable size, and aggregated rodlets with variable diameter around the stomata. In the case of green mature leaves, the dominating organic compounds of the epicuticular waxes of both surfaces are triterpenoids. Both surfaces feature identical hydrophobic behaviour, and exhibit the same total transmittance, total reflectance, and absorption of incident light. The above findings suggest easy growth of the plant, remarkable epidermic robustness of the leaf, and control of water loss. These chemophenetic characteristics and human influence support a neolithization process of this species along the Mediterranean basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystalline ordered macro-microporous CuBTC shows excellent mass transfer performance and has high fatty acid stability, making it highly promising as an enzyme immobilization carrier. However, its practical application is severely limited by its poor water stability. To address this challenge, we introduced a ligand, 1,2,3-benzotriazole (BTA), known for its hydrophobicity and strong coordination with copper. A series of CuBTC-derived dual-ligand SOM-MOFs (SOM-MIXs) was successfully synthesized with enhanced hydrophobicity and improved water stability. The CuBTC-derived SOM-MIXs demonstrated superior performance for lipase immobilization, resulting in a maximum increase of 66.9% in specific activity. To address the limitation that excessive addition of 1,2,3-benzotriazole does not further enhance the hydrophobicity of the carrier and may lead to structural damage, a sol-gel method was employed to coat the SOM-MIX with highly hydrophobic PDMS, leading to a further increase of 139.1% in the specific activity. The resulting immobilized lipase exhibited excellent catalytic performance and remarkable reusability, with 90.09% activity retention after five cycles in the synthesis process of 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-linoleoylglycerol (OPL) by acidolysis. This work highlights the potential of SOM-MIX@PDMS and provides valuable insights into the rational design and postmodification of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for enzyme immobilization in diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to value-added fuels or chemicals is considered one of the most appealing routes to establish an artificial carbon cycle. In this regard, the design of catalysts with high activity and selectivity in a wide potential window is pursued. Herein, the Cu-Ni alloy/nitrogen-doped nanocarbon (Cu-Ni/NC) with hydrophobicity is synthesized for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) through the thermal decomposition of metal-organic frameworks. In the H-cell, the Cu-Ni/NC displays superior selectivity toward CO with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) over 90% in a wide potential window from -0.7 to -1.2 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Further, a high FECO of 98.8% and an impressive CO partial current density (jCO) of 27.6 mA cm-2 were achieved at -1.1 V, superior to those of their single metal counterparts. The enhanced CO selectivity may be related to the hydrophobicity, which can suppress the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. Moreover, in situ ATR-SEIRAS and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the synergistic effects via intermetal interaction on Cu-Ni(111) surface can facilitate the proton-coupled electron transfer process, and then well balance the formation of COOH* and the CO* desorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using areca fibre and biosilica particles prepared from wheat husk (WHA), light-weighted polyester bio-composites are made in the current work for low-cost technological applications. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of WHA biosilica particles added at various concentrations on the mechanical and wear properties, as well as the fatigue and hydrophobic behaviour, of polyester composites made from areca fibre. The combination of 2 vol.% silane-treated WHA biosilica particles and silane-treated areca fibre has the highest tensile and flexural strength of 137 MPa and 177 MPa respectively. While the composites fabricated with 4 vol.% WHA biosilica particles have maximum impact strength and hardness with 5.85 J and 86 Shore-D. The areca reinforced polyester composites has the lowest specific wear rate and COF of 0.009 mm3/Nm and 0.42, respectively, when 4 vol.% biosilica particles are added. These composites also exhibit good fatigue behaviour, with maximum life counts of 25,174. Additionally, these composites keep their hydrophobic properties indefinitely, has the lowest contact angle at 72°. These polyester composites fabricated using areca fibre and WHA biosilica particles with improved mechanical, fatigue, and wear properties may be helpful in a range of engineering applications that can use for biodegradability, such as sporting goods, home furnishings, food packaging and transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their eco‐friendly and functional attributes, the development of stain‐resistant poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers offers a multitude of benefits, including enhanced sustainability, ease of maintenance and expanded application fields. To investigate the feasibility of facile fabrication of stain‐resistant poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers, hydrophobic PLA fibers were produced using a scalable melt spinning technique employing silicone powder as the hydrophobic functional material. The influence of silicone powder content on the morphology and crystal structure of PLA fibers was investigated using different length scale characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The relationships between the mechanical performance, hydrophobicity, and structure of the PLA fibers were established. The results showed that the synergistic effect of the micro/nanoconvex structure on the fiber surface created by silicon dioxide (SiO2) in silicone powder and the low surface energy of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) can considerably improve the hydrophobic functionality of the fibers. Compared with that of PLA fibers, the contact angle of hydrophobic PLA fibers increases from 67.3° to 87.6° with the addition of 3 wt% silicone powder. Furthermore, although silicone powder may accelerate PLA crystallization nucleation, it does not increase the crystallite size. When the silicone powder content is increased to 4 wt%, the mesophase fraction of the hydrophobic PLA fibers increases from 9.3% to 13.7%. This is the primary structural factor that allows the fiber to maintain its good tenacity. The tenacity of these hydrophobic PLA fibers is approximately 4.5 cN/dtex, which has excellent practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercritical Impregnation methods are becoming popular in the development of food packaging materials. Bulk functional improvements of cellulose substrates using this method may be influenced by interfacial interactions between the impregnated solutes and cellulose. Hence, an interfacial adsorption kinetics study of solute molecules onto the substrate can provide insight on bulk property development, leading to an optimized packaging material with improved functionality. Paper substrates were impregnated with two food-grade waxes: Alkyl Ketene Dimer (AKD) and Carnauba Wax (CW). Hydrophobic development was monitored over a 3-week period. