Search Results (224)

Background: The consequences of injuries resulting from accidents are among the most common health disorders in children. A scar forms at the site of the injury. In the treatment of scars, not all methods used in adults can be used in children. The authors attempted to assess the effectiveness of using KT kinesiology taping on scars in children. The aim of the work is to assess the effect of KT on the treatment of keloid, hypertrophic scars, and postoperative adhesions in children. Methods: The study included 30 patients aged 4 to 10 years. The subjects were divided into three groups: group G1-9 patients with keloid scars, group G2-14 with hypertrophic scars, group G3-7 with postoperative adhesions. The patients underwent kinesiology taping for 8 weeks. The analyzed parameters were determined using the VSS scale and ultrasonography. Results: The analysis of the VSS scale results in relation to the type of scars showed a significant (p < 0.001) downward trend in the measured parameters for keloid and hypertrophic scars. Analysis of ultrasound results in relation to the type of scars showed a significant (p < 0.001) downward trend in the measured parameters, comparing parameters I and II for all types of scars. Conclusions: Kinesiology taping significantly changes the following scar parameters: deformability, pigmentation, and perfusion in the case of keloid and hypertrophic scars. Full article

The poor interfacial adhesion between ductile gold (Au) electrodes and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates affects their application in flexible sensors. Here, a porous Au electrode is designed and combined with a flexible PDMS substrate to form a structure that embeds Au into the PDMS film, thereby enhancing the interfacial adhesion of the Au/PDMS electrode. The resistivity change of the Au/PDMS electrode is only 12.3% after 100 tape peeling trials. The resistance of the Au/PDMS electrode remains stable at the 30% strain level after 2000 tensile cycling tests. This feature is mainly attributed to the deformation buffering effect of the porous Au film. After 100 min of ultrasonic oscillation testing, the resistivity change of the Au/PDMS electrode remains stable. It is also shown that the Au/PDMS electrode has excellent interfacial adhesion properties, which is mainly attributed to the interlocking effect of the Au/PDMS electrode structure. In addition, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the temperature sensor based on the Au/PDMS electrode is approximately 0.00320/°C and the sensor’s sensitivity remains almost stable after 200 temperature measurement cycles. Au/PDMS electrodes have great potential for a wide range of applications in flexible electronics due to their excellent interfacial adhesion and electrical stability. Full article

Monitoring posture and movement accurately and efficiently is essential for both physical therapy and athletic training evaluation and interventions. Motion Tape (MT), a self-adhesive wearable skin-strain sensor made of piezoresistive graphene nanosheets (GNS), has demonstrated promise in capturing low back posture and movements. However, to address some of its limitations, this work explores alternative materials by replacing GNS with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). This study aimed to characterize the electromechanical properties of MWCNT-based MT. Cyclic load tests for different peak tensile strains ranging from 1% to 10% were performed on MWCNT-MT made with an aqueous ink of 2% MWCNT. Additional tests to examine load rate sensitivity and fatigue were also conducted. After characterizing the properties of MWCNT-MT, a human subject study with 10 participants was designed to test its ability to capture different postures and movements. Sets of six sensors were made from each material (GNS and MWCNT) and applied in pairs at three levels along each side of the lumbar spine. To record movement of the lower back, all participants performed forward flexion, left and right bending, and left and right rotation movements. The results showed that MWCNT-MT exceeded GNS-MT with respect to consistency of signal stability even when strain limits were surpassed. In addition, both types of MT could assess lower back movements. Full article

In food drying processes such as cast-tape drying, refractance window, and drum drying, spreading food suspensions on hydrophobic surfaces is critical. This study investigated the effects of low-molar-mass sugars (glucose, sucrose, and fructose) on the rheology and surface tension of cassava starch suspensions, which served as model systems. Wettability was assessed on hydrophobic surfaces, including new polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films, with additional testing on sandpaper-abraded PTFE (named PTFE R+) to evaluate the influence of surface roughness. PET film exhibited lower roughness (Ra = X µm) and higher surface tension (71 mN/m) compared to PTFE (surface tension 65 mN/m). Contact angles on PET (93–124°) were significantly higher than on PTFE (89–113°), indicating greater product adhesion on PET. All suspensions showed pseudoplastic behavior, and the addition of the surfactant Tween 20 slightly reduced surface tension (by ≈1–5 mN/m) but did not significantly enhance wettability. Sucrose and fructose increased wettability on PTFE R+, but the effects of the sugar varied depending on the surface. These findings suggest that PTFE surfaces reduce product sticking during drying compared to PET. Interactions between sugars, Tween 20, and hydrophobic surfaces must be considered to optimize spreading and reduce product sticking during drying. This knowledge can guide improvements in drying processes for food products. Full article

