Commercially useful rubber products viz. gloves, condoms, tyres, and rubber hoses used in high temperature environments, etc., require efficient thermal conductivity, which increases the lifetime of these products. Graphene can fetch this property, if it is effectively incorporated into the rubber matrix. The great challenge in preparing graphene-rubber nanocomposites is formulating a scalable method to produce defect free graphene and its homogeneous dispersion into polymer matrices through an aqueous medium. Here, we used a simple method to produce defect free few layer (2–5) graphene, which can be easily dispersed into natural rubber (NR) latex without adversely affecting its colloidal stability. The resulting new composite showed large increase in thermal conductivity (480–980%) along with 40% increase in tensile properties and 60% improvement in electrical conductivity. This study provides a novel and generalized approach for the preparation of graphene based thermally conductive rubber nanocomposites.

The success of developing graphene based biomaterials depends on its ease of synthesis, use of environmentally benign methods and low toxicity of the chemicals involved as well as biocompatibility of the final products/devices. We report, herein, a simple, scalable and safe method to produce defect free few layers graphene using naturally available phenolics i.e. curcumin/tetrahydrocurcumin/quercetin, as solid-phase exfoliating agents with a productivity of ∼45 g/batch (D/G ≤ 0.54 and D/D′ ≤ 1.23). The production method can also be employed in liquid-phase using a ball mill (20 g/batch, D/G ≤ 0.23 and D/D′ ≤ 1.12) and a sand grinder (10 g/batch, D/G ≤ 0.11 and D/D∼ ≤ 0.78). The combined effect of π-π interaction and charge transfer (from curcumin to graphene) is postulated to be the driving force for efficient exfoliation of graphite. The yielded graphene was mixed with the natural rubber (NR) latex to produce thin film nanocomposites, which show superior tensile strength with low modulus and no loss of % elongation at break. In-vitro and in-vivo investigations demonstrate that the prepared nanocomposite is biocompatible. This approach could be useful for the production of materials suitable in products (gloves/condoms/catheters), which come in contact with body parts/body fluids.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Multiple fractions of High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy along with external beam therapy is the common method of treatment for cancer of the uterine cervix. Urinary bladder and rectum are the organs at risk (OARs) that receive a significant dose during treatment. To reduce the dose to these organs, a majority of hospitals use vaginal gauze packing, as it is a simple, nontraumatic, and easy method. This article describes the design and development of an inflatable balloon that can be used along with the applicator as a substitute for gauze packing. The balloon has two parts-the bladder part (B-part) and the rectum part (R-part), both of them are independently inflatable. The selection of the material, its width, length, and thickness are described. A mould/former for making the balloon was designed. Polished steel was used as the mould. This was dipped in specially prepared natural rubber latex (NRL) solution several times; the layers were dried and stripped to get the balloon. The composition of NRL and the compounding recipe of the latex are also described. Physical tests like tensile strength, elongation at break, bursting volume, and radiation attenuation caused by the balloon, were checked. Biological tests for assessing type I and type IV allergies, like dermal irritation and skin irritation tests, were also done.

No abstract