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Pore Structure (pore + structure)
Selected AbstractsEffect of Heat Treatment on the Pore Structure and Drying Shrinkage Behavior of Hydrated Cement PasteJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 9 2002Jeffrey J. Thomas The effect of a short heat treatment on hydrated cement paste has been investigated by measuring the weight and length changes of specimens as they undergo various combinations of heating, drying, and resaturation. Heating a cement paste to 60°C coarsens the capillary pore system, decreases the volume of mesopores, and increases the degree of polymerization of the silicates. In addition, the saturated weight of the paste is permanently decreased by a heat treatment. This weight loss can be explained by conversion of bound hydroxyl groups into liquid water during polymerization of the C-S-H gel phase. These experiments help reconcile and interpret published results describing the properties of cement cured at various temperatures, the effects of a short heat treatment on cement paste, and the thermal expansion behavior of saturated and dry cement paste. [source] Control of Phase and Pore Structure of Titania Powders Using HCl and NH4OH CatalystsJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 1 2001Ki Chang Song Porous titania powders were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and were characterized at various calcination temperatures by nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, and microscopy. The effect of HCl or NH4OH catalysts added during hydrolysis on the crystallinity and porosity of the titania powders was investigated. The HCl enhanced the phase transformations of the titania powders from amorphous to anatase as well as anatase to rutile, while NH4OH retarded both phase transformations. Titania powders calcined at 500°C showed bimodal pore size distributions: one was intra-aggregated pores with average pore diameters of 3,6 nm and the other was interaggregated pores with average pore diameters of 35,50 nm. The average intra-aggregated pore diameter was decreased with increasing HCl concentration, while it was increased with increasing NH4OH concentration. [source] Lithium Intercalation into Mesoporous Anatase with an Ordered 3D Pore Structure,ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE, Issue 14 2010Yu Ren Überraschendes Anodenmaterial! Mesoporöses Anatas wurde synthetisiert, das eine überlegene Strombelastbarkeit aufweist. Selbst nach 1000 Lade/Entlade-Zyklen mit 12,000,mA,g,1 (1.6,min pro Zyklus) blieb die Mesostruktur mit einer stabilen Kapazität von 125,mA,h,g,1 aufrechterhalten (siehe Diagramm). [source] Chitosan-Based Inverse Opals: Three-Dimensional Scaffolds with Uniform Pore Structures for Cell CultureADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 29 2009Sung-Wook Choi Chitosan inverse opal scaffolds: Three-dimensional chitosan scaffolds with an inverse opal structure have been fabricated using a cubic close packed lattice of polymer beads as the template. The scaffolds have a uniform and interconnected pore structure as well as a fibrous morphology on the wall. They can be used as a model system for in vitro studies of cell culture and as clinically practical scaffolds for tissue engineering. [source] Influence of pore size and geometry on peat unsaturated hydraulic conductivity computed from 3D computed tomography image analysisHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 21 2010F. Rezanezhad Abstract In organic soils, hydraulic conductivity is related to the degree of decomposition and soil compression, which reduce the effective pore diameter and consequently restrict water flow. This study investigates how the size distribution and geometry of air-filled pores control the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of peat soils using high-resolution (45 µm) three-dimensional (3D) X-ray computed tomography (CT) and digital image processing of four peat sub-samples from varying depths under a constant soil water pressure head. Pore structure and configuration in peat were found to be irregular, with volume and cross-sectional area showing fractal behaviour that suggests pores having smaller values of the fractal dimension in deeper, more decomposed peat, have higher tortuosity and lower connectivity, which influences hydraulic conductivity. The image analysis showed that the large reduction of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity with depth is essentially controlled by air-filled pore hydraulic radius, tortuosity, air-filled pore density and the fractal dimension due to degree of decomposition and compression of the organic matter. The comparisons between unsaturated hydraulic conductivity computed from the air-filled pore size and geometric distribution showed satisfactory agreement with direct measurements using the permeameter method. This understanding is important in characterizing peat properties and its heterogeneity for monitoring the progress of complex flow processes at the field scale in peatlands. