TY - JOUR A1 - Lackmann, C. A1 - Velki, M. A1 - Šimić, A. A1 - Müller, Axel A1 - Braun, U. A1 - Ečimović, S. A1 - Hollert, H. T1 - Two types of microplastics (polystyrene-HBCD and car tire abrasion) affect oxidative stress-related biomarkers in earthworm Eisenia andrei in a time-dependent manner N2 - Microplastics are small plastic fragments that are widely distributed in marine and terrestrial environments. While the soil ecosystem represents a large reservoir for plastic, research so far has focused mainly on the impact on aquatic ecosystems and there is a lack of information on the potentially adverse effects of microplastics on soil biota. Earthworms are key organisms of the soil ecosystem and are due to their crucial role in soil quality and fertility a suitable and popular model organism in soil ecotoxicology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain insight into the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics on the earthworm Eisenia andrei on multiple levels of biological organization after different exposure periods. Earthworms were exposed to two types of microplastics: (1) polystyrene-HBCD and (2) car tire abrasion in natural soil for 2, 7, 14 and 28 d. Acute and chronic toxicity and all subcellular investigations were conducted for all exposure times, avoidance behavior assessed after 48 h and reproduction after 28 d. Subcellular endpoints included enzymatic biomarker responses, namely, carboxylesterase, glutathione peroxidase, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase and catalase activities, as well as fluorescence-based measurements of oxidative stress-related markers and multixenobiotic resistance activity. Multiple biomarkers showed significant changes in activity, but a recovery of most enzymatic activities could be observed after 28 d. Overall, only minor effects could be observed on a subcellular level, showing that in this exposure scenario with environmentally relevant concentrations based on German pollution levels the threat to soil biota is minimal. However, in areas with higher concentrations of microplastics in the environment, these results can be interpreted as an early warning signal for more adverse effects. In conclusion, these findings provide new insights regarding the ecotoxicological effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics on soil organisms. KW - Microplastics KW - Earthworms KW - Toxicity KW - Biomarker KW - oxidative stress PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-545423 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107190 VL - 163 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-54542 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Lorenz, Edelgard A1 - Weimann, Christiane A1 - Sturm, Heinz A1 - Karimov, I. A1 - Ettl, J. A1 - Meier, R. A1 - Wohlgemuth, W. A. A1 - Berger, H. A1 - Wildgruber, M. T1 - Mechanic and surface properties of central-venous port catheters after removal: A comparison of polyurethane and Silicon rubber materials N2 - Central venous port devices made of two different polymeric materials, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)and silicone rubber (SiR), were compared due their material properties. Both naïve catheters as well as catheters after removal from patients were investigated. In lab experiments the influence of various chemo-therapeutic solutions on material properties was investigated, where as the samples after removal were compared according to the implanted time inpatient. The macroscopic,mechanical performance was assessed with dynamic, specially adapted tests for elasticity. The degradation status of the materials was determined with common tools of polymer characterisation, such as infrared spectroscopy, molecular weight measurements and various methods of thermal analysis. The surface morphology was an alysed using scanning electron microscopy. A correlation between material properties and clinical performance was proposed. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the polyurethane catheter materials can potentially result in increased susceptibility of the catheter to bloodstream infections and thrombotic complications. The higher mechanic failure,especially with increasing implantation time of the silicone catheters is related to the lower mechanical performance compared to the polyurethane material as well as loss of barium sulphate filler particles near the surface of the catheter. This results in preformed microscopic notches, which act as predetermined sites of fracture. KW - Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) KW - Silicone rubber (SiR) KW - Catheters KW - Central venous access port KW - Complication KW - Structure propertyrelationship KW - Mechanical testing PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.08.002 SN - 1751-6161 SN - 1878-0180 VL - 64 SP - 281 EP - 291 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-37178 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Seefeldt, Henrik A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Wagner, M.H. T1 - Residue stabilization in the fire retardancy of wood-plastic composites: combination of ammonium polyphosphate, expandable graphite, and red phosphorus N2 - Combinations of different common flame retardants in wood–plastic composites (WPCs) are tested to identify synergistic or antagonistic effects with the goal of improving the fire performance of WPCs. Flame retardants investigated are expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and red phosphorus (RP) and combinations of two of them are used. The fire behavior is studied by cone calorimetric measurements. Additional thermogravimetry is used for further investigations. The fire tests show that EG has the highest potential for flame retardancy, but due to its expansion it cracks the formed residue layer. Combinations of EG with RP or with high amounts of APP are able to suppress this cracking. KW - Flame retardance KW - Halogen free KW - Renewable resources KW - Wood-plastic composites KW - WPC PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.201200119 SN - 1022-1352 SN - 1521-3935 VL - 213 IS - 22 SP - 2370 EP - 2377 PB - Wiley-VCH Verl. CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-27489 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grabmayer, K. A1 - Wallner, G.M. A1 - Beißmann, S. A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Steffen, R. A1 - Nitsche, D. A1 - Röder, B. A1 - Buchberger, W. A1 - Lang, R.W. T1 - Accelerated aging of polyethylene