The adhesion of copper thin films galvanostatically electrodeposited on Cu cathodes from electrolytes without or with the addition of various additives, such as chloride ions, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), and 3–mercapto–1–propanesulfonic acid, has been investigated. Morphological and structural analyses of synthesized films were performed using the SEM, AFM, and XRD methods, while the adhesion of the films was examined by applying the theoretical Chen–Gao (C–G) composite hardness model using results from Vickers microindentation, a bidirectional bending test, and a scratch-tape adhesion test. The morphologies of the films were either very smooth, with mirror-like brightness, obtained from the electrolyte containing all three additives, or microcrystalline, with different grain sizes, obtained from other electrolytes. The best adhesion was observed in the fine-grained film with numerous boundaries among grains, obtained with the addition of chloride ions and PEG 6000, while the mirror-bright film obtained with a combination of all three additives showed the worst adhesion. The boundaries among grains represented barriers that decreased the depth of penetration during microindentation and, consequently, increased the hardness and enhanced the adhesion of the film. The size of the grains—and hence, the number of grain boundaries—was regulated by the composition of the electrolytes achieved by the addition of additives. Good agreement was observed among the various methods used for the estimation of the adhesion properties of Cu films. Full article

To meet the stringent demands of next-generation flexible optoelectronic devices, a novel fabrication approach is employed that integrates the spray-coating of copper nanowires (Cu NWs) with the magnetron sputtering of SrTiO₃ thin films, thereby yielding SrTiO₃/Cu NWs/SrTiO₃ hybrid thin films. The incorporation of the SrTiO₃ layers results in improved optical performance, with the transmittance of the Cu NW network increasing from 83.5% to 84.2% and a concurrent reduction in sheet resistance from 16.9 Ω/sq to 14.5 Ω/sq. Moreover, after subjecting the hybrid thin films to 100 repeated tape-peeling tests and 2000 bending cycles with a bending radius of 5.0 mm, the resistance remains essentially unchanged, which underscores the films’ exceptional mechanical flexibility and robust adhesion. Additionally, the hybrid thin films are subjected to rigorous high-temperature, high-humidity, and oxidative conditions, where the resistance exhibits outstanding stability. These results substantiate the potential of the SrTiO₃/Cu NWs/SrTiO₃ hybrid thin films for integration into flexible and wearable electronic devices, delivering enhanced optoelectronic performance and long-term reliability under demanding conditions. Full article

Traces of potential contact from a perpetrator for evidence are one of the most frequently secured groups of evidence during the examination of the crime scene and during the examination of material in forensic laboratories. By far the most common way to secure the above-mentioned traces is the use of swabs. The literature reports indicate promising results from the use of adhesive materials for securing contact marks. The products currently on the market are not dedicated to forensic genetics or cause problems with the recovery of protected DNA at the stage of DNA isolation in the laboratory. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of conditions from an accelerated aging process carried out under simulated laboratory conditions (with aging factors as follows: UV radiation, temperature, and humidity level) on the physico-mechanical properties and chemical resistance of adhesive films made of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). As part of the research, the influence of storage conditions on the physico-mechanical properties and chemical resistance of developed foil materials used to secure forensic traces was developed and verified. The research was carried out in conditions similar to the real ones, conducting tests of accelerated aging with the following factors: temperature, humidity, and UV radiation. Full article

