Fabrication and characterization of magnesium–fluorapatite nanocomposite for biomedical applications

Recent studies indicate that there is a high demand for magnesium alloys with adjustable corrosion rates, suitable mechanical properties, and the ability for precipitation of a bone-like apatite layer on the surface of magnesium alloys in the body. An approach to this challenge might be the application of metal matrix composites based on magnesium alloys. The aim of this work was to fabricate and characterize a nanocomposite made of AZ91 magnesium alloy as the matrix and fluorapatite nano particles as reinforcement. A magnesium–fluorapatite nanocomposite was made via a blending–pressing–sintering method. Mechanical, metallurgical and in vitro corrosion measurements were performed for characterization of both the initial materials and the composite structure. The results showed that the addition of fluorapatite nano particle reinforcements to magnesium alloys can improve the mechanical properties, reduce the corrosion rate, and accelerate the formation of an apatite layer on the surface, which provides improved protection for the AZ91 matrix. It is suggested that the formation of an apatite layer on the surface of magnesium alloys can contribute to the improved osteoconductivity of magnesium alloys for biomedical applications.     

A new F(ast)-CMS NEGF algorithm for efficient 3D simulations of switching characteristics enhancement in constricted tunnel barrier silicon nanowire MuGFETs

In this paper, we present 3D quantum simulations based on Non-Equilibrium Green’s Function (NEGF) formalism using the Comsol Multiphysics^? software and on the implementation of a new Fast Coupled Mode-Space (FCMS) approach. The FCMS algorithm allows one to simulate transport in nanostructures presenting discontinuities, as the normal Coupled Mode-Space (CMS) algorithm does, but with the speed of a Fast Uncoupled-Mode Space (FUMS) algorithm (a faster algorithm that cannot handle discontinuities). We then use this new algorithm to explore the effect of local constrictions on the performance of nanowire MultiGate Field-Effect Transistors (MuGFETs). We show that cross-section variations in a nanowire result in the formation of energy barriers that can be used to improve the on/off current ratio and switching characteristics of transistors: (1) A small constriction resulting in a barrier of the order of a 0.1 eV can be used as an effective means to improve the subthreshold slope and minimize the on/off current ratio degradation resulting from SD tunneling in ultra scaled transistor, and (2) We also report a new variable barrier transistor (VBT) device concept that is able to achieve sub-kT/q subthreshold slope without using impact ionization or band-to-band tunneling. Intra-band tunneling through constriction barriers is used instead. The device is, therefore, fully symmetrical and can operate at very low supply voltages. A subthreshold slope as low as 56.5 mV/decade is reported at T=300 K. The VBT reported here breaks the 60 mV/dec barrier over more than five decades of subthreshold current, which is the widest current range reported so far.     

Microstructure Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Al 413/Mg Joint in Compound Casting Process

Al 413/Mg couples were prepared by the compound casting process. Characterization of the interface by an optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that a relatively uniform interface composed of three different layers is formed at the interface. The thickness of the interface depended on the melt/insert volume ratio (VR) significantly and was 80?and 470? ??m? in 1.25?and 3?VRs, respectively. The results of the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS), and X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the interface layers are mainly composed of Al₃Mg₂, Al₁₂Mg₁₇, and Mg₂Si intermetallic compounds. An accumulation of magnesium oxide films was detected within the (Al₁₂Mg₁₇?+???) eutectic structure of the interface next to the magnesium base metal. Despite different thicknesses of the interface, shear strengths of the Al 413/Mg couples prepared in 1.25?and 3?VRs were almost same. The study of the fracture surfaces of the Al 413/Mg couples revealed that the accumulated magnesium oxide films act as a weak point for initiation of longitudinal cracks and failure of the joint.     

Anomalous Magnetic Properties of the Bilayered LaSr2Mn2−z Co z O7 (z=0–0.15) Manganite

The Co-doped bilayered LaSr₂Mn₂O₇ manganite at low Co concentrations (0–0.15) was synthesized by the sol–gel process. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique confirms phase formation for all the samples under investigation. The results of ac magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the effect of Co doping on the magnetic ordering phases. The indications of charge ordering (CO) transitions were observed in all the prepared compounds. The CO magnetic phase transition temperature was observed systematically shift to lower temperatures as the Co concentration increases. There was an anomalous oscillating magnetic behavior in all samples with a few peaks before the CO temperature in the paramagnetic (PM) region so that with an increasing Co doping, the number of peaks and amplitude were decreased. Also, the ac susceptibility measurements were performed in the presence of an applied dc magnetic field to further study of this oscillating behavior.     

