Silicone Rubber (silicone + rubber)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Adhesion properties and thermal degradation of silicone rubber

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007
Eung-Soo Kim
Abstract Silicone rubber is suitable for the thermal insulator of the rocket motors owing to its heat resisting properties as well as its excellent elasticity and restoring force. However, the adhesion properties of the silicone rubber should be improved greatly to be used as the thermal insulator because of its poor adhesiveness coming from the low surface tension. Functional groups were incorporated through copolymerization to the silicone rubber to induce chemical reaction with the functional groups in the propellant/liner components to enhance the adhesion properties. Peeling tests results disclosed that the incorporation of amine groups was the most efficient for the adhesiveness enhancement and that addition of carbon black improved the adhesiveness still more. Stability against thermal degradation of the silicone rubber was examined by measuring the activation energy through the thermogravimetric analysis. The results revealed that the compounding of the Cloisite® clays boosted up the thermal stability of the silicone rubber much more greatly than that of carbon black. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2782,2787, 2007 [source]


Adhesion of Enterococcus faecalis 1131 grown under subinhibitory concentrations of ampicillin and vancomycin to a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic substratum

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2001
Amparo M Gallardo-Moreno
Abstract The effect of two subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations of ampicillin and vancomycin during growth on the adhesion of Enterococcus faecalis 1131 to glass and silicone rubber was studied in a parallel plate flow chamber. Initial deposition rates and numbers of adhering bacteria after 4 h were higher on hydrophilic glass than on hydrophobic silicone rubber, regardless of growth conditions. The presence of 1/4 minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin during growth reduced enterococcal adhesion to both substrata, but growth in the presence of 1/4 MIC vancomycin did not affect the adhesion of E. faecalis. Moreover, enterococcal adhesion increased after growth in the presence of 1/8 MIC vancomycin. The increased adhesion after growth in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of vancomycin may have strong implications for patients living with implanted biomaterials, as they may suffer adverse effects from use of this antibiotic, especially since bacteria once adhered are less sensitive to antibiotics. [source]


Vertically Aligned Nanowires on Flexible Silicone using a Supported Alumina Template prepared by Pulsed Anodization

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 40 2009
Stefan Mátéfi-Tempfli
Carpets of vertically aligned nanowires on flexible substrates are successfully realized by a template method. Applying special pulsed anodization conditions, defect-free nanoporous alumina structures supported on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a flexible silicone elastomer, are created. By using this template with nanopores ending on a conducting underlayer, a high-density nanowire array can be simply grown by direct DC-electrodeposition on the top of the silicone rubber. [source]


Real-time atomic force microscopy of root dentine during demineralization when subjected to chelating agents

INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 9 2006
G. De-Deus
Abstract Aim, To explore the potential of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the examination of changes to dentine surfaces during demineralization and evaluate qualitatively the effect of EDTA, EDTAC and citric acid. Methodology, Nine canine teeth were sectioned transversely at the cemento-enamel junction, and the crowns discarded. Subsequently, each root was embedded in an epoxy cylinder and discs approximately 5 mm thick were cut. A standard metallographic procedure was then used to prepare the surfaces for observation. From the central portion of these samples, two specimens were symmetrically prepared per tooth so that a total number of 18 samples was produced. To allow the use of a liquid cell during AFM, the samples were embedded in silicone rubber and were then randomly divided into three groups, as follows: group 1: 17% EDTA (pH 7.7), group 2: 17% EDTAC (pH 7.7) and group 3: 10% citric acid (pH 1.4). Topographical images were acquired during the demineralization process, allowing real-time observation of the dentine surface. Two operators assigned scores to the AFM images using a double-blind method. anova analysis with random effects (P < 0.05) was used to compare the results. Results, The average scores were 6.13 ± 0.35 for EDTAC, 7.36 ± 0.23 for EDTA and 14.55 ± 1.21 for citric acid. Citric acid was statistically different from EDTA and EDTAC while EDTA and EDTAC were not statistically different. Conclusions, The most effective demineralizing substance was citric acid. The methodology developed for real-time observation of dentine surfaces is a valuable method to evaluate demineralization. [source]


