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Barrier Properties (barrier + property)
Kinds of Barrier Properties Selected AbstractsEFFECT OF POLYGODIAL ON MECHANICAL, OPTICAL AND BARRIER PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN FILMSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 2 2010L. MORENO-OSORIO ABSTRACT The mechanical, optical and barrier properties of chitosan films containing polygodial (0.0, 2.7, 13.9, 25.0 mg/g of chitosan) were studied. Water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength, percentage elongation at break, CIELab color parameters, hue angle and chroma of films were determined. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was also performed to determine functional group interaction between the matrix and polygodial added. The use of polygodial resulted in stronger films without losing their extensibility and with low WVP. Films became darker with yellow-green coloration with increasing polygodial concentration. Polygodial added to chitosan films did not have any interaction with the amino groups of chitosan as measured by FTIR. Polygodial as a natural dialdehyde can effectively be applied to enhance some physical properties of edible films prepared with chitosan. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There has been an increased interest in the study of edible,biodegradable packaging films during the last decade, offering an alternative and partial solution to the problem of accumulation of solid waste composed of synthetic inert polymers, and chitosan films has been studied with this purpose. Furthermore, replacing synthetic additives by natural compounds such us polygodial can be a suitable manner to improve some physical properties of those chitosan films. [source] Effect of Pasteurization, High-Pressure Processing, and Retorting on the Barrier Properties of Nylon 6, Nylon 6/Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol, and Nylon 6/Nanocomposites FilmsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2009L. Halim ABSTRACT:, This study determined the impact of pasteurization, high-pressure processing (HPP), and retorting on the barrier properties of nylon 6 (N6), nylon 6/ethylene vinyl alcohol (N6/EVOH), and nylon 6/nanocomposite (N6/nano) materials. The pasteurized and high-pressure treated films were coextruded with low-density polyethylene (PE) as the heat-sealing layer. The retorted films were coextruded with polypropylene (PP). Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the samples were measured after pasteurization (75 °C for 30 min), HPP (800 MPa for 10 min at 70 °C), and retorting (121 °C for 30 min) treatments. These were compared with the thermal characteristics and morphologies of the samples using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that OTR of N6 and N6/Nano increased after HPP (16.9% and 39.7%), pasteurization (13.3% and 75.9%), and retorting (63.3% and 112.6%), respectively. For N6/EVOH, a decrease in OTR after HPP (53.9%) and pasteurization (44.5%) was observed. The HPP treatment increased the WVTR of N6 (21.0%), N6/EVOH (48.9%), and N6/Nano (21.2%). The WVTR of N6, N6/EVOH, and N6/Nano increased by 96.7%, 43.8%, and 40.7%, respectively, after pasteurization. The DSC analyses showed that the enthalpy and percent crystallinity increased (2.3% to 6.5%) in the N6/Nano when compared with the N6 material after each treatment. Retorting caused a decrease (3.5%) in the percent crystallinity of the polypropylene material. HPP did not cause major morphological changes to the samples. Results of the barrier studies were influenced by the crystallinity changes in the materials as seen in the XRD diffractograms. [source] Oxygen Barrier Properties of Whey Protein Isolate Coatings on Polypropylene FilmsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003S.-I. Hong ABSTRACT Oxygen permeation characteristics of whey protein isolate (WPI) coatings on polypropylene (PP) films were investigated to examine the feasibility of WPI coating as a novel biopolymer oxygen barrier for food packaging applications. Heat-denatured aqueous solutions of WPI with several plasticizers including glycerol, sorbitol, sucrose, propylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol were applied on the surfaces of PP films previously treated with corona discharge. Among plasticizers used, sucrose conferred the best oxygen barrier property to the WPI-coated films. Oxygen permeability (OP) of the resulting WPI-coated films increased significantly with temperature, showing very good agreement with the Arrhenius model. OP of the coated films also increased exponentially with relative humidity. [source] Lipid Addition to Improve Barrier Properties of Edible Starch-based Films and CoatingsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2000M.A. García ABSTRACT: Effects of formulation (lipid presence, type of starch, and plasticizer) on microstructure, water vapor (WVP) and gas (GP) permeabilities of films and coatings were analyzed. Plasticizer was necessary to maintain film and coating integrity and to avoid pores and cracks. Films made from high amylose starch showed lower WVP and GP than regular corn starch films; permeabilities of films with sorbitol (20 g/L) were lower than those with glycerol. The addition of 2g/L sunflower oil to the formulations decreased WVP of starch-based films; X-ray diffraction and Differential Scanning Calorimetry experiments demonstrated that films with plasticizer and lipid showed lower crystalline-amorphous ratio compared to films without additives. Microstructural observations helped explain the decrease of the film permeabilities during storage. [source] Inorganic Layers on Polymeric Films , Influence of Defects and Morphology on Barrier PropertiesCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 5 2003M. Hanika Abstract Flexible polymeric films are not only widely used in conventional packaging as substitute for glass and aluminum foil packaging but are also proposed as encapsulation for novel products, like flexible solar cells or organic light-emitting devices. The two essential properties of the polymeric packaging are flexibility and good permeation barrier properties against gases and vapors. This article deals with vacuum web coating as a common way of increasing barrier properties of polymeric films and the problems related to this procedure. Defects caused by particles and surface imperfections are found to dominate the permeation rate for such coated polymeric films. Atomic force microscopy, electron and also optical microscopy was used for analysis of the coating layer. