Hydroxyapatite-Carboxymethyl Cellulose Nanocomposite Biomaterial

An organic-mineral composite of hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) nanoparticles and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is synthesized via coprecipitation from a solution containing CaCl₂, aqueous ammonia, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, and CMC. The composition and microstructure of the composite and the lattice parameters and particle size of the hydroxyapatite are determined using x-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques, electron diffraction, and x-ray microanalysis. The hydroxyapatite nanoparticles are shown to form agglomerates about 200 nm in size. The interaction between the nanoparticles and CMC macromolecules leads to the formation of a pore structure potentially attractive for biomedical applications.__________Translated from Neorganicheskie Materialy, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 592–599.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Zakharov, Ezhova, Koval, Kalinnikov, Chalykh.     

Water Sorption by Carbon Fibers

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - The degree of crystallinity of carbon fibers (CFs) of different manufacturers has been determined by means of the Raman scattering method....     

Effect of irradiation by heavy ions on the nanostructure of perspective materials for nuclear power plants

An imitation experimental technique on the irradiation with heavy ions of structural materials of nuclear power plants using tomographic atom probe analysis has been elaborated. The scheme of irradiation of specimens for atom probe analysis has been realized on a MEVVA ion source of an TIPr accelerator (ITEP) with ion energy 75 keV per charge. Test experiments with irradiation and analysis of samples of the EK-181 steel by aluminum ions to a fluence of ∼2 × 10¹⁵ ion/cm² have been performed. Experiments on the Fe-ion irradiation of the samples of ODS EUROFER perspective steel for fission and fusion reactors to different damaging doses have been carried out. The analysis of distribution of different chemical elements in the volumes tested has revealed that under ion irradiation a change in the composition of nanosized clusters, which are present in the initial material takes place. Comparison of the data obtained with the results of reactor irradiation of the ODS EUROFER steel has been carried out. These data testify a correspondence between nanoscale changes in the steels oxide dispersion strengthened in imitation experiments and under the conditions of reactor irradiation.     

A study of the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)

A thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was studied. This was an essential step in the investigation of the compatibility of PVC-based systems because mixing in industry and in the preparation of materials is carried out in the viscous flow range close to thermal degradation. Original Russian Text ? K.A. Polozkov, A.E. Chalykh, V.K. Gerasimov, V.V. Matveev, A.D. Aliev, 2008, published in Fizikokhimiya Poverkhnosti i Zashchita Materialov, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 537–540.     

Development of platinum-free catalyst and catalyst with low platinum content for cathodic oxygen reduction in acidic electrolytes

Studies are presented of the kinetics and mechanism of oxygen electroreduction on CoPd catalysts synthesized on XC 72 carbon black. As shown both in model conditions and in tests with the cathodes of hydrogen–oxygen fuel cells with proton conducting electrolyte, the CoPd/C system features higher activity as compared to Co/C. It is found by means of structural analysis that CoPd alloy is formed in the course of the catalyst synthesis. This provides the higher catalytic activity of the binary systems. CoPd/C catalyst is also more stable in respect to corrosion than Pd on carbon black. Measurements on a rotating ring–disc electrode show that the CoPd/C system provides preferential oxygen reduction to water in the practically important range of potentials (E > 0.7 V). The similarity of the kinetic parameters of the oxygen reduction reaction on CoPd/C and Pt/C catalysts points to a similar reaction mechanism. The slow step of the reaction is the addition of the first electron to the adsorbed and previously protonated O₂ molecule. Studies of the most active catalyst in the fuel cell cathodes are performed. Binary PtCo catalysts (metal atomic ratio of 1 : 1) with low platinum content (7.3 wt.%) modified by phosphorus or sulfur are developed and studied. It is demonstrated that the specific activity of the PtCoS/C (Pt : S = 1 : 1) catalytic system for the O₂ reduction reaction exceeds that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst (E-TEK). The tolerance of the catalyst modified with sulfur is at least six times higher than that of Pt/C (E-TEK).     

