Characterisation of Ga2O3–Na2O–CaO–ZnO–SiO2 bioactive glasses

The structural role of Gallium (Ga) is investigated when substituted for Zinc (Zn) in a 0.42SiO₂–0.40–xZnO–0.10Na₂O–0.08CaO glass series, (where x = 0.08). Each starting material was amorphous, and the network connectivity (NC) was calculated assuming Ga acts as both a network modifier (1.23), and also as a network former. Assuming a network forming role for Ga the NC increased with increasing Ga concentration throughout the glass series (Control 1.23, TGa-1 2.32 and TGa-2 3.00). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed both composition and correlated NC predictions. Raman spectroscopy was employed to investigate Q-structure and found that a shift in wavenumbers occurred as the Ga concentration increased through the glass series, from 933, 951 to 960 cm^?1. Magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance determined a chemical shift from ?73, ?75 to ?77 ppm as the Ga concentration increased, supporting Raman data. These results suggest that Ga acts predominantly as a network former in this particular Zn-silicate system.     

Statistical description of the effect of Zr addition on the behavior of microcracks in Cu–6Ni–2Mn–2Sn–2Al Alloy

As possible substitutes for high-strength Cu–Be alloys, Cu–6Ni–2Mn–2Sn–2Al alloys have been developed. To clarify the physical background of the effect of trace Zr on the fatigue strength of such alloys, the initiation and propagation behavior of a major crack that led to the fracture of the tested specimens was monitored. When the stress amplitude was less than σ _a = 350 MPa, the fatigue life of the alloys with Zr was about 2–2.5 times larger than that of the alloy without Zr. When σ _a > 350 MPa, the effect of Zr addition on the fatigue life dramatically decreases as the stress amplitude increases. The increased fatigue life due to Zr addition resulted from an enhancement of the crack initiation life and microcrack growth life. The enhanced crack initiation life was mainly attributed to the strengthening of grain boundaries due to the precipitation of SnZr compounds. A statistical analysis of the behavior of multiple cracks was made to quantitatively evaluate the scatter in fatigue behavior. The statistical analysis supported the conclusions obtained from the behavior of a major crack.     

Effect of Al content on hot tearing behaviour of Mg–xAl–2Ca–2Sm alloys

Mg–xAl–2Ca–2Sm (x?=?3, 5, 9 and 15) alloys were tested using an ‘L’-shaped sand mould serving as a hot tearing testing system. The experimental results showed that the solidification range of the Mg–xAl–2Ca–2Sm alloys first decreased and then increased as the Al content was increased. Furthermore, by increasing the Al content, the dendritic arms of the α-Mg phase become more developed, and the hot tearing tendency of the Mg–xAl–2Ca–2Sm alloys increased. In addition, the variety of precipitated phases was seen to be affected by the Al content and the tendency for hot tearing depended on the precipitated phase. The tendency of the Mg–xAl–2Ca–2Sm alloys for hot tearing first decreased and then increased with increasing Al content.     

Effects of Li2O3–B2O3–SiO2 addition on dielectric properties and microstructure of MgO–TiO2–ZnO–CaO ceramics

The effect of Li₂O₃–B₂O₃–SiO₂ (LBS) liquid-phase additives on the sintering, microstructures, and dielectric properties of MgO–TiO₂–ZnO–CaO (MTZC) ceramics was investigated. It was found that the sintering temperature could be lowered easily, and the dielectric properties of MTZC ceramics could be greatly improved by adding a small amount of LBS solution additives. With the addition of 10 wt% LBS, the ceramics sintered at 900 °C showed favorable dielectric properties with ε_r = 21.7, Qf = 5.0 × 10⁴ GHz, and TCF = ?21.6 ppm/ °C. The distructive physical analysis showed an excellent co-firing interfacial behavior between the MTZC ceramic and the Ag electrode. It indicated that MTZC ceramics with LBS solution additives have a number of potential applications on passive integrated devices based on the low-temperature co-fired ceramics technology.     

Dynamic tensile properties of Ti–47Al–2Mn–2Nbs alloy

Room temperature tensile properties of polycrystal Ti–47Al–2Mn–2Nb alloy with near lamellar (NL) microstructures were investigated at the strain rates between 10–5 and 1000 s–1 using a self-designed Split-Hopkinson tensile bar setup with a rotating disk and conventional testing machine. It was found that tensile ductility varies within a narrow range with the strain rate, while dynamic strengths (d) of the alloy are obviously higher than static strengths (s). There exists linear relationship between s and the logarithm of the strain rate (ln ), and between d and the strain rate itself (). Fractography analysis indicates that the alloy fractures in a mixed mode of predominant transgranular cleavage and minor intergranular cracking under static and dynamic strain rates. Environmental effect is excluded from the main cause for the room temperature brittleness of the investigated alloy.     

