PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BURN DRESSINGS.

The experimental methods to estimate the main physico-chemical properties were worked out. Based on theoretical and experimental data we found that maximal sorptional ability of burn dressing equals the free volume of the dressing material, calculated from the value of the material density. We found that the study sorption ability water can be used as a model liquid instead of the blood plasma medium. Kinetic parameters were determined from the sorption curves. These parameters showed that the first aid burn dressings markedly differ in the value of the rate or liquid media sorption at stages close to the sorption limits. We established that the air penetrability parameter in wet state decreases abruptly by 2 - 3 orders of magnitude for the majority of tested dressings. This is due to the filling of porous space by liquid medium. The value of adhesive strength after the end of its action on the wound must not exceed 20 N/m. From the data obtained in this study we formulated the following criteria to estimate the efficiency of the first aid bum dressing: maximum sorptional ability for water must be at least 10 g/g; optimal thickness of dressings, fulfilling this value of sorptional capacity, must be ~ 5-10^-3 m, the adhesive strength must not exceed 20 N/min, and the average diameter of open (connected) pores must not exceed 5-10^-7 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]