The Mechanism of η Phase Precipitation in A286 Superalloy During Heat Treatment

In this research, the mechanism of eta (η-Ni₃Ti) phase precipitation in iron-nickel-based A286 superalloy was assessed during aging heat treatment in the temperature range between 650 and 900 °C for the times of 1-30 h. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis, and x-ray diffractometry were used to describe the η phase transformation. The results showed that the major precipitates at temperatures below 840 °C were γ′ and η. The η phase started to precipitate at the expense of the γ′ phase after prolonged aging. The η phase existed in the samples aged at temperature higher than 760 °C with cellular morphology. The η volume fraction increased with increasing heat treatment time. In addition, when the aging temperature was increased from 760 to 820 °C, the η volume fraction increased and then decreased after 840 °C. The η phase morphology also changed from cellular to Widmanstätten-type during aging. The time-temperature-precipitation diagrams of these morphologies are presented. The results indicated the differences in precipitation mechanisms of η phase at 840 and 860 °C.     

Synthesis and properties of polybenzoxazine modified polyurethanes as a new type of electrical insulators with improved thermal stability

A new class of electrical insulating materials with improved thermal stability was prepared from combination of polybenzoxazine with epoxy terminated polyurethane prepolymer (EPU). EPU was prepared by the reaction of glycidol with NCO‐terminated urethane prepolymer. The prepolymer was prepared from polycaprolactone polyol (molecular weight 1000), and hexamethylene diisocyanate. Bisphenol‐A and aniline were used for preparation of benzoxazine monomer. Mode of reactions and optimum curing condition were determined by DSC and FTIR analysis. Upon these analysis as well as DMTA findings, formation of interpenetrating polymer networks was suggested for blends consisted different weight ratios of two components. Viscoelastic behavior, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the prepared samples was studied and their relation to the chemical structure and composition of blends were elucidated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Study on thermal cracking behavior of petroleum residue

Incipient coke formation was studied by heating a heavy hydrocarbon residue in isothermal batch reactor at atmospheric pressure of nitrogen at temperatures 320, 357, and 387 °C over times from 0 to 7 h. The kinetics of coke formation was followed by solvent extraction (insolubility in hexane (HI), toluene (TI)) and as development of HI and TI approximate to apparent first-order kinetics. Results appeared to follow the Wiehe’s phase separation model for coke formation. The density of the pyrolysis residues was found to be independent of condition and it shows a linear relation to TI content.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes on dynamic mechanical properties,TGA, and crystalline structure of polypropylene

This paper is devoted to the preparation of thermoplastic nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP) and different amounts of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in the range 0.25–2 wt %. The effect of SWNT content on the dynamic mechanical behavior, thermal degradation, crystalline structure, and the kinetic crystallizability of PP were studied. The results obtained from dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA) showed that the maximum storage modulus was achieved when 1 wt % SWNT was added into the pristine polymer. Thermal stability of the nanocomposites was measured by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). From the TGA results, it was found that the weight fraction of PP which was located at the interface for the nanocomposite containing 0.5% SWNT was about 60%, and this value did not change much with the addition of higher amounts of SWNT. Moreover, the thickness of the interface between PP and SWNT was estimated to be of the order of 10¹ nm which is very close to the radii of gyration of PP molecular chains. Wide angle X‐ray diffractometer (WAXD) was used to explore the crystalline structure of water and slow‐cooled samples. It was found that the crystallization of PP in 040 lattice plane increased for the nanocomposites compared with PP for both cooling rates studied. It was also found that the kinetic crystallizability values were nearly the same for PP and the nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Monitoring the aging of beers using a bioelectronic tongue

This paper deals with the implementation and the application of a bioelectronic tongue including three enzymatic biosensors based on tyrosinase and phthalocyanines as electron mediators, to evaluate the changes that occur during the aging of beers. For this purpose, alcoholic and non alcoholic beers, packaged in can and bottle, have been analyzed using cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical signals showed significant changes during the aging process. The features extracted from the cyclic voltammograms have been used to perform Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). Data have revealed a clear discrimination among the beer classes in the aging process and the results were confirmed by Probabilistic Neural Networks (PNN) with Radial Basis Functions (RBF) and FeedForward Networks with Backpropagation (BP) learning method. The bioelectronic tongue has demonstrated a good capability to discriminate and classify the beer types satisfactorily in such a way, for all beer treatments, full classification accuracy was found.     

Personalization of cardiac motion and contractility from images using variational data assimilation

Personalization is a key aspect of biophysical models in order to impact clinical practice. In this paper, we propose a personalization method of electromechanical models of the heart from cine-MR images based on the adjoint method. After estimation of electrophysiological parameters, the cardiac motion is estimated based on a proactive electromechanical model. Then cardiac contractilities on two or three regions are estimated by minimizing the discrepancy between measured and simulation motion. Evaluation of the method on three patients with infarcted or dilated myocardium is provided.