Ebru Bozaci

Application of carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel based silver nanocomposites on cotton fabrics for antibacterial property

In this study, fumaric acid (FA) crosslinked carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel (CMCF) based silver nanocomposites were coated on cotton fabric for antibacterial property for the first time. The performance of the nanocomposite treated cotton fabric was tested for different mixing times of hydrogel solution, padding times and concentrations of silver. The cotton fabrics treated with CMC hydrogel based silver nanocomposites demonstrated 99.9% reduction for both Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) and Klebsiella pneumonia (Kp). After one cycle washing processes of treated cotton fabric, there is no significant variation observed in antibacterial activity. From SEM and AFM analyses, silver particles in nano-size, homogenously distributed, were observed. The treated samples were also evaluated by tensile strength, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, fluid absorbency properties, and whiteness index. The treatment of cotton fabric with CMCF hydrogel did not affect the whiteness considerably, but increased the absorbency values of cotton.

The effect of argon and air plasma treatment of flax fiber on mechanical properties of reinforced polyester composite

Flax fibers were modified by argon and air atmospheric pressure plasma treatments to improve the mechanical properties of flax fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Plasma treatments were carried out at plasma powers of 100, 200, and 300 W. Both plasma surface treatments were conducted to improve the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (GIC), and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (GIIC). Moreover, the maximum improvement in the mechanical properties was obtained after air plasma treatment of flax fiber at a plasma power of 300 W. Tensile strength, flexural strength, ILSS, GIC, and GIIC values of flax fiber-reinforced polyester composites increased by nearly 34%, 31%, 39%, 35%, and 42%, respectively. However, for argon plasma-treated flax fiber-reinforced polyester composites, the mechanical properties of composite increased up to argon plasma power of 200 W.

Evaluating of Agave americana fibers for biosorption of dye from aqueous solution

Fibers extracted from Agave americana were evaluated as a low cost sorbent for the removal of Malachite Green (MG) from aqueous solution. Agave fiber was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and determining chemical content such as cellulose and hemicellulose. The crystallinity index and average size of crystals of agave fibers were obtained to be 53.29 % and 1.4 nm, respectively. The effects of temperature, amount of sorbent and ionic strength on biosorption behavior were investigated. By using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations, equilibrium biosorption data were analyzed. Based on R2 values, the best fit was provided with Langmuir isotherm. The results showed that the largest biosorption capacity was obtained as 33 mg g−1 at 318 K. According to the thermodynamic studies, biosorption was determined to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Biosorption kinetics was investigated by equations such as Elovich rate equations, intraparticle diffusion models, pseudo-second-order, and pseudo-first-order models.

Evaluation of linden fibre as a potential reinforcement material for polymer composites

The aim of this study is to characterize linden fibres as a novel cellulose-based fibre to be used as a reinforcement material in composites and to investigate the adhesion property to unsaturated polyester. Up to now, there is no report regarding the potential usability of linden fibre in composite applications. Linden fibres were extracted from the stem of a plant of Tilia rubra DC. subsp. caucasica (Rupr.) V.Engl. Characterization of linden fibres was studied by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, tensile and pull-out tests. Morphological properties of the fibres were observed through scanning electron and optical microscopes. Initial degradation temperature of the linden fibre was reported to be 238℃. The tensile strength and the Young’s modulus of the linden fibres were calculated to be 675.4 ± 45.7 MPa and 61.0 ± 9.8 GPa, respectively. The interfacial shear strength of the linden fibre with unsaturated polyester matrix was computed as 26.15 ± 2.27 MPa via pullout test. This study offers an alternative and eco-friendly reinforcement material which may have usability potential in polymeric composites.

Pamuklu Kumaşlarda Antibakteriyel Bitim İşlemi için Atmosferik Plazma ve Kimyasal İşlemlerin Kombinasyonu

Bu calismanin amaci, triklosan esasli kimyasal ile siklodekstrin esasli ticari urun birlesimin plazma modifikasyonu yapilarak ve yapilmayarak pamuklu kumaslara baglanmasinin incelenmesidir. Islem goren numuneler SEM analizi ile karakterize edilmistir. Yikanmis ve yikanmamis kumaslarin antibakteriyel aktiviteleri AATCC Test Metot 147-1998’e gore degerlendirilmis ve numunelerin bazi fiziksel ozellikleri de incelenmistir. Triklosan, siklodekstrin ve atmosferik plazma kombinasyonu ile pamuklu kumaslarin antibakteriyel aktivitesini 60°C’de 5 yikamaya kadar korudugu gozlenmistir.