Preparation and investigation of ethylene,vinyl acetate copolymer/silicone rubber/clay nanocomposites

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009
Shoulin Fang
Abstract In this article, the combination of silicone rubber (SR) elastomer with synthetic iron montmorillonite (Fe-MMT) to form a kind of new flame-retardant system based on an ethylene,vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer is first reported. Also, the flame retardancy of the EVA/SR/Fe-MMT hybrid are compared with that of EVA/SR/natural sodium montmorillonite. The structures of the nanocomposites were characterized with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Cone calorimeter tests and thermogravimetric analysis were used to evaluate the flame-retardant properties and thermal stability of the composites, respectively. In addition, tensile tests were carried out with a universal testing machine, and the morphology of the fracture surface was observed with environmental scanning electron microscopy. We found that SR/organophilic montmorillonite (Fe-OMT) was more effective in reducing the primary peak heat release rate of the nanocomposite, and the EVA/SR/Fe-OMT hybrid had a higher thermal stability in the deacetylated polymer than EVA/SR/sodium organophilic montmorillonite. Moreover, the exfoliated EVA/SR/Fe-OMT nanocomposite displayed excellent mechanical properties because of a better dispersion of Fe-OMT in the polymer matrix, and a possible mechanism is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source]


Thermal stability and ablation properties of silicone rubber composites

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008
Eung Soo Kim
Abstract Effects of incorporation of clay and carbon fiber (CF) into a high temperature vulcanized (HTV) silicone rubber, i.e., poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) containing vinyl groups, on its thermal stability and ablation properties were explored through thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and oxy-acetylene torch tests. Natural clay, sodium montmorillonite (MMT), was modified with a silane compound bearing tetra sulfide (TS) groups to prepare MMTS4: the TS groups may react with the vinyl groups of HTV and enhance the interfacial interaction between the clay and HTV. MMTS4 layers were better dispersed than MMT layers in the respective composites with exfoliated/intercalated coexisting morphology. According to TGA results and to the insulation index, the HTV/MMTS4 composite was more thermally stable than HTV/MMT. However, addition of CF to the composites lowered their thermal stability, because of the high thermal conductivity of CF. The time elapsed for the composite specimen, loaded with a constant weight, to break off after the oxy-acetylene flame bursts onto the surface of the specimen was employed as an index for an integrated assessment of the ablation properties, simultaneously taking into consideration the mechanical strength of the char and the rate of decomposition. The elapsed time increased in the order of: HTV < HTV/CF , HTV/MMTS4 < HTV/CF/MMTS4 , HTV/MMT < HTV/CF/MMT. This order was different from the increasing order of the thermal stability determined by TGA results and the insulation index. The decreased degree of crosslinking of the composites with MMTS4 compared with that of the composite with MMT may be unfavorable for the formation of a mechanically strong char and could lead to early rupture of the HTV/MMTS4 specimen. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


Effect of ATH content on electrical and aging properties of EVA and silicone rubber blends for high voltage insulator compound

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007
M. A. Pradeep
Abstract The effect of trihydrated alumina (Al2O3, 3H2O) (ATH) filler in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and silicone rubber blends was investigated by performing a series of laboratory experiments to simulate different natural aging conditions. Samples with varying ATH content in a 50-50 blend of EVA and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (silicone rubber, MQ) were tested to investigate the tracking resistance, resistance to UV radiation, corona, heat, and water immersion. Changes in surface resistivity, volume resistivity, and hydrophobic characteristics were evaluated for different compounds having ATH content. These exercises were mainly carried out to optimize the filler level. In immersed condition the water absorption increases with ATH content. The recovery of hydrophobicity, after aging by heat, is appreciable at higher ATH levels, than at lower ATH levels. The tracking and erosion resistance decrease as ATH content increases. When compounds containing different ATH content were subjected to corona treatment, the samples with higher ATH levels exhibited better results. All samples changed their color to a darker shade and there was an increase in the hydrophobicity, when subjected to UV radiation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3505,3516, 2007 [source]