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed for modeling of the influence of defect size, spacing and film thickness. Results of numerical modeling and of many practical experiments show that the permeability is almost independent of the substrate film thickness when a critical thickness is exceeded. In most cases the defects can be treated as independent of each other. The gas permeability of vacuum web-coated polymeric films can be quantitatively predicted by a simple formula. For gases, like oxygen, it is shown that a statistic analysis of the defect sizes by optical microscopy is sufficient. For water vapor transmission, however, the structure of the coating layer itself has also to be taken into account. [source] Effect of the organoclay preparation on the extent of intercalation/exfoliation and barrier properties of polyethylene/PA6/montmorillonite nanocompositesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010Eleonora Erdmann Abstract Nanocomposites of HDPE matrix and 3 wt % organoclay/PA6 discontinuous phase were prepared in a mixer chamber. These nanocomposites of organoclay, PA6, and HDPE were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Barrier properties were determined by cyclohexane pervaporation and solubility. The results show that the degree of exfoliation and/or intercalation and the barrier properties depend on a combination of the proper chemical treatment and optimized processing in these polyethylene-organoclays nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Protective organic-inorganic hybrid coatings on mild steel derived from Ti(OC4H9)4 -modified precursorsMATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 9 2004V. Nguyen Abstract Titania-poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) hybrids prepared by a sol-gel method were deposited by dip coating on mild steel. Transparent and defect free coatings with titania content ranging between 0 and 12.7 wt.% have been prepared. Barrier properties and dry adherence have been tested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the vertical pull-off test, respectively. The pull-off test results suggest that the titanium alkoxide precursor must intercede on the substrate/coating interphase during film formation to create specific adhesive bondings with the substrate. In this paper, two capacitance models are used to estimate the water uptake, one based on a uniform and one on a heterogeneous distribution of sorbed water. Water uptake determined from these two models is compared to the gravimetry results. It is suggested that a reliable determination of the actual water uptake in coatings from capacitance measurements require an extensive experimental work. The variations in the state of sorbed water with the specimen type or immersion time, the leaching of organics during immersion or the slow diffusion of ions are fundamental factors that must be considered when comparing the water uptake determined from gravimetry and capacitance models. [source] Barrier properties of blends based on liquid crystalline polymers and polyethylenePOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 9 2000G. Flodberg Blends of an extrusion-grade polyethylene and two different liquid crystalline polymers of Vectra type were prepared by melt mixing using poly(ethylene-comethacrylic acid) as compatibilizer. Oxygen and water vapor permeability, transparency and welding strength of compression molded and film blown specimens were studied. The compression molded blends showed gas permeabilities conforming to the Maxwell equation assuming low permeability liquid crystalline polymer spheres in a high permeability polyethylene matrix. One of the liquid crystalline polymers with suitable rheological properties formed a more continuous phase in the film blown blends and a substantial decrease in oxygen and water vapor permeability was observed in these blends. The compression molded blends with 50% liquid crystalline polymer and some of blow molded blends showed very high gas permeabilities. It is believed that voids forming continuous paths through the structure were present in these samples. The blends showed significantly higher opacity than pure polyethylene. [source] Long circulating nanoparticles of etoposide using PLGA-MPEG and PLGA-pluronic block copolymers: characterization, drug-release, blood-clearance, and biodistribution studiesDRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 4 2010Khushwant S. Yadav Abstract The anti-leukemic drug, etoposide (ETO), has variable oral bioavailability ranging from 24,74% with a short terminal half-life of 1.5,h i.v. necessitating continuous infusion for 24,34,h for the treatment of leukemia. In the present study, etoposide-loaded PLGA-based surface-modified nanoparticles (NPs) with long circulation were designed as an alternative to continuous i.v. administration. PLGA-mPEG and PLGA-PLURONIC copolymers were synthesised and used to prepared ETO-loaded NPs by high-pressure homogenization. The mean particle size of ETO-loaded PLGA-MPEG nanoparticles was 94.02±3.4,nm, with an Entrapment Efficiency (EE) of 71.2% and zeta potential value of ,6.9±1.3,mV. ETO-loaded PLGA-pluronic nanoparticles had a mean particle size of 148.0±2.1,nm, an EE of 73.12±2.7%, and zeta potential value of ,21.5±1.6,mV. In vitro release of the pure drug was complete within 4,h, but was sustained up to 7 days from PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles and for 5 days from PLGA-pluronic nanoparticles. Release was first order and followed non-Fickian diffusion kinetics in both instances. ETO and ETO-loaded PLGA nanoparticles labeled with 99mTc were used in blood clearance studies in rats where the two coated NPs, 99mTc- ETO-PLGA-PLU NP and 99mTc- ETO-PLGA-mPEG NP, were found to be available in higher concentrations in the circulation as compared to the pure drug. Biodistribution studies in mice showed that ETO-loaded PLGA-MPEG NP and PLGA-PLURONIC NP had reduced uptake by the RES due to their steric barrier properties and were present in the circulation for a longer time. Moreover, the NPs had greater uptake in bone and brain where concentration of the free drug, ETO, was negligible. Drug delivered from these NPs could result