This diploma thesis deals with preparation and characterization of aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol suitable for electrospinning. In the theoretical part method of electrospinning is described, including parameters which influence this process. Literary research also includes a chapter about rheology, which deals with the rheological properties of polymers, specifically PVA. The experimental part describes the preparation and rheological study of of aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol, which were then spun. The morphology of prepared nanofibers was studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of molecular weight, the solvent, concentration of solution, rheological properties, electrical conductivity and surface tension on the spinability, diameter and morphology of nanofibers is discussed.

The work deals mainly with preparation protocol of nanocomposites. The task of this work is to study structural and procedural parameteres that control the dispersion of nanoparticles in polymer solution to be able to prepare desired spatial organization of nanoparticles. The work resolves the effect of various components such as polymer matrices, nanoparticles and solvent, in which matrices and nanoparticles are blended. Used components control final dispersion state of nanoparticles and it influences also properties of investigated materials such as glass transition temperature, stiffness and rheological properties.

We report on a new framework for preparing high-refractive index polymeric materials which combines the selective thiol radical mono-addition to phenyl-acetylene derivatives with hyperbranched architectures. Using this strategy we have synthesized a series of linear and hyperbranched polyvinyl sulfide (PVS) materials, employing different dithiol (A₂ and A'₂) and di- and trialkyne (B and B₃) monomers. The process requires only a simple radical initiator, such as AIBN, in lieu of expensive or toxic catalysts and this chemistry produces polymers in high yield (up to 96%) and high molecular weight (up to 123 000 g mol⁻¹). The polymers are optically transparent, thermally stable (up to 420 °C) and readily form highquality films. The end group composition of the hyperbranched materials can be easily adjusted by changing the A₂/B₃ feed ratio. The sulfur incorporation and conjugation resulting from thiol–yne coupling with selective mono-addition results in materials with high refractive indices in the visible and IR region (nD = 1.68–1.75) and optical dispersions as low as 0.004. Moreover, we demonstrate that the hyperbranched architecture produces materials with better performance in terms of light reflection and chromatic dispersion compared to linear structures.

Im Rahmen des Transferprojektes T01 „Textilbeschichtung mit hochviskosen Massen“ des Sonderforschungsbereiches 532 (SFB 532) wird die Realisierung und Bewertung eines integrierten Beschichtungskonzeptes zur nachhaltigen Verbesserung der Tragfähigkeit von textilbewehrten Betonbauteilen an der RWTH Aachen University untersucht. Dazu wird eine neue Auftragstechnik für hochviskose Beschichtungsmassen entwickelt, die eine vollständige Penetration von Multifilamentgarnen mit großen Garntitern und einer hohen Anzahl an Filamenten in textilen Gelegen erzielt. Des Weiteren werden aktive Beschichtungsmassen auf der Basis von Polyvinylalkohol-Zement-Compositen, die eine homogene Anbindung aller Einzelfilamente an die Zementmatrix ermöglichen, erforscht.