Adhesion properties and thermal degradation of silicone rubber

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2007
Eung-Soo Kim
Abstract Silicone rubber is suitable for the thermal insulator of the rocket motors owing to its heat resisting properties as well as its excellent elasticity and restoring force. However, the adhesion properties of the silicone rubber should be improved greatly to be used as the thermal insulator because of its poor adhesiveness coming from the low surface tension. Functional groups were incorporated through copolymerization to the silicone rubber to induce chemical reaction with the functional groups in the propellant/liner components to enhance the adhesion properties. Peeling tests results disclosed that the incorporation of amine groups was the most efficient for the adhesiveness enhancement and that addition of carbon black improved the adhesiveness still more. Stability against thermal degradation of the silicone rubber was examined by measuring the activation energy through the thermogravimetric analysis. The results revealed that the compounding of the Cloisite® clays boosted up the thermal stability of the silicone rubber much more greatly than that of carbon black. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2782,2787, 2007 [source]


Histological biocompatibility of new, non-absorbable glaucoma deep sclerectomy implant

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007
Jakub J. Ka
Abstract We performed this study to compare the intrascleral biocompatibility of three materials: non-absorbable hydrogel contact lens polymer, non-absorbable silicone rubber, and absorbable cross-linked sodium hyaluronate. Intrascleral implantation of three different materials was performed in 13 healthy, pigmented rabbits. Implants of methacrylic hydrogel, silicone rubber, and cross-linked sodium hyaluronate were implanted in 10, 8, and 8 eyes, respectively. The animals were euthanized at 7, 30, 180, and 360 days post implantation. The eyes were enucleated and immediately fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Semithin sections were cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Light microscope analysis of the specimens was performed. The least severe inflammatory reaction was observed with cross-linked sodium hyaluronate implants. The number of inflammatory cells in proximity to methacrylic hydrogel and silicone implants at all periods of follow up was similar. The thickest fibrous capsule was observed with silicone implants (average, 28.38 ± 11.17 ,m). This area was thinner with methacrylic hydrogel implants (average, 14.90 ± 5.57 ,m) and was thinnest around sodium hyaluronate implants (average, 7.21 ± 2.33 ,m). For each type of implant, the wall on the conjunctival side of the fibrous capsule was significantly thicker than the wall on the choiroidal side. The space between the implant, scleral flap, and bed was filled soon after surgery with connective tissue rich in vessels. In our study, cross-linked sodium hyaluronate had the highest intrascleral biocompatibility. Although the inflammatory responses of the sclera to methacrylic hydrogel and silicone rubber were similar in nature, a thicker fibrous capsule was generated around silicone implants. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2006 [source]


New technologies for chemical genetics

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue S37 2001
Leslie A. Walling
Abstract Chemical genetics, in which small molecules are used in lieu of mutations to study biological processes, requires large and diverse chemical libraries to specifically perturb different biological pathways. Here we describe a suite of technologies that enable chemical libraries prepared by split-pool solid phase synthesis to be screened in a diverse range of chemical genetic assays. Compounds are synthesized on 500 micron high-capacity polystyrene beads, and arrayed into individual wells of 384-well plates using a hand-held bead arrayer. Compounds are cleaved from synthesis beads using a chemically-resistant ceramic dispensing system, producing individual stock solutions of single compounds. Nanoliter volumes of these solutions are then transferred into assay plates using an array of stainless steel pins mounted on a robotic arm. We have designed reusable 1536- and 6144-well assay plates made of silicone rubber that can be cast in the laboratory and filled by hand. This integrated technology platform enables hundreds of biological assays to be performed from the product of a single synthesis bead, enabling the results of different chemical genetic experiments to be directly compared. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 37: 7,12, 2001. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Reliable production of highly concentrated bioethanol by a conjunction of pervaporation using a silicone rubber sheet-covered silicalite membrane with adsorption process

