Hydrogels wound dressings have enormous advantages due to their ability to absorb high wound exudate, capacity to load drugs, and provide quick pain relief. The use of hydrogels as wound dressings in their original form is a considerable challenge, as these are difficult to apply on wounds without support. Therefore, the incorporation of polymeric hydrogels with a certain substrate is an emerging field of interest. The present study fabricated cellulose hydrogel using the sol–gel technique and reinforced it with nonwoven cotton for sustainable wound dressing application. The nonwoven cotton was immersed inside the prepared solution of cellulose and heated at 50 °C for 2 h to form cellulose hydrogel–nonwoven cotton composites and characterized for a range of properties. In addition, the prepared hydrogel composite was also loaded with titania particles to attain antibacterial properties. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of cellulose hydrogel layers inside the nonwoven cotton structure. The fabricated composite hydrogels showed good moisture management and air permeability, which are essential for comfortable wound healing. The wound exudate testing revealed that the fluid absorptive capacity of cellulose hydrogel nonwoven cotton composite was improved significantly in comparison to pure nonwoven cotton. The results reveal the successful hydrogel formation, having excellent absorbing, antimicrobial, and sustainable properties.
Fibre metal laminates (FML) are being used in automotive, aerospace and naval applications due to their light weight and superior performance. The FMLs are made by sandwiching composite with metal. The environmental concerns due to non-biodegradability of such structures, lead to the development of FML containing natural fibre composites. Natural fibres composite, despite having good damping properties have overall poor mechanical properties. However, this aspect can be improved by weaving the fibres in 3 D pattern. In literature, FML made using 3 D woven jute composites is never reported. Furthermore, no literature is found on adhesion of natural fibre composite-metal bonding. In this paper, development of novel 3 D Jute Reinforced natural fibre Aluminium Laminates (JuRALs) is reported. Furthermore, the effect of 3 D weaving pattern and metal-composite bonding on mechanical properties and failure mechanism of the developed samples is also discussed in detail. The four-layered 3 D woven Jute fabric reinforcement was made using four interlocking patterns. The composites and JuRALs were fabricated using epoxy resin by vacuum infusion technique. The surface of aluminium was treated using phosphoric acid anodizing. Tensile, flexural and T-peel tests were performed according to ASTM testing method using Z100 All-round, Zwick Roell. The results showed that out of four types of used reinforcements, the through-thickness composites had better tensile properties while layer-to-layer composite had better flexural properties. The tensile and flexural properties of JuRALs made with through-thickness interlock reinforcement were better as compared to layer-to-layer interlock reinforcement. The T-peel results depicted that the constituent materials influenced the metal-composite adhesion properties, rather the type of 3 D structure.
Surgical gowns are the shielding cloths worn by the surgical team throughout a surgery to save them from blood pathogens of the patient being operated, and to avoid bacterial infections. Barrier effectiveness of a fabric depends upon the liquid penetration resistance and pathogen resistance of the fabric. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of different weave structures and fabric thread densities on the barrier effectiveness of the woven surgical gowns. Twelve fabric samples were produced using three different weave structures, i.e. 1/1 plain, 2/2 z-twill, and 3/3 z-twill, and four different fabric constructions and then completed with a water repellent finish. Water repellency spray test and air permeability test were conducted on each of the 12 woven samples. The results of fabric samples were analyzed in Minitab statistical software. The coefficients of determinations (R2 values) of the regression equations show good prediction ability of the developed statistical models. The findings of the study may be helpful in deciding appropriate manufacturing specifications of surgical gowns to attain maximum barrier effectiveness.
Abstract Contrary to normal materials, the auxetic/meta‐materials expand transversally as well as longitudinally when subjected to longitudinal load and contract in both directions on compression. In this work, auxeticity is obtained in composites reinforced with carbon woven fabrics placed at certain angles. The auxetic effect on the mechanical properties of the prepared carbon/epoxy composites was investigated. The mechanical properties include the tensile, flexural and impact properties. It is found that the tensile properties are not affected by the auxetic effect; however, the flexural and impact properties are significantly enhanced by the auxetic effect.
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