Evaluation of PLGA/chitosan/HA conduits for nerve tissue reconstruction

A micro-envioment for nerve cells and tissue growth were designed and constructed via surface modification of poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)(PLGA) with chitosan and hydroxyapatite(HA). The poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)/chitosan/hydroxyapatite (PLGA/chitosan/HA) conduits were manufactured by a combined solvent casting and particulate leaching technique. The conduits were highly porous with an interconnected pore structure and 76.5% porosity. Micropores with 50–100 micrometer diameter were formed in the conduits. In vivo application of PLGA/chitosan/HA conduits for reconstruction of 10 mm sciatic nerve defect was assessed by the walking track analysis, the quantifying of the wet weight of tibialis anterior muscle and the histological assessment. The conduits in host rats in vivo can not only be an effective in promoting regenerating of nerves but can also lead to favorable nerve functional recovery. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50774096)     

Deformation resistance effect of PAN-based carbon fibers

The deformation resistance effect of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers was investigated, and the variatipn law of electrical resistivity under tensile stress was analyzed. The results show that the gauge factor (fractional change in resistance per unit strain) of PAN-based carbon fibers is 1.38, which is lower than that of the commonly-used resistance strain gauge. These may due to that the electrical resistivity of carbon fibers decreases under tensile stress. In addition when the carbon fibers are stretched, the change of its resistance is caused by fiber physical dimension and the change of electric resistivity, and mainly caused by the change of physical dimension. The mechanical properties of carbon fiber monofilament were also measured. Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10672128 and 50878170)     

Sonochemical synthesis of core/Shell structured CdS/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocrystals composites

A simple sonochemical route for the surface coating of titanium dioxide on cadmium sulfide nanocrystal was reported. After 2 h ultrasonic irradiation treatment, the mixture of CdS nanocrystals and tetrabutyl titanate in an aqueous medium yielded CdS/TiO₂ nanocrystals composites with core/shell structure. The thickness of TiO₂ layer with smooth interface could be easily controlled via changing the concentration of the precursors and the time of irradiation. The core/shell nanocrysrals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and UV-vis spectrometry techniques. The prepared semiconductor composites with particular band structure present appealing properties especially in photochemical activity.     

Preparation and microstructure of spinel zinc ferrite ZnFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> by Co-precipitation method

Spinel zinc ferrites ZnFe₂O₄, prepared by co-precipitation method using the zinc nitrate Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and ferric nitrate Fe(NO₃)₃·2H₂O as the raw materials, were characterized by the thermo gravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The influence of synthesis conditions, such as Zn/Fe molar ratio, pH value, the sintering temperature and time, on the microstructures was detailedly investigated. The relationships between the microstructures and the synthesis conditions were discussed. The results show that the pure spinel zinc ferrites ZnFe₂O₄ are formed when the Zn/Fe molar ratio is 1.05:2 at pH=8.5 or Zn/Fe molar ratio is 1:2 at Ph=9-10, and the precursors are sintered at 1100 °C for 4 h. Especially no other phases are observed when the Zn/Fe molar ratio is 1:2 at pH=10 and the precursor is sintered above 700 for 4 °C h. The higher sintering temperature and longer sintering time contribute to grain growth.     

Cycling hardening and serration yielding of Fe-Ni-Cr alloy at high temperature under out-phase TMF

Behaviour of hardening and serration yield of a Fe-Ni-Cr alloy under isothermal cycling (ISC) and out-phase TMF was studied on the basis of varied hysteresis loops. Cycling hardening and serrated yielding for ISC depend on the temperature and the total strain range, stronger hardening with serrated yielding at higher strain range under ISC at 600 °C, but no hardening and serrated yielding occurred under ISC at 800 °C. Stronger hardening with stress serration occurred at the thermal path going to the lowest temperature, no stress serration occurred at the highest temperature under the out-phase. The hardening also depends on the total strain range, higher total strain range with lower cycling temperature resulted in a stronger hardening and remarkable serration yielding behavior. Weaker hardening without serrated yielding occurred at near 800 °C may due to an obvious cycling stress drop under out-phase TMF. Change in the shape of the hysteresis loops also expresses the degree of the damage of the tested alloy under out-phase and ISC.     