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2004
Toru Ikegami
Abstract For the production of highly concentrated bioethanol by pervaporation using an ethanol-permselective silicalite membrane, pervaporation performance was investigated using a silicalite membrane entirely covered with a silicone rubber sheet to prevent direct contact with acidic compounds. By using a resistance model for membrane permeation, the separation factor of the covered silicalite membrane towards ethanol can be estimated from the individual pervaporation performances of the silicalite membrane and the silicone rubber sheet. No decrease in the ethanol concentration through the silicone rubber sheet-covered membrane was caused when ethanol solutions containing succinic acid were supplied. By directly passing the permeate-enriched ethanol vapor mixed with water vapor through a dehydration column packed with a molecular sieve of pore size 0.3 nm, highly concentrated bioethanol up to 97% (w/w), greater than the azeotropic point in the ethanol/water binary systems, can be obtained from 9% (w/w) fermentation broth. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Application of a microfluidic device for counting of bacteria

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
K.-I. Inatomi
Abstract Aims:, To develop a miniaturized analytical system for counting of bacteria. Methods and Results:,Escherichia coli cells were used throughout the experiments. The system consists of a microfluidic chamber, a fluorescence microscope with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and syringe pumps. The chamber was made of a silicone rubber (30 × 30 mm and 4 mm high). The E. coli cells were flowed from a micro-nozzle fabricated in the chamber and detected with the CCD camera. The individual cells were indicated as signal peaks on a computer. The cell counts showed a good correlation compared with that of a conventional plate counting method, and results of the simultaneous detection of live and dead cells were also presented. Conclusions, Significance and Impact of the Study:, The system having a small disposable nozzle has the advantages for low cost and safe medical or environmental analysis, when compared with a conventional flow cytometer. This is the first step of the development of a one-chip microbe analyzer. [source]


Thermally conductive silicone rubber reinforced with boron nitride particle

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 1 2007
Wen-Ying Zhou
Thermally conductive silicone rubber used as elastomeric thermal pad is successfully developed with boron nitride powder as conductive filler. The effects of content and particle size of filler on the thermal conductivity and mechanical property of silicone rubber are investigated. The results indicate that the use of hybrid boron nitride with three different particle sizes at a preferable weight ratio gives silicone rubber better thermal conductivity compared with each boron nitride with single particle size at the same total filler content. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric, etc., are used to characterize the morphology, curing behavior, thermal stability, and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the silicone rubber composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:23,28, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Effects of silicone rubber on properties of dielectric acrylate elastomer actuator

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 10 2006
G. Mathew
This article describes the effects of silicone rubber (SR) networks on the actuating behavior of acrylate rubber (AR)-based dielectric actuators. SR chains were diffused into a swollen AR networks in the presence of a co-solvent, and then the silicone chains were chemically crosslinked in an attempt to form an interpenetrating polymer network. The presence of SR in the AR network was confirmed by various instrumental analyses including attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The total crosslink density based on a swelling method and tensile properties increased with modification time. The Maxwell stresses were also determined using a pure-shear specimen. They increased in a parabolic fashion with the applied voltage, and depended on the type of compliant electrode and SR used. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1455,1460, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source]


Recycling of silicone rubber waste: Effect of ground silicone rubber vulcanizate powder on the properties of silicone rubber