Effects of MgO on properties of Li2O–Al2O3–SiO2 glass–ceramics for LTCC applications

Li₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ (LAS) glass–ceramics for low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) application were prepared by melting method, and the effects of MgO on the sinterability, microstructure, dielectric property, thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) and mechanical character of this glass–ceramics have been studied. The X-ray diffraction images represent that the main phase is β-spodumene solid solutions. And some ZrO₂ and CaMgSi₂O₆ phases in LAS glass–ceramics are detected. The LAS glass–ceramics without additive (MgO) sintered at 800° had the dielectric properties: dielectric constant (ε_r) of 5.3, dielectric loss (tanδ) of 2.97 × 10^?3 at 1 MHz, CTE value of 1.06 × 10^?6 K^?1, bulk density of 2.17 g/cm³, and flexural strength of 73 MPa. 5.5 wt% MgO-added LAS glass–ceramic achieves densification at 800° exhibited excellent properties: low dielectric constant and loss (ε_r = 7.1, tanδ = 2.02 × 10^?3 at 1 MHz), low CTE (2.89 × 10^?6 K^?1), bulk density = 2.65 g/cm³ as well as high flexural strength (145 MPa). The results indicate that the addition of MgO is helpful to improve the dielectric and mechanical properties. The formation of CaMgSi₂O₆ crystal phase with higher CTE leads to the increase of CTE value of LAS glass–ceramics due to the increasing MgO content, and the increase of CTE is favourable for matching with silicon (3.1 × 10^?6 K^?1). The prepared LAS glass–ceramics have the potential for LTCC application.     

Characterization of SiO2–Na2O–Fe2O 3–CaO–P2O 5–B 2O 3 glass ceramics

Bioactivity and magnetic properties were investigated in glass and glass ceramics based on the SiO₂–Na₂O–Fe₂O₃–CaO–P₂O₅–B₂O₃ system to find their suitability as thermoseed for hyperthermia treatment of cancer. The effect of change in compositions on bioactivity was examined in simulated body fluids. The glass ceramic samples exhibit Na₃CaSi₃O₈ and Na_3-XFe_XPO₄ phases. After dipping the glass ceramic samples in simulated body fluids silica hydrogel first forms, followed by an amorphous calcium phosphate layer. Magnetic and microwave resonance experiments further demonstrate the potential of these glass ceramics for possible use in hyperthermia.     

Properties of TlInSe2–TlNdSe2 Solid Solutions

TlIn_{1 – x} Nd _x Se₂(0 < x 0.1) solid solutions were characterized by x-ray diffraction and temperature-dependent electrical conductivity, Hall effect, thermoelectric power, and heat capacity measurements. With increasing Nd content, the lattice parameters of the solid solutions increase almost linearly, and their band gap decreases.     

Vapour–liquid–solid growth of TiB2 whiskers

Whiskers of TiB₂ have been synthesised via a carbothermal vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) growth mechanism. The whisker growth was investigated in the temperature region 1100–1800°C in argon. The best result was obtained with a starting mixture of TiO₂:B₂O₃:C:NaCl:Ni in the molar ratios 1:1:6:0.25:0.1 at 1500°C. Thermogravimetric analyses and mass-spectroscopy measurements were used in studying the whisker growth. The obtained TiB₂ whiskers are 0.5–2 m in diameter and 10–50 m in length. TEM studies of the whiskers showed that the dominating growth direction is temperature dependent.     

The Density of UO2–ZrO2 Alloys

The density of a UO₂–ZrO₂ melt (atomic ratio U/Zr = 1.528) is experimentally measured by a pycnometric method in the temperature range of 2973–3373 K. The found temperature dependence of density has the form (T) = (7.0 ± 0.01) – (4.5 ± 0.4) × 10^–4 × (T – 2973 K), g/cm³. The temperature dependence measured enables one to calculate the values of the density of UO₂–ZrO₂ melts depending on the temperature and composition for any atomic ratio U/Zr.     