Pelvic floor disorder is an emerging research area and is highlighted in many pelvic floor studies. Assessment methods for this type of injury are lacking and new methods for prevention and diagnosis are needed. Pelvic floor disorders are common among women and can lead to suffering for the patient. Levator ani muscle injuries are the main cause for pelvic floor disorders. This muscle group is an anisotropic skeletal muscle that helps support the pelvic viscera. Assessment of this muscle is difficult due to its complex geometry and location. Therefore, two muscle phantoms were constructed to mimic different properties of the levator ani muscle. The muscle phantoms provided more availability and a more controlled setting. The muscle phantoms were examined using ultrasound-based shear wave elastography which is an elastography method that can help determine the elasticity of tissue. A PVA-graphite phantom and a water-based gelatine-graphite phantom, both with fishing lines network as fibers for anisotropy, were constructed in this project. Shear wave elastography results of the PVA phantom indicated no anisotropy but visually resembled a muscle. Although not achieving anisotropy, the shear modulus of the PVA did match the shear modulus of skeletal muscle tissue. Shear wave elastography results of the gelatine phantom indicated anisotropy but visually did not resemble a muscle due to the low shear modulus of the gelatine. A 3D model of the female bony pelvis, that was provided for this project, was measured, and compared with reference value of previous study for future construction and 3D printing of the model. Results of measurements showed similarities between the 3D model and the female pelvis except for the sagittal outlet which had a deviant value. For future work, the muscle phantom can be developed by applying the complex geometry of the levator ani muscle, assembly of the muscle phantom, and the 3D rendering of the pelvis. The combination of these two parts provides a more complete phantom where shear wave elastography can be applied in the same way as in female patients. / Bäckenbottenbesvär är ett framväxande forskningsområde och lyfts fram i många bäckenbottenstudier. Bedömningsmetoder för denna typ av skador saknas och det behövs nya metoder för förebyggande och diagnostik. Bäckenbottenbesvär är vanliga bland kvinnor och kan leda till lidande för patienten. Levator ani muskelskador är den främsta orsaken till bäckenbottensjukdomar. Denna muskelgrupp är en anisotrop skelettmuskel som hjälper till att stödja inälvorna i bäckenet. Bedömning av denna muskel är svår på grund av dess komplexa geometri och läge. Därför konstruerades två muskelfantomer för att efterlikna olika egenskaper hos levator ani-muskeln. Muskelfantomerna gav mer tillgänglighet och en mer kontrollerad inställning. Muskelfantomerna undersöktes med hjälp av ultraljudsbaserad skjuvvågselastografi som är en metod som kan hjälpa till att bestämma vävnadens elasticitet. En PVA-grafitfantom och en vattenbaserad gelatin-grafitfantom, båda med fiskelinsnätverk som fibrer för anisotropi, konstruerades i detta projekt. Resultat från skjuvvågselastografi på PVA-fantomen indikerade ingen anisotropi, men liknade visuellt en muskel. Även då anisotropi inte uppnåddes, så matchade skjuvmodulen för PVA skjuvmodulen för skelettmuskelvävnad. Resultat från skjuvvågselastografi på gelatinfantomen indikerade anisotropi dock visade resultatet ingen visuell liknelse av en skelettmuskel på grund av gelatinets låga skjuvmodul. En 3D modell av bäckenbenet, som förseddes det här projektet, mättes och jämfördes med referensvärde av tidigare studie för framtid 3D friformsframställning av modellen. Resultat av mätningar visade på liknelser mellan 3D modellen och det kvinnliga bäckenbenet förutom sagittal outlet som hade ett avvikande värde. Inför fortsättning av det här projektet kan en utveckling av muskel fantomen ske genom applicering av den komplexa geometrin hos levator ani muskeln samt sammansättning av muskel fantomen och 3D framställningen av bäckenbenet. Sammansättningen av dessa två delar ger en mer komplett fantom där skjuvvågselastografi kan appliceras på samma sätt som hos kvinnliga patienter. / Ja

In this thesis the possibilities of using capillary electrophoresis as a separation technique for analysis of proteins and microbubbles is presented. A complete analytical process consists of five necessary steps of which one is the actual analysis step. For this step a suitable analytical technique is needed. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is one of the common analytical separation techniques used for analysis of a diversity of analytes, and can be both used in routine analysis and for research purposes. The reason for using CE, compared to other liquid-based separation techniques, is mainly short analysis time, high resolution, and negligible sample volumes and solvent waste. Depending on the characteristics of the analytes, and the sample matrix, different modes of CE can be used, where capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is the most employed one. The basic principle of CZE is separation of the analytes due to differences in total mobility, which is dependent on the charge and size of the analytes, and the electroosmotic flow (EOF). The EOF can be controlled by several parameters e.g. choice of background electrolyte (BGE), and the optimization of the parameters has been discussed throughout the thesis. To improve the properties of the BGE, an ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) water solution was used as BGE for CE analysis in Paper I. The precision of the EOF with this method was determined by adjusting the pH of the BGE, the concentration of EAN in the BGE, and the electric field. Model proteins were thereafter analysed using the optimal parameters yielding a precision sufficient for routine control. One example of the applications of CE is separation of novel contrast agents, which consist of polyvinyl alcohol microbubbles (PVA-MBs). In Paper II, a method for analysis of PVA-MBs in biological samples using CE with UV-detection was developed. It was also established that intact PVA-MBs could be distinguished from ultrasound degraded PVA-MBs in the same set-up. / <p>QC 20171012</p>

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My work focuses on taking waste wire-grade PVC = poly(vinyl chloride) and waste XLPE = cross-linked polyethylene and recycle them into small wire/cable spool technology in order to reduce waste cost and reduce cost of spool production. The PVC and XLPE were provided by Encore Wire Corp. of McKinney, TX; they have also defined the standard to which I am comparing my results. The end goal is to incorporate as much PVC and XLPE into the spools while maintaining material toughness, impact resistance, as well as cost-effectiveness in the implementation of the waste materials. The work has been divided into two primary sections, the first is focused on improving material strength through the addition of ceramic fillers. The second section is focused on adding PVC and XLPE into a stronger and highly cohesive polymer matrix and optimizing the concentration of the waste products. Since XLPE is non-polar while PVC is strongly polar, compatibilizers such as CPE (chlorinated polyethylene) and MA-DCP (maleic anhydride with dicumyl peroxide) were used to improve interactions between polar and non-polar constituents. Testing involved the tensile mechanical properties, tribology and thermal properties, namely dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and evaluation of thermal degradation by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Combining PVC and XLPE together is not economically feasible with current compatiblizers. At the same time, introduction of PVC waste or XLPE waste with sufficient properties of the resulting composites is doable.

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