Strength reliability and in vitro degradation of three-dimensional powder printed strontium-substituted magnesium phosphate scaffolds

Strontium ions (Sr2+) are known to prevent osteoporosis and also encourage bone formation. Such twin requirements have motivated researchers to develop Sr-substituted biomaterials for orthopaedic applications. The present study demonstrates a new concept of developing Sr-substituted Mg-3(PO4)(2) - based biodegradable scaffolds. In particular, this work reports the fabrication, mechanical properties with an emphasis on strength reliability as well as in vitro degradation of highly biodegradable strontium-incorporated magnesium phosphate cements. These implantable scaffolds were fabricated using three-dimensional powder printing, followed by high temperature sintering and/or chemical conversion, a technique adaptable to develop patient-specific implants. A moderate combination of strength properties of 36.7 MPa (compression), 242 MPa (bending) and 10.7 MPa (tension) were measured. A reasonably modest Weibull modulus of up to 8.8 was recorded after uniaxial compression or diametral tensile tests on 3D printed scaffolds. A comparison among scaffolds with varying compositions or among sintered or chemically hardened scaffolds reveals that the strength reliability is not compromised in Sr-substituted scaffolds compared to baseline Mg-3(PO4)(2). The micro-computed tomography analysis reveals the presence of highly interconnected porous architecture in three-dimension with lognormal pore size distribution having median in the range of 17.74-26.29 mu m for the investigated scaffolds. The results of extensive in vitro ion release study revealed passive degradation with a reduced Mg2+ release and slow but sustained release of Sr2+ from strontium-substituted magnesium phosphate scaffolds. Taken together, the present study unequivocally illustrates that the newly designed Sr-substituted magnesium phosphate scaffolds with good strength reliability could be used for biomedical applications requiring consistent Sr2+-release, while the scaffold degrades in physiological medium. Statement of significance The study investigates the additive manufacturing of scaffolds based on different strontium-substituted magnesium phosphate bone cements by means of three-dimensional powder printing technique (3DPP). Magnesium phosphates were chosen due to their higher biodegradability compared to calcium phosphates, which is due to both a higher solubility as well as the absence of phase changes (to low soluble hydroxyapatite) in vivo. Since strontium ions are known to promote bone formation by stimulating osteoblast growth, we aimed to establish such a highly degradable magnesium phosphate ceramic with an enhanced bioactivity for new bone ingrowth. After post-processing, mechanical strengths of up to 36.7 MPa (compression), 24.2 MPa (bending) and 10.7 MPa (tension) could be achieved. Simultaneously, the failure reliability of those bioceramic implant materials, measured by Weibull modulus calculations, were in the range of 4.3-8.8. Passive dissolution studies in vitro proved an ion release of Mg2+ and PO43- as well as Sr2+, which is fundamental for in vivo degradation and a bone growth promoting effect. In our opinion, this work broadens the range of bioceramic bone replacement materials suitable for additive manufacturing processing. The high biodegradability of MPC ceramics together with the anticipated promoting effect on osseointegration opens up the way for a patient-specific treatment with the prospect of a fast and complete healing of bone fractures. (C) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Numerical study of driven flows of shear thinning viscoelastic fluids in rectangular cavities

In this work, we present a numerical study of flow of shear thinning viscoelastic fluids in rectangular lid driven cavities for a wide range of aspect ratios (depth to width ratio) varying from 1/16 to 4. In particular, the effect of elasticity, inertia, model parameters and polymer concentration on flow features in rectangular driven cavity has been studied for two shear thinning viscoelastic fluids, namely, Giesekus and linear PTT. We perform numerical simulations using the symmetric square root representation of the conformation tensor to stabilize the numerical scheme against the high Weissenberg number problem. The variation in flow structures associated with merging and splitting of elongated vortices in shallow cavities and coalescence of corner eddies to yield a second primary vortex in deep cavities with respect to the variation in flow parameters is discussed. We discuss the effect of the dominant eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenvectors on the location of the primary eddy in the cavity. We also demonstrate, by performing numerical simulations for shallow and deep cavities, that where the Deborah number (based on convective time scale) characterizes the elastic behaviour of the fluid in deep cavities, Weissenberg number (based on shear rate) should be used for shallow cavities. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Strain Regularity and Stiffness Tensor of Reinforcers in Dense Particle Reinforced Composites

针对高体积份数、随机分布、等轴状颗粒增强复合材料 ,研究了材料的应变分布规律 ,给出了基体和增强体应变平均值与材料微观结构参数之间的定量关系。结果表明 ,除应变平均值外 ,应变涨落是影响刚度张量的另一个重要因素 ,研究了应变涨落与材料微观结构参数之间的关系 ,并推导出了复合材料的刚度张量。与实验结果和以往的理论比较 ,预测结果与实验结果吻合良好

Dynamic stress intensity factor of a functionally graded material under antiplane shear loading

The dynamic response of a finite crack in an unbounded Functionally Graded Material (FGM) subjected to an antiplane shear loading is studied in this paper. The variation of the shear modulus of the functionally graded material is modeled by a quadratic increase along the direction perpendicular to the crack surface. The dynamic stress intensity factor is extracted from the asymptotic expansion of the stresses around the crack tip in the Laplace transform plane and obtained in the time domain by a numerical Laplace inversion technique. The influence of graded material property on the dynamic intensity factor is investigated. It is observed that the magnitude of dynamic stress intensity factor for a finite crack in such a functionally graded material is less than in the homogeneous material with a property identical to that of the FGM crack plane.