in a single i.v. injection that would release the drug for a number of days, which would be potentially beneficial and in better control of leukemia therapy. Drug Dev Res 71: 228,239, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Atrazine increases the sodium absorption in frog (Rana esculenta) skinENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006Giuseppe Cassano Abstract The presence of atrazine in agricultural sites has been linked to the decline in amphibian populations. The efforts of the scientific community generally are directed toward investigating the long-term effect of atrazine on complex functions (reproduction or respiration), but in the present study, we investigated the short-term effect on the short-circuit current (ISC), a quantitative measure of the ion transport operated by frog (Rana esculenta) skin. Treatment with 5 ,M atrazine (1.08 mg/L) does not affect the transepithelial outfluxes of [14C]mannitol or [14C]urea; therefore, atrazine does not damage the barrier properties of frog skin. Atrazine causes a dose-dependent increase in the short-circuit current, with a minimum of 4.64 ± 0.76 ,A/cm2 (11.05% ± 1.22%) and a maximum of 12.7 ± 0.7 ,A/cm2 (35% ± 2.4%) measured at 10 nM and 5 ,M, respectively. An increase in ISC also is caused by 5 ,M ametryne, prometryn, simazine, terbuthylazine, or terbutryn (other atrazine derivatives). In particular, atrazine increases the transepithelial 22Na+ influx without affecting the outflux. Finally, stimulation of ISC by atrazine is suppressed by SQ 22536, H89, U73122, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, and W7 (blockers of adenylate cyclase, protein kinase A, phospholipase C, intracellular Ca2+ increase, and calmodulin, respectively), whereas indomethacin and calphostin C (inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and protein kinase C, respectively) have no effect. [source] Moisture barrier and physical properties of acetylated derivatives with increasing acetylation degreeEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Claire Bourlieu Abstract Four acetostearin products with increasing acetylation degree were synthesized by chemical interesterification followed by fractionation/blending stages. Their physical properties and functional barrier properties were studied and compared to the properties of technical tristearin. Increasing acetylation degree (AD) modified the triacylglycerols crystal habits and probably led to an increase in acyl chain fluidity, which induced, at macroscopic levels, a decrease in solid fat content (SFC), in melting point, in surface and bulk material hydrophobicity, and an increased moisture effective diffusivity. Water vapor permeability (WVP) coefficients of the materials were partially influenced by the AD factor, but also by the development of macroscopic cracks in lipids presenting high SFC. Acetylated stearin up to 47% (acetyl mol/mol of esterified chain) presented the lowest WVP at 20,°C resulting from an adequate balance between hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the material. [source] The use of fire-retardant intumescent mats for fire and heat protection of glass fibre-reinforced polyester composites: Thermal barrier propertiesFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 1 2010Everson Kandare Abstract This study investigates the use of integral, hybrid intumescent thermal barriers (mats) to provide surface protection to the core fibre-reinforced polyester composite structural integrity when exposed to a fire or heat source. Glass fibre-reinforced composites protected by intumescent mats/fabrics containing silicate fibres, expandable graphite and in some cases borosilicate glass bounded together by an organic matrix have been evaluated for fire performance under a constant heat flux of 50kW/m2. The effect of insulative fabric thickness as well as chemical composition on the flammability of the resultant hybrid composites is evaluated. Glass fibre-reinforced polyester (GRP) composites without any surface protection have a relatively higher time-to-ignition and peak heat release rate values when compared with core composites protected by insulative fabrics. Thermograms representing the variation of temperature on the reverse side of the hybrid composites with time when exposed to a constant heat flux show that the inclusion of intumescent surface barriers results in retarded temperature increments within the core GRP composites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Induction of blood-brain barrier properties in cultured brain capillary endothelial cells: Comparison between primary glial cells and C6 cell lineGLIA, Issue 3 2005Monica Boveri Abstract The communication between glial cells and brain capillary endothelial cells is crucial for a well-differentiated blood-brain barrier (BBB). It has been suggested that in vitro primary glial cells (GCs) be replaced by the glial C6 cell line to standardise the model further. This study compares directly the structural and functional differentiation of bovine brain capillary endothelial cells (BBCECs) induced by co-culture with rat primary GCs or C6 cells, for the first time. Trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements showed that under no condition were C6 cells able to reproduce TEER values as high as in the presence of GCs. At the same time, permeability of the BBCECs to both radioactive sucrose and FITC-inulin was 2.5-fold higher when cells were co-cultured with C6 than with GCs. Furthermore, immunocytochemistry studies showed different cell morphology and less developed tight junction pattern of BBCECs co-cultured with C6 toward GCs. Additionally, studies on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) showed much lower P-gp presence and activity in BBCECs co-cultured with C6 than GCs. Both VEGF mRNA expression and protein content were dramatically increased when compared with GCs, suggesting that VEGF could be one of the factors responsible for higher permeability of BBB. Our results clearly indicate that, in the presence of the glial C6 cell line, BBCECs did not differentiate as well as in the co-culture with primary GCs at both structural and functional levels. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cover Picture: Anisotropy and Dynamic Ranges in Effective Properties of Sheared Nematic Polymer Nanocomposites (Adv. Funct.ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 12 2005Mater. Abstract Forest and co-workers report on p.,2029 that nematic polymer nanocomposite (NPNC) films can be processed in steady shear flows, which generate complex orientational distributions of the nanorod inclusions. Distribution functions for a benchmark NPNC (11,vol.-% of 1,nm,×,200,nm rods) are computed for a range of shear rates, yielding a bifurcation diagram with steady states at very low (logrolling) and high (flow-aligning) shear rates, and limit cycles (tumbling, wagging, kayaking) at intermediate shear rates. The orientational distributions dictate the effective conductivity tensor of the NPNC film, which is computed for all distribution functions, and extract the maximum principal conductivity enhancement (Emax, averaged in time for periodic distributions) relative to the matrix. The result is a "property bifurcation diagram" for NPNC films, which predicts an optimal shear rate that maximizes Emax. Nematic, or liquid-crystalline, polymer nanocomposites (NPNCs) are composed of large aspect ratio, rod-like or platelet, rigid macromolecules in a matrix or solvent, which itself may be aqueous or polymeric. NPNCs are engineered for high-performance material applications, ranging across mechanical, electrical, piezoelectric, thermal, and barrier properties. The rods or platelets possess enormous property contrasts relative to the solvent, yet the composite properties are strongly affected by the orientational distribution of the nanophase. Nematic polymer film processing flows are shear-dominated, for which orientational distributions are well known to be highly sensitive to shear rate and volume fraction of the nematogens, with unsteady response being the most expected outcome at typical low shear rates and volume fractions. The focus of this article is a determination of the ranges of anisotropy and dynamic fluctuations in effective properties arising from orientational probability distribution functions generated by steady shear of NPNC monodomains. We combine numerical databases for sheared monodomain distributions[1,2] of thin rod or platelet dispersions together with homogenization theory for low-volume-fraction spheroidal inclusions[3] to calculate effective conductivity tensors of steady and oscillatory sheared mesophases. We then extract maximum scalar conductivity enhancement and anisotropy for each type of sheared monodomain (flow-aligned, tumbling, kayaking, and chaotic). [source] Bioaccessibility studies of ferro-chromium alloy particles for a simulated inhalation scenario: A comparative study with the pure metals and stainless steelINTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2010Klara Midander Abstract The European product safety legislation, REACH, requires that companies that manufacture, import, or use chemicals demonstrate safe use and high level of protection of their products placed on the market from a human health and environmental perspective. This process involves detailed assessment of potential hazards for various toxicity endpoints induced by the use of chemicals with a minimum use of animal testing. Such an assessment requires thorough understanding of relevant exposure scenarios including material characteristics and intrinsic properties and how, for instance, physical and chemical properties change from the manufacturing phase, throughout use, to final disposal. Temporary or permanent adverse health effects induced by particles depend either on their shape or physical characteristics, and/or on chemical interactions with the particle surface upon human exposure. Potential adverse effects caused by the exposure of metal particles through the gastrointestinal system, the pulmonary system, or the skin, and their subsequent potential for particle dissolution and metal release in contact with biological media, show significant gaps of knowledge. In vitro bioaccessibility testing at conditions of relevance for different exposure scenarios, combined with the generation of a detailed understanding of intrinsic material properties and surface characteristics, are in this context a useful approach to address aspects of relevance for accurate risk and hazard assessment of chemicals, including metals and alloys and to avoid the use of in vivo testing. Alloys are essential engineering materials in all kinds of applications in society, but their potential adverse effects on human health and the environment are very seldom assessed. Alloys are treated in REACH as mixtures of their constituent elements, an approach highly inappropriate because intrinsic properties of alloys generally are totally different compared with their pure metal components. A large research effort was therefore conducted to generate quantitative bioaccessibility data for particles of ferro-chromium alloys compared with particles of the pure metals and stainless steel exposed at in vitro conditions in synthetic biological media of relevance for particle inhalation and ingestion. All results are presented combining bioaccessibility data with aspects of particle characteristics, surface composition, and barrier properties of surface oxides. Iron and chromium were the main elements released from ferro-chromium alloys upon exposure in synthetic biological media. Both elements revealed time-dependent release processes. One week exposures resulted in very small released particle fractions being less than 0.3% of the particle mass at acidic conditions and less than 0.001% in near pH-neutral media. The extent of Fe released from ferro-chromium alloy particles was significantly lower compared with particles of pure Fe, whereas Cr was released to a very low and similar extent as from particles of pure Cr and stainless steel. Low release rates are a result of a surface oxide with passive properties predominantly composed of chromium(III)-rich oxides and silica and, to a lesser extent, of iron(II,III)oxides. Neither the relative bulk alloy composition nor the surface composition can be used to predict or assess the extent of metals released in different synthetic biological media. Ferro-chromium alloys cannot be assessed from the behavior of their pure metal constituents. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:441,455. © 2009 SETAC [source] Is the axilla a distinct skin phenotype?