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 2 2003
Arun Ghosh
The silicone rubber vulcanizate powder (SVP) obtained from silicone rubber by mechanical grinding exists in a highly aggregated state. The particle size distribution of SVP is broad, ranging from 2 µm to 110 µm with an average particle size of 33 µm. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy studies show that there is no chemical change on the rubber surface following mechanical grinding of the heat-aged (200°C/10 days) silicone rubber vulcanizate. Addition of SVP in silicone rubber increases the Mooney viscosity, Mooney scorch time, shear viscosity and activation energy for viscous flow. Measurement of curing characteristics reveals that incorporation of SVP into the virgin silicone rubber causes an increase in minimum torque, but marginal decrease in maximum torque and rate constant of curing. However, the activation energy of curing shows an increasing trend with increasing loading of SVP. Expectedly, incorporation of SVP does not alter the glass-rubber transition and cold crystallization temperatures of silicone rubber, as observed in the dynamic mechanical spectra. It is further observed that on incorporation of even a high loading of SVP (i.e., 60 phr), the tensile and tear strength of the silicone rubber are decreased by only about 20%, and modulus dropped by 15%, while the hardness, tension set and hysteresis loss undergo marginal changes and compression stress-relaxation is not significantly changed. Atomic Force Microscopy studies reveal that incorporation of SVP into silicone rubber does not cause significant changes in the surface morphology. [source]


Large Bore Catheters with Surface Treatments versus Untreated Catheters for Vascular Access in Hemodialysis

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 7 2004
Rolf Bambauer
Abstract:, Infection, thrombosis, and stenosis are among the most frequent complications associated with blood-contacting catheters. Complications resulting from infection remain a major problem for hemodialysis catheters, with significant numbers of catheters being removed due to catheter-related sepsis. Numerous strategies have been employed to reduce the occurrence of infection and im-prove long-term outcomes, with varying degrees of success. The most important is the careful and sterile handling by the attending staff of the catheters during hemodialysis treatments to minimize or stop a microbial colonization of the skin and the catheter. Another approach is coating the external surface of the catheters with substances which are antibacterial like silver and/or substances with low thrombogenicity like silicone. This investigation reviews results of animal and clinical experiments conducted to assess the efficacy and biocompatibility of silver and silicone coated dialysis catheters. It is concluded that silver coatings can reduce bacterial colonization and occurrence of infection associated with these devices. The catheters employing ion implantation of silicone rubber showed low thrombogenicity. Results of the studies indicate that ion beam based processes can be used to improve thrombus and infection resistance of blood contacting catheters. A new development is the microdomain structured surface (PUR-SMA coated catheters). Preliminary results with these catheters are very encouraging. [source]


Accurate control of oxygen level in cells during culture on silicone rubber membranes with application to stem cell differentiation

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2010
Daryl E. Powers
Abstract Oxygen level in mammalian cell culture is often controlled by placing culture vessels in humidified incubators with a defined gas phase partial pressure of oxygen (pO2gas). Because the cells are consuming oxygen supplied by diffusion, a difference between pO2gas and that experienced by the cells (pO2cell) arises, which is maximal when cells are cultured in vessels with little or no oxygen permeability. Here, we demonstrate theoretically that highly oxygen-permeable silicone rubber membranes can be used to control pO2cell during culture of cells in monolayers and aggregates much more accurately and can achieve more rapid transient response following a disturbance than on polystyrene and fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer membranes. Cell attachment on silicone rubber was achieved by physical adsorption of fibronectin or Matrigel. We use these membranes for the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to cardiomyocytes and compare the results with culture on polystyrene or on silicone rubber on top of polystyrene. The fraction of cells that are cardiomyocyte-like increases with decreasing pO2 only when using oxygen-permeable silicone membrane-based dishs, which contract on silicone rubber but not polystyrene. The high permeability of silicone rubber results in pO2cell being equal to pO2gas at the tissue-membrane interface. This, together with geometric information from histological sections, facilitates development of a model from which the pO2 distribution within the resulting aggregates is computed. Silicone rubber membranes have significant advantages over polystyrene in controlling pO2cell, and these results suggest they are a valuable tool for investigating pO2 effects in many applications, such as stem cell differentiation. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source]