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The role of moisture cycling in the weathering of a quartz chlorite schist in a tropical environment: findings of a laboratory simulationEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 4 2005Tony Wells Abstract Long-term weathering of a quartz chlorite schist via wetting and drying was studied under a simulated tropical climate. Cubic rock samples (15 mm × 15 mm × 15 mm) were cut from larger rocks and subjected to time-compressed climatic conditions simulating the tropical wet season climate at the Ranger Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory, Australia. Fragmentation, moisture content and moisture uptake rate were monitored over 5000 cycles of wetting and drying. To determine the impact of climatic variables, five climatic regimes were simulated, varying water application, temperature and drying. One of the climatic regimes reproduced observed temperature and moisture variability at the Ranger Uranium Mine, but over a compressed time scale. It is shown that wetting and drying is capable of weathering quartz chlorite schist with changes expected over a real time period of decades. While wetting and drying alone does produce changes to rock morphology, the incorporation of temperature variation further enhances weathering rates. Although little fragmentation occurred in experiments, significant changes to internal pore structure were observed, which could potentially enhance other weathering mechanisms. Moisture variability is shown to lead to higher weathering rates than are observed when samples are subjected only to leaching. Finally, experiments were conducted on two rock samples from the same source having only subtle differences in mineralogy. The samples exhibited quite different weathering rates leading to the conclusion that our knowledge of the role of rock type and composition in weathering is insufficient for the accurate determination of weathering rates. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pore properties as indicators of breakdown mechanisms in experimentally weathered limestonesEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 8 2001Dawn T. Nicholson Abstract The results are reported of four experimental weathering tests , freeze , thaw, wetting and drying, slake durability and salt weathering , on five different types of limestone. Effective porosity, mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate changes in pore properties, while weight loss and fracture density were used to assess deterioration severity. A primary aim was to observe modifications in porosity due to weathering and to draw inferences about the internal rock deterioration mechanisms taking place. It is concluded that the five limestones not only show a wide range of resistance to weathering in general but considerable difference in resistance to particular weathering processes. Consequently, when assessing durability it is essential to consider rock properties in the context of the weathering process to which the rock is subject. The type of deterioration indicator used is also important in interpretation of durability. A variety of pore modification mechanisms operate, including changes in pore connectivity, pore infilling, and the introduction of additional void space. There are indications that changes to the internal pore structure of rocks due to weathering may be a precursor to more substantial macrodeterioration. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Preparation and Characterization of Gallium Releasing 3-D Alginate Coated 45S5 Bioglass® Based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010Viviana Mourińo Abstract The aim of this work was to develop functional three-dimensional scaffolds based on Bioglass® derived glass,ceramics for bone tissue engineering (TE) with prophylaxis effect against infections. The highly porous scaffolds were fabricated by the foam replication technique and then coated with sodium alginate crosslinked with Ga3+. It was confirmed that the polymer coating did not affect the interconnectivity of the scaffold pore structure. The resulting composite scaffold exhibited antibacterial effect and improved mechanical properties as well as high bioactivity. The novel Ga3+ loaded 45S5 Bioglass®-based scaffolds coated with alginate are promising candidates for bone TE applications. [source] Porous TiNi Biomaterial by Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 6 2004J.S. Kim Abstract Porous TiNi shape-memory alloy (TiNi SMA) bodies with controlled pore structure were produced from the (Ti+Ni) powder mixture by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) method. The effect of processing variables such as the kind of starting powders, ignition temperature and preheating schedule on the behavior of combustion wave propagation, the formation of phases and pore structure was investigated. The relationship between pore structure and mechanical properties was also investigated. An in vivo test was performed to evaluate bone tissue response and histocompatibility of porous TiNi SMA using 15 New Zealand white rabbits. No apparent adverse reactions such as inflammation and foreign body reaction