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007A. Watkinson The axillary skin is cosmetically important with millions of consumers daily applying antiperspirant/deodorant products. Despite this, we know virtually nothing about axillary skin or how antiperspirant use impacts upon it. To characterize axillary stratum corneum and determine whether this is a unique skin type, we have evaluated a range of skin parameters, comparing these with the volar forearm. Trans-epidermal water loss and corneosurfametry revealed a reduced barrier function in the axilla. However, application of antiperspirant had no effect upon these barrier properties. High performance thin layer chromatography analysis of stratum corneum lipids demonstrated statistically elevated levels of fatty acids, ceramide and particularly cholesterol in the axilla. This modification of barrier lipid ratios appeared to result in a more ordered lipid lamellae phase behaviour, as determined by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, with transition phase changes occurring at higher temperatures. Morphological differences were also seen in the cells of the axillary stratum corneum. Microscopic evaluation of axillary-cornified envelopes revealed them to be smaller, indicative of a shorter stratum corneum turnover. However, there appeared to be no significant difference corneocyte maturation. ,Skin dryness' squamometry measurements indicated that the axillary stratum corneum retained desquamated material on its surface more than on the forearm. This correlated with decreased levels of the desquamatory stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme in the surface layers of the skin. These results indicate that the axilla has a distinct phenotype. Paper presented at the 22nd IFSCC Congress 2002, Edinburgh, Scotland [source] Reduced barrier efficiency in axillary stratum corneumINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002A. Watkinson Synopsis The skin of the axilla is cosmetically important with millions of consumers daily applying antiperspirant/deodorant products. Despite this, we know virtually nothing about axillary skin or how antiperspirant (AP) use impacts upon it. To characterize the axillary stratum corneum and determine whether this is a unique skin type, we have looked at stratum corneum composition and function, particularly its barrier properties, and compared it with other body sites. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and corneosurfametry (CSM) revealed a reduced barrier function in the axilla. HPTLC analysis of the stratum corneum lipids demonstrated statistically elevated levels of fatty acids, ceramides, and particularly cholesterol in the axilla. Both ceramide and cholesterol did not appear to change with depth, indicating that they were predominantly of stratum corneum origin. On the other hand, at least some of the fatty acid had a sebaceous origin. We hypothesized that the reduced barrier function might be owing to the changes in the crucial ceramide : cholesterol ratio. To address this, we used a combination of attenuated total reflectance,Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR,FTIR) with cyanoacrylate sampling. These results demonstrated more ordered lipid-lamellae phase behaviour in the axilla, suggesting that the elevated cholesterol might form crystal microdomains within the lipid lamellae, allowing an increase in water flux. Since an exaggerated application of antiperspirant had no effect upon the axilla barrier properties, it is concluded that this region of skin physiologically has a reduced barrier function. Résumé La peau des aisselles est importante du point de vue cosmétique, avec des millions de consommateurs appliquant quotidiennement des produits antitranspirants/déodorants. Malgré cela, nous ne connaissons pratiquement rien de la peau des aisselles ou de l'impact que l'utilization d'antitranspirants peut avoir sur celle-ci. Afin de caractériser la stratum corneum des aisselles et de déterminer si elle constitue un type de peau spécifique, nous avons examiné la composition et la fonction de la stratum corneum, en particulier ses propriétés de barrière, comparées à d'autres zones du corps. La perte d'eau trans -épidermique (trans -epidermal water loss TEWL) et la cornéosurfamétrie (CSM) ont révélé une fonction barrière réduite dans les aisselles. L'analyse HPTLC des lipides de la stratum corneum a démontré la présence de niveaux statistiquement plus élevés d'acides gras, de céramides et en particulier de cholestérol dans la peau axillaire. Ni les céramides ni le cholestérol n'ont semblé changer en fonction de la profondeur, indiquant qu'ils sont probablement originaires du stratum corneum. Cependant, au moins une partie des acides gras avaient une origine sébacée. Notre hypothèse est qu'une réduction de la fonction de barrière de la stratum corneum axillaire est peut-être due à des changements dans le rapport crucial céramides : cholestérol. Pour examiner cette hypothèse, nous avons utilisé la spectroscopie infrarouge par transformée de Fourier ATR[l'attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR,FTIR)] combinée à l'échantillonnage au cyanoacrylate. Ces résultats ont dévoilé un comportement de phase de lamelles lipidiques plus ordonnée dans les aisselles, suggérant que le cholestérol puisse former des microdomaines cristallins à l'intérieur des lamelles lipidiques, ce qui permettrait ainsi une augmentation du flux d'eau. Puisque l'application exagérée d'anti-transpirant n'a pas eu d'effet sur les propriétés de barrière des aisselles, nous concluons que cette région de la peau a une fonction de barrière physiologique réduite. [source] Shelf life extension of durum semolina-based fresh pastaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Cristina Costa Summary In this work, the combined effects of chitosan, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and packaging barrier properties on shelf life of fresh pasta is presented. In particular, all pasta samples were packaged under active and passive MAP in two different polymeric films with high and low barrier properties. In order to assess the influence of the variables described beforehand on the shelf life of pasta, the sensorial and microbiological quality has been monitored during storage. Results confirmed the antimicrobial properties of chitosan. Moreover, the findings recorded in this study suggest that the shelf life of fresh pasta is limited by the sensorial characteristics. Statistically significant differences between the shelf life of pasta