Effect of Spontaneous and Water-Based Passivation on Components and Parameters of Ti6Al4V (ELI Grade) Surface Tension and Its Wettability by an Aqueous Solution of Sucrose Ester Surfactants

Solid wettability is especially important for biomaterials and implants in the context of microbial adhesion to their surfaces. This adhesion can be inhibited by changes in biomaterial surface roughness and/or its hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance. The surface hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance can be changed by the specifics of the surface treatment (proper conditions of surface preparation) or adsorption of different substances. From the practical point of view, in systems that include biomaterials and implants, the adsorption of compounds characterized by bacteriostatic or bactericidal properties is especially desirable. Substances that are able to change the surface properties of a given solid as a result of their adsorption and possess at least bacteriostatic properties include sucrose ester surfactants. Thus, in our studies the analysis of a specific surface treatment effect (proper passivation conditions) on a biomaterial alloy’s (Ti6Al4V ELI, Grade 23) properties was performed based on measurements of the contact angles of water, formamide and diiodomethane. In addition, the changes in the studied solid surface’s properties resulting from the sucrose monodecanoate (SMD) and sucrose monolaurate (SML) molecules’ adsorption at the solid–water interface were also analyzed. For the analysis, the values of the contact angles of aqueous solutions of SMD and SML were measured at 293 K, and the surface tensions of the aqueous solutions of studied surfactants measured earlier were tested. From the above-mentioned tests, it was found that water environment significantly influences the components and parameters of Ti6Al4V ELI’s surface tension. It also occurred that the addition of both SMD and SML to water (separately) caused a drop in the water contact angle on Ti6Al4V ELI’s surface. However, the sucrose monolaurate surfactant is characterized by a slightly better tendency towards adsorption at the solid–water interface in the studied system compared to sucrose monodecanoate. Additionally, based on the components and parameters of Ti6Al4V ELI’s surface tension calculated from the proper values of components and parameters of model liquids, it was possible to predict the wettability of Ti6Al4V ELI using the aqueous solutions of SMD and SML at various concentrations in the solution.

Sonochemical Synthesis of Laurate Sucrose Ester as Bio-Based Plasticizer and Bio-Additive for PVC

The present study shows the results obtained in the ultrasonic synthesis of sucrose esters with lauric acid, the identification of products, and the study of their possible use as bio-additives with a plasticizing effect in the processing of plastics. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and NMR (1H and 13C NMR) were used to identify the synthesized esters. The plasticizing effect of sucrose laurate was assessed by determining the glass transition temperature of thin polyvinyl chloride films by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show a decrease in the glass transition temperature with an increase in the ester concentration in the polymer, which confirms the plasticizing effect of the obtained esters.

Research on the Manufacture of Moringa Milky Tea

In this research, moringa, black tea, milk powder, white sugar and sucrose ester were used as raw materials, and the optimal processing technology of moringa milky tea was studied by single factor and orthogonal experiments. These results showed that the optimal formula for moringa milky tea was: 7:8 of ratio of tea liquor (black tea liquor: moringa liquor), 11% of milk powder, 4% of white sugar and 0.9% of sucrose ester. Moreover, the milky tea processed with this formula has a strong milk flavor, a delicate and soft taste.