A fully automated anthrax smoke detector (ASD) has been developed and tested. The ASD is intended to serve as a cost effective front-end monitor for anthrax surveillance systems. The principle of operation is based on measuring airborne endospore concentrations, where a sharp concentration increase signals an anthrax attack. The ASD features an air sampler, a thermal lysis unit, a syringe pump,...

Small angle neutron scattering is employed to estimate the interactions in complex multicomponent systems. The method is applied to describe a ternary system, poly(dimethyl siloxane) toluene with silica filler particles. Contrast variation by solvent deuteration is used to distinguish the three different partial structure factors of filled polymer samples, S(pp)(q), S(pf)(q), and S(ff)(q), wher...

The formation of a dispersed titanium oxide layer on Cabosil-fumed silica and on nonporous silica spheres was studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopies and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The procedure for obtaining the titania coatings involved reacting the silanol groups on the silica surface with titanium alkoxides under a N 2 atmosphere. This self-limiting reaction led to a co...

Understanding the influence of storage time on the rheological properties polymeric fumed silica gels is very important in the field of composite polymer electrolytes. A rheological study of the aging process of Aerosil R805 suspension in Polypropylene Glycol Mw2000 has been carried out by means of steady and oscillatory experiments.

Hydrophylic fumed silica AR974 was tested as a potential nanofiller for the production of composite isotactic polypropylene filaments/fibers (containing 0.25–2 vol % of nanoparticles) via melt compounding and subsequent hot drawing. The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to investigate the effects of the composition and the processing conditions on the microstructure and the thermal ...

Bijels are typically prepared by arresting the phase separation of two liquids using interfacial particles. The surface treatment of the particles is challenging but can be overcome at a cost (Cui et al., Science, 2013, 342, 460-463). Here, we use mixed commercial fumed-silica nanoparticles, giving a facile route to bijel production.

Surface IR (infrared) modes of crystalline and fumed (amorphous) silica particles, calcined at temperatures up to 1095 degrees C, have been studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The ability of these same particles to lyse cells has been measured by a hemolysis protocol. The untreated crystalline and amorphous materials differ by a factor of 40 in specific surface area, and the int...

For the first time, poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) (PMP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt compounding 2 vol% of fumed silica nanoparticles, in order to study the role of the nanofiller surface area and functionalization on the tensile mechanical response of the material, with particular focus on its creep behaviour. The high optical transparency of the polymer matrix was substantially preserved i...

Bio-oil emulsions were stabilized using coconut shell coke, modified amphiphilic graphene oxide, and hydrophobic nano-fumed silica as solid emulsifiers. The effects of different particles on the stability bio-oil discussed. Over 21 days, average droplet size raw increased by 64.78%, while that Pickering emulsion three only changed within 20%. Ni/SiO2 was then used for catalytic hydrodeoxygenati...