Isothermal Compressibility of TlInS2–TlPrS2 Alloys

A phase transition in TlIn_{1 – x} Pr _x S₂ (0 <x 0.08) solid solutions was detected at 260–290 K by temperature-dependent isothermal compressibility measurements, in accordance with the thermal expansion data obtained earlier.     

Microwave dielectric properties of CaO–La2O3–Nb2O5–TiO2 ceramics

A series of ceramics with a general formula Ca_1+xLa_4?xNb_xTi_5?xO₁₇ (0 ≤ x ≤ 4) were fabricated using the solid-state ceramic route. The phase, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties varied distinctly with composition or the value of x. X-ray diffraction results showed that the two end member phases, CaLa₄Ti₅O₁₇ and Ca₅Nb₄TiO₁₇, crystallized into single phases with orthorhombic and monoclinic crystal structure, respectively. For intermediate compounds with x = 1, 2, and 3, mixture phases CaLa₄Ti₅O₁₇ and Ca₅Nb₄TiO₁₇ coexisted and a trace amount of second phase was detected. The ceramics showed high ε _r in the range of 45–52, relatively high quality factors with Q × f in the range of 9,870–15,680 GHz and τ _f value in the range between ?38 and ?126.4 ppm/°C. τ _f of CaLa₄Ti₅O₁₇ can be tuned to a near-zero value by addition of suitable amount of TiO₂.     

Surface properties of bioactive TEOS–PDMS–TiO2–CaO ormosils

Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)–polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) ormosils with different amounts of Ti and Ca were prepared and characterized. Several surface properties such as specific surface area, porosity, fractality, dispersive and polar surface energies were determined and related with their in-vitro bioactivity. It has been found a dependence of the surface fractal dimension with the concentration of Ca²⁺ ions that induce the appearance of rough surfaces. The dispersive surface energy, γ _S ^d , increased with the incorporation of Ti or Ca and the presence of micropores, but Ca(NO₃)₂ precipitates in the surface coming from non-incorporated Ca lead to a decrease of the surface energy values. In relation with the polar surface energy, it has been observed that all ormosil materials presented amphoteric character with a larger presence of base surface sites than acid ones. The basicity of the surface increased with the concentration of Ti and Ca, while the acidity decreased. The in-vitro bioactivity of the surface was estimated by soaking samples in simulated body fluid (SBF) and afterwards characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). It has been observed that in vitro bioactivity is related with the polar surface characteristics of these materials, being necessary for the bioactivity, the presence of a highly polar surface with intermediate base/acid ratio and specific roughness.     

Effect of thermal treatment on elastic properties of SiO2–Na2O–CaO–P2O5 glasses for biomedical applications

Glasses of the system SiO₂–Na₂O–CaO–P₂O₅ have been prepared for different compositions of SiO₂ employing the normal melting and annealing technique. The glasses of different compositions have been subjected to different thermal treatments to explore the change in structure, mechanical and other related properties. The ultrasonic velocities and attenuation measurements have been made on different compositions of the pure and thermal-treated glasses at a fundamental frequency of 5 MHz at 303 K. The observed linear increase in density, velocities and elastic moduli with increase in thermal treatment temperature is same in all composition studied. The above results reveal an increase in hardness and the predominant nature of network bonds per unit volume rather than the coordination/cross-link changes, with the influence of thermal treatment.     

Short communication Low temperature forgeability of Ti–48Al–2Cr–2Nb alloy

Abstract

A two phase (γ + α) titanium aluminide alloy Ti–48Al–2Cr–2Nb, at.-% was isothermally forged along all the three axes in succession at an initial forging temperature of 1273 K, followed by another two sets of forgings at lower temperatures of 1173 and 1123 K. The combined effects of heavy multiaxial strains (? = 2·07, per set of forgings), progressively lower temperatures, and a moderate strain rate (10^-3 s^-1 ) transformed the microstructure to a fine and equiaxed shape. The microstructure developed is suitable for working at a low temperature.     

Effect of deformation on corrosion behavior of Ti–23Nb–0.7Ta–2Zr–O alloy

The influence of deformation on the corrosion behavior of a newly developed multifunctional beta titanium alloy Ti–23Nb–0.7Ta–2Zr–O (mol%) in Ringer's solution at 310 K was evaluated using an electron backscatter diffraction technique and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the effect of deformation on the corrosion resistance of the beta titanium alloy is complicated. Small levels of plastic deformation are detrimental to the corrosion resistance, whereas large deformations tend to eliminate this detrimental effect.