PP-based composites with two mineral fillers (perlite or glass beads) were manufactured by extrusion, and then subjected to orientation in a ratio of 3:1. Electrets were obtained in the polarization process under the influence of a constant electric field. Sample morphology was tested by SEM whereas the crystallinity was determined by XRD. Mechanical strength and thermal stability of composites was studied by tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The piezoelectric characteristics were appointed by measurement of the electrical charge and current voltage in the polarized samples. The dependence of thermally stimulated depolarized current (TSDC) on temperature was also investigated. The piezoelectric coefficient (d33), the electret stability over time as well as activation energy of depolarization process have been determined. It was found that low filler content (i.e. 2.5 and 5 wt.% of glass beads and perlite, respectively) significantly improve piezoelectric properties of isotactic polypropylene (i-PP).

Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), airborne water droplets have been identified as the main transmission route. Identifying and breaking all viable transmission routes are critical to stop future outbreaks, and the potential of transmission by water has been highlighted. By modifying established approaches, we provide a method for the rapid assessment of the risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water and give example results for 39 countries. The country relative risk of transmission posed by fecally contaminated river water is related to the environment and the populations' infection rate and water usage. On the basis of in vitro data and using temperature as the primary controller of survival, we then demonstrate how viral loads likely decrease after a spill. These methods using readily available data suggest that sewage spills into rivers within countries with high infection rates could provide infectious doses of >40 copies per 100 mL of water. The approach, implemented in the supplementary spreadsheet, can provide a fast estimate of the upper and lower viral load ranges following a riverine spill. The results enable evidence-based research recommendations for wastewater epidemiology and could be used to evaluate the significance of fecal−oral transmission within freshwater systems.

Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in China, airborne water droplets (aerosols) have been identified as the main transmission route, although other transmission routes are likely to exist. We quantify SARS-CoV-2 virus survivability within water and the risk of infection posed by faecal contaminated water within 39 countries. We identify that the virus can remain stable within water for up to 25 days, and country specific relative risk of infection posed by faecal contaminated water is related to the environment. Faecal contaminated rivers, waterways and water systems within countries with high infection rates can provide infectious doses >100 copies within 100 ml of water. The implications for freshwater systems, the coastal marine environment and virus resurgence are discussed.

This article presents a method for preparing and testing the piezoelectric properties and stability of cellular electret based on polypropylene (PP). Introducing 5% mineral filler as a mixture of crystalline silica, colloidal silica, and kaolin to isotactic polypropylene followed by a film stretching process resulted in the formation of a composite cellular structure. To manufacture electrets, the films were polarized at a constant electric field in the range from 100 V/lm to 125 V/lm, in a climatic chamber heated up to 80°C. The durability of the electrets was determined using thermostimulated discharge currents and approximate calculations of depolarization process activation energy. For electrets made of cellular films, the depolarization temperature T m at which the density of the discharge current assumes the highest value was $108°C and the activation energy was 6.25 eV. The response of the polarized composite film to mechanical stress expressed as the piezoelectric constant d 33 was about 3 times higher than for a-PP film of the prevailing atactic phase and poly(vinylidene fluoride) film without a cellular structure. In the range of stress of 1 kPa to 120 kPa it was 135 pC/N for lower stresses and 60 pC/N for higher stresses.

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