packaged in low barrier and high barrier films were found. The best result was obtained for samples packaged in high barrier film, due to the ability of the packaging to maintain the gas headspace conditions during the storage. [source] Nanofilled polyethersulfone as matrix for continuous glass fibers composites: Mechanical properties and solvent resistance,ADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2010M. Aurilia Abstract Polyethersulfone (PES) is high performance thermoplastic polymer; however, its applications are limited by the poor resistance to several classes of solvents. Fumed silica and expanded graphite nanoparticles were used to prepare nanofilled PES by a melt-compounding technique with the view to improve the barrier properties. Solvent uptake at equilibrium and solvents resistance of nanofilled PES compounds were investigated by three different methodologies: (1) weight increase by methylene chloride absorption in a vapor-saturated atmosphere, (2) solvent uptake of acetone at equilibrium, and (3) decay of storage modulus induced by acetone diffusion. The storage modulus decay was measured by means of dynamic mechanical analysis on samples immersed in an acetone bath. The collected data were fitted to an ad hoc model to calculate the diffusion coefficient. The produced nanofilled PES showed a significant improvement in barrier properties and considerable reduction in acetone uptake at equilibrium, in comparison with the neat PES. Nanofilled PES compounds were also used to produce continuous glass fiber composites by the film-stacking manufacturing technique. The composites exhibited, by and large, improvements in flexural and shear strength. Their solvent resistance was evaluated by measuring the variation of mechanical properties after exposure to acetone for 1 and 5 days. These tests showed that the composites produced with the nanocomposite matrix did not exhibit higher solvent resistance than those prepared with neat PES, probably because of the deterioration of the fiber/nanocomposite-matrix interfacial bond in the wet state. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 29:146,160, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary. DOI 10.1002/adv.20187 [source] Blood,brain barrier breakdown in septic encephalopathy and brain tumours*JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2002D. C. DaviesArticle first published online: 28 JUN 200 Abstract Septic encephalopathy is associated with breakdown of the blood,brain barrier and cerebral oedema. These features are also common properties of brain tumours. Perimicrovessel oedema, disruption of associated astrocyte end feet and neuronal injury occur in a porcine model of acute septic encephalopathy. The adrenergic system has been implicated in the inflammatory response to sepsis and may play a role in controlling blood,brain barrier permeability, since the ,2 -adrenoceptor agonist dopexamine inhibits perimicrovessel oedema formation whereas the ,1 -adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine provokes it. Electron microscopy revealed tight junction opening in high-grade astrocytoma microvessels. Expression of the tight junction protein occludin is reduced in these microvessels and this reduction is inversely correlated with the degree of cerebral oedema. Normal astrocytes secrete factors that induce barrier properties in endothelial cells, whereas high-grade astrocytomas secrete vascular endothelial growth factor, which stimulates angiogenesis, down regulates occludin and increases endothelial cell permeability. The water channel protein aquaporin-4 is normally expressed in astrocyte foot processes around cerebral microvessels. Its expression is massively up-regulated in high-grade astrocytoma and around metastatic adenocarcinoma. There is a significant correlation between aquaporin-4 expression and the degree of cerebral oedema, but it is not clear whether increased aquaporin-4 expression enhances oedema formation or clearance. These results suggest that the pathophysiology of brain oedema is multifactorial, but that there may be common processes operating regardless of the aetiology. [source] Chemical modification of polypropylene with diisocyanates for improved gas barrier and mechanical propertiesADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009R. S. Jagadish Abstract In this investigation, modification of polypropylene (PP) with an objective to obtain packaging film with improved gas barrier properties has been studied. The chemical reaction of PP resin with hexamethylene diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate was monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wherein the appearance of new peaks at 3333 cm,1 for NH stretching, 1620,1641 cm,1 for (CO)NH stretching and 1552,1578 cm,1 corresponding to NH bending in an amide moiety was observed for both the modified PP films. Films of excellent clarity and uniform thickness were obtained by the extrusion of cross-linked polypropylene. The barrier, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of the modified PP films were studied. The results clearly indicated significant changes in gas barrier and mechanical properties. Food compatibility of the films was evaluated by overall migration in to different food simulants. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 28:233,245, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20168 [source] Rheological, morphological, mechanical, and barrier properties of PP/EVOH blendsADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Jong Ho Yeo Using the biaxially oriented film process, polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) blends with an improved barrier property could be obtained by generating a laminar structure of the dispersed phase in the matrix phase. This laminar morphology, induced by biaxial orientation, was found to result in a significant increase in the oxygen barrier property of PP/EVOH (85/15) blends by about 10 times relative to the pure PP. In this study, compatibility in the PP/EVOH blend system was evaluated by investigating the influence of compatibilizer on the rheological, morphological, and mechanical properties of the blends. In addition, the effects of compatibilizer content, draw ratio, and draw temperature on the oxygen permeability and morphology of biaxially drawn blend films were also studied. It was revealed that an optimum amount of compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted PP, should be used to improve the barrier property of the PP/EVOH blends with a well-developed laminar structure. The draw ratio and draw temperature had a significant influence on the permeability of the blends. The blend films exhibited a more pronounced laminar structure when the blends were stretched biaxially under processing conditions of higher draw ratio and draw temperature, resulting in higher barrier properties. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 20: 191,201, 2001 [source] Effect of the organoclay preparation on the extent of intercalation/exfoliation and barrier properties of polyethylene/PA6/montmorillonite nanocompositesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2010Eleonora Erdmann Abstract Nanocomposites of HDPE matrix and 3 wt % organoclay/PA6 discontinuous phase were prepared in a mixer chamber. These nanocomposites of organoclay, PA6, and HDPE were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Barrier properties were determined by cyclohexane pervaporation and solubility. The results show that the degree of exfoliation and/or intercalation and the barrier properties depend on a combination of the proper chemical treatment and optimized processing in these polyethylene-organoclays nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Bio-hybrid nanocomposite coatings from sonicated chitosan and nanoclayJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Jari Vartiainen Abstract Nanocomposite films and coatings with improved properties were produced from ultrasonic dispersed chitosan and hydrophilic bentonite nanoclay. Bio-hybrid coatings were applied onto argon,plasma-activated LDPE coated paper. The intercalation of chitosan in the silicate layers was confirmed by the decrease of diffraction angles as the chitosan/nanoclay ratio increased. Nanocomposite films and multilayer coatings had improved barrier properties against oxygen, water vapor, grease, and UV-light transmission. Oxygen transmission was significantly reduced under all humidity conditions. In dry conditions, over 99% reduction and at 80% relative humidity almost 75% reduction in oxygen transmission rates was obtained. Hydrophilic chitosan was lacking the capability of preventing water vapor transmission, thus total barrier effect of nanoclay containing films was not more than 15% as compared with pure chitosan. Because to very thin coatings (,1 ,m), nanoclay containing chitosan did not have antimicrobial activity against test strains. All coating raw materials were "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) and the calculated total migration was in all cases ,6 mg/dm2, thus the coatings met the requirements set by the packaging legislation. Processing of the developed bio-hybrid nanocomposite coated materials was safe as the amounts of released particles under rubbing conditions were comparable with the particle concentrations in a normal office environment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Formation of highly oriented biodegradable polybutylene succinate adipate nanocomposites: Effects of cation structures on morphology, free volume, and propertiesJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009Katherine M. Dean Abstract Many biodegradable polymer materials have not been found to be suitable replacements for more traditional non-biodegradable polymers owing to their insufficient gas and vapor barrier properties. The use of a series of novel organically modified synthetic fluorohectorites (FHTs) has been explored to produce biodegradable polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA)-clay nanocomposites with improved barrier. Highly oriented nanoclay structures (clearly showing a tortuous path required to reduce gas and vapor transmission) were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), resulting in a significant reduction in oxygen permeability (up to a 53% decrease). In particular, these oriented structures were observed in the FHTs modified with di poly(oxyethylene) alkyl methyl ammonium and the longer chain dimethyl dialkyl ammonium. Orientation and dispersion were found to be a result of chemical functionality, chain length, and unique aspect ratios of these FHTs. It was concluded that this reduction in permeability was predominantly due to the tortuous path created by oriented platelets and not from any nucleating effects the platelets may have had. Interestingly, the FHTs were shown to disrupt crystallinity and no change in free volume (as measured using positron annihilation life-time spectroscopy) was observed. The excellent clay dispersion and orientation also led to significant increases in other properties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source] Blending of low-density polyethylene with vanillin for improved barrier and aroma-releasing properties in food packagingJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009R. S. Jagadish Abstract Modification of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with vanillin to obtain flavored packaging film with improved gas barrier and flavor-releasing properties has been studied. The modification of LDPE with vanillin was monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wherein the appearance of new peaks at 1704.7, 1673.6, and 1597.2 cm,1 indicates the incorporation of vanillin into LDPE matrix. Films of uniform thickness were obtained by the extrusion of modified LDPE. Modified LDPE was found to have significantly higher gas barrier properties and grease resistance. Sensory quality of food products viz, doodhpeda (milk-based solid soft sweet), biscuit, and skimmed milk powder packed in LDPE-vanillin film showed that the doodhpeda sample had clearly perceptible vanilla aroma, whereas biscuit had marginal aroma and skimmed milk powder did not have noticeable aroma. When viewed in the light of imparting desirable vanilla aroma, results of the study indicated that LDPE-vanillin film has better prospects as a packaging material for solid sweets with considerable fat content when stored under ambient conditions. The release of vanilla aroma was further confirmed by gas chromatography,mass spectrometery analysis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source] Properties of amylopectin/montmorillonite composite films containing a coupling agentJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007D. Nordqvist Abstract