Porous agarose/Gd-hydroxyapatite composite bone fillers with promoted osteogenesis and antibacterial activity

Artificial bone fillers are essentially required for repairing bone defects, and developing the fillers with synergistic biocompatibility and anti-bacterial activity persists as one of the critical challenges. In this work, a new agarose/gadolinium-doped hydroxyapatite filler with three-dimensional porous structures was fabricated. For the composite filler, agarose provides three-dimensional skeleton and endows porosity, workability, and high specific surface area, hydroxyapatite (HA) offers the biocompatibility, and the rare earth element gadolinium (Gd) acts as the antibacterial agent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy detection showed the doping of Gd in HA lattice with the formation of Gd-HA interstitial solid solution. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy imaging suggested chemical interactions between agarose and Gd-HA, and the physical structure of agarose was tuned by the Gd-doped HA. Cytotoxicity testing and alizarin red staining experiments using mouse pro-osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) revealed remarkable bioactivity and osteogenic properties of the composite fillers, and proliferation and growth rates of the cells increased in proportion to Gd content in the composites. Antibacterial testing using the gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and the gram-negative bacteria E. coli indicated promising antibacterial properties of the fillers. Meanwhile, the antibacterial properties of composite filles were enhanced with the increase of Gd content. The antibacterial fillers with porous structure and excellent physicomechanical properties show inspiring potential for bone defect repair.     

The influence of FeNi nanoparticles on the microstructures and soft magnetic properties of FeSi soft magnetic composites

In this work, a new type of FeSi/FeNi soft magnetic powder core (SMPC) was successfully fabricated by coating FeNi nanoparticles on the surface of FeSi micrometer powder. The effects of different contents of FeNi nanoparticles on the micromorphology, internal structures, and soft magnetic properties of SMPCs were studied. The results show that FeNi nanoparticles adhere to the surface of FeSi powder, which can effectively fill the air gap between FeSi powder and is beneficial to the compaction of the powder cores during the pressing process. Thus, the density of the SMPCs is increased. Compared to FeSi SMPCs, the comprehensive soft magnetic properties of FeSi/FeNi SMPCs have been greatly improved. When adding 15 wt% FeNi nanoparticles, the SMPCs exhibit excellent magnetic properties with high effective permeability (increased by 43.8 %) and low core loss (decreased by 22.1 %). The high performance FeSi/FeNi SMPCs prepared in this work are expected to be widely used in power choke coils, uninterruptible power supplies, and boosts and inverter inductors.     

Preparation,characterization and properties of polycaprolactone diol-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube/thermoplastic polyurethane composite

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically functionalized to prepare thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) composites with enhanced properties. In order to achieve a high compatibility of functionalized MWCNTs with the PU matrix, polycaprolactone diol (PCL), as one of PU’s monomers, was selectively grafted on the surface of MWCNTs (MWCNT–PCL), while carboxylic acid groups functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNT–COOH) and raw MWCNTs served as control. Both MWCNT–COOH and MWCNT–PCL improved the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PU matrix and interfacial bonding between them at 1 wt% loading fraction. The MWCNT–PCL/PU composite showed the greatest extent of improvement, where the tensile strength and modulus were 51.2% and 33.5% higher than those of pure PU respectively, without sacrificing the elongation at break. The considerable improvement in both mechanical properties and thermal stability of MWCNT–PCL/PU composite should result from the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNT–PCL in the PU matrix and strong interfacial bonding between them.     

Thermal stability of metal-doped diamond-like carbon fabricated by dual plasma deposition

Metal incorporation into amorphous diamond-like carbon films can provide superior properties as metal nano-clusters or nanocrystalline metallic carbides can be embedded in the carbon network. In this work, a filtered metal plasma cathodic arc technique is used to generate a metal plasma and acetylene is introduced to the metal plasma plume to deposit metal-containing DLC (Me-DLC) films and form nanocrystalline carbide phases in the amorphous carbon matrix. The films exhibit high thermal stability up to annealing temperatures of 500 °C as revealed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. At treatment temperature over 500 °C, a large amount of hydrogen is lost from the Me-DLC films as shown by elastic recoil detection. Breakdown and structural collapse of the film at high temperature can be attributed to the breaking of C–H bonds. Consequently, the C–C networks become more graphite-like to facilitate the formation of volatile C–O and metal oxides phases.     