were noted on or around all implanted porous TiNi SMA blocks. Bone ingrowth was found in the pore space of all implanted blocks. [source] Zeolite Catalysts with Tunable Hierarchy Factor by Pore-Growth ModeratorsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 24 2009Javier Pérez-Ramírez Abstract The design of hierarchical zeolite catalysts is attempted through the maximization of the hierarchy factor (HF); that is, by enhancing the mesopore surface area without severe penalization of the micropore volume. For this purpose, a novel desilication variant involving NaOH treatment of ZSM-5 in the presence of quaternary ammonium cations is developed. The organic cation (TPA+ or TBA+) acts as a pore-growth moderator in the crystal by OH, -assisted silicon extraction, largely protecting the zeolite crystal during the demetallation process. The protective effect is not seen when using cations that are able to enter the micropores, such as TMA+ Engineering the pore structure at the micro- and mesolevel is essential to optimize transport properties and catalytic performance, as demonstrated in the benzene alkylation with ethylene, a representative mass-transfer limited reaction. The hierarchy factor is an appropriate tool to classify hierarchically structured materials. The latter point is of wide interest to the scientific community as it not only embraces mesoporous zeolites obtained by desilication methods but it also enables to quantitatively compare and correlate various materials obtained by different synthetic methodologies. [source] Pure-Phase Transport and Dissolution of TCE in Sedimentary Rock SaproliteGROUND WATER, Issue 3 2006M. Lenczewski The objective of this study was to experimentally determine the influence of pore structure on the transport and dissolution of trichloroethylene (TCE) in clay-rich saprolite. In order to simulate a "spill," pure-phase TCE containing a water-insoluble fluorescent dye was injected into two heterogeneous 24-cm-diameter by 37-cm-long undisturbed columns of water-saturated saprolite. TCE entry occurred at capillary pressures of 2.7 and 4.0 kPa. Ten or 28 d after injection, the column was sliced horizontally into three sections and visually examined. The distribution of fluorescent dye indicated that pure-phase TCE migrated mainly through fractures in the shale saprolite and through fine root holes or other macropores in the limestone saprolite residuum. Analysis of saprolite subsamples indicated that TCE was present throughout much of the saprolite column but usually at concentrations less than the solubility of TCE. This spreading was caused by diffusion, which also contributed to the rapid dissolution of TCE in the fractures and macropores. Modeling was carried out using previously published dissolution and diffusion equations. The calculations confirm that rapid disappearance of immiscible TCE can occur in this type of material because of the small size of fracture or macropore openings and the high porosity of the fine-grained material. This study indicates that industrial solvents can readily enter fractures and macropores in otherwise very fine-grained subsoils and then rapidly dissolve and diffuse into the fine-pore structure, fromc which they may be very difficult to remove. [source] Carbon Nanotube Coatings on Bioglass-Based Tissue Engineering ScaffoldsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2007R. Boccaccini Abstract The coating of highly porous Bioglass® based 3D scaffolds with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) was investigated. Foam like Bioglass® scaffolds were fabricated by the replica technique and electrophoretic deposition was used to deposit homogeneous layers of CNT throughout the scaffold pore structure. The optimal experimental conditions were determined to be: applied voltage 15,V and deposition time 20 minutes, utilizing a concentrated aqueous suspension of CNT with addition of a surfactant and iodine. The scaffold pore structure remained invariant after the CNT coating, as assessed by SEM. The incorporation of CNTs induced a nanostructured internal surface of the pores which is thought to be beneficial for osteoblast cell attachment and proliferation. Bioactivity of the scaffolds was assessed by immersion studies in simulated body fluid (SBF) for periods of up to 2 weeks and the subsequent determination of hydroxyapatite (HA) formation. The presence of CNTs can enhance the bioactive behaviour of the scaffolds since CNTs can serve as template for the ordered formation of a nanostructured HA layers, which does not occur on uncoated Bioglass® surfaces. [source] Micro-CT scanning analysis for inner structure of porous mediaHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 4 2007Zhang Yang Abstract A micro-CT scanner was employed to investigate inner characteristics of porous media, and particular cakes were taken as samples. By obtaining the inner pore structure and inner structure reconstruction, porosity and its variation in the samples, water distribution in pores, and other inner characteristics were determined and explored. When the sample was dried after immersion in