The addition of clay to polymers has the combined effects of enhancing both the strength/stiffness and the barrier properties. This investigation presents a novel approach to further enhance the strength/stiffness of cast plasticized amylopectin (AP)/Na+ -montmorillonite clay films using a water-soluble coupling agent, poly[(isobutylene- alt -maleic acid, ammonium salt)- co -(isobutylene- alt -maleic anhydride)], between the filler and the matrix. The addition of clay increased the strength and stiffness of the film and the addition of 0.4 parts of a coupling agent per 1 part clay further increased these properties. The trends were the same after each treatment, and there were always significant differences in stiffness and strength between the films without clay and with clay with 0.4 parts of the coupling agent. The increase in stiffness/strength in the presence of a small amount of the coupling agent suggested that it had a bridging effect, presumably through strong secondary bonds to the clay and to the matrix. Infrared spectroscopy and moisture swelling experiments indicated that ester bonds were formed between the coupling agent and AP. X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the clay-particle/polymer structure was qualitatively independent of the presence of the coupling agent showing a mixture of intercalated clay stacks and exfoliated platelets. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 4160,4167, 2007 [source] EFFECT OF POLYGODIAL ON MECHANICAL, OPTICAL AND BARRIER PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN FILMSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 2 2010L. MORENO-OSORIO ABSTRACT The mechanical, optical and barrier properties of chitosan films containing polygodial (0.0, 2.7, 13.9, 25.0 mg/g of chitosan) were studied. Water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength, percentage elongation at break, CIELab color parameters, hue angle and chroma of films were determined. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was also performed to determine functional group interaction between the matrix and polygodial added. The use of polygodial resulted in stronger films without losing their extensibility and with low WVP. Films became darker with yellow-green coloration with increasing polygodial concentration. Polygodial added to chitosan films did not have any interaction with the amino groups of chitosan as measured by FTIR. Polygodial as a natural dialdehyde can effectively be applied to enhance some physical properties of edible films prepared with chitosan. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS There has been an increased interest in the study of edible,biodegradable packaging films during the last decade, offering an alternative and partial solution to the problem of accumulation of solid waste composed of synthetic inert polymers, and chitosan films has been studied with this purpose. Furthermore, replacing synthetic additives by natural compounds such us polygodial can be a suitable manner to improve some physical properties of those chitosan films. [source] Controlling Light Oxidation Flavor in Milk by Blocking Riboflavin Excitation Wavelengths by InterferenceJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 9 2009J.B. Webster ABSTRACT:, Milk packaged in glass bottles overwrapped with iridescent films (treatments blocked either a single visible riboflavin [Rb] excitation wavelength or all visible Rb excitation wavelengths; all treatments blocked UV Rb excitation wavelengths) was exposed to fluorescent lighting at 4 °C for up to 21 d and evaluated for light-oxidized flavor. Controls consisted of bottles with no overwrap (light-exposed treatment; represents the light barrier properties of the glass packaging) and bottles overwrapped with aluminum foil (light-protected treatment). A balanced incomplete block multi-sample difference test, using a ranking system and a trained panel, was used for evaluation of light oxidation flavor intensity. Volatiles were evaluated by gas chromatography and Rb degradation was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Packaging overwraps limited production of light oxidation flavor over time but not to the same degree as the complete light block. Blocking all visible and UV Rb excitation wavelengths reduced light oxidation flavor better than blocking only a single visible excitation wavelength plus all UV excitation wavelengths. Rb degraded over time in all treatments except the light-protected control treatment and only minor differences in the amount of degradation among treatments was observed. Hexanal production was significantly higher in the light-exposed control treatment compared to the light-protected control treatment from day 7; it was only sporadically significantly higher in the 570 nm and 400 nm block treatments. Pentanal, heptanal, and an unidentified volatile compound also increased in concentration over time, but there were no significant differences in concentration among the packaging overwrap treatments for these compounds. [source] Changes on Enological Parameters of White Wine Packaged in Bag-in-Box during Secondary Shelf LifeJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2009Y. Fu ABSTRACT:, This study investigated the effects of temperature (22, 35, and 45 °C), storage time (48, 30, and 15 d), and packaging type on the quality of white wine in bag-in-box (BIB) during the secondary shelf life. Several enological parameters (color and contents of free and total SO2, total aldehyde, and total phenol) were monitored and correlated with oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral data. Time and temperature had significant effects on color development and SO2 depletion during storage. The increased absorbance at 420 nm was correlated with decreases of free SO2 and total SO2. Overall, total phenol content correlated negatively with total aldehyde content. The variance of the enological parameters can be correlated with the OTR data, indicating the barrier properties for the tested packages were different. FTIR,ATR spectra of the wine were analyzed chemometrically using PLS algorithm. The resulting models were able to predict the,A420, free SO2, total SO2, total phenol, total aldehyde, and storage time of the wines. This technique can potentially be used as an efficient tool to evaluate the quality of wine. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||