Beata Grabowska

FT-IR and FT-Raman studies of cross-linking processes with Ca2+ ions, glutaraldehyde and microwave radiation for polymer composition of poly(acrylic acid)/sodium salt of carboxymethyl starch – In moulding sands, Part II

FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopic methods allowed to identify the cross-linking process of the aqueous composition of poly(acrylic acid)/sodium salt of carboxymethyl starch (PAA/CMS-Na) applied as a binder for moulding sands. The cross-linking was performed by chemical methods by introducing cross-linking substances with Ca(2+) ions or glutaraldehyde and by physical way, applying the microwave radiation. It was found that Ca(2+) ions cause formation of cross-linking ionic bonds within carboxyl and carboxylate groups. Glutaraldehyde generates formation of cross-linking bonds with hemiacetal and acetal structures. Whereas in the microwave radiation field, due to dehydration, lattices are formed by anhydride bonds.

Effect of Compaction Pressure Applied to TiC Reactants on the Microstructure and Properties of Composite Zones Produced In Situ in Steel Castings

Compacts for the synthesis of composite zones in castings were obtained by cold pressing powders of the TiC reactants under a pressure of 250, 300, 500 and 600 MPa. The all compacts made under different pressures were placed in a mould cavity and poured with liquid unalloyed low-carbon steel. From the resulting casting, four composite zone A, B, C, D, produced in this casting by in situ method. In all composite zones, TiC and ferrite (αFe) were obtained. Additionally, in zones A, B and C the presence of graphite (Cgr) was also stated. The surface friction (Sf) of Cgr decreases in composite zones A ÷ D, while both the Sf of TiC and hardness VH30 increase in these zones with increasing compaction pressure of the reactants. Too low compaction pressure applied to the TiC reactants impedes the effective propagation of the reaction of synthesis.

Physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity of hydrogels based on Beetosan® containing sage and bee pollen

Currently, increasing attention is being paid to issues related to environmental protection, waste management, as well as to the development of polymers with useful properties. The research presented here involved preparation of hydrogels based on Beetosan® - a chitosan derived from the multi-stage processing of dead bees. Moreover, hydrogels were additionally modified with natural substances - i.e. bee pollen and extract of Salvia officinalis (sage) that are well known for the presence of many compounds with beneficial properties from a medical point of view. Materials have been first obtained by photopolymerization. Then, their surface morphology, wettability and cytotoxicity to selected cell lines have been determined. It can be stated that such combination of Beetosan® hydrogel matrix and the mentioned additives resulted in a preparation of polymers characterized by negative impact on cancer cells. Impact of hydrogels with sage is slightly more intense due to the presence of substances such as ursalic or rosmaric acid that are characterized to have anticancer activity. Such negative impact has not been observed in case of studies using fibroblasts. Furthermore, addition of natural substances into hydrogels resulted in a more homogeneous surface and in the decrease of wettability angle of the tested polymers. It can be concluded that the use of natural-derived reagents and synthesis of polymers using these reagents (as a result of environmentally friendly photopolymerization) yields materials with interesting properties for medical purposes, with particular emphasis on antitumor activity, and without significant negative impact on fibroblasts.

Effect of microwave treatment on structure of binders based on sodium carboxymethyl starch: FT-IR, FT-Raman and XRD investigations

The paper deals with the influence of the microwave treatment on sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS-Na) applied as a binder for moulding sands. The Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman) and XRD analysis data of native potato starch and three different carboxymethyl starches (CMS-Na) with various degree of substitution (DS) before and after exposition to microwave radiation have been compared. FT-IR studies showed that polar groups present in CMS-Na structure take part in the formation of new hydrogen bonds network after water evaporation. However, these changes depend on DS value of the modified starch. The FT-Raman study confirmed that due to the impact on the samples by microwave, the changes of intensity in the characteristic bands associated with the crystalline regions in the sample were noticed. The X-ray diffraction data for microwave treated CMS-Na samples have been compared with the diffractograms of initial materials and analysis of XRD patterns confirmed that microwave-treated samples exhibit completely amorphous structure. Analysis of structural changes allows to state that the binding of sand grains in moulding sand with CMS-Na polymeric binder consists in the formation of hydrogen bonds networks (physical cross-linking).

Effects of curing conditions on the structure of sodium carboxymethyl starch/mineral matrix system: FT-IR investigation

Strength properties of the microwave cured molding sands containing binders in a form of the aqueous solution of sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS-Na) are higher than the same molding composition cured by conventional heating. Finding the reason of this effect was the main purpose in this study. Structural changes caused by both physical curing methods of molding sands systems containing mineral matrix (silica sand) and polymer water-soluble binder (CMS-Na) were compared. It was shown, by means of the FT-IR spectroscopic studies, that the activation of the polar groups in the polymer macromolecules structure as well as silanol groups on the mineral matrix surfaces was occurred in the microwave radiation. Binding process in microwave-cured samples was an effect of formation the hydrogen bonds network between hydroxyl and/or carbonyl groups present in polymer and silanol groups present in mineral matrix. FT-IR studies of structural changes in conventional and microwave cured samples confirm that participation of hydrogen bonds is greater after microwave curing than conventional heating.