water, the solid frame shrank, some pores became larger and the porosity increased, while the sample not immersed in water did not change much after being dried. The experiments indicate that micro-CT scanning is an effective technology to study the inner structure of porous materials with pores larger than tens of microns and also can be used to explore some important transport performance. ©2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 36(4): 208, 214, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20155 Copyright © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Using a pore-scale model to quantify the effect of particle re-arrangement on pore structure and hydraulic propertiesHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 8 2007Oagile Dikinya Abstract A pore-scale model based on measured particle size distributions has been used to quantify the changes in pore space geometry of packed soil columns resulting from a dilution in electrolyte concentration from 500 to 1 mmol l,1 NaCl during leaching. This was applied to examine the effects of particle release and re-deposition on pore structure and hydraulic properties. Two different soils, an agricultural soil and a mining residue, were investigated with respect to the change in hydraulic properties. The mining residue was much more affected by this process with the water saturated hydraulic conductivity decreasing to 0·4% of the initial value and the air-entry value changing from 20 to 50 cm. For agricultural soil, there was little detectable shift in the water retention curve but the saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased to 8·5% of the initial value. This was attributed to localized pore clogging (similar to a surface seal) affecting hydraulic conductivity, but not the microscopically measured pore-size distribution or water retention. We modelled the soil structure at the pore scale to explain the different responses of the two soils to the experimental conditions. The size of the pores was determined as a function of deposited clay particles. The modal pore size of the agricultural soil as indicated by the constant water retention curve was 45 µm and was not affected by the leaching process. In the case of the mining residue, the mode changed from 75 to 45 µm. This reduction of pore size corresponds to an increase of capillary forces that is related to the measured shift of the water retention curve. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chitosan-Based Inverse Opals: Three-Dimensional Scaffolds with Uniform Pore Structures for Cell CultureADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 29 2009Sung-Wook Choi Chitosan inverse opal scaffolds: Three-dimensional chitosan scaffolds with an inverse opal structure have been fabricated using a cubic close packed lattice of polymer beads as the template. The scaffolds have a uniform and interconnected pore structure as well as a fibrous morphology on the wall. They can be used as a model system for in vitro studies of cell culture and as clinically practical scaffolds for tissue engineering. [source] Formation of Porous SiC Ceramics by Pyrolysis of Wood Impregnated with SilicaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Kateryna Vyshnyakova Biomorphous ,-SiC ceramics were produced at 1400°C from pine wood impregnated with silica. This one-step carbothermal reduction process decreases the cost of manufacturing of SiC ceramics compared with siliconization of carbonized wood in silicon vapor. The synthesized sample exhibits a 14 m2/g surface area and has a hybrid pore structure with large 5,20 ,m tubular macropores and small (<50 nm) slit-shaped mesopores. SiC whiskers of 20,400 nm in diameter and 5,20 ,m in length formed within the tubular pores. These whiskers are expected to improve the filtration by removing dust particles that could otherwise penetrate through large pores. After ultrasonic milling, the powdered sample showed an average particle size of ,30 nm. The SiC nanopowder produced in this process may be used for manufacturing SiC ceramics for structural, tribological, and other applications. [source] Bioceramic Bone Graft Substitutes: Influence of Porosity and ChemistryINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Karin A. Hing Bioceramics have been considered for use as synthetic bone graft substitutes (BGSs) for over 30 years, throughout which there have been two primary areas of research: (i) optimization of the physical pore structure and (ii) formulation of an appropriate bioceramic chemistry. While it is well recognized that both the rate of integration and the final volume of regenerated bone are primarily dependent on the macroporosity, there still seems to be some dispute regarding the optimum "type" of porosity. The rate and quality of bone integration have, in turn, been related to a dependence on pore size, porosity volume fraction, and interconnection size and interconnection density, both as a function of structural permeability and mechano-transduction. Moreover, the role of strut microstructure and pore geometry have been considered with respect to their influence on