This study presents a method for enhancing the adhesion of chemically synthesized polyaniline on steel substrates without the need for a binding agent. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) was used in the synthesis of polyaniline. The experiment details the in situ chemical synthesis of polyaniline and its application as a coating on steel surfaces using an air spray technique. Pre-surface treatment, including cleaning and sanding, was performed on the steel substrates prior to coating. Following the application of the polyaniline coating, heat treatment was applied, where the coating was heated to 350 °F for 3 h after it was fully dried. The adhesion properties of the coating were evaluated using the ASTM D 3359 adhesive tape test, along with short- and long-term exposure to 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Additional analysis, including SEM, XPS, XRD, and coating thickness measurements, demonstrates the effectiveness of polyaniline in enhancing adhesion on steel substrates. Full article

Tapes are widely utilized across various industries, offering versatile solutions for bonding, sealing, and packaging applications. Their ease of use, strength, and adaptability make them essential in manufacturing, construction, and consumer markets. However, the effectiveness of tapes depends heavily on their adhesive performance, which is influenced by factors such as the adhesive layer composition, material compatibility, environmental conditions, and contact parameters. Quantifying adhesive performance through standardized testing is critical to ensuring reliability, optimizing functionality, and meeting industry-specific requirements. Traditional methods, such as peel and shear tests, are commonly used to evaluate the adhesive and shear strength of tapes. However, these methods typically operate at macro-load scales and often use complex sample geometries and significant material quantities. Recently, precision indentation–retraction testing has emerged as a promising technique for accurately quantifying the adhesion and cohesion forces of viscoelastic fluids. This study adapts this method to evaluate and compare the adhesive strength of various commercially available adhesive tapes. The adhesion force and separation energy of five commercial tapes, namely paper masking tape, high-temperature tape, insulation tape, duct tape, box wrapping tape, and double-sided tape, were measured using a Falex Tackiness Adhesion Analyser (TAA) tester, under controlled conditions (approach speed: 0.01 mm/s, retraction speed: 0.1 mm/s, and load: 50 mN). The results indicated that the adhesion force and separation energy varied significantly among the tapes, whereas a different pattern in the indentation–retraction curves was obtained for these tapes. In addition, the significance of difference among the adhesive properties of the tapes was assessed with the use of analysis of variance (ANOVA). This innovative approach not only enhances the precision of adhesive strength measurements but also provides valuable insights into adhesive layer properties, offering a novel tool for research, development, and quality control in tape production. Full article

Flexible, wearable biomedical sensors based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) have garnered significant attention due to a straightforward fabrication process and exceptional electrical and mechanical properties. However, most relevant studies rely on commercial polyimide precursors, which suffer from inadequate biocompatibility and weak adhesion between the precursor material and the LIG layer. To address these challenges, we synthesized cross-linked polyurethanes (PUs) with good biocompatibility and used them as substrates for LIG-based wearable pulse sensors. During fabrication, we employed two methods of LIG transfer to achieve optimal transfer yield. We adjusted the thickness of PU films and tailored their mechanical and physicochemical properties by varying the soft segment content to achieve optimal sensor performance. Our findings demonstrate that the success of LIG transfer is strongly influenced by the structure and composition of the polymeric substrate. Tensile testing revealed that increasing the soft segment content in PU films significantly improved their tensile strength, elongation at break, and flexibility, with PU based on 50 wt.% soft segment content (PU-50) showing the best mechanical properties. LIG exhibited minimal sensitivity to humidity, while PU films maintained high transparency (>80% at 500 nm), and PU-50 was non-toxic, with less than 5% lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in endothelial cell cultures, confirming its biocompatibility. Adhesion tests demonstrated that LIG transferred onto PU-50 exhibited significantly stronger adhesion compared to other tested substrates, with only a 30% increase in electrical resistance after the Scotch tape test, ensuring stability for wearable sensors. The optimal substrate, a semicrystalline PU-50, yielded superior transfer efficiency. Among all tested sensors, the LIG/PU-50, featuring a 77 μm thick substrate with good mechanical properties and improved adhesion, exhibited the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This study showcases a skin-safe LIG/PU-based pulse sensor that has significant potential for applications as a wearable patch in medical and sports monitoring. Full article