Synthesis of cyano-polycarbosilane and investigation of its pyrolysis process

Polycarbonsilane (PCS) is an important precursor of silicon carbide (SiC) fibers and ceramics. The ceramic yield of PCS is relatively low, about 60 %, which may bring some deficiencies in its applications. In this work, a novel precursor cyano-polycarbosilane (PCSCN) is synthesized by hydrosilylation reaction between PCS and acrylonitrile using a rhodium-containing catalyst, although acrylonitrile is generally not easy for hydrosilylation. After introducing tiny amounts of cyano (-C≡N) groups into the PCS molecules, the ceramic yield of PCSCN can increase largely to over 80 %. The ceramization mechanism of PCSCN is investigated by FTIR, TG, XPS, ESR, NMR, Raman and XRD analyses. It is found that some crosslinking structures in PCSCN are formed between SiH bonds and CN groups from about 200 ℃, which can be responsible for the high ceramic yield. The existence of a little more N, O and free C elements in the pyrolysis products may inhibit the growth of crystalline β-SiC. Moreover, the PCSCN precursor can also be melt-spun into continuous fibers by tailoring its molecular weight and softening point. The oxidized PCSCN fiber with relatively low oxygen content can be pyrolyzed without melting, and the final SiC fiber with an oxygen content as low as 8.5 % is obtained.     

Effect of diamond-like carbon (DLC) on the properties of the NiTi alloys

NiTi alloy has found wide application in the biomedical field due to its unique shape memory effect, superelasticity and biocompatibility. However, the materials are vulnerable to surface corrosion and the most serious issue is out-diffusion of toxic Ni ions from the substrate into body tissues and fluids. In this paper, NiTi alloys were coated with diamond-like carbon (DLC) fabricated by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) to improve their corrosion resistance and blood compatibility without sacrificing their shape memory effect and superelasticity. The structure of the films and the depth profiles between the films and substrate were studied using Raman spectroscopy and XPS, respectively. The phase transformation temperature, superelasticity, anticorrosion behavior and Ni ions release of the coated and uncoated sample were investigated by DSC, tensile tests, potentiodynamic polarization and AAS, respectively. The hemocompatibilty of the coated and uncoated samples was measured using clotting time and platelet adhesion. The results shows that the films is DLC accompanying with the formation of the mixing layer, and the DLC films can markedly improve the corrosion resistance and the hemocompatibility, obviously increase the ratio of albumin-to-fibrinogen and effectively block the Ni ions release of the NiTi alloys without sacrificing its superelasticity and changing its phase transformation temperature. The research results suggest DLC films prepared by PIIID could improve the in vivo performance of NiTi alloys implanted into the human body.     

Organic–inorganic hybrids containing polyimide,organically modified clay and in situ formed polydimethylsiloxane

A series of organic–inorganic hybrid consisting of polyimide (PI) prepared from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA), organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were successfully prepared by in situ sol–gel process. OMMT was prepared by surface treatment of montmorillonite (MMT) with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the OMMT layers were exfoliated into the polymer matrix at 2% of OMMT content. The PI–OMMT–PDMS hybrids at 2% of OMMT content were transparent when PDMS content was less than 5%. The PI–OMMT–PDMS hybrid showed better tensile modulus, strength and elongation at break than that of pristine PI due to the reinforcement effect of OMMT and toughening effect of PDMS. The thermal stability of hybrids such as the decomposition temperature and weight residue at 800 °C also increased with the increase of PDMS content as evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Low temperature seamless joining of SiC using a Ytterbium film

Monolithic SiC, for the first time, was seamless joined at a low temperature of 1200 °C using electric field-assisted sintering technology. A 300 nm Yb coating on SiC was used as the joining filler to form Yb₃Si₂C₂ via an in-situ reaction with the SiC. A liquid phase was formed by an eutectic reaction between Yb₃Si₂C₂ and SiC. Almost completely seamless joints were formed by the precipitated SiC grains, which were fully consolidated with the SiC matrix with the help of in-situ formed liquid phase, followed by its elimination under the uniaxial pressure. The bending strength of the seamless joint joined at 1500 °C for 15 min was as high as 257.2 ± 31.1 MPa, which was comparable to the strength of the SiC matrix. As a result, the failure occurred in the matrix indicated a sound joint was obtained. The proposed low temperature seamless joining could potentially be used for joining of SiC-based composite.     

The preparation and gas sensitivity study of polypyrrole/zinc oxide

Polypyrrole (PPy) was prepared by chemical oxidation polymerization, analyzed by FT-IR, elemental analysis and HRTEM, and studied for gas sensitivity. It suggested that PPy had sensitivity to NH₃, H₂S and NO_x, and showed irreversibility to NO_x gas. The organic–inorganic hybrid materials PPy/ZnO with different PPy weight percents were prepared by mechanical mixing, and the sensitivity study of the materials to toxic gases NH₃, H₂S, NO_x was carried out at different operating temperatures 30, 60, and 90 °C. It was found that PPy/ZnO materials (PPy(1%)/ZnO, PPy(3%)/ZnO, PPy(5%)/ZnO, PPy(10%)/ZnO, PPy(20%)/ZnO) had better selectivity and reversibility to NO_x than pure PPy, and much lower working temperature than the reported working temperature of ZnO (about 350–450 °C). Their sensitivity increased with the increasing concentration of NO_x at particular working temperature, and among them PPy(10%)/ZnO had the maximum sensitivity to NO_x in the same condition. They showed no response to 1000, 1500, 2000 ppm NH₃ or H₂S. The response mechanism of PPy/ZnO materials to NO_x was discussed.