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In this paper, a numerical model is presented in order to analyze the electrical characteristics of polymer composites filled by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) subject to tensile stress and investigate the possible usage of such materials as innovative sensors for small values of strain. The simulated mechano-electrical response of the nanocomposite is obtained through a multi-step approach which, through different modeling stages, provides a simple and effective tool for material analysis and design. In particular, at first, the morphological structures of the composites are numerically simulated by adopting a previously presented model based on a Monte Carlo procedure in which uniform distributions of the CNTs, approximated as of solid cylinders and ensuring some physical constraints, are dispersed inside a cubic volume representing the polymer matrix. Second, a geometrical analysis allows to obtain the percolation paths detected in the simulated structures. Suitable electrical networks composed by resistors and capacitors associated to the complex charge transport and polarization mechanisms occurring in the percolation paths are then identified. Finally, the variations of these circuit parameters, which are differently affected by the mechanical stresses applied to the composites, are considered to analyze the electromechanical characteristics of the composites and hence their performances as stress sensors. The proposed approach is used to investigate the impact on the electro-mechanical response of some physical properties of the base materials, such as the type of carbon nanotube, the height of energy barrier of polymer resin, as well as characteristics of the composite, i.e., the volume fraction of the filler. The tunneling effect between neighboring nanotubes is found to play a dominant role in determining the composite sensitivity to mechanical stresses. The simulation results are also compared with the experimental data obtained by performing stress tests on samples of a multi walled CNT filled composite based on poly (e-caprolactone), a polymer which is of interest for its biocompatibility. Model simulations and measured data show generally satisfactory agreement, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed approach to account for the impact of the interactions between CNTs and the insulating resin on the electromechanical response of the composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride-releasing restorative dental materials can be beneficial to remineralize dentin and help prevent secondary caries. However, the effects of fluoride release from dental materials on the activity of dental pulp stem cells are not known. Here we investigate whether different fluoride release kinetics from dental resins supplemented with modified hydrotalcite (RK-F10) or fluoride-glass filler (RK-FG10) could influence the behavior of a human dental pulp stem cell subpopulation (STRO-1+ cells) known for its ability to differentiate toward an odontoblast-like phenotype. The 2 resins, characterized by similar physicochemical properties and fluoride content, exhibited different long-term fluoride release kinetics. Our data demonstrate that long-term exposure of STRO-1+ cells to a continuous release of a low amount of fluoride by RK-F10 increases their migratory response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and stromal cell–derived factor 1 (SDF-1), both important promoters of pulp stem cell recruitment. Moreover, the expression patterns of dentin sialoprotein (dspp), dentin matrix protein 1 (dmp1), osteocalcin (ocn), and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (mepe) indicate a complete odontoblast-like cell differentiation only when STRO-1+ cells were cultured on RK-F10. On the contrary, RK-FG10, characterized by an initial fluoride release burst and reduced lifetime of the delivery, did not elicit any significant effect on both STRO-1+ cell migration and differentiation. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of taking into account fluoride release kinetics in addition to fluoride concentration when designing new fluoride-restorative materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Films of highly syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) were quenched at different temperatures between 0°C and 100°C and analyzed as soon as prepared and after 1 month of aging at room temperature. Wide-angle X-ray diffractograms (WAXDs) showed that all the samples crystallized in the disordered helical form I, with the crystallinity increasing both on increasing the quenching temperature and on aging, although to a lower extent. The analysis of sorption and diffusion of dichloromethane vapor at low activity shows that, in some samples, the fraction of impermeable phase is consistently higher than the crystalline fraction. This induced us to hypothesize the presence of an intermediate phase, or mesophase, not crystalline, yet impermeable to the vapors. The fraction of mesophase decreases on increasing the quenching temperature, and it is a very small quantity at 100°C. The dynamic-mechanical analysis showed two transitions in the aged samples, which could correspond to the lower and upper glass transitions, already suggested for aged films of isotactic polypropylene (IPP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of the inclusion of ethylene/vinyl alcohol (EvOH) copolymer in nylon 6 is analyzed with particular attention to the transport properties. Water vapor and dichloromethane transport measurements were performed to provide useful information about polymer-polymer interaction and segmental mobility. Sorption and diffusion tests were carried out at 25°C at several activities to determine both sorption isotherm and diffusivities. Moreover, permeability tests to gases (CO2, O2) were carried out at 30°C. The obtained results indicate the existence of strong hydrogen-bonded interactions of the two polar groups (amidic of nylon 6 and hydroxyl of EvOH) within the amorphous phase. This interaction strongly influences the transport properties of the nylon 6 amorphous component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The syndiotactic polystyrene can crystallize in different forms, depending on thermal and solvent treatments. The influence of the polymorphism on the dynamic-mechanical behavior has been analyzed. Thermogravimetric and calorimetric analysis were also carried out. The effects of phase transitions and solvent release on the relaxation phenomena were observed, and the correlations between structure and dynamic behavior allow to better understand some aspects of the polymorphism phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal crystallization of glassy amorphous syndiotactic polystyrene has been studied using infrared, x-ray, and thermal analysis. The kinetics of the process is very rapid and the obtained crystalline phase is characterized by chains in zig-zag planar conformation. The use of the infrared analysis is indeed based on the presence of a skeleton band related to the zig-zag planar sequences. However infrared and x-ray data disagree in the evaluation of crystallinity, and a structural model has been proposed to account this experimental evidence. In particular the presence of a phase of intermediate order between amorphous and crystalline has been suggested. This mesomorphic phase is characterized by conformational order, and probably by crystalline order at very short range, both not sufficient to give rise to discrete x-ray diffraction patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drawing behavior of syndiotactic polystyrene was analyzed at different temperatures. Amorphous films were used and, depending on drawing temperature, strain-induced or thermal-induced cold crystallization was observed. This phenomenon, when present, greatly affects the drawing behavior. The dynamic-mechanical behavior of drawn samples was analyzed, and the obtained results indicate that the glass transition is affected by drawing, and that the effect depends drastically on the drawing temperature. Particularly interesting is the dynamic behavior at high temperature where the elastic modulus is weakly affected by temperature also near the melting point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drawing behavior of cross-linked isotactic polypropylene was analysed. The crystallinity and the composition of the crystalline phase are affected by cross-linking. Structural and topological features play a significant role in the drawing behavior. The yielding, the necking phenomenon, and the ultimate properties, i.e., stress and strain at the fracture, can be correlated with the sample structure. The general picture agrees well with Peterlin's model of cold drawing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystallization induced by thermal treatments of smectic polypropylene fibres has been studied. Analysis was carried out detecting the density and X-ray diffractograms. Density and diffraction data disagree on two important aspects: the critical temperature necessary to activate the crystallization process, and the effects of annealing time on the growth process. The first point seems to suggest that the observed densification at the lower temperatures is related to phenomena differing from a crystallization process, while the observed effects of the annealing time can be explained by assuming that the anisotropy of the fibre structure induces anisotropy in the phase transition and growth process. On the other hand, density and diffraction data agree in indicating that the rate and degree of crystallization increase on increasing the crystallization temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quenched films of isotactic polypropylene were obtained in different quenching conditions; the films structure was analyzed in terms of phases composition and gross morphology. The mechanical behaviour, analyzed at room temperature in monoaxial drawing shows that the initial structure strongly affects the drawing behaviour. The drawing occurs by necking propagation in all the samples, but the deformation in the neck depends on the gross morphology while the drawing load depends on crystallinity. The obtianed results are discussed on the basis of the molecular and structural model of the fibers formation by drawing of crystalline polymeric films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]