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) was used to determine interfacial characteristics and behavior of each wax with cellulose, and adsorption kinetics were quantified to compare the mass transfer processes of each wax at the interface. AKD significantly contributed to the substrate's hydrophobic development over time. CW generated mildly hydrophobic substrates only when heated. AKD strongly adhered to the cellulose fibers at the interface, and demonstrated a 3-stage kinetic adsorption process, tentatively assigned (i) diffusion through the solvent; (ii) diffusion through the substrate; and (iii) attachment onto the fibers. CW readily washed off the cellulose surface, demonstrating only the first adsorption process. The different chemical structures also impacted these behaviors, as did concentration and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green phyto technology is a novel version, and the intersection of nanotechnology with nanobiotechnology gains much attention among global researchers owing to the vast range of industrial, environmental and medical applications. To synthesize bimetallic nano particles of Au@Ag, corresponding metal precursors were added to aqueous fruit latex extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus (AHL) & bark latex extract of Mimusops elengi (MEM) and exposed to sunlight. Hydrophobic surfaces are often designed to mimic low surface energy materials and hierarchical micro/nanostructures. In this study, hydrophobic surfaces on glass substrates were fabricated using a simple immersion process that was rapid, facile, and environmental friendly. Latex extracts, Au@Ag nanoparticles, stearic acid and methyltrichlorosilane were used in the coatings. The shape, heterogeneity, roughness and surface functionality of modified hydrophobic surfaces were investigated by FESEM, 3D profilometer and FT‐IR studies. The contact angle (CA) of modified surfaces was measured by Goniometer. The anti‐corrosive property of modified hydrophobic surfaces was tested. Recent micro/nanotechnological advancements have inspired artificial changes of surface wettability by bio‐mimic surfaces with efficient nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus epidermis has emerged as the main causative agent of medical device-related infections. Their major pathogenicity factor lies in its ability to adhere to surfaces and proliferate into biofilms, which increase their resistance to antibiotics. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use and the mechanism of action of an ethanolic extract of Spanish propolis (EESP) as a potential alternative for preventing biofilm-related infections caused by S. epidermidis. The chemical composition of propolis is reported and its antibacterial activity against several strains of S. epidermidis with different biofilm-forming capacities evaluated. The influence of sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of EESP on their growth, physicochemical surface properties, adherence, and biofilm formation were studied. EESP interferes with planktonic cells, homogenizing their physicochemical surface properties and introducing a significant delay in their growth. The adherence and biofilms at the EESP concentrations investigated were decreased up to 90.5% among the strains. Microscopic analysis indicated that the planktonic cells that survived the treatment were the ones that adhere and proliferate on the surfaces. The results obtained suggest that the EESP has a high potential to be used as an inhibitor of both the adhesion and biofilm formation of S. epidermidis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence has suggested that either labile organic carbon (OC) or stable OC play a role in improving aggregate stability. Therefore, this study determined the OC fractions in water stable aggregates (WSA) and their contribution to the formation of the WSA in paddy soils, on the Central Plain of Thailand. Analysis of the OC fractions in the WSA was determined using wet oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The chemical composition of the organic compounds in the WSA was investigated using Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the WSA content of the studied soils significantly increased with increasing organic and inorganic cementing/flocculating agents, such as soil organic carbon, clay, polyvalent cations, and sesquioxides. The labile OC and stable OC contents in the WSA also significantly increased with increased WSA content, suggesting the physical protection of OC fractions against microbial decomposition. The FT-IR analysis revealed that labile OC in the WSA, both before and after wet oxidation with H2O2, was dominated by polysaccharides, supporting the physical protection of labile OC by the WSA. Paddy soils containing higher organic and inorganic cementing/flocculating agents had higher stable OC, such as hydrophobic aromatic compounds, in the WSA, compared to paddy soils containing lower organic and inorganic cementing/flocculating agents. In turn, the WSA content of the soils in this study significantly increased with increases in the hydrophobic aromatic compounds in the WSA, suggesting the important role of stable hydrophobic organic compounds in enhancing the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates in these paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic coatings from chitosan-surfactant composites (ca. 400 nm thick by UV-Vis spectroscopy) for possible corrosion protection were developed on glass and zinc substrates. The surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and SDBS) were added to the chitosan by two methods: mixing the surfactants with the aqueous chitosan solutions before film deposition or impregnating the deposited chitosan films with surfactants from their aqueous solutions. For the mixed coatings, it was found that the lower surface tension of solutions (40-45 mN/m) corresponded to more hydrophobic (80-90°) coatings in every case. The hydrophobicity of the impregnated coatings was especially significant (88° for SDS and 100° for SDBS). Atomic force microscopy studies revealed a slight increase in roughness (max 1.005) for the most hydrophobic coatings. The accumulation of surfactants in the layer was only significant (0.8-1.0 sulfur atomic %) in the impregnated samples according to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Polarization and electron impedance spectroscopy tests confirmed better barrier properties for these samples (40-50% pseudo-porosity instead of 94%). The degree of swelling in a water vapor atmosphere was significantly lower in the case of the impregnated coatings (ca. 25%) than that of the native ones (ca. 75%), measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Accordingly, good barrier layer properties require advantageous bulk properties in addition to surface hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]