Mechanical properties and microstructure of ZrO2–SiO2 composite

ZrO2–SiO2 composite powder has been prepared by a wet chemical route using zirconyl chloride and fumed silica as starting materials and subsequently sintered by the hot-pressing method to obtain a ZrO2–SiO2 ceramic. The mechanical properties of the silica matrix have been much increased by the addition of 20 vol% zirconia. The microstructural features of the composite are observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM). The stabilibity of tetragonal zirconia in the matrix is attributed to the particle-size effect, and to the constraint effect of the silica matrix and that of the interphasic reaction layer. The increase in mechanical properties is discussed in relation to the residual stress and the enhanced elastic modulus caused by the incorporated ZrO2 particles.     

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.     

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.     

Sol–gel based fabrication of novel glass-ceramics and composites for dental applications

The aim of this study is the fabrication of dental glass-ceramics able to elicit bioactive behaviour around the margins of fixed restorations and to provide a bioactive surface which can lead to periodontal tissue attachment, providing complete sealing of the marginal gap between tooth and fixed prosthesis. Sol–gel technique is applied for the fabrication of a new glass-ceramic in the system SiO₂60%–P₂O₅3%–Al₂O₃14%–CaO6%–Na₂O7%–K₂O10% (wt.%) and a related composite material combining this phase with the bioactive glass 58S. This composite material aims to create a bioactive surface which could lead to periodontal tissue attachment, providing complete sealing of the marginal gap between tooth and fixed prosthesis. The microstructural and thermal properties and the bioactive behaviour of the new materials were determined and were observed to be similar in respect to a commercial leucite based fluorapatite dental glass-ceramic. The feasibility of the new composite material to be applied as coating on the base porcelain as well as the bioactive behaviour of the fabricated coated specimes were confirmed.     

EPR study of V2O5–P2O5–Li2O glass system

glass system, with 0 < x 50 mol%, was prepared and investigated by EPR method. For low content of V₂O₅ all the spectra present a hyperfine structure typical for isolated V⁴⁺ ions. With the increasing of V₂O₅ content, the EPR absorption signal showing hyperfine structure is superposed by a broad line without hyperfine structure characteristic for clustered ions. At high V₂O₅ content, the vanadium hyperfine structure disappears and only the broad line can be observed in the spectra. Spin Hamiltonian parameters g , g , A , A , dipolar hyperfine coupling parameters, P, and Fermi contact interaction parameters, K, have been calculated.The composition dependence of line widths of the first two absorptions from the parallel band and of the broad line characteristic to the cluster formations was also discussed.     

Effect of TiO2 on the sintering temperature and dielectric properties of Li2O–MgO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 ceramic composites for LTCC applications

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - The effects of injecting TiO2 to a Li2O–MgO–ZnO–B2O3–SiO2 (LMZBS) microwave dielectric composite on sinterability,...     

Effects of CaO/P2O5 ratio on the structure and elastic properties of SiO2–CaO–Na2O–P2O5 bioglasses

The evolution of elastic properties and structure upon the change of CaO/P₂O₅ ratio in SiO₂–CaO–Na₂O–P₂O₅ glasses (45S5-derived and 55S4-derived) at ambient conditions has been studied by using both Brillouin and Raman spectroscopy coupled with X-ray diffraction. Under the same SiO₂/Na₂O ratio, it is found that a decrease in CaO/P₂O₅ molar ratio has caused a more-polymerized silicate network via a net consumption of Q⁰, Q¹, and Q² species yet enriching in Q³ and Q⁴ species. Brillouin experiments revealed that all the bulk, shear and Young’s moduli of the glasses studied increases with the increase of CaO/P₂O₅ molar ratio. The unexpected variation trend in shear modulus can be correlated to the contribution from cohesion, the less-polymerized phosphate Q species, and density. Compared to the 45S5-derived, the more-polymerized 55S4-deived glass has a lower bulk but slightly higher shear modulus at the given CaO/P₂O₅ ratio.     

Titanium–SiO2 nanocomposites and their scaffolds for dental applications

There have been a number of attempts to modify the properties of titanium implants to improve osseointegration. These modifications include alterations of the chemistry and roughness of the surface of the implant. In this work, Ti–10 wt.% SiO₂ nanocomposites and their scaffolds were synthesized using a combination of mechanical alloying and a “space-holder” sintering process. The phase and microstructure analysis was carried out using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and the properties were measured using hardness and corrosion testing equipment. An amorphous structure was obtained at 20 h of milling. The crystallization of the amorphous phase upon annealing led to the formation of a nanostructured Ti–10 wt.% SiO₂ composite with a grain size of approximately 40 nm. The Vickers hardness of the Ti–10 wt.% SiO₂ nanocomposites reached 670 HV_0.2. The in vitro cytocompatibility of these materials was evaluated and compared with conventional microcrystalline titanium, where normal human osteoblast (NHOst) cells from Cambrex (CC-2538) were cultured. The morphology of the cell cultures obtained on the bulk Ti–10 wt.% SiO₂ nanocomposite was similar to those obtained on the microcrystalline titanium. However, on the porous scaffold, the cells adhered to the insert that penetrated the porous structure with their entire surface, whereas on the polished surface, more spherical cells were observed with a smaller surface of adhesion. Porous Ti–10 wt.% SiO₂ scaffolds have been developed in order to promote bone ingrowth and to induce prosthesis stabilization.     