Fabrication and characterization of nano silver powder prepared by spray pyrolysis

Silver powder was fabricated by spray pyrolysis, using 2%–20% AgNO₃ solution, 336–500 mL/h flux of AgNO₃ solution, 0.28–0.32 MPa flux of carrier gas and in the 620–820 °C temperature range. The effects of furnace set temperature, concentration of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, flux of AgNO₃ aqueous solution as well as carrier gas on the morphology and particle size distribution of silver powder, were investigated. The experimental results showed that with the high concentration of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, the average grain size of silver decreased with the increasing of furnace set temperature. But the gain size distribution was not homogenous, the discontinuous grain growth occurred. With the low concentration of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, the higher furnace set temperature made the nano sliver grains sintered together to grow. Nano silver powder about 100 nm was fabricated by spray pyrolysis, using 2wt% AgNO₃ solutions, 336 mL/h flux of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, 0.32 MPa flux of carrier gas at 720 °C furnace set temperature.     

Possible origins for paramagnetic-ferromagnetic and insulator-metal transitions as well as colossal magnetoresistance in manganites

Systematical investigations of zero-field resistivity, magnetoresistance and magnetization were performed for a typical manganese compound La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃. It is argued that the common origin for insulator-metal and paramagenetic ferromagnetic-transitions as well as colossal magnetoresistance is due to the formation of ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic background. The transition to metallic state is resulted from percolation of ferromagnetic metallic clusters, while the colossal magnetoresistance is due to the application of magnetic field, which accelerates the growth of ferromagnetic metallic clusters and causes the shift of the onset temperature for the metallic percolation to higher temperature. Based on the random resistor network model, the zero-field resistivity versus temperature dependence is simulated by using experimental parameters, and experimental data well agree with those in whole temperature range, giving a strong support to our approach.     

Orientation of Bi<Subscript>3.2</Subscript>La<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> ferroelectric thin films with different annealing schedules

Fatigue-free Bi_3.2La_0.8Ti₃O₁₂ ferroelectric thin films were successfully prepared on p-Si (100) substrates using metalorganic solution deposition process. The orientation and formation of 5-layers thin films were studied under different processing conditions using XRD. Experimental results indicate that increase in annealing time at 700 °C after preannealing for 10 min at 400 °C can remarkably increase (200)-orientation of the films derived from the precursor solutions with two contents of citric acid. Meanwhile, high content of citric acid increases the film thickness and is conducive to the a-orientation of the films with the preannealing, and low concentration of the solution is conducive to the c-orientation of the films without the preannealing.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyamides based on dimer acid

A series of dimer acid-based polyamides were synthesized by melt-polycondensation of dimer acid and various aromatic diamines, and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The physical properties of the polyamides, such as glass transition temperature, melting temperature, decomposition temperature and mechanical properties were also investigated. The polyamides’ intrinsic viscosity ranges from 1.8 dL·g⁻¹ to 2.2 dL·g⁻¹, and the melting temperature ranges from 140 °C to 181 °C. The glass transition temperatures, observed from dynamic mechanical analysis, fall in the range of 34.8–48.2 °C. The physical and mechanical properties of the resultant polyamides are similar to those of the PA1212. The heat resistance and mechanical properties of poly (4, 4′-diphenylsulfone dimeramide) (PSD) and poly(4, 4′-diphenyl dimeramide) (PPDI) are comparable to those of PA1212.     

Fabrication and mechanical properties of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiAl composites

Al₂O₃/TiAl composites were successfully fabricated by hot-press-assisted exothermic dispersion method with elemental powder mixtures of Ti, Al TiO₂ and Nb₂O₅, and the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The results indicate the fine Al₂O₃ particles tend to disperse on the grain boundaries. The grain size of TiAl matrix decreases and the hardness increases with increasing Nb₂O₅ content. The bending strength and fracture toughness reach to a maximum when Nb₂O₅ content is 6 wt%, under 642 MPa and 6.69 MPa·m^1/2, respectively. Based on the fractography and the observation of crack propagation path, it is concluded that the strengthening and toughening of such composites at room temperature can be attributed to the refinement of the TiAl matrix, the deflection behavior in the crack propagation and the dispersion of Al₂O₃ particles.