entrapment and recruitment of growth factors (GFs) in addition to its influence on scaffold mechanics. Deconvoluting the relative affects of these parameters is complicated by the use of both resorbable and nonresorbable bioactive bioceramics, which are believed to mediate bioactivity in the osseous environment through two principal mechanisms: (i) directly through dissolution and release of ionic products in vivo, elevating local concentrations of soluble species that interact directly with local cells or influence cell behavior by their effect on local pH, (ii) indirectly through the influence that surface chemistry will have on protein adsorption, GF entrapment, and subsequent cell attachment and function. This article aims to review some of the recent developments in bioceramic BGSs, with a view to understanding how the various physiochemical parameters may be optimized to promote bone healing. [source] Three-Dimensional Microstructural Characterization of Porous Hydroxyapatite Using Confocal Laser Scanning MicroscopyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Fei Ren The characterization of porosity is crucial in the development and commercialization of ceramic bone replacement technology, since the pore size and interconnectivity play a central role in both biological function (bone ingrowth and nutrient flow) as well as mechanical properties of bone scaffolds. The ability of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to image three-dimensional (3-D) structures with large vertical depths (,2 mm) and fine vertical resolution (,1 ,m) is utilized in this article to characterize the 3-D microstructures of hydroxyapatite (HA) bone scaffold specimens with porosity ranging from roughly 60,70 vol%. Various CLSM techniques are applied to image and interpret the HA pore structure, including Z -series stacking, topographic profiling, and Phi- Z scanning and contour mapping. [source] Pyrolysis of liquefied petroleum gas assisted by radicals desorbed from mesh catalyst surfaceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL KINETICS, Issue 12 2003Eugene B. H. Quah The purpose of this study is to understand the reactions on the catalyst surface and in the gas phase during the catalytic pyrolysis of light hydrocarbons. To avoid the complexity of internal pore diffusion and heat transfer limitation, nickel mesh without pore structure was used as a catalyst for the catalytic pyrolysis of a commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sample in a quartz tube reactor and in a wire-mesh reactor over a temperature range of 600,850°C. With a Ni mesh catalyst, no catalyst deactivation associated with coke formation was observed at high gas flow rate. Our experimental results indicate that the desorption of radicals from the catalyst surface is an important process in the catalytic pyrolysis of LPG using the Ni mesh catalyst. The desorption of radicals across the gas,catalyst interface is greatly facilitated by increasing gas flow rate passing through the mesh. The desorbed radicals would initiate and/or enhance the gas-phase radical chain reactions and lead to improved reaction rates for the pyrolysis of LPG although the product selectivities remained unchanged. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 637,646, 2003 [source] Microporous activated carbon spheres prepared from resole-type crosslinked phenolic beads by physical activationJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Arjun Singh Abstract Microporous activated carbon spheres (ACSs) with a high specific Brunauer,Emmet,Teller (BET) surface area were prepared from resole-type spherical crosslinked phenolic beads (PBs) by physical activation. The PBs used as precursors were synthesized in our laboratory through the mixing of phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of an alkaline medium by suspension polymerization. The effects of the gasification time, temperature, and flow rate of the gasifying agent on the surface properties of ACSs were investigated. ACSs with a controllable pore structure derived from carbonized PBs were prepared by CO2 gasification. Surface properties of ACSs, such as the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameters, were characterized with BET and Dubinin,Reduchkevich equations based on N2 adsorption isotherms at 77 K. The results showed that ACSs with a 32,88% extent of burn-off with CO2 gasification exhibited a BET surface area ranging from 574 to 3101 m2/g, with the pore volume significantly increased from 0.29 to 2.08 cm3/g. The pore size and its distribution could be tailored by the selection of suitable conditions, including the gasification time, temperature, and flow rate of the gasifying agents. The experimental results of this analysis revealed that ACSs obtained under different conditions were mainly microporous. The development of the surface morphology of ACSs was also studied with scanning electron microscopy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Chitosan scaffolds for in vitro buffalo embryonic stem-like cell culture: An approach to tissue engineeringJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007Wah