Search results for "Elastomers"
showing 10 items of 29 documents
Changes in higher-order aberrations after implantation of a foldable iris-claw lens in myopic phakic eyes
2006
Purpose To evaluate the change in higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after implantation of a foldable iris-claw phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) in myopic eyes. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. Methods This prospective nonrandomized comparative self-controlled trial included 41 eyes that had implantation of a foldable iris-claw pIOL between July 2003 and November 2004. All patient data for HOAs (Zernike coefficient) were measured and calculated using the same pupil size preoperatively and postoperatively, and the root-mean-square (RMS) wavefront error was calculated. Examinations were performed preoperatively as well as 1 week and 3, 6, and 12 m…
Transition to Reinforced State by Percolating Domains of Intercalated Brush-Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals and Poly(butadiene) in Cross-Linked Compo…
2013
The classic nanocomposite approach aims at percolation of low fraction of exfoliated individual reinforcing nanoscale elements within a polymeric matrix. By contrast, many of the mechanically excellent biological nanocomposites involve self-assembled and space-filled structures of hard reinforcing and soft toughening domains, with high weight fraction of reinforcements. Here we inspect a new concept toward mimicking such structures by studying whether percolation of intercalated domains consisting of alternating rigid and reinforcing, and soft rubbery domains could allow a transition to a reinforced state. Toward that, we present the functionalization of rigid native cellulose nanocrystals …
Large strain stimulation promotes extracellular matrix production and stiffness in an elastomeric scaffold model
2016
Mechanical conditioning of engineered tissue constructs is widely recognized as one of the most relevant methods to enhance tissue accretion and microstructure, leading to improved mechanical behaviors. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains rather limited, restricting the development of in silico models of these phenomena, and the translation of engineered tissues into clinical application. In the present study, we examined the role of large strip-biaxial strains (up to 50%) on ECM synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) micro-integrated into electrospun polyester urethane urea (PEUU) constructs over the course of 3 weeks. Experimental results indicated that VSMC …
Oxazoline-containing compatibilizers for polyamide/SAN and polyamide/ABS blends
2002
Polyamide (PA) and acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymer (ABS) may appear as a mixture in the recycled plastic stream. The incompatibility of these blends results in a blend with poor mechanical properties. The aim of this work is to partially convert the nitrile groups of the acrylonitrile/styrene copolymer (SAN) into oxazoline groups by reaction with aminoethanol (AE). Such modified SAN (SAN-m) can react with the amine or carboxylic acid end groups of PA, and therefore used as compatibilizers for blends of PA with ABS. SAN-m was found to reduce the SAN-domain size in the PA/SAN-blends. The initial acrylonitrile content of SAN-m had a strong influence on the degree of conversion into o…
Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
2018
This paper focuses on the microfluidic process (and its parameters) to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. The preparation usually consists in the formation of droplets containing low molar mass liquid crystals at elevated temperatures. Subsequently, these particle precursors are oriented in the flow field of the capillary and solidified by a crosslinking polymerization, which produces the final actuating particles. The optimization of the process is necessary to obtain the actuating particles and the proper variation of the process parameters (temperature and flow rate) and allows variations of size and shape (from oblate to strongly prolate morphologies) as wel…
Physicochemical Surface Properties of Various Intraocular Lenses
2001
<i>Purpose:</i> It is of major interest to understand how intraocular lens (IOL) surfaces interact with aqueous humor or tissues after implantation. Important parameters to describe the physicochemical surface properties are the contact angle and critical surface tension. Therefore, we performed measurements of the contact angle and critical surface tension of several commercially available IOLs. <i>Setting:</i> Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, University Eye Hospital, Tübingen, and Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany. <i>Methods:</i> A total of 17 commercially available standard quality IOL types (6…
Influence of a Crosslinker Containing an Azo Group on the Actuation Properties of a Photoactuating LCE System
2016
Photoactuating liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) are promising candidates for an application as artificial muscles in microdevices. In this work, we demonstrate that by optimizing (1) the illumination conditions and (2) the mixture of azo monomer and azo crosslinker, thick films of an all-azo LCE can be prepared, which show a strong length change without bending during photoactuation. This becomes possible by working with white light (about 440 nm), whose absorption is low, leading to a large penetration depth. By adding an azo crosslinker to a previously prepared system, several improvements of the actuation properties—like a stronger photoactuation at lower operational temperatures—coul…
Resistance to disinfection of a polymicrobial association contaminating the surface of elastomeric dental impressions.
2009
The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability to resist disinfection of a polymicrobial association contaminating the surface of dental impressions obtained with two different elastomers: a polyether (Impregum) and an addition-polymerized silicone (Elite). Impressions were contaminated with a mixture of three biofilm-forming microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans) and disinfected immediately after contamination, or after microbial layers were allowed to develop during a six-hour storage. Two commercial disinfectants were tested: MD 520 containing 0.5% glutaraldehyde and Sterigum Powder without glutaraldehyde. Residual contamination was recover…
Silicone-Silver Penile Prosthesis: Description, Operative Approach and Results
1980
A silicone penile prosthesis in which silver wires are embedded to allow for voluntary bending of the penis for urination and resting position and for straightening for intercourse is described. The implantation is done via a hemicircular incision on the dorsum of the penis in the sulcus coronarius. Buck's fascia is identified and opened, and the corpora are dilated up to 30F. After the exact length is determined with a special sizer the prosthesis is slipped into each corpus cavernosum. The advantage of this approach is the optimal insertion of the prosthesis distal to the sulcus coronarius, thereby preventing kinking of the glans during intercourse. Our experiences with the implantation i…
Mechanical manipulation of molecular lattice parameters in smectic elastomers.
2006
Smectic liquid crystalline elastomers (SLCE) represent unique materials that combine a 1-D molecular lattice arrangement and orientational order with rubber-elasticity mediated by a polymer network. Such materials may exhibit large thermo-mechanical, opto-mechanical and electro-mechanical effects, due to the coupling of macroscopic sample geometry and microscopic structural features. It is shown that the molecular layer dimensions in the smectic phases can be influenced reversibly by macroscopic strain of the material. We present a microscopic model on the basis of experimental results obtained by mechanical dilatation measurements, optical interferometry, X-ray scattering, (13)C NMR, FTIR …