The additive manufacturing of high-performance thermoplastics, including high-temperature materials and continuous fiber reinforcement, are extensively being developed worldwide. In this work, we combined laser-assisted in situ consolidation tape laying and fused filament fabrication to manufacture a 100% thermoplastic stiffened panel in three stages with innovative designs using LMPAEK-PEKK carbon fiber-reinforced polymers. The overprinting of gyroid structures on top of ATL laminates assisted by lasers have shown very good adhesion. Mechanical characterization by flatwise and four-point bending tests have shown tensile strength in the range of 10 MPa (flatwise) and 889 MPa (four-point bending). Tomography analysis shows the optimization roadmap to enhance mechanical properties by improving temperature management during manufacturing. Full article

We developed a metal-compatible RFID dipole antenna. The antenna consists of three layers, including the top metal, dielectric substrate, and bottom metal, with the top metal and bottom metal of the dipole antenna shorted at the side edges of the antenna. In order to accurately measure the gain and reflection coefficient (|S11|) of the antenna in the desired frequency band, an impedance matching circuit was created using an open stub around the feeding section of the antenna. The simulation and measurement results of the |S11| and antenna’s realized gain are presented in this paper. The measured |S11| has similar characteristics to the design results at around 915–940 MHz. The size of the proposed antenna is 70 mm × 50 mm × 1.636 mm. In addition, the antenna can be bent at 0, 3, or 5 divisions to fit curved metal objects such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This antenna structure is a fundamental area of study for future application to flexible substrates. Conductive adhesive tape (copper tape) was used to connect each section. The surface of the copper tape was fixed with adhesive to prevent it from peeling off. In the simulation and measurement, it was confirmed that our proposed antenna could operate around the desired frequency band. In the future, we plan to install an IC chip in the antenna input section and work towards implementing it in society. Full article

AFP process has the advantage of producing high-performance components and reducing the manufacturing time and defects introduced in the final material thanks to the highly automated process, compared with more traditional methods. Selecting inappropriate AFP process parameters can influence the permeability of the preforms being manufactured and the later mechanical performance of the final component. This paper reviews in detail the influence of the main AFP process parameters (deposition velocity, compaction force and temperature) over the adhesion properties between carbon fiber tapes. Later, three parameter combinations are selected to evaluate their influence over preform permeability and the mechanical performance of the composite after the resin injection process (RTM). Full article

The durability of piezoresistive sensor materials is a core prerequisite for their implementation in structural health monitoring systems. In this work, three piezoresistive materials were subjected to extensive cyclic tensile loadings, and their behaviour was analysed before, after, and during testing. To this end, aluminium specimens were coated with three different industry-grade lacquers, and then piezoresistive materials were applied onto each specimen. Sensors made from carbon black displayed excellent linearity even after tensile loading cycles ($R^2>0.88$). A decline in linearity of all sensors based on carbon allotropes was discovered, whereas the polymer-based sensors improved. Furthermore, their adhesion to the substrate is of great importance. Good adhesion ensures the strains in the underlying structure are correctly transmitted into the sensor materials. Based on contact angle measurements of liquids on sensor materials and on lacquers, their work of adhesion was determined. The findings were verified by tape adhesion tests. Full article

Background: An ankle sprain is a frequent musculoskeletal injury, often leading to chronic instability and an increased risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Kinesio Tape, an elastic adhesive tape, is widely used in rehabilitation for its supposed benefits in reducing pain, controlling edema, and improving ankle function. However, its effectiveness in managing acute ankle sprains remains debated. Methods: This systematic review aims to evaluate the evidence on the impact of Kinesio Taping on pain reduction, edema control, and return to sport in patients with acute ankle sprains. A systematic review was conducted in line with the PRISMA guidelines. The literature from PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library was searched for studies published from 2004 to 2024. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 247 patients with acute ankle sprains. Data on patient demographics, follow-up duration, Kinesio Taping protocols, and clinical outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results: The review revealed mixed findings. Some studies reported short-term pain relief and reduced need for analgesics in the Kinesio Taping group, especially when combined with manual therapy. However, no significant differences were found in the edema control compared to bracing or casting. Functional recovery, as assessed by scales like the Karlsson scoring scale, showed no clear advantage for Kinesio Taping over other treatments. Conclusions: Kinesio Taping provides limited benefits for ankle sprain management, particularly in terms of long-term functional recovery and edema reduction. While it may offer short-term pain relief, it should be considered as an adjunctive treatment rather than a primary intervention. Full article