Study on Microstructure and Nanomechanics Properties of Antibacterial Bone China

Fracture appearance, surface and nanomechanics properties of antibacterial ceramics contairing rare earth phosphate composite antibacterial materials were characterized and measured by SEM, AFM and Nanoindenter, respectively. Results show that grain of fracture surface of antibacterial ceramics grows uniform refinement topography of bubble break-up appears at the surface, which is flat and has liquid character, by adding the phosphate composite containing rare earth, nevertheless needle-like crystal and granular outgrowth form at fracture surface and surface of common ceramics, respectively. Young's modulus of antibacterial ceramic film is 74. 397 GPa and hardness is 8. 134 GPa, which increses by 4.4﹪ and 1.6﹪ comparing with common ceramics, respectively. Loading curves of two kind of ceramics have obvious nonlinear character under 700 nm and linear character between 700 ～ 1000 nm, and unloading curve have obvious linear character.

Properties of a-C:H films deposited from a methane electron cyclotron wave resonant plasma

An electron cyclotron wave resonant methane plasma discharge was used for the high rate deposition of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H). Deposition rates of up to ∼400 Å/min were obtained over substrates up to 2.5 in. in diameter with a film thickness uniformity of ∼±10%. The deposited films were characterised in terms of their mass density, sp3 and hydrogen contents, C-H bonding, intrinsic stress, scratch resistance and friction properties. The deposited films possessed an average sp3 content, mass density and refractive index of ∼58%, 1.76 g/cm3 and 2.035 respectively.Mechanical characterisation indicated that the films possessed very low steady-state coefficients of friction (ca. 0.06) and a moderate shear strength of ∼141 MPa. Nano-indentation measurements also indicated a hardness and elastic modulus of ∼16.1 and 160 GPa respectively. The critical loads required to induce coating failure were also observed to increase with ion energy as a consequence of the increase in degree of ion mixing at the interface. Furthermore, coating failure under scratch test conditions was observed to take place via fracture within the silicon substrate itself, rather than either in the coating or at the film/substrate interface. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An Improved Energy Method For Determining Young'S Modulus By Instrumented Indentation Using A Berkovich Tip

We previously proposed a method for estimating Young's modulus from instrumented nanoindentation data based on a model assuming that the indenter had a spherical-capped Berkovich geometry to take account of the bluntness effect. The method is now further improved by releasing the constraint on the tip shape, allowing it to have a much broader arbitrariness to range from a conical-tipped shape to a flat-ended shape, whereas the spherical-capped shape is just a special case in between. This method requires two parameters to specify a tip geometry, namely, a volume bluntness ratio V-r and a height bluntness ratio h(r). A set of functional relationships correlating nominal hardness/reduced elastic modulus ratio (H-n/E-r) and elastic work/total work ratio (W-e/W) were established based on dimensional analysis and finite element simulations, with each relationship specified by a set of V-r and h(r). Young's modulus of an indented material can be estimated from these relationships. The method was shown to be valid when applied to S45C carbon steel and 6061 aluminum alloy.

Micromechanics analysis on evolution of crack in viscoelastic materials

A preliminary analysis on crack evolution in viscoelastic materials was presented. Based on the equivalent inclusion concept of micro-mechanics theory, the explicit expressions of crack opening displacement delta and energy release rate G were derived, indicating that both delta and G are increasing with time. The equivalent modulus of the viscoelastic solid comprising cracks was evaluated. It is proved that the decrease of the modulus comes from two mechanisms: one is the viscoelasticity of the material; the other is the crack opening which is getting larger with time.

Effect of Fe content on the thermal stability and dynamic mechanical behavior of NdAlNiCu bulk metallic glasses

The dependence of microstructure and thermal stability on Fe content of bulk Nd60Al10Ni10Cu20-xFex (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 20) metallic glasses is investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron micrograph (HRTEM). All samples exhibit typical amorphous feature under the detect limit of XRD, however, HRTEM results show that the microstructure of Nd60Al10Ni10Cu20-xFex alloys changes from a homogeneous amorphous phase to a composite structure consisting of clusters dispersed in amorphous matrix by increasing Fe content. Dynamic mechanical properties of these alloys with controllable microstructure are studied, expressed via storage modulus, the loss modulus and the mechanical damping. The results reveal that the storage modulus of the alloy without Fe added shows a distinct decrease due to the main a relaxation. This decrease weakens and begins at a higher temperature with increasing Fe content. The mechanism of the effect of Fe addition on the microstructure and thermal stability in this system is discussed in terms of thermodynamics viewpoints. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The characterization of plastic flow in three different bulk metallic glass systems