Non‐covalently crosslinked hydrogels displaying a unique combination of water‐absorbing,elastic and adhesive properties

BACKGROUND: Stringent requirements must be satisfied by biomedical adhesives, including biocompatibility, adhesion, cohesiveness and processability. The ability to change mechanical properties in response to environmental changes may also be desirable. In the present work the water‐absorbing, adhesive and mechanical properties of blends based on hydrogen bonding complexes between poly(N‐vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly[(methacrylic acid)‐co‐(ethyl acrylate)] were investigated. These blends, consisting of pharmaceutical‐grade components, exhibit pH‐sensitive swelling and dissolution, along with rubber‐like elasticity and bioadhesion. RESULTS: Polymer blend films remained intact at pH = 5.6 but underwent dissolution at pH = 7.4, the difference being attributed to deprotonation of acidic side‐chains, with loss of hydrogen bonding and development of charge repulsion. Sol release was primarily due to PEG. Films swelled at low pH instead of dissolving, in a manner that was pH‐dependent but PEG‐independent. Films displayed elastic properties comparable to cured elastomers when mildly swollen, with modulus and ultimate strength decreasing with increasing PEG content. Dry films were nearly tack‐free, but became more adhesive with increasing water content, up to a point where the film dissolved. CONCLUSION: Due to their biocompatibility and dissolution/mechanical properties, the bioadhesive polymer blends investigated may be suitable for numerous biomedical applications. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pressure-sensitive adhesion in the blends of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(ethylene glycol) of disparate chain lengths

Adhesive behavior in blends of high molecular weight poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) with a short-chain, liquid poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been studied using a 180° peel test as a function of PVP-PEG composition and water vapor sorption. Hydrophilic pressure-sensitive adhesives are keenly needed in various fields of contemporary industry and medicine, and the PVP-PEG blends, pressure-sensitive adhesion has been established to appear within a narrow composition range, in the vicinity of 36 wt% PEG, and it is affected by the blend hydration. Both plasticizers, PEG and water, behave as tackifiers (enhancers of adhesion) in the blends with glassy PVP. However, PEP alone is shown to account for the occurrence of adhesion, and the tackifying effect of PEG is appreciably stronger than that of sorbed water. Blend hydration enhances adhesion for the systems that exhibit an apparently adhesive type of debonding from a standard substrate (at PEG content less than 36 wt%), but the same amounts of sorbed water are also capable of depressign adhesion in the PEG-overloaded blends, where a cohesive mechanism of adhesive joint failure is typical. The PVP-PEG blend with 36% PEG couples both the adhesive and cohesive mechanisms of bond rupture (i.e., the fibrillation of adhesive polymer under debonding force and predominantly adhesive locus of failure). Blend hydration effect on adhesion has been found to be reversible. The micromechanics of adhesive joint failure for PVP-PEG hydrogels involves the fibrillation of adhesive polymer, followed by fibrils stretching and fracturing as their elongation attains 1000-1500%. Peel force to rupture the adhesive bond of PVP-PEG blends increases with increasing size of the tensile deformation zone, increasing cohesive strength of the material, and increasing tensile compliance of the material, obeying the well-known Kaelble equation, derived originally for conventional rubbery pressure-sensitive adhesives. The major deformation mode upon peeling the PVP-PEG adhesive from a standard substrate is extension, and direct correlations have been established between the composition behaviour of peel strength and that of the total work of viscoelastic strain to break the PVP-PEG films under uniaxial drawing. As a result of strong interfacial interaction with the PET backing film, the PVP-PEG adhesive has a heterogeneous two-layer structure, where different layers demonstrate dissimilar adhesive characteristics.     

La3+ and Ce3+ Doping of Hard-Magnetic Ferrites

Rare-earth-doped ferrites with the general formula M_{1 – x} R _x · nFe₂O₃ (M = Ba, Sr, Pb; R = La, Ce; x = 0–0.1; n = 4–6) are prepared by solid-state combustion synthesis. The effects of the doping procedure (before or after combustion synthesis), dopant content, and heat-treatment conditions on the magnetic and mechanical properties of the ferrites are examined. The results indicate that doped materials can be used to fabricate permanent magnets with enhanced density, remanence, and energy product. In addition, rare-earth doping improves the strength of the ferrite materials, eliminating their main drawback—inherent brittleness.     

Sorption of Water by Aromatic Polyamides

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - Isotherms of water-vapor sorption by aramid fibers and films of various nature were determined by static sorption methods. Structural and...     

Structure and Properties of Hard-Magnetic Barium, Strontium, and Lead Ferrites

The self-propagating high-temperature synthesis and sintering of Ba, Sr, and Pb ferrites are studied. The combustion temperature is shown to influence the defect density and internal stress in the resultant ferrite powders. The structure and properties of the ferrites are sensitive to both the combustion and sintering temperatures.