W. Thein-Han Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) porous chitosan scaffolds are attractive candidates for tissue engineering applications. Chitosan scaffolds of 70, 88, and 95% degree of deacetylation (% DD) with the same molecular weight were developed and their properties with buffalo embryonic stem-like (ES-like) cells were investigated in vitro. Scaffolds were fabricated by freezing and lyophilization. They showed open pore structure with interconnecting pores under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Higher % DD chitosan scaffolds had greater mechanical strength, slower degradation rate, lower water uptake ability, but similar water retention ability, when compared to lower % DD chitosan. As a strategy to tissue engineering, buffalo ES-like cells were cultured on scaffolds for 28 days. It appeared that chitosan was cytocompatible and cells proliferated well on 88 and 95% DD scaffolds. In addition, the buffalo ES-like cells maintained their pluripotency during the culture period. Furthermore, the SEM and histological study showed that the polygonal buffalo ES-like cells proliferated well and attached to the pores. This study proved that 3D biodegradable highly deacetylated chitosan scaffolds are promising candidates for ES-like cell based tissue engineering and this chitosan scaffold and ES cell based system can be used as in vitro model for subsequent clinical applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007 [source] Control of pore structure and size in freeze-dried collagen spongesJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 4 2001Heike Schoof Abstract Because of many suitable properties, collagen sponges are used as an acellular implant or a biomaterial in the field of tissue engineering. Generally, the inner three-dimensional structure of the sponges influences the behavior of cells. To investigate this influence, it is necessary to develop a process to produce sponges with a defined, adjustable, and homogeneous pore structure. Collagen sponges can be produced by freeze-drying of collagen suspensions. The pore structure of the freeze-dried sponges mirrors the ice-crystal morphology after freezing. In industrial production, the collagen suspensions are solidified under time- and space-dependent freezing conditions, resulting in an inhomogeneous pore structure. In this investigation, unidirectional solidification was applied during the freezing process to produce collagen sponges with a homogeneous pore structure. Using this technique the entire sample can be solidified under thermally constant freezing conditions. The ice-crystal morphology and size can be adjusted by varying the solute concentration in the collagen suspension. Collagen sponges with a very uniform and defined pore structure can be produced. Furthermore, the pore size can be adjusted between 20,40 ,m. The thickness of the sponges prepared during this research was 10 mm. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 58: 352,357, 2001 [source] Diffusional properties of chitosan hydrogel membranesJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Barbara Krajewska Abstract Chitosan membranes were prepared by a solvent evaporation technique, followed by crosslinking with glutaraldehyde and coating with BSA. The effects of crosslinking and BSA coating on the pore structure of such prepared hydrogel chitosan membranes were determined. The diffusion rates of 12 non-electrolytes ranging in molecular radius between 2.5 and 14,Ĺ through the membranes were measured, and the results were interpreted in terms of the capillary pore model and free volume model of solute diffusional transport through hydrogel membranes. Glutaraldehyde crosslinking was found to reduce the membrane water content and consequently the membrane pore size and surface porosity, whereas further BSA coating brought about the opposite effect. The latter effect lessened with an increase in glutaraldehyde pretreatment of the membranes. The optimal chitosan membrane preparation, compromising between the solute flux and membrane stability and durability was obtained when the membranes were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde at concentrations between 0.01 and 0.1% (w/w). The knowledge of transport properties and of physical strength of the membranes is of importance for the development of chitosan-based controlled release systems. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Quantitative characterization of sphere-templated porous biomaterialsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005A. J. Marshall Abstract Three-dimensional (3-D) porous hydrogels were fabricated by polymerizing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate around templates of random close-packed poly(methyl methacrylate) microspheres with nominal diameter of 5 or 15 ,m. The templates were leached out to create networks of interconnected spherical pores. Applications for sphere-templated porous biomaterials include scaffolds for tissue engineering and spatial control of wound healing. This study describes an approach to characterizing pore structure and predicting permeability of sphere-templated porous hydrogels. The materials were embedded in resin, and 1-,m-plane sections were digitally analyzed with fluorescence microscopy. The porosity and pore size distribution were determined from stereological interpretation, and we present novel techniques for obtaining the pore throat size distribution, the number of pore throats per pore, and the tortuosity. A simple apparatus is also introduced for measurement of the hydraulic permeability. Permeability predictions based on quantitative microscopy measurements and on stereology were found to agree closely with permeability measurements. The aptness of the Kozeny equation for spherically pored materials is also investigated. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005 [source] Simulation of the dynamics of depth filtration of non-Brownian particlesAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2001V. N. Burganos A new simulator for flow of aqueous suspensions and deposition of non-Brownian particles in granular media can predict the pattern of deposition and concomitant reduction in permeability as functions of depth, time and system parameters. The porous structure of the granular medium represented as a 3-D network of constricted pores considers the converging,diverging character of flow within pores. Using Lagrangian-type simulation the particle deposition rate was calculated. Gravity and drag, as well as hydrodynamic and physicochemical interactions between suspended particles and pore walls, were considered in calculating 3-D particle trajectories. Deposit configurations were computed, and the evolution of the pore structure was simulated at discrete time steps. Changes in the pore geometry and nature of the collector surface affect flow and trajectory computations directly. Clusters of deposited particles were allowed to become reentrained if exposed to shear stress higher than a critical value. Reentrained clusters, which moved through downstream pores, might redeposit downstream at suitable sites and cause clogging of sufficiently narrow pores. Particle clusters clogging pores have a finite permeability, which significantly affects the system's transient behavior. Clogged pores act as collectors of solitary particles and of reentrained clusters, and substantially affect the transient behavior of the filter. The loss of permeability was monitored by calculating pore and network hydraulic conductance at each time step. Numerical results for the loss of permeability, temporal evolution of filter efficiency, and specific deposit profiles are based on suspension flow simulations in a typical granular porous medium. [source] Influence of the pore structure on the properties of silica based reversed phase packings for LCJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 4 2005Zoltan Szabó Abstract This paper describes the preparation and investigation of new, highly loaded, monomeric, silica based, reversed phase C18 and C30 packings. The influence of pore structure and endcapping on the properties of C18 and C30 packings is described. Using hydrothermal procedures, silicas with predictable pore size (9.3,25.5 nm) and surface area have been prepared. Silylation with long chain silanes substantially alters the pore structure of the silica: pore size and pore volume decrease. A new parameter, the volumetric surface coverage [mm3×m,2] has been introduced. This parameter , calculated from on-column measured porosity data , indicates the pore volume portion occupied by the hydrocarbon chains. Endcapping does not significantly change the pore structure of the bonded phases. The reduced retentions (reduced with respect to unit area: [k/m2]) , a good measure for comparing the retention behaviour of packings with different surface areas , are similar for most of the phases, demonstrating good accessibility of the pores for the solutes. Slightly lower retentions were found on the endcapped than on the non-endcapped phases for probes with dense ,-electron system (e. g. polyaromatic hydrocarbons) demonstrating the contribution of silanophilic interactions to the retention. The phases had been successfully used for various demanding separations, e. g. for the separation of flavonoids, carotenoids, resveratrol, and tocopherol isomers, fullerenes, and anions. [source] Porous Biodegradable Scaffold: Predetermined Porosity by Dissolution of Poly(ester-anhydride) Fibers from Polyester MatrixMACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 7 2009Jaana Rich Abstract A novel selective leaching method for the porogenization of the biodegradable scaffolds was developed. Continuous, predetermined pore structure was prepared by dissolving fast eroding poly(, -caprolactone)-based poly(ester-anhydride) fibers from the photo-crosslinked poly(, -caprolactone) matrix. The porogen fibers dissolved in the phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 37,°C) within a week, resulting in the porosity that replicated exactly the single fiber dimensions and the overall arrangement of the fibers. The amount of the porosity, estimated with micro-CT, corresponded