Fabrication and characterization of ZrO2–CaO–P2O5–Na2O–SiO2 bioactive glass ceramics

SiO₂–CaO–Na₂O–P₂O₅–ZrO₂ based bioactive glasses with different compositions of SiO₂ and yttrium stabilized ZrO₂ were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. The effects on the chemical–mechanical properties of bioactive glasses due to the addition of ZrO₂ by replacing SiO₂ were investigated. Microstructure and phase behavior were studied by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compressive strength, porosity, Vickers hardness, and Young’s modulus were measured as mechanical properties. Bioactivity and cell viability were investigated by immersion in simulated body fluid and MTT assay analysis. Osteosarcoma cell proliferation on the specimen surfaces was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results showed that replacing SiO₂ with ZrO₂ helps the bioactive glass to be completely vitrified at comparatively lower sintering temperature than conventional Bioglass^®. The mechanical properties were also improved without compromising biocompatibility. Bioactive glass containing 10 wt% ZrO₂ and 35 wt% SiO₂ showed compressive strength of 399.71 MPa, Young's modulus of 22.3 GPa, Vicker’s hardness of 502.54 HV, and porosity of 26 vol%.     

Effect of Ca/Si ratio on the microstructures and properties of CaO–B2O3–SiO2 glass-ceramics

CaO–B₂O₃–SiO₂ glass-ceramics were synthesized by sol–gel method, and the effect of Ca/Si ratio on the microstructures, electrical properties and mechanical characteristics of this ternary system was investigated. The results showed that the increase of CaO content is favorable for the crystallization of CaO–B₂O₃–SiO₂ system and formation of the desired glass-ceramics. The bending strength of the sintered glass-ceramics increases with CaO content by increasing of crystalline phases. When the Ca/Si ratio increases, the dielectric constant (ε _r) decreases and loss (tanδ) increases gradually. The thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) enhances by increasing CaO contents due to the formation of other crystal phases with large TEC value. The glass-ceramics exhibit low dielectric constant and loss (ε _r < 4.7, tanδ < 5 × 10^-4 at 1 MHz), high resistivity (ρ > 10¹² Ω · cm), as well as excellent mechanical properties (σ ≈ 160 MPa, α ≈ 3.6 × 10⁻⁶/°C).     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC Whisker reinforced ZrO2–Y2O3 composites

Abstract

The mechanical properties of 20 vol.-%SiC whisker reinforced ZrO₂?V₂O₃ composites containing 2 and 6 mol.-% Y₂O₃ were measured at room temperature and the fracture surface was examined. The results indicate that the mechanical behaviour of the composites is strongly influenced by the Y₂O₃ content. The magnitude of the enhancement of the toughness in composites containing 2 mol.-% Y₂O₃ compared with unreinforced ZrO₂?Y₂O₃ matrix is larger than that for the composites containing 6 mol.-% Y₂O₃. Crack propagation modes were characterised by crack deflection, whisker bridging, and whisker pullout. High resolution electron microscopic observations show that in composites containing 2 mol.-% Y₂O₃ the whiskers are directly bonded to the matrix. However, in composites containing 6 mol.-% Y₂O₃ there is always a thick amorphous layer at the interface, indicating that the high Y₂O₃ content has promoted the formation of interfacial amorphous layers. These interfacial amorphous layers strengthen the interfacial bonding, resulting in a composite with a low fracture toughness.

MST/2043     

In vivo behavior of bioactive phosphate glass-ceramics from the system P2O5–Na2O–CaO containing TiO2

Soda lime phosphate bioglass-ceramics with incorporation of small additions of TiO₂ were prepared in the metaphosphate and pyrophosphate region, using an appropriate two-step heat treatment of controlled crystallization defined by differential thermal analysis results. Identification and quantification of crystalline phases precipitated from the soda lime phosphate glasses were performed using X-ray diffraction analysis. Calcium pyrophosphate (β-Ca₂P₂O₇), sodium metaphosphate (NaPO₃), calcium metaphosphate (β-Ca(PO₃)₂), sodium pyrophosphate (Na₄P₂O₇), sodium calcium phosphate (Na₄Ca(PO₃)₆) and sodium titanium phosphate (Na₅Ti(PO₄)₃) phases were detected in the prepared glass-ceramics. The degradation of the prepared glass-ceramics were carried out for different periods of time in simulated body fluid at 37 °C using granules in the range of (0.300–0.600 mm). The released ions were estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy and the surface textures were measured by scanning electron microscopy. Evaluation of in vivo bioactivity of the prepared glass-ceramics was carried through implanting the samples in the rabbit femurs. The results showed that the addition of 0.5 TiO₂ mol% enhanced the bioactivity while further increase of the TiO₂ content decreased the bioactivity. The effect of titanium dioxide on the bioactivity was interpreted on the basis of its action on the crystallization process of the glass-ceramics.     

Microstructure,mechanical and wear properties of Cu–ZrO2 nanocomposites

Cu–ZrO₂ nanocomposites were produced by the thermochemical process followed by powder metallurgy technique. Microstructure development during fabrication process was investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The results show an improved distribution of zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) nanoparticles (45?nm) in the copper matrix, which resulted in the improvement of mechanical properties of Cu–ZrO₂ composites. The nanocomposite with 9 wt-% ZrO₂ possesses the highest hardness (136.5 HV) and the superior compressive strength (413.5?MPa), resulting in an overall increase by 52 and 25%, respectively. The wear rate of the nanocomposites increased with increasing applied loads or sliding velocity.