RESUMEN
We report on the synthesis of two and three dimensional carbonaceous sponges produced directly from graphene oxide (GO) into which functionalized iron nanoparticles can be introduced to render it magnetic. This simple, low cost procedure, wherein an iron polymeric resin precursor is introduced into the carbon framework, results in carbon-based materials with specific surface areas of the order of 93 and 66 m(2) g(-1), compared to approx. 4 m(2) g(-1) for graphite, decorated with ferromagnetic iron nanoparticles giving coercivity fields postulated to be 216 and 98 Oe, values typical for ferrite magnets, for 3.2 and 13.5 wt% Fe respectively. The strongly magnetic iron nanoparticles are robustly anchored to the GO sheets by a layer of residual graphite, on the order of 5 nm, formed during the pyrolysis of the precursor material. The applicability of the carbon sponges is demonstrated in their ability to absorb, store and subsequently elute an organic dye, Rhodamine B, from water as required. It is possible to regenerate the carbon-iron hybrid material after adsorption by eluting the dye with a solvent to which it has a high affinity, such as ethanol. The use of a carbon framework opens the hybrid materials to further chemical functionalization, for enhanced chemical uptake of contaminants, or co-decoration with, for example, silver nanoparticles for bactericidal properties. Such analytical properties, combined with the material's magnetic character, offer solutions for environmental decontamination at land and sea, wastewater purification, solvent extraction, and for the concentration of dilute species.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of the filler content in the cohesive strength (sigma), Weibull modulus (m) and degree of conversion (DC) of an experimental adhesive system. METHODS: A HEMA/Bis-GMA/TEGDMA-based adhesive was formulated and filled with silica nanofillers in the following weight percentages (wt%): R0=0%; R1=1%; R3=3%; R5=5% and R10=10%. The adhesive of Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (SBMP) system was used as a commercial reference. Twenty dumbbell-shaped specimens with cross-sectional area of 0.5mm(2) were made per group and tensile tested with a crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min until fracture. The cohesive strength was calculated in MPa. DC was obtained through FTIR after light curing for 25s. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha=0.05) and to Weibull analysis. RESULTS: Mean sigma results were: R0=65.4+/-8.4; R1=73.2+/-8.8; R3=72.0+/-8.4; R5=73.1+/-9.7; R10=85.5+/-13.1 and SBMP=79.0+/-11.0MPa. R10 presented the highest sigma, while R0 showed the lowest. R5 and SBMP did not differ significantly (p<0.05). Weibull analysis revealed no significant difference in structural reliability between groups. The experimental adhesives presented similar results of DC, which, in turn, were significantly higher than the SBMP. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of 10% filler in weight improves the cohesive strength of the adhesive, not interfering in the structural reliability or the degree of conversion.