Anatase nanoparticles were synthesized from a titanium isopropoxide solution using a hydrothermal process at different pressures in an autoclave system while keeping the volume of the solution constant. As the autoclave pressure was increased from 1 to 71 atm (23 to 210 °C), the crystal size in the nanoparticles increased from 9 to 13.8 nm. The anatase nanoparticles were used to build dye-sensi...

BACKGROUND About half of the orthodontists recycle and reuse orthodontic wires because of their costs. So when talking about reuse and sterilization of wires, their effects on mechanical properties of wires should be clarified. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of sterilization and clinical use on mechanical properties of stainless steel wires. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty s...

Four types of light weight concrete (LWC) commonly used in Hong Kong, namely, autoclave aerated concrete (plus lime), autoclave aerated concrete (plus Pulverized Fuel Ash or PFA), concrete with synthetic aggregate 'Leca' and concrete with polystyrene bean as aggregate were measured for their 226Ra, 232Th and 40K contents using high-resolution gamma spectrometry. All the radionuclide contents ex...

Autoclaving, the most widely available sterilization method, is applied to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrophysiology devices. The process does not harm morphology or electrical properties, while it effectively kills E. coli intentionally cultured on the devices. This finding paves the way to widespread introduction of PEDOT:PSS electrophysio...

The influence of number of autoclave treatment cycles (N) on rotational speed and total indicated run-out of commercially available air-turbine handpieces from five manufacturers was investigated at N=0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 cycles, and the significance in the test results was assessed by Dunnett's multiple comparison test. Some air-turbine handpieces showed the significant difference...

Methods of disinfection and sterilisation of urinary endoscopes are considered. A small mobile low-temperature steam and formaldehyde autoclave (Miniclave 80) is evaluated and shown to be satisfactory for this purpose as judged by a variety of relevant microbiological test pieces.

The availability of well-defined modified graphene derivatives such as fluorographene, graphane, thiographene or hydroxygraphene is of pivotal importance for tuning the resulting material properties in numerous potential applications. A series of fluorinated graphene with various contents of fluorine was synthesized by a simple fluorination procedure in an autoclave with a nitrogen/fluorine atm...

Objectives: There is a risk of spreading infectious material via non-sterile impressions. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of autoclave sterilisation on dimensional stability and tear strength of impression materials. Methods: Twenty-four specimens were produced using a standard ruled test block for each of three impression materials (Affinis, Aquasil and Speedex) to test dimensi...

OCCASIONAL infections in sites of venous cutdowns and an episode of fever in a patient following cardiac catheterization caused us to review the procedures used in this laboratory for preparation of catheterization equipment. Materials not susceptible to damage by wet heat (surgical instruments, syringes and needles, drapes) are sterilized in a steam autoclave. Polyethylene catheters, cuvette o...