with the initial amount of the fibers. The potential to include bioactive agents in the porogen fibers was demonstrated with the bioactive glass. [source] Effect of Surface Modification on the Synthesis of Pore-Filling Polymeric Monoliths in Microfiltration Membranes Made from Poly(propylene) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate)MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2007Abdus Salam Abstract The effect of pre-modification on the interaction of macroporous substrates (membranes) with mainly micro- and mesoporous polymer monoliths has been studied. Bulk, porous polymer monoliths were synthesized to optimize the synthesis conditions and their pore morphology, and the data were used as benchmark for this study. Pre-modification of the entire pore surface of PP microfiltration membranes and PET track-etched membranes by UV-initiated grafting with PEGMA was performed using well-established methods, including coating with the photo-initiator, benzophenone. Subsequently, these membranes were functionalized by filling the pores with porous polymer monoliths from MAA and EDMA and compared with membranes that had been functionalized without the pre-modification step. The materials were characterized mainly by the degree of grafting, SEM and by the gas-adsorption-isotherm method. The DG values, after composite-membrane preparation under identical conditions, were not influenced by the pre-modification. However, it could be clearly seen from the SEM images that the pre-modification step prevents the formation of voids at the monolith-membrane pore interface. Larger specific surface area and pore volume values for composite membranes, prepared after pre-modification, fully support the SEM results. Especially large differences in pore structure between the two different composite membranes were found in the mesopore range. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to prepare porous, composite membranes where the trans-membrane transport is exclusively controlled by the pore and surface structure of a functional polymeric monolith, for example, made from a molecularly-imprinted polymer. [source] Homogenizing the acoustic properties of a porous matrix containing an incompressible inviscid fluidMATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES, Issue 10 2003J. L. Ferrin We undertake a rigorous derivation of the Biot's law for a porous elastic solid containing an inviscid fluid. We consider small displacements of a linear elastic solid being itself a connected periodic skeleton containing a pore structure of the characteristic size ,. It is completely saturated by an incompressible inviscid fluid. The model is described by the equations of the linear elasticity coupled with the linearized incompressible Euler system. We study the homogenization limit when the pore size ,tends to zero. The main difficulty is obtaining an a priori estimate for the gradient of the fluid velocity in the pore structure. Under the assumption that the solid part is connected and using results on the first order elliptic systems, we obtain the required estimate. It allows us to apply appropriate results from the 2-scale convergence. Then it is proved that the microscopic displacements and the fluid pressure converge in 2-scales towards a linear hyperbolic system for an effective displacement and an effective pressure field. Using correctors, we also give a strong convergence result. The obtained system is then compared with the Biot's law. It is found that there is a constitutive relation linking the effective pressure with the divergences of the effective fluid and solid displacements. Then we prove that the homogenized model coincides with the Biot's equations but with the added mass ,a being a matrix, which is calculated through an auxiliary problem in the periodic cell for the tortuosity. Furthermore, we get formulas for the matricial coefficients in the Biot's effective stress,strain relations. Finally, we consider the degenerate case when the fluid part is not connected and obtain Biot's model with the relative fluid displacement equal to zero. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Si/SiO2 nanocomposite by CVD infiltration of porous SiO2PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005G. Amato Abstract The aim of the present paper is to report first results on an innovative method for producing Si/SiO2 nanocomposites. Starting from a porous oxide structure, we infiltrated Si by Chemical Vapour Deposition of SiH4, under controlled conditions. In this way, we succeeded in infiltrating Si into the SiO2 template. Porous oxide is obtained by dry oxidation of mesoporous Si. By means of the electrochemical process used for producing porous Si, an interconnected pore structure is obtained. This allows for Si infiltration, giving rise, in principle, to an interconnected network of Si crystallites, in which electrical carriers are easily driven. Efficient charge injection in Si nanocrystals is of crucial importance for several applications, from electroluminescence to memory devices. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||