Plastic deformation behaviors of Zr52.5Al10Ni10Cu15Be12.5, Mg65Cu25Gd10 and Pd43Ni10Cu27P20 bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are studied by using the depth-sensing nanoindentation, macroindentation and uniaxial compression. The significant difference in plastic deformation behavior cannot be correlated to the Poisson's ratio or the ratio of shear modulus to bulk modulus of the three BMGs, but can be explained by the free volume model. It is shown that the nucleation of local shear band is easy and multiple shear bands can be activated in the Zr52.5Al10Ni10Cu15Be12.5 alloy, which exhibits a distinct plastic strain during uniaxial compression and less serrated flow during nanoindentation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Asymptotic solution of mode-iii crack in damaged softening materials

In this paper, a constitutive model of elasticity coupled with damage suggested by Lemaitre et al, [1] is used. The macroscopic stress-strain response of the model includes two stages: strain hardening and strain softening. The basic equation is derived for the anti-plane shear problem. Several lowest order asymptotic solutions are obtained, and assembled for the crack-tip fields.

Analyses of the mechanical properties and microstructure of bamboo epoxy composites

Bamboo reinforced epoxy possesses reasonably good properties to waarrant its use as a structural material, and is fabricated by utilizing bamboo, an abundant material resource, in the technology of fibre composites. Literature on bamboo-plastics composites is rare. This work is an experimental study of unidirectional bamboo-epoxy laminates of varying laminae number, in which tensile, compressive, flexural and interlaminar shear properties are evaluated. Further, the disposition of bamboo fibre, the parenchymatous tissue, and the resin matrix under different loading conditions are examined. Our results show that the specific strength and specific modulus of bamboo-epoxy laminates are adequate, the former being 3 to 4 times that of mild steel. Its mechanical properties are generally comparable to those of ordinary glass-fibre composites. The fracture behaviour of bamboo-epoxy under different loading conditions were observed using both acoustic emission techniques and scanning electron microscopy. The fracture mode varied with load, the fracture mechanism being similar to glass and carbon reinforced composites. Microstructural analyses revealed that natural bamboo is eligibly a fibre composite in itself; its inclusion in a plastic matrix will help solve the problems of cracking due to desiccation and bioerosion caused by insect pests. Furthermore, the thickness and shape of the composite can be tailored during fabrication to meet specific requirements, thereby enabling a wide spectrum of applications.

The influence of buoyancy on the oscillatory thermocapillary convection with small bond number

This work is an experimental study of unidirectional bamboo-epoxy laminates of varying laminae number, in which tensile, compressive, flexural and interlaminar shear properties are evaluated. Further, the disposition of bamboo fibre, the parenchymatous tissue, and the resin matrix under different loading conditions are examined. Our results show that the specific strength and specific modulus of bamboo-epoxy laminates are adequate, the former being 3 to 4 times that of mild steel. Its mechanical properties are generally comparable to those of ordinary glass-fibre composites. The fracture behaviour of bamboo-epoxy under different loading conditions were observed using both acoustic emission techniques and scanning electron microscopy. The fracture mode varied with load, the fracture mechanism being similar to glass and carbon reinforced composites. Microstructural analyses revealed that natural bamboo is eligibly a fibre composite in itself; its inclusion in a plastic matrix will help solve the problems of cracking due to desiccation and bioerosion caused by insect pests. Furthermore, the thickness and shape of the composite can be tailored during fabrication to meet specific requirements, thereby enabling a wide spectrum of applications.

Influence of chilled and frozen storage on the stability of trout and herring fillet

Effects of chilled and frozen storage on specific enthalpy (ΔH) and transition temperature (Td) of protein denaturation as well as on selected functional properties of muscle tissue of rainbow trout and herring were investigated. The Td of myosin shifted from 39 to 33 °C during chilling of trout post mortem, but was also influenced by pH. Toughening during frozen storage of trout fillet was characterized by an increased storage modulus of a gel made from the raw fillet. Differences between long term and short term frozen stored, cooked trout fillet were identified by a compression test and a consumer panel. These changes did not affect the Td and ΔH of heat denaturation during one year of frozen storage at –20 °C. In contrast the Td of two myosin peaks of herring shifted during frozen storage at –20 °C to a significant lower value and overlaid finally. Myosin was aggregated by hydrophobic protein-protein interactions. Both thermal properties of myosin and chemical composition were sample specific for wild herring, but were relative constant for farmed trout samples over one year. Determination of Td was very precise (standard deviation <2 %) at a low scanning rate (≤ 0.25 K·min-1) and is useful for monitoring the quality of chilled and frozen stored trout and herring.

Intrinsic correlation between fragility and bulk modulus in metallic glasses

A systematic study on the available data of 26 metallic glasses shows that there is an intrinsic correlation between fragility of a liquid and bulk modulus of its glass. The underlying physics can be rationalized within the formalism of potential energy landscape thermodynamics. It is surprising to find that the linear correlation between the fragility and the bulk-shear modulus ratio exists strictly at either absolute zero temperature or very high frequency. Further analyses indicate that a real flow event in bulk metallic glasses is shear dominant, and fragility is in inverse proportion to shear-induced bulk dilatation. Finally, extension of these findings to nonmetallic glasses is discussed.