materials at high oxygen pressure characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy and established aging characterization methods N2 - Two commercial polyethylene grades were exposed to water at elevated temperatures and enhanced oxygen pressure. To characterize their aging behavior laser-induced photoluminescence spectroscopy was applied. Additionally, aging characterization was performed by established methods such as tensile testing, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV–VIS spectroscopy. During the initial stages of aging, the overall concentration of phenolic antioxidants as well as oxidation onset temperatures decreased exponentially. Simultaneously, significant discoloration due to the formation of conjugated degradation products from phenolic antioxidants (e.g., quinone methides) was detected. After the consumption of antioxidants, photoluminescence started to grow continuously presumably due to the formation of photoluminescent unsaturated carbonyls. In the final stages of aging, embrittlement of the materials as characterized by the degradation of mechanical properties (i.e., loss in ductility) coincided with rising carbonyl index values as well as an increase in crystallinity due to chemicrystallization. Between integrated photoluminescence intensity and carbonyl index, a linear correlation was established. In the induction period, the photoluminescence method exhibited a significantly higher sensitivity to reflect aging induced material changes. KW - Polyethylene KW - PE-RT KW - High oxygen pressure KW - Photoluminescence spectroscopy KW - Aging PY - 2014 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.06.021 SN - 0141-3910 SN - 1873-2321 VL - 109 SP - 40 EP - 49 PB - Applied Science Publ. CY - London AN - OPUS4-31349 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lukowiak, M.C. A1 - Wettmarshausen, Sascha A1 - Hidde, Gundula A1 - Landsberger, Petra A1 - Boenke, Viola A1 - Rodenacker, K. A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Friedrich, Jörg Florian A1 - Gorbushina, Anna A1 - Haag, R. T1 - Polyglycerol coated polypropylene surfaces for protein and bacteria resistance N2 - Polyglycerol (PG) coated polypropylene (PP) films were synthesized in a two-step approach that involved plasma bromination and subsequently grafting hyperbranched polyglycerols with very few amino functionalities. The influence of different molecular weights and density of reactive linkers were investigated for the grafted PGs. Longer bromination times and higher amounts of linkers on the surface afforded long-term stability. The protein adsorption and bacteria attachment of the PP-PG films were studied. Their extremely low amine content proved to be beneficial for preventing bacteria attachment. PY - 2015 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-325406 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c4py01375a SN - 1759-9954 SN - 1759-9962 VL - 6 IS - 8 SP - 1350 EP - 1359 AN - OPUS4-32540 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kervarec, M.-C. A1 - Kemnitz, E. A1 - Scholz, G. A1 - Rudic, S. A1 - Jäger, Christian A1 - Braun, T. A1 - Michalchuk, Adam A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - A HF Loaded Lewis-Acidic Aluminium Chlorofluoride for Hydrofluorination Reactions N2 - The very strong Lewis acid aluminium chlorofluo-ride (ACF) was loaded with anhydrous HF. The interactionbetween the surface of the catalyst and HF was investigatedusing a variety of characterization methods, which revealed he formation of polyfluorides. Moreover, the reactivity ofthe HF-loaded ACF towards the hydrofluorination of alkyneswas studied. KW - Aluminium KW - HF KW - Hydrofluorination KW - Metal fluorides PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-508360 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202001627 VL - 26 SP - 1 PB - Wiley Online Libary AN - OPUS4-50836 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dittmann, Daniel A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Goedecke, Caroline A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Jekel, M A1 - Ruhl, A S A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Specific adsorption sites and conditions derived by thermal decomposition of activated carbons and adsorbed carbamazepine N2 - The adsorption of organic micropollutants onto activated carbon is a favourable solution for the treatment of drinking water and wastewater. However, these adsorption processes are not sufficiently understood to allow for the appropriate prediction of removal processes. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis, alongside evolved gas analysis, is proposed for the characterisation of micropollutants adsorbed on activated carbon. Varying amounts of carbamazepine were adsorbed onto three different activated carbons, which were subsequently dried, and their thermal decomposition mechanisms examined. The discovery of 55 different pyrolysis products allowed differentiations to be made between specific adsorption sites and conditions. However, the same adsorption mechanisms were found for all samples, which were enhanced by inorganic constituents and oxygen containing surface groups. Furthermore, increasing the loadings led to the evolution of more hydrated decomposition products, whilst parts of the carbamazepine molecules were also integrated into the carbon structure. It was also found that the chemical composition, especially the degree of dehydration of the activated carbon, plays an important role in the adsorption of carbamazepine. Hence, it is thought that the adsorption sites may have a higher adsorption energy for specific adsorbates, when the activated carbon can then potentially increase its degree of graphitisation. KW - Aktivkohle KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Adsorption KW - Thermoanalytik PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-506946 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63481-y VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 6695 PB - Nature Publishing Group AN - OPUS4-50694 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Fichera, M.A. A1 - Jäger, Christian A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Pawlowski, Kristin ED - Menachem Lewin, T1 - Solid-state NMR for monitoring the thermal decomposition of flame retarded polymers PY - 2007 SN - 1-59623-321-4 VL - I SP - 9 EP - 19 PB - BCC Research CY - Norwalk, CT, USA AN - OPUS4-17581 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -