Attention has recently been given to finding alternative and sustainable raw material sources for wood and metal adhesives, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), corn starch (CS), arabic gum (AG), and dextrins (D). Modifying polymer dispersion using unique substances, such as modifying reactive elastomer liquid (EL) using PVA, CS, AG, or D results in sufficiently moisture-resistant adhesive joins. In the present study, the physical characteristics of EL/blended with the natural polymers PVA, CS, AG, and D, based on high-density fiberboard (HDF) wood and aluminum (Al) adhesives and coatings, were investigated and compared to those of pure EL. The EL was blended with PVA, CS, AG, or D at a ratio of 60/40 (w/w) to form EL/blends. The chemical structures, surface and interface morphology, adhesion strengths (including shear strength and pull-off strength), surface roughness, wettings, color intensity, and thermal insulation of the prepared EL and EL/blends were investigated. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation confirmed filler dispersion and adhesion between the blends, and coated HDF wood, or Al. The developed EL/AG blend had a pull-off strength of 144±5 and 102±3 MPa and a shear strength of 771±11, and 52±3 N with HDF wood and Al substrate, respectively. The EL/PVA blend had a maximum surface roughness value 4.57 µm, and its average water contact angle (WCA) was 85.6°. A plasma jet was used to treat the surface roughness and hence the wettability of the pure EL and the EL/blends, for example, plasma treatment decreased the roughness of the EL/AG blend from 4.36 to 3.28 μm. WCA, and hence wettability, was also significantly influenced by plasma treatment, for example, plasma treatment decreased the WCA of the pure EL from 71.7±0.4° to 30.7±0.7°. The lightness value of the EL/blends was less than that of the pure EL, indicating that (the color adhesives have darkened). Similarly, the yellowness-blueness and redness-greenness values of the EL/blends were greater than those of the pure EL,( rendering the blended adhesives more reddish and bluish). The EL/AG blend was found to have a minimum thermal conductivity (of 0.27 W/m.K), indicating maximum insulation.
Sediment accumulated in sewers is a major concern source as it induces numerous operational and environmental problems. For instance, during wet weather flow, the re-suspension of this sediment accompanied by the combined sewer overflow may cause huge pollutant load to the receiving water body. The characteristics of the sewer sediment are important as it shapes its behaviour and determines the extent of the pollution load. In this paper, an investigation of sewer sediment and its characterization is done for a case study in Baghdad city. Sediment depth covers more than 50% of the sewer cross-sectional area; several operational causes are comprised to cause this huge depths of sediment depositions. The testing and analysis of the s
... Show MoreThe antimicrobial activity of ginger extracts ( cold-water, hot-water, ethanolic and essential oil ) against some of pathogenic bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella sp , Klebsiella sp , Serratia marcescens, Vibrio cholerae , Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus sp) was investigated using Disc diffusion method , and the results were compared with the antimicrobial activity of 12 antibiotics on the same bacteria . The results showed that the ginger extracts were more effective on gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative . V. cholerae and S. marcescens,were the most resistant bacteria to the extracts used , while highest inhibition was noticed against Streptococcus sp (28 mm) . The ethanolic extract showed the broadest antibacterial ac
... Show MoreSpray pyrolysis technique was used to make Carbon60-Zinc oxide (C60-ZnO) thin films, and chemical, structural, antibacterial, and optical characterizations regarding such nanocomposite have been done prior to and following treatment. Fullerene peaks in C60-ZnO thin films are identical and appear at the same angles. Following the treatment of the plasma, the existence regarding fullerene peaks in the thin films investigated suggests that the crystallographic quality related to C60-ZnO thin films has enhanced. Following plasma treatment, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images regarding a C60-ZnO thin film indicate that both zinc oxide and fullerene particles had shrunk in the size and have an even distribution. In addition
... Show MoreBackground: Multi- drug resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus infections have become a major public health concern in both hospital and community settings.Objective: to investigate the antibacterial activity of T. Foenum- groecum essential oil against skin infection with S. aureus and to study probable synergistic activity in combination with Clindamycin.Type of the study: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Antibacterial activity of T. Foenum- groecum essential oil extract (1.2gm/100 µl) was investigated in multi- drug resistance (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus specimen isolated from patients with skin infection in Baghdad. T. Foenum- groecum use externally for cellulites and skin inflammation due to the presence of diosgenin .fast liq
... Show MoreThe aerodynamic characteristics of the forward swept wing aircraft have been studied theoretically and experimentally. Low order panel method with the Dirichlet boundary condition have been used to solve the case of the steady, inviscid and compressible flow. Experimentally, a model was manufactured from wood to carry out the tests. The primary objective of the experimental work was the measurements of the wake dimensions and orientation, velocity defect along the wake and the wake thickness. A blower type low speed (open jet) wind tunnel was used in the experimental work. The mean velocity at the test section was (9.3 m/s) and the Reynolds number based on the mean aerodynamic chord and the mean velocity was (0.46x105). The measurements sho
... Show MoreA field experiment was implemented during during of crop year 2023-2024 at the Agricultural Engineering Research Station of the University of Baghdad to evaluate the influence of row orientation and planting density on certain growth traits, grain yield, and quality indices of bread wheat cultivars. The experiment was designed as a split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The main plots included three wheat cultivars (Iba’a-99, Buhooth-22, and Buhooth-10), while the subplots consisted of three planting densities (80, 100, and 120 kg ha−1), and the